Author profile: Elly Blue
Here are the other 26 articles by Elly Blue:
- Elly Blue: Street fee is for the public good (February 7, 2008)
[This article was written by contributor Elly Blue. You can read more from Ms. Blue here.]
“…gas stations, convenience stores, and oil suppliers…benefit more than most from having a road system in good repair.”–Elly Blue
When it comes to road maintenance, what’s good for bicyclists is good for everyone.
In fact, the proposed street fee that […] - A bike-friendly presidential candidate? Not yet. (January 22, 2008)
Elly Blue
Note: This article was written by BikePortland.org columnist Elly Blue.
Elly is a dedicated activist who is busy in the local transportation scene. She spearheaded the “We are ALL Traffic” rally and press conference back in November and she is currently the point person for the upcoming International Towards Carfree Cities Conference […] - Rides planned from memorial sites to rally on Saturday (November 15, 2007)
Please consider gathering before Saturday’s rally at one of the all-too-many sites around town where people have been killed while bicycling or walking, and then riding or walking with the group to Waterfront Park. All processions will be timed to arrive at Salmon Street Springs by 11:45am.
The list below also includes sites that haven’t yet […] - Rally for transportation equality (updated) (November 8, 2007)
[Updated: 11/9, 8:32am, 2:38pm - See update below about date/time change.]
[This article is by BikePortland.org columnist Elly Blue]“The event will be a peaceful, legal, and highly visible statement that we all belong equally in our roads and public spaces and that we are all committed to working together…”–Elly Blue
In response to last month’s tragedies, we’ve […]
- Call to action: Can we educate ourselves? (October 29, 2007)
[This article has been written by BikePortland.org columnist Elly Blue]
Columnist Elly Blue says more education is needed.(Photos © Jonathan Maus)
Responses to the tragic deaths of cyclists this year have been by and large constructive. A law aimed at protecting vulnerable roadway users was passed and, more recently, thanks to the leadership of Commissioner Adams, a […]
- This weekend: presentation about Istanbul carfree conference (October 12, 2007)
The 2007 edition of the Towards Carfree Cities conference was held in Istanbul, Turkey this August/September. A delegation of four members of the Portland carfree conference planning team attended.
An informal slideshow presentation about our experiences in Istanbul is planned for Saturday, October 13th, 7pm at 705 N Alberta St (at Albina). This will be largely […] - Green with envy: Brooklyn’s new high-visibility bike lane (July 12, 2007)
[Updated 4:09pm]
From the McBrooklyn Blog in NYC (via Streetsblog) comes a photo of a new, “high-visibility bike lane” just installed in Brooklyn:Now that looks safe.(Photo from McBrooklyn)
Turns out that New York City transportation advocacy group Transportation Alternatives has solid-colored bike lanes on their list of recommended measures to improve bike lane safety..and it seems to […]
- Don’t miss the Night Ride this weekend (July 6, 2007)
Just a quick reminder about a great ride coming up tomorrow night. The annual Night Ride benefits the BTA and always offers up an enjoyable bill of fare, including disco-dancers, pajama clad riders, fire dancers, and of course, doughnuts.
The ride leaves at 9pm from the Train Station downtown, and registration will be open before […] - Our ‘accidental’ car culture (June 15, 2007)
[By Elly Blue]
What does the word accident mean?
A mistake, but not just any mistake — not an action, but an outcome both unintended and unavoidable, something no reasonable person could have predicted or prepared for. The word is commonly used to describe bad things happening to good people from natural causes — the proverbial […] - How can bicycling get its fair share of the pie? (March 19, 2007)
By Elly Blue
Somewhere around 5% of trips in Portland are made by bicycle. And less than 1% of local transportation funding goes to bicycle infrastructure. Clearly bicycling is a mode of transportation that more than pays for itself.
Meanwhile, cyclists’ taxes subsidize freeway and arterial projects that we don’t use much and that actually […] - Proximity is key to our future (January 30, 2007)
[By Elly Blue]
For a broader perspective on transportation, look closer to home.
Discussions of bicycling and transportation revolve naturally around, well, transportation. But involved citizens might be better advised to focus less on mobility, and more on staying put and focusing on what’s right next door or down the street. Or, more to the point, on […] - A call for patience and a new paradigm (December 14, 2006)
By Elly Blue
As we debate stop signs, police enforcement, targeting of bicyclists (or not), and the definition of a brake, let’s clearly draw one distinction.
On the one hand, there is the idea, often brought out at times like this, that some (or most) bicyclists think they are above the law.
On the other hand, […] - Passing etiquette: In defense of the bike bell (December 12, 2006)
By Elly Blue
About two years ago, I invested $3.50 on a bell for my bicycle. It was one of those “I heart my bike” ones. It has a tinny but audible double ring. And it is by far the best bicycle accessory or bit of gear I have ever had.
I got the bell after […] - Re-thinking traffic on the Hawthorne Bridge (December 8, 2006)
By Elly Blue
When I’ve worked downtown, the highlight of my commute has always been crossing the Hawthorne Bridge. The air quality changes, the breeze shifts, the river is right below you, and the view of other bridges, buildings, and if you’re lucky, a big freighter, make you feel connected to the city.
Then someone nearly steps […]
- Should bike boulevards be car-free? (November 20, 2006)
By Elly Blue
Bicycle boulevards — which are adored by both PDOT and the BTA — are a major buzzword among bicycle transportation gurus nationwide.
First, let’s be clear on what they are. In Portland, bike boulevards are easily bike-able routes, marked by improved intersection crossings, wayfinding signage, traffic calming features and those little white circles […]
- More education needed to preserve cyclist’s rights (November 8, 2006)
[Editor’s note: Please read this follow-up comment made by the author.]
By Elly Blue
Like any emerging issue, bicycling occupies an uncertain and even an unknown territory. In the courtroom yesterday it was clear that the judge, the DA, and most of the police officers present have not been on a bicycle in their adult lives. […]
- Let’s make bicycling more like riding the bus (November 1, 2006)
By Elly Blue
The Midnight Mystery Ride was 150 riders strong last month and is well into its second year. Bike Buddy programs are taking off. Last June, there were so many rides during the two and a half weeks of Pedalpalooza that the calendar had to double in size.
We have a wealth of […]
