An effort to establish the West Coast’s first bicycle and pedestrian research institute is gaining steam. The proposed Bicycle and Pedestrian Institute would be housed at Portland State University’s Center for Transportation Studies.
According to the proposal, the goal of the institute would be to:
“enhance policies, programs and projects that promote pedestrian and bicycle travel through research, education and outreach”
Proponents hope to make this new Institute a key part of the soon-to-be founded University Transportation Center (UTC) at Portland State University. The UTC received $16 million from the federal government back in in August of 2005 to study transportation issues in the region.
The list of partners throwing their weight behind this proposal include; the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, the Oregon Institute of Technology, the Bike Gallery, Alta Planning + Design, the City of Portland Office of Transportation, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition.
According to the proposal, the key programs would include; information dissemination, continuing education, community education/outreach, curriculum development, and scholarships and student awards.
Backers of the proposal are currently looking for federal money to help get the center off the ground.