The BTA’s Government Affairs Director Karl Rohde and I have something in common; we can’t stand the outdated perception (held by all too many legislators and decision makers) that bikes are simply a means of recreation and that funding bike infrastructure is some sort of frivolous, non-essential expenditure.
Mr. Rohde is on a crusade of sorts to rid politicians of that notion. Part of the legislative package he’ll fight for in Salem next session will be a resolution that tries to re-frame “bike funding” and “bike trails” as “non-motorized transportation funding” and “non-motorized transportation corridors” respectively.
Another front in his campaign is simple propaganda.
When he noticed my recent report and photos on Portland’s bike traffic, he swung into action. He asked if I would lend a photo for the cause and then he worked a bit of magic…
Here’s the old cover of a draft report for Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski’s Sustainable Transportation Initiative; notice the photo of a lone, lycra-clad rider on a country road in the upper left…
And here’s the new cover; notice how the photo now shows bikes as transportation, on equal footing with motor vehicles (larger version of that photo here)…
Language and photos may seem like a small thing, but often, especially when it comes to politics, perception matters.