Comments on: Kidical Massers bring message for more money to City Hall http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/23/kidical-massers-bring-message-for-more-money-to-city-hall-16429 Portland Oregon bicycle news, events, culture, travel and opinion. Mon, 28 May 2012 20:52:37 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Michelle (BTA) http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/23/kidical-massers-bring-message-for-more-money-to-city-hall-16429#comment-1193803 Michelle (BTA) Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:46:52 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16429#comment-1193803 Parents and kids at 25 schools in Portland get Safer Routes education and outreach services. If the Safer Routes program gets cut, that would reduce the BTA's 2009 budget by 3%. Like I said, that contract (we do Safe Routes and Bike Safety in other ways too) is a small part of what we do. But we think it's a big part of what makes Portland safer for bicycling with every passing year. Parents and kids at 25 schools in Portland get Safer Routes education and outreach services.

If the Safer Routes program gets cut, that would reduce the BTA's 2009 budget by 3%.

Like I said, that contract (we do Safe Routes and Bike Safety in other ways too) is a small part of what we do. But we think it's a big part of what makes Portland safer for bicycling with every passing year.

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]]> By: Not Impressed with BTA http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/23/kidical-massers-bring-message-for-more-money-to-city-hall-16429#comment-1192634 Not Impressed with BTA Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:30:24 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16429#comment-1192634 Didn't we just read in another thread that BTA's Safe Routes to School contract with the city is really lucrative? Who's telling the truth? Maybe BTA should post up its budget. And regardless of the impact of that Safe Routes contract on BTA's budget, you have to laugh when a BTA staffer tries to link its Safe Routes program with zero fatalities citywide in 2008. Now that's an AMAZING stretch. We should be even more incredulous when we compare the number of schools in the city against the number of schools that receive some Safe Routes training. I don't have it at my fingertips, but I'm sure Michelle can post that up too. Didn't we just read in another thread that BTA's Safe Routes to School contract with the city is really lucrative? Who's telling the truth? Maybe BTA should post up its budget.

And regardless of the impact of that Safe Routes contract on BTA's budget, you have to laugh when a BTA staffer tries to link its Safe Routes program with zero fatalities citywide in 2008. Now that's an AMAZING stretch.

We should be even more incredulous when we compare the number of schools in the city against the number of schools that receive some Safe Routes training. I don't have it at my fingertips, but I'm sure Michelle can post that up too.

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]]> By: revphil http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/23/kidical-massers-bring-message-for-more-money-to-city-hall-16429#comment-1190180 revphil Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:50:03 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16429#comment-1190180 I would appreciate fewer close calls around 3:20 in the afternoon from parents rushing to get their errands done 'before the traffic comes' when we make the streets safe for them, children make the streets safe for everyone I would appreciate fewer close calls around 3:20 in the afternoon from parents rushing to get their errands done 'before the traffic comes'

when we make the streets safe for them, children make the streets safe for everyone

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]]> By: steve http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/23/kidical-massers-bring-message-for-more-money-to-city-hall-16429#comment-1186623 steve Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:01:21 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16429#comment-1186623 It is funny, when you look at the list of employees on the BTA website, the majority of them have 'Safe Routes' in their job descriptions. How is that a small part Michelle? Why don't you and Scott simply resign? That would free up some much needed funds. think of the children. How were all those people able to get to the rally by bike? Surely there was no safe route available. It is funny, when you look at the list of employees on the BTA website, the majority of them have 'Safe Routes' in their job descriptions.

How is that a small part Michelle? Why don't you and Scott simply resign? That would free up some much needed funds. think of the children.

How were all those people able to get to the rally by bike? Surely there was no safe route available.

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]]> By: Eric http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/23/kidical-massers-bring-message-for-more-money-to-city-hall-16429#comment-1185931 Eric Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:18:07 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16429#comment-1185931 Maybe an example from a century ago isn't directly applicable to today, but Portland <b>did</b> try building bike paths and routes on a volunteer basis between 1896 and 1898. It didn't work. The capital, labor, and administrative requirements were too great. See my <a href="http://fortunaerota.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/pdot-bicycle-brown-bag-feb-21/" rel="nofollow">Bicycle Brown Bag</a> for more. Maybe an example from a century ago isn't directly applicable to today, but Portland did try building bike paths and routes on a volunteer basis between 1896 and 1898. It didn't work. The capital, labor, and administrative requirements were too great. See my Bicycle Brown Bag for more.

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]]> By: Sysfail http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/23/kidical-massers-bring-message-for-more-money-to-city-hall-16429#comment-1185891 Sysfail Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:20:58 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16429#comment-1185891 "As for building bike boulevards on a volunteer basis, I'm not sure that's legal." Don't ask don't tell! I'd be happy if the center line was painted so big trucks don't take up the whole road on neighborhood streets. "As for building bike boulevards on a volunteer basis, I'm not sure that's legal."

Don't ask don't tell!

I'd be happy if the center line was painted so big trucks don't take up the whole road on neighborhood streets.

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]]> By: Michelle (BTA) http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/23/kidical-massers-bring-message-for-more-money-to-city-hall-16429#comment-1185885 Michelle (BTA) Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:12:17 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16429#comment-1185885 The BTA is a pretty small part of the city's Safer Routes program, and it's a small part of what the BTA does. So yes, the BTA is fighting for "the children." But actually, this isn't just about "the children." The Safe Routes program probably has something to do with the zero bike fatalities in 2008. Did the streets feel quiet to you this morning? That's because it's spring break - so there's a nice tangible display of just how many cars are on the roads delivering kids to school (various N American cities have found between 1/5 and 1/4 of morning traffic is parents delivering kids to school). An education and outreach program that reaches those parents and affects their driving habits seems like a solid gold investment to me. As for building bike boulevards on a volunteer basis, I'm not sure that's legal. The BTA is a pretty small part of the city's Safer Routes program, and it's a small part of what the BTA does. So yes, the BTA is fighting for "the children."

But actually, this isn't just about "the children." The Safe Routes program probably has something to do with the zero bike fatalities in 2008. Did the streets feel quiet to you this morning? That's because it's spring break - so there's a nice tangible display of just how many cars are on the roads delivering kids to school (various N American cities have found between 1/5 and 1/4 of morning traffic is parents delivering kids to school). An education and outreach program that reaches those parents and affects their driving habits seems like a solid gold investment to me.

As for building bike boulevards on a volunteer basis, I'm not sure that's legal.

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]]> By: solid gold http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/23/kidical-massers-bring-message-for-more-money-to-city-hall-16429#comment-1185853 solid gold Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:37:08 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=16429#comment-1185853 so, to play devil's advocate, why is this funding a big deal? that is to say, if so many people are "committed to safe routes", and "doing it for the children", couldn't they just keep the program running on a non-paid, volunteer system? you know, like almost every single piece of non-BTA bike advocacy which has happened in this town the last ten years? the city doesn't seem to be saying "you can't do this", they seem to be saying "we can't PAY you to do this." is the BTA fighting for their jobs or for "the children"? not looking to start a flame war, just looking for a justification to keep 100% (instead of 60%) of the BTA's programs, while ALL other city departments/projects suffer massive cuts. so, to play devil's advocate, why is this funding a big deal? that is to say, if so many people are "committed to safe routes", and "doing it for the children", couldn't they just keep the program running on a non-paid, volunteer system?
you know, like almost every single piece of non-BTA bike advocacy which has happened in this town the last ten years? the city doesn't seem to be saying "you can't do this", they seem to be saying "we can't PAY you to do this."
is the BTA fighting for their jobs or for "the children"?

not looking to start a flame war, just looking for a justification to keep 100% (instead of 60%) of the BTA's programs, while ALL other city departments/projects suffer massive cuts.

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