Rob Sadowsky
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

University of Oregon players are on a roll when it comes to football victories; but they're also racking up quite a few traffic violations. And we're not talking about minor stuff like parking tickets and rolling a stop sign.

Fed up with the dangerous driving, the executive director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) had a letter published in The Oregonian today calling on UO to "take action now."

Here's why Sadowsky is so concerned...
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Training for a lifetime of bike rides
(Photo courtesy of the BTA)

Remember the old saying, "If you give someone a fish, they will eat for a day. Teach a person to fish and they will eat for a lifetime"?

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) is applying the idea in their Walk+Bike Jump Start program by training teachers in bike safety curriculum and giving schools a fleet of bikes to use for a full year. What makes this new program even more interesting though, is that the equipment for the program is being purchased with private donations instead of the state and federal grants the BTA usually relies on.

The BTA has partnered with the Gresham-Barlow School District and other organizations for a pilot of the program which will launch in September.
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Andrew Singelakis at an Active
Transportation Forum in Oct 2010
(Photos: Will Vanlue)

Andrew Singelakis started his job as Washington County's Director of Land Use and Transportation (LUT) In March 2010. Since then he's overseen five county divisions, a department of about 300 employees, and an annual budget of just under $200 million.

The first 22 months of his time on the job have presented challenges; but he's very optimistic about the future, including how the transportation network in Washington County can better serve bicycle traffic.

I connected with Singelakis recently via email to get his thoughts on Washington County and how he sees pedal-powered transportation continuing to develop in the suburbs.
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(Photos: Will Vanlue)

As per Portland tradition, a hearty group of folks welcomed 2012 on bikes at the 55th annual New Year's Day ride.

Led by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), this year's ride had a different theme — to take a closer look at the issue of off-road trails and to highlight new pump track facilities.

Pleasant weather and quiet, low-traffic streets were our reward for getting out of the house. BTA staffer and seasoned ride organizer Carl Larson led the way as we left the meet up spot under the Morrison Bridge, headed through downtown, and crossed the river on Burnside. (more...)

Event Name: Joy Ride through Central Portland
Event Start Date: 18 June 2011
Start Time: 11:00:00 AM
Web Site: http://www.madisonsgrill.com
Event Description: New Belgium Brewing, the BTA, Madison’s Grill and The Prudent Cyclist present a chance for you to enjoy yourself.

Explore your city, win prizes and support the right cause.

A Joy Ride thru Central Portland

Not a timed event, but still a contest. Kind of like Amazing Race. Riding together you’ll follow a map to each stop along the way. Look around to find the marker. Enter for a stamp, a playing card and a way to earn your next map. You’ll joy ride Portland. The winning team will enjoy big prizes. Everyone has a chance with the raffle. You will be followed by a film crew.

Each team of 4 riders each will start at Madison’s Grill and embark on a Joy Ride exploring the short-cuts and preferred bike routes of Central Portland. You will all start together with the first map. At each stop the next clue awaits. Don’t have a full team of 4? Sign up and we’ll put together teams.

Where: Madison’s Grill at 1109 SE Madison, just one block north of Hawthorne.

When: Saturday, June 18th. Start at Madison’s at 1109 SE Madison. Plenty of free parking for those that need it.

Time: 11 am – 2 pm. Start ride at 11 am. All teams must finish and be at Madison’s to win prizes by 2:00 pm. We’ll have a complimentary buffet ready for you and your famished team upstairs.

Sign Up: Go to madisonsgrill.com and click on the Joy Ride icon. Submit your contact info and we’ll get back to you to confirm your final registration.

Includes: Route maps, surprises along the way, snacks, emergency refreshments, passport, free food and prizes at Madison’s, specials on New Belgium beers, a feeling of accomplishment.

Price: Free- if you purchase a BTA membership for this event. $15 if you are already a BTA member, $20 for the rest of you.

Extra Bonus: Be a star! The Joy Ride will be filmed and a short will be produced and presented at New Belgium’s Clips of Faith film festival on Portland’s Waterfront on August 5, 2011.

Madison’s Grill Catering & Events has been a SE favorite since 1997. If you'd like more information about this topic, please call 503-730-7040 or email steve(at)madisonsgrill(dot)com.

Doug Parrow speaking for the BTA at
the 2010 Oregon Bike Summit.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Doug Parrow has resigned from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) Board of Directors after 13 years. Parrow was the longest serving board member in the organization's history and also served as Chair of the BTA's Legislative Committee. (more...)

You've got to have a lot of
bike parking at a Bike Commute
Challenge pary.
(Photos © J. Maus)

At a packed party in the Central Eastside last night, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance announced results and gave out awards for winners of their annual Bike Commute Challenge. The month-long event that took place in September pitted businesses against each other in a friendly competition to see who could log the most trips to work by bike. Companies and non-profits competed in categories based on number of employees and other factors. (more...)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance announced today that following a vote last month, their Board of Directors now has eight new members. The BTA received a record number of ballots with 486 people weighing in. The new board members will be seated officially on October 26th and they join six existing members who were re-elected.

Here are the eight new members of the BTA Board of Directors:

• Martina Farhner
• David Forman
• David Kottkamp
• Randy Miller
• Rick Potestio
• Susan Remmers
• Cecil Reniche-Smith
• Kenji Sugahara

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Roopal Patel
(Photos: Elly Blue)

Roopal Patel, who was hired as the first ever Finance Director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance back in April 2009, has decided to leave the organization. Patel becomes the fourth BTA director-level staffer to have either resigned or be fired in the past year.

Rob Sadowsky, the BTA's new Executive Director, confirmed Patel's resignation and said she'll stay on through August to help with the hiring process. No reasons were cited for the resignation. Sadowsky says Patel was simply "ready to move on."
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Mayor Sam Adams addressed the crowd.
- Slideshow below/Gallery -
(Photos © J. Maus)

About 500 people turned out in their bike-chic best last night for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance's 15th annual fundraising gala, the Alice Awards.

In marvelous outfits (see them in the slideshow below), bike lovers from around the state rubbed shoulders with fellow activists, politicians, bureaucrats, and industry luminaries. The mood was celebratory and optimistic and the energy was directed at one purpose: to raise money for the BTA. After signing in and perusing a number of raffle options and other items up for purchase, attendees gathered outside the venue under warm clear skies to watch a performance by The Sprockettes. (more...)

As reported yesterday, the City of Vancouver has put its Bike Program on the chopping block. In response, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance is mobilizing its forces in Southwest Washington in an effort to save it.

In an action alert sent out via email and posted on their blog last night, the BTA says their plan is to encourage Vancouver City Council to dedicate $200,000 of what the draft Transportation Improvement Program labels as "presently uncommitted revenue" to the Bike Program.

That $200,000 is called out on page 28 of the TIP document under a chart that shows the five transportation programs (which includes the bike program) that are not slated for funding beyond 2010. Here's the full excerpt: (more...)

Eileen Trudeau
(Photo: Elly Blue)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance's development director, Eileen Trudeau, has resigned. Incoming Executive Director Rob Sadowsky confirmed Trudeau's decision today, saying "She felt it was a good time to move on."

Trudeau joined the BTA in April 2009 and is the second of three directors to resign from the organization this year. Former Operations Director Angela Koch left the organization in March after being first hired to lead their Safe Routes to Schools program in May 2007.

Sadowsky says the tumultuous recent history of the BTA has taken a toll on staffers: (more...)

Stephen Gomez, Vice-Chair of the BTA board,
is managing the elections process.
(Photo: Adams Carroll)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) is currently accepting applications to be evaluated for election to their Board of Directors. These elections are important because the board has significant sway and oversight into the policies and direction of the organization. We have gotten emails and phone calls from people in the community who wanted to know more about the election process, so I asked Board Vice Chair Stephen Gomez to explain how it works.
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Rob Sadowsky, photographed in
Washington D.C. last week.
(Photo © J Maus)

It's been a big day for bikes in Portland. This morning City Council unanimously passed a funding plan that will give a $20 million "kickstart" to building bike boulevards identified in the 2030 Bike Plan. A few hours later, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) named a nationally recognized leader of the bike movement as their new executive director.

I spoke with BTA board chair Mary Roberts and their newly appointed executive director Rob Sadowsky on the phone earlier today. Below is the rough transcription of our interview.

I begin with questions for Roberts:
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Rob Sadowsky, the new leader of Oregon's
largest bike advocacy organization.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance has announced that Rob Sadowsky will be their new executive director. Sadowsky comes to the BTA from Chicago, where he is currently the executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance (formerly known as the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation).
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BTA Advocacy Director
Michelle Poyouorow at the
campaign launch.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) has launched a new campaign to hasten progress on the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030. The campaign is called "Build It," and with an emphasis on social media and a new blog at PortlandBikeNetwork.org, the BTA hopes it will put pressure on city leaders to build out the bike plan once it's adopted on February 4th.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, BTA Advocacy Director Michelle Poyourow said,

"This plan can make Portland America's most healthy city, but only if it is adopted and built... Most plans sit on a shelf... But this plan will be different; it will be built and it will be built quickly. This plan will not sit on the shelf...

So today, the BTA is calling on the City of Portland to take the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 and build it!"

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[Publisher's note: This op-ed was written the staff and board of directors of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance to kick off their new "Build It" campaign that was launched this morning in downtown Portland (stay tuned for more coverage).]

Official campaign logo

For years the momentum has been growing.  There have been more bikes 
on the road, more representation at city hall and in Salem.  And from
 all walks of life, there has been a growing movement of cyclists.

 Or more specifically, people who ride bikes.

 For the last two years, the City of Portland has been crafting their
 Bike Master Plan, which would point the way to increased facilities 
and funding for cycling.  We came together once as a community when
 the plan itself was at risk.  But now, the plan is up for a vote, and
 we are poised for a major victory in the national cycling movement.


That's right.  A national victory.

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Bicycling in Washington County presents
issues very different from Portland's.
(Photo © J. Maus)

This past year has involved many transitions at the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Staffing has been particularly affected -- over the course of 2009, nine full time staff left and six new staff were hired (some at less than full time).

These transitions culminated with the November hire of Susan Peithman to the newly created position of Statewide Advocate. The position was created around, and is partially funded by, a 2-year, $82,000 grant from the Northwest Health Foundation. (more...)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Oregon's largest nonprofit bicycle advocacy and education organization, has been undergoing substantial internal changes in the past year and a half.

These changes were thrown into stark relief with the release of the organization's Annual Report for the fiscal year of January 1 through December 31, 2008. The report -- scheduled to be released to the public by the end of this week -- states a loss for the year of $92,509. In a letter published in the report, Executive Director Scott Bricker notes that the loss is due to "inadequate accounting systems and oversight."

The BTA's total revenue for the year was $1,376,577. This number is up from $1,102,734 the year before, and has nearly tripled since 2004. The organization currently has 18 full time employees. (more...)

The current I-5 bridge over
the Columbia.
(Photo © J. Maus)

We reported last week that the Bicycle Transportation Alliance has decided to resign from the the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for the Columbia River Crossing project.

A new post to the BTA blog by advocate Michelle Poyourow goes into detail about this decision. The post particularly outlines the BTA's concerns about the project's direction, its process, and their disappointment in the evolution of was once touted as a "world class" bicycle and pedestrian facility.
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