9 December 2008 Archives

Former BTA director will be mayor’s transportation policy advisor

Catherine Ciarlo
(Photo courtesy Catherine Ciarlo)

Catherine Ciarlo, who was formerly the executive director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) and currently serves on the Portland Planning Commission, has been hired to be the transportation policy advisor for Mayor-elect Sam Adams.

Ciarlo led the BTA from 1998-2005. In addition to her role on the Planning Commission, Ciarlo is the executive director of Oregon Women Lawyers and she has a law degree from Lewis and Clark College.

In a story on her appointment to the Planning Commission, she told BikePortland that she wants, “to see Portland head in the direction of environmental sustainability and transportation systems that truly serve people.”

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

New Years Day ride will benefit Oregon Food Bank

Jim Hensel, a self-described bike commuter with a “crazy big heart” is putting on a new ride that he hopes will raise money for the Oregon Food Bank.

Dubbed the “Resolution Ride”, the ride will be unsupported (meaning bring your own water and snacks) and the route will take riders on a 50 kilometer loop from Multnomah Village to the Steel Bridge.

Hensel is a corporate CEO by day and is on the board of the Oregon Food Bank. He wants to help feed Oregon’s hungry citizens and he hopes each rider participating in the event will raise $250 in donations.

To learn more about the ride, see ResolutionRide.com.

Willamette Greenway Trail heads to Planning Commission

Metro trail planner Mel Huie and
npGreenway core member Pam
Arden at a 2007 meeting.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Tonight, the Portland Planning Commission — a nine-member body appointed by the Mayor that advises the city on all planning issues — will hold a public hearing for the “North Reach” phase of Portland’s River Plan.

The River Plan is a massive planning project for all land along the Willamette River in Portland.

Buried among the many volumes and reams of pages in the North Reach section of the plan is language that would help establish easements and official policy for the northern section of the Willamette River Greenway Trail (which currently ends at the Steel Bridge).

BikePortland readers gathered at Roots earlier this year
(Photo © J. Maus)

It’s nearly here — BikeCraft IV!

I hope you’ll join us tomorrow, December 10th, at Roots Organic Brewing (on SE 7th just south of Hawthorne — find us in Roots’ new event space right next door to the main bar).

Doors open at 5:30 and the party goes until 11pm when Roots closes — so if you want to have some dinner and come by a bit later, the event will still be going strong.

This chart from the City Auditor’s 2008 Service, Efforts, and Accomplishments survey shows that in some NE Portland neighborhoods, 29% of residents use a bicycle as their primary or secondary mode to get to work.
— More graphics below —

Pavement in limbo due to
funding uncertainty.
(Photo: Aaron Tarfman)

Supporters of a project that would pave the Springwater Trail from SE Rugg Road to Dee Street in Boring are celebrating this morning after news that the Oregon Department of Transportation has put the project on its recommended funding list.

The $1.2 million Springwater Trail project — which was applied for by the Clackamas County Parks department and received an outpouring of community support — is one of 13 on the final recommended list (out of an initial 91). According to Clackamas County Parks planner Katie Dunham, the total project cost is $1.8 million and it won’t happen with the TE money.

Former BTA director will be mayor’s transportation policy advisor

Santa Lucia on the Bridge

New Years Day ride will benefit Oregon Food Bank

Willamette Greenway Trail heads to Planning Commission

Arts, crafts, and a raffle — BikeCraft is tomorrow!

City Auditor’s survey: Fewer cars, more bikes, and safer streets

Funding uncertainty stalls Springwater Trail project celebration

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