Portland legislators will hold town hall meeting on two wheels

Scenes from the Oregon Bike Summit-7

Rep. Dembrow (right) with
Jay Graves (center) and Ray Thomas
in the State Capitol building yesterday.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Billing it as a “A new kind of town hall,” two Oregon State Legislators will lead a bike ride around their districts next month.

Representative Michael Dembrow and Senator Jackie Dingfelder — both of whom represent districts in Northeast Portland — will join their constituents for a bike tour around the Cully neighborhood on May 9th. The six-mile ride will make a stop at the Rigler School Community Garden for a brief work party and organizers are considering a stop at the site of the upcoming cycletrack (slated to go in on Cully Blvd between Killingsworth and Prescott).

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For residents without access to a bicycle, Portland-based Pedal Bike Tours will provide one.

Sen. Dingfelder at the legislator
bike ride on Wednesday.

Alex Berke, a legislative aid to Rep. Dembrow, said both legislators are bike advocates. Dingfelder is a BTA Alica Award winner and former employee of the Bike Gallery. Dembrow was a co-sponsor of the Idaho Stop Law and he regularly rides around Portland with his family. “They miss bike commuting,” said Berke, “and this is a fun way for them to be out and about in their districts.”

Berke told us that Rep. Dembrow is always looking for new ways to engage with constituents. According to Berke, they felt doing a bike ride would be a great way to get people involved with state government who wouldn’t normally think of attending a regular town hall meeting.

Anyone interested in joining the ride should RSVP to Rep. Dembrow’s office via email to rep.michaeldembrow@state.or.us or by calling (503) 986-1445.

More details:

    Rep. Dembrow, Sen. Dingfelder and You
    A Bike Ride in Cully Neighborhood
    Saturday, May 9th, 9:30am
    Wilshire Park (NE 33rd and Skidmore)

— This is part of our special coverage of the 2009 Oregon Bike Summit. View more coverage here and see our latest photos in the official photo gallery.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Portlandia10
14 years ago

This is awesome! What a wonderful way for state legislators to encourage their constituents to go green!

dembrowstheman
dembrowstheman
14 years ago

Brilliant! Great way to be out in the community and supporting legislation on sustainability with one’s actions.

rouleur
rouleur
14 years ago

Love it! If they want to make another stop at my garden for a brief work party, I’ll make them fresh lemonade.

Brent
14 years ago

Hopefully Jackie D. will slow it down for the regular bikers- I have seen that woman going up Rocky Butte like other people go down it!

Dave
Dave
14 years ago

Great to see your (I live in WA) doing this! Speaking of cycling legislators, how is Jason Atkinson doing?

Kevin Wagoner
14 years ago

This is great. I just emailed my reps (Sen. Richard Devlin and Rep. Chris Garrett) letting them know I would love to go on a ride with them. Cool stuff, thanks for sharing.

ScottG
ScottG
14 years ago

I just RSVP’ed. What a great way to connect with your constituents.

Scott

Hannah Jane
Hannah Jane
14 years ago

Sounds great! And for their next two-wheeled meeting I say they lead the district in a ride to Salem.

Portlandia10
14 years ago

I love the Reps as much as the next semi-Portlander… but I’m so out of shape I’m scared I’ll have to follow behind in a cab! Do post an advised workout.