“The purpose is to increase our aspirations – to move from contentment at being the “best in the U.S.” to the ambition of being truly world-class.”
–Metro President David Bragdon
Members of a committee formed by Metro to focus on funding new biking and walking trails in the Portland region are packing their bags for a study trip to the world’s two most bike-friendly cities — Amsterdam and Copenhagen.
Metro’s Blue Ribbon Committee for Trails — created as part of President David Bragdon’s Connecting Green campaign — has been meeting since early this spring in order to, “propose a funding strategy to complete the region’s network of bicycle and walking trails.”
Bragdon told me via email last night that they’re taking the European study tour “to increase our aspirations,” and “to to move from contentment at being the “best in the U.S.” to the ambition of being truly world-class.”
Bragdon added that both Amsterdam and Copenhagen have “tangible, practical examples of investments and engineering practices that make non-motorized transportation more feasible,” and he wants the group to, “learn how they do it.”
The list of attendees includes Bicycle Transportation Alliance chief Scott Bricker, Metro counilor Rex Burkholder, Bike Gallery owner Jay Graves, Washington County commissioner Dick Schouten, architect Rick Potestio, and others. The trip will take place from October 4th – 12th and will be funded by sponsorships and grants.