Conference in Portland looks toward more sustainable cities
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on July 30th, 2008 at 11:58 am
gave the keynote address
at a sustainable transportation
conference in Portland this morning.
(Photo © J. Maus)
An invite-only conference at the Portland Art Museum today and tomorrow is looking at the future of sustainable transportation and urban design in American cities.
Dubbed Meeting of the Minds, the event is, "designed to bring together leaders from multiple sectors and geographies to share ideas, learn from each other, and shape the agenda for creating more sustainable cities."
The program host is Gail Achterman, Chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission and a keynote address this morning titled, Transportation at the Crossroads was given by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski.
of the event.
According to event materials, other folks in attendance include over 200 policy makers, decision makers, and "thought leaders" from the commercial, nonprofit, and public sectors.
The conference program looks interesting and talks/panels range from discussions of new fuel technologies, the impacts of Climate Change on the Pacific Northwest, urban design, an overview of carpooling programs, and a panel titled, Can we live in a different way so we don’t have to drive so much? (I wonder what the event's lead sponsor -- Toyota -- would think about that).
More information on the conference here.
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--Read more coverage of the conference from The Portland Tribune.
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July 30th, 2008 15:24
The last time I saw Gail Achterman speak was at the Oregon Bike Summit, where she evoked a serious hush (a few hisses) from the audience with her predictions for a Oregon Bicycle Licensing/Permitting system. This is not to say that she is not a helpful and resourceful proponent for cycling in Oregon, but because of her comments at the summit, I have some concerns about her particular vision for "sustainable cities". I don't think advocating for a extremely costly regulatory system for bicycling is at all sustainable (nor necessary). If anything, it is ideas like these that create further barriers to cycling and discourage individuals from changing their transportation habits.
July 30th, 2008 21:02
Concerned:
I share your concerns.
July 31st, 2008 07:13
So, were you invited Jonathan?
July 31st, 2008 07:40
"So, were you invited Jonathan?"
yep.. but i didn't read the email until noon yesterday (when I posted this story). it's a bummer because i would have attended Kulongoski's speech.