Rep. Blumenauer at this morning’s press conference.Video below(Photos © J. Maus)

Ending speculation since the announcement on Friday, U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer was in Portland this morning (sans bowtie) to deliver some “straight talk” about energy policy and unveil a bill that will help cure America’s ailing transportation policies.
Expensive oil and gas prices, he said, […]

An amendment to a “green” schools bill will help with funding for bike access.(Photo © J. Maus)

In an illustration that the political winds on transportation are shifting comes news of two bike-friendly bills that have recently passed through the U.S. House of Representatives.
In an effort to make Amtrak more bike-friendly, last Wednesday (6/11), the House […]

Mary O’Donnell at this morning’s press conference.(Photos © J. Maus)

At a press conference this morning held at a law firm in downtown Portland, Mary O’Donnell — whose husband Tim was killed while riding his bike — told reporters and news cameras that her push for a vehicular homicide law is “definitely what he […]

Bike legislation is moving forward in D.C.(Photo © J. Maus)

House Congressional Resolution 305, also known as the National Bike Bill, has passed through a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week.
The resolution — which was introduced by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) back in February — recognizes the importance of bicycling to “enriching […]

The National Bike Bill — which was introduced back in February by U.S. Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) — made its first appearance on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this morning.
The bill (House Congressional Resolution 305, full text here) seeks to buoy the efforts of bike advocates nationwide and “recognize the importance of […]

The streets of Washington DC, Chicago, and New York City will get better for bikes thanks to new laws.

Riding on SW Broadway in downtown Portland.(Photos © J. Maus)

Lawmakers from three major U.S. cities have recently passed laws that will help create safer biking conditions. The City Councils of Chicago, New York City, and Washington […]

Now it’s onto the Senate. More on this story was published yesterday. Official press release from Blumenauer’s office is below:

EARL BLUMENAUER
February 27, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Erin Allweiss
Blumenauer […]

Blumenauer, shown here at the National Bike Summit last year, hopes his Bike Commuter Act will finally fly with lawmakers.(Photo © J. Maus)

On the heels of record profits by the big five oil companies, U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland) will once again try to enact a tax benefit for bike commuters and close the “Hummer […]

[Updated: 2/26, 11:37 am - I’ve added audio from the Councilmembers’ testimony (see below).]

Last night, the Vancouver City Council voted 5-1 in favor of an expanded, all-ages helmet law. More photos here.(Photos © J. Maus)

Thirty days from now, it will be illegal for anyone to ride a bicycle in Vancouver without a helmet. […]

“The cascading effect of others with equally well intentioned objectives to use the right of way for their expressions is something that we must be mindful of.”–Oregon state Senator Rick Metsger

For the second time in a row, the roadside memorial sign bill (HB 3623) has failed reach passage by the Oregon legislature.
After it passed the […]

Senator Rick Metsger, shown here in a file photo, has not supportedthe bill.(Photo © J. Maus)

The only bicycle-related bill in the abbreviated legislative session in Salem is on life support.
HB 3623, which would allow bereaved families to request (and pay for) the installation of a “roadside memorial sign that commemorates a bicyclist or […]

Rep. Krummel at a press event for the bill last summer.(Photos courtesy Krummel’s office.)

Wilsonville Republican Jerry Krummel wants to give “Eric’s Law” another try.
The measure (House Bill 3020, named after cyclist Eric Kautzky who was killed by a sleepy driver in 2005) would allow relatives of cyclists or pedestrians killed on Oregon’s roadways to request […]

A bill that would have allowed bicyclists to yield at stop signs passed the Oregon House in 2003.(File photo)

Continuing the discussion of whether or not Oregon should seek an Idaho-style, roll-and-go stop sign law for bicycles, I recently looked back at our previous flirtation with the idea.
Back in the 2003 legislative session, Senator (he was […]

I was surprised last week when Senator Floyd Prozanski introduced a vehicular homicide bill (SB 1058) with just a week left in the session. Knowing how long it takes to push a bill through the system, it was obvious the bill had no chance of passing.
So what was the point? I wondered the […]

Rep. Jerry Krummel(Photo: Krummel)

State Representative Jerry Krummel (R-Wilsonville) is blaming House Democrats for killing HB 3020, a bill that would have directed the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain roadside memorial signs for pedestrians or bicyclists killed in motor vehicle collisions (upon application by a family member).
Less than an hour after a rally for […]

The bill was introduced ata rally in Salem yesterday.(Photo: Rep. Jerry Krummel)

At a rally in Salem yesterday to bring attention to bike safety bills, Representative Tobias Read and Senator Floyd Prozanski introduced Senate Bill 1058.
The bill would create the crime of vehicular homicide and make it punishable by a maximum of five years […]

Scott Bricker of the BTA at the State Capitol in Salem.(File photo)

Finally.
BTA lobbyist Scott Bricker — who worked tirelessly in Salem to garner support for this bill — shares the news that the Vulnerable Roadway User bill (HB 3314) got through its final hurdle this morning by passing a House concurrence vote 40-9.
Now, […]