“In twenty years, when we have cycle-tracks on all arterials and a full network of bike boulevards across our city and bike training in every school, we’ll remember this decade as the time when we asked for change, and we got it.”
–From a BTA Action Alert
to support the Safe, Sound, and Green
Streets initiative.
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) has issued an action alert to its members to rally support for PDOT’s Safe, Sound, and Green Streets campaign.
Spearheaded by Transportation Commissioner Sam Adams, the funding initiative would include $54 million for bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements. Among those improvements are over 100 miles of new bicycle boulevards. (For a breakdown of how the money will be spent, see this comment).
During negotiations for the funding plan, Scott Bricker, interim executive director of the BTA, played a key role in helping increase the amount of funding that would go the bike safety projects.
The BTA’s action alert mentions the recent death of Tracey Sparling and urges their members to, “translate that sadness into action” by getting involved with the effort to make Safe, Sound and Green Streets a reality.
Here are more excerpts from their action alert (emphasis is mine):
- Dear supporters,
We are all still upset over the death of Tracey Sparling, a 19-year-old student who was killed by a cement truck driver in a bike lane last week.
Now it is time to translate that sadness into action. The city of Portland is contemplating a transportation spending package that includes $54 million for pedestrian and bike safety, including route and intersection improvements that will make deaths like this one less likely. This is an UNPRECEDENTED amount of money. The BTA got it into the package; now we need your help to get it implemented.
It is not a done deal or a sure thing. Bicycle and pedestrian advocates like you are the key to getting it funded…
The BTA supports this package one hundred percent because it will fund safety improvements holistically, for all road users, by improving bike routes, fixing dangerous intersections, paving crumbling roads, and funding educational programs. And it will be paid for by everyone, from a gas tax and a utility fee with discounts for “green” practices.
I believe we are at a turning point in Portland’s bike history. In twenty years, when we have cycle-tracks on all arterials and a full network of bike boulevards across our city and bike training in every school, we’ll remember this decade as the time when we asked for change, and we got it.
Please join us at these meetings and speak up for safety. It’s time to raise our standards, and make the city safe for young cyclists like Tracey.
Michelle [Poyourow]
You can find a list of the Town Hall meetings Michelle refers to here.
Stay tuned for ongoing coverage of the Safe, Sound, and Green Streets campaign.