led the meeting.]
At a meeting in City Hall last night, bicycle industry leaders met with PDC liaison Jennifer Nolfi to discuss the formation of a new bicycle industry association.
At the meeting were local bicycle and parts manufacturers, apparel designers, an event promoter, and representatives from Commissioner Sam’s office and PDOT.
The meeting was held to discuss the scope of the new organization, establish its primary objectives, create a mission statement, and to come up with a name.
It was decided to call the group the Oregon Bicycle Business Association (OBBA) with a mission to “promote and develop Oregon’s bicycle related businesses”.
The group also decided that one of its top priorities will be to market Oregon-made bicycle products and to raise awareness for Oregon’s bicycle industry.
OBBA, with help from the PDC, will now look to find legal assistance in how best to set up the new organization.
In the coming weeks, meetings will be held for the new group’s first projects: to establish a program to provide technical and financial assistance to cycling businesses and to establish a major new bicycle event in Portland.
OBBA may get help from bicycling politicians.
From roadbikerider.com:
“In Tuesday’s U.S. elections, one of the government’s strongest cycling advocates was returned to Congress. Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN) is now the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, putting him in position to become the next chairman thanks to the new Democrat majority.
According to the League of American Bicyclists, “Oberstar has been a consistent champion of bicycling issues for the past 20 years. Bicyclists across the nation can look forward to working with a fellow cycling enthusiast in the years ahead.
Other Democrats with a strong bicycling pedigree who may step into leadership positions in the committee include Earl Blumenauer and Peter DeFazio, both Democrats from Oregon.””
I met members of the PDC in Vegas at Interbike, including Jennifer, and I was blown away by them and the plan to actively court the cycling industry. Portland has something very unique and special and I hope more of the local and national industry recognizes that. The planned Eurobike Portland is a good example of recognizing the Portland goodness. I just wish the timing were better.
Way to go Portland!