The three leading mayoral candidates will answer questions about active transportation.(L to R: Charlie Hales, Jefferson Smith, Eileen Brady)(Photos: J. Maus (Hales and Smith), Eileen Brady Campaign)

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A bill introduced in Salem this morning, HB 3622 (PDF), is being watched by biking and walking advocates for its possible impact on school transportation funding.
Authored by Rep. Betty Komp of Woodburn, the bill seeks to revise the method of calculating transportation block grants from the State School Fund distributions by allowing "district school [boards] [...]

Rep. John Mica is Chairman of the Committee.(Photos © J. Maus)

At the outset of the "listening session" in Vancouver yesterday, Congressman John Mica tried to make it clear that he wanted specifics. Unfortunately not everyone got the message. Mica, a Republican from Florida, is Chairman of the powerful House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that [...]

The view of today's hearing for many.(Photo: Patrick Croasdaile)

At the House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure listening session held this morning in Vancouver, WA, many would-be participants never got the chance to be heard.
I happened to arrive at the committee meeting 35 minutes early, yet was eight people shy from getting in. By [...]

SE Powell.(Photo © J. Maus)

UPDATE: This bill no longer exists in the form reported below. I've heard from Rep. Cannon's office that HB 3150 will get the "gut and stuff" treatment; which means the language will be significantly altered. The new plan is to make HB 3150 a companion bill to Senate Bill 344, the [...]

Under the new law, ODOT would come up with standards to make sure this guy stays safe.(Photo © J. Maus)

A new bill set for introduction in the Oregon legislature would establish minimum construction standards for bicycle trailers sold in Oregon. The bill is currently in draft form (PDF here) and is expected to be introduced [...]

Lawmakers might elect to lower stop sign violation fines for bicycles.(Photo © J. Maus)

A bill introduced in Salem yesterday would reduce the maximum fine for bicycle operators who fail to stop at a stop sign. Senate Bill 660 "Decreases penalty for failure to stop for stop sign to maximum fine of $40 for person operating [...]

Bike traffic signal bill passed the Senate.(Photo © J. Maus)

Senate Bill 130 (text), that would add green, yellow and red bicycle signals to Oregon's list of officially accepted traffic control devices, has passed the Oregon Senate.
The ODOT-backed bill passed yesterday by a vote of 28-1. The only "no" vote came from Senator Jeff Kruse (R-Roseburg). [...]

HB 2602, a bill proposed by Rep. Mike Schaufler (D-Happy Valley) that would create a new law prohibiting the use of headphones while bicycling, has been pulled from the schedule of the House Judiciary Committee. As we reported last week, the bill was slated for a public hearing tomorrow (2/10).
Our friends at Eugene Bicyclist noticed [...]

"Before we draft any legislation these meetings will provide the Committee with valuable insight and information." — Rep. John Mica, Chair, House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee — a key body that sets the transportation agenda on Capitol Hill — has announced a series of "field hearings" on changes that [...]

One of their priorities is a $1.3 million request to make SE Foster Road safer for all modes.(Photos © J. Maus)

Today, Portland Mayor Sam Adams published the City's list of federal legislative priorities. Among them are several transportation projects that include bike-related infrastructure.
[As an aside, we are pleased to note that Nils Tillstrom, a former [...]

Governor Kitzhaber at his acceptance speech back in November.(Photos © J. Maus)

Oregon's newly elected Governor John Kitzhaber has made a many staff appointments in his first month in office. He's named people to help him develop policy on issues like energy policy, business development, job creation, health care, affirmative action, and other issues. But [...]

Portland hopes new law will lead to 20 mph limit on streets like these.(Photo © J. Maus)

As we reported back in October, the City of Portland is working the legislature to gain more control over speed limits. Mayor Sam Adams is aware of the impact high speed motor vehicles have on our neighborhoods and has [...]

Should it be illegal?(Photo © J. Maus)

Lost in last week's kerfluffle about a potential ban on biking with kids, was another bill proposed in the current Oregon legislative session that deserves our attention.
House Bill 2602 (text), sponsored by Representative Michael Schaufler (D-Happy Valley), would create a new traffic violation for "unsafe operation of a bicycle" [...]

State Representative Jules Bailey has just told us that he has been in touch with Rep. Mitch Greenlick about HB 2228, the controversial bill that would create a new Oregon law making it illegal to transport a child six years or younger on a bicycle or in a bike trailer.
Bailey says that the two [...]

Below is the official statement on HB 2228 that Rep. Mitch Greenlick is sending out to people who've contacted him about the bill. The statement was preceeded by a form email from Greenlick's Legislative Assistant Justin Freeman:
Thank you for writing to express your concerns about HB 2228. Our goal in introducing this legislation was to [...]

I Just want to quickly point out that there's an alternative method for legislators to "start a conversation" on complex and/or potentially controversial issues (other than proposing a new law that would prohibit a popular and safe activity).
The current legislative session has two such bills that I'm aware of...
The first, which we covered back [...]

Oregon House Rep. Ben Cannon has weighed in, urging people to keep reactions civil.(Photo © J. Maus)

Oregon House Representative Mitch Greenlick's idea to start a discussion about child bike safety by proposing a new law (HB 2228) that would make transporting kids six and younger by bike illegal has resulted in a massive response. The [...]

Rep. Mitch Greenlick

Representative Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland) says that his concern for the safety of children is behind House Bill 2228. The bill, which would make it illegal to carry a child of six years or younger on the back of a bike or in a trailer, has quickly caused an outcry among people throughout [...]

This year, Washington State lawmakers will consider a new safe passing law. The bill, House Bill 1018 (PDF), is just one part of what's been dubbed as the "Mutual Responsibility Bill." It appears to have support from both sides of the aisle (in total, eight democrats and three republicans support it) and seems to [...]