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The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) has just issued a press release stating their latest position on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) of the Columbia River Crossing project.
In the statement, the BTA says that “after extensive internal discussions and conversations with supporters and opponents” of the project, they feel that a new bridge is needed but that their support, “has essential conditions.”
In a respectful and poignant outdoor ceremony, St. Mary’s Cathedral in Northwest Portland held their first-ever Blessing of the Bikes on Sunday.
The service opened with a hymn and continued with a series of prayers and intercessions meant to recognize and celebrate the contribution of cyclists to the community.
A large wooden cross was carried out into the courtyard and a bicycle was placed atop a table at the base of the cross. A small, yet sincere crowd of about 40 or so people had gathered under blue skies to hear the rites and take heed of the blessing.
At a press conference this morning held at a law firm in downtown Portland, Mary O’Donnell — whose husband Tim was killed while riding his bike — told reporters and news cameras that her push for a vehicular homicide law is “definitely what he would have wanted.”
Facing a packed room full of reporters and television cameras, O’Donnell seemed pensive as she marked the one-year anniversary of her husband’s death. “He said that if he did ever get hit, at least he would die doing something he loved.”
An effort to form a new bicycle advocacy group in Vancouver will take another step tonight.
Todd Boulanger, a transportation planner and active participant in the bike scene on both sides of the river, says he hopes to bring concerned residents together to focus on urban transportation issues.
At the end of April, Boulanger says over 50 people showed up with enthusiasm for improving bike conditions in Vancouver (some present at the initial meeting in April were spurred into action by Vancouver City Council’s passage of an all-ages, mandatory helmet law back in February).
RESS RELEASE: Organizing Bicyclists in Vancouver for Urban Transportation
EVENT DATE: 9 June
TIME: 5PM to 7PM
ADDRESS: 215 West 4th St., Ste 200, (City Center Vancouver – near the Columbia Bike Lane/ I-5 Bridge Path)
Our action item is to discuss what form a Vancouver utility transportation/ mobility group should take in these times of high fuel prices. Our first meeting had over 55 participants (April 08) – see comments.
We have two special guests to talk to us about the opportunities in joining their bicycle advocacy groups:
– Gordon Black of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington (Seattle) and
– Scott Bricker of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (Portland).
They are the executive director for each group.
Agenda: < <0804 Bike Meeting comments by Gill - April 23.doc>>
5.00-5.25 Social time
5.30-5.35 Introductions & ground rules
5.35-5.50 Presentation by Gordon about the Bicycle Alliance of Washington
5.50-6.10 Presentation by Scott about the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (Updated)
6.10-6.15 Independent Option (what it would take) – Todd Boulanger
6.15-6.50 Q&A for panelists
6.50-7.00 Next steps for our group (electronic voting)/ meeting wrap up
Please email RSVP to me. And do share this email with your friends and follow bike and pedestrian advocates.
Thanks!
Meeting again this Monday after work – 09 June from 5PM to 7PM at
MEETING LOCATION:
Wallis Engineering Offices
215 West 4th St., Ste 200
Vancouver, WA 98660
(same location as our last meeting)
Todd Boulanger
In response to feedback and negative publicity last year, organizers of Bridge Pedal have announced that they’ll make a few changes for the 2008 edition.
In an email sent out this morning, they said the 20,000 or so Bridge Pedalers who will take part in the ride will have “more room on the road.” Unlike in years past this year participants will get two full lanes on the Ross Island Bridge and organizers say the course will require “less merging of large group of riders”.
Also, in order to accomodate MAX light rail construction, the traditional ten-bridge ride will cross just eight bridges and will make two crossings each of the Marquam and Broadway spans. Check out more on the routes here.