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Bike Commuter Benefits Act to be re-introduced tomorrow

Opening Plenary at the Nat'l Bike Summit

Blumenauer at the
Summit opening.

Tomorrow morning, after a speech by Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar, Earl Blumenauer plans to re-introduce his Bike Commuter Benefits Act in a press conference on Capitol Hill.

Blumenauer just finished a speech at the opening of the National Bike Summit and he hinted at this news when he confidently said,

“With the congressional shift in Washington, It’s nice to be in a position where I can introduce legislation. The Bicycle Commuter Benefits Act will get a hearing and I think we can get it through this time.”

The Act has been around for years, but went nowhere in the old Congress.

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Opening plenary focuses on recreation and congestion

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Nat'l Bike Summit Opening plenary

League Director Andy Clarke

The opening plenary is going on now.

But before I get to that, some news.

Commissioner Adams is here. I saw his badge at the registration table and a few folks have seen him walking around. He’s in DC for a meeting of the National League of Cities. I didn’t know he’d be here so this is great news. Last year, he was slated to speak at the opening but got food poisoning and did a u-turn back to Portland as soon as he arrived.

Back to the opening.

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Cycling, Summit has come a long way

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Summit day 2 wednesday

Dinner with the Oregon contingent

The best part of the trip so far came last night.

While waiting for our table outside the historic Old Ebbit Grill, the host came out and said,

“Bricker (as in Scott from the BTA), party of 25.”

Yes, there are 25 of us here from Oregon.

Once we got inside, Jerry Norquist — who I think has attended every National Bike Summit held — put everything into perspective. He said seven years ago, there were only three people from Oregon at the Summit.

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