May 2008 Archives

On a mission to build more trails, Metro assembles Blue Ribbon Committee

Metro Council President David Bragdon — seen
here at the Platinum press conference on Tuesday —
has big plans for trails in our region.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Metro — an elected regional government that manages everything from parks and trails to solid waste and the Oregon Zoo — has launched a new effort to improve our regional trails network.

Last week, members of the Metro Council confirmed the selection of a Blue Ribbon Committee for Trails.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Rob Widmer finished ahead of his
brother Kurt — who drove the silver
Acura in the background.
(Photos © J. Maus)

May is National Bike Month and this morning the City of Portland’s Transportation Options Division kicked off their festivities with a bike/car commute challenge.

The event pitted Rob and Kurt Widmer (founders of Portland-based Widmer Brothers Brewing) against each other to see who would get from NE 18th and Broadway to City Hall — a distance of about three miles — first.

Rob rode his bike (a well-used Trek mountain bike), Kurt drove his car (a shiny newish Acura sedan).

In this photo taken in March,
Blumenauer gets ready to ride in
front of the Rayburn House Office
Building in Washington DC.
(Photo © J. Maus)

In some ways Portland’s Platinum designation is more important for America than it is for our city. What the award does is to provide inspiration and an example to cities around the country to start making a renewed effort to mirror our accomplishments.

Just one day after receiving Platinum, U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (formerly Portland’s Transportation Commissioner) wasted no time in sharing Portland’s story with his congressional colleagues.

Below is the text of a short address Blumenauer made on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday:

On a mission to build more trails, Metro assembles Blue Ribbon Committee

Bike comes out ahead in morning commute challenge

Putting Platinum to work; Blumenauer shares the news in speech on House floor

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