The list of after-parties and events going on after the lights go out at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS, February 8-10) is growing every day.
I haven’t had a chance to pull all the events together in one place yet (will do that soon), but I want to suggest a special get together on Saturday night that is near and dear to my heart. Read the flyer closely and you’ll find out why:
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski will come face to face with one of the world’s most bike-friendly cities when he travels to Amsterdam in March.
Kulongoski, who will take advantage of a new non-stop flight from the Portland Airport, is reportedly making the trip to woo potential eco-industry investors.
This could be an important trip for Oregon’s bike advocacy and tourism efforts because whether he plans for it or not, Kulongoski will be immersed in a city where not just cars rule the road.
Oregonian politics blogger Jeff Mapes asked mayoral hopeful Sho Dozono what he thinks of the “Safe, Sound, and Green Streets” funding plan crafted by City Commissioner (and Dozono’s political rival) Sam Adams.
His answer seems to cement speculation about Dozono’s ties with the various lobbyists and special interests that oppose the fee-based plan.
Here’s a snip from Mapes’ blog:
“…Dozono added, “…the whole process was more about backroom dealing. I think I would prefer that the citizens would have a choice to vote on this from the beginning.”
The maneuvering on both sides of the landmark “Safe, Sound, and Green Streets” transportation funding proposal has just taken another turn.
Amy Ruiz of the Portland Mercury just reported that City Commissioner Randy Leonard has filed an objection to the recently passed proposal based on a section of the City Charter (Sec. 2-124) that allows any member of Council to object to a passed ordinance. The section states in part:
“…If a majority shall vote to sustain such objections, the ordinance shall be deemed repealed and shall not take effect.”
Here’s the official press release from the Cycle Oregon folks about their 2008 weekend and week-long rides:
Cycle Oregon 21, Sept. 6-13, route centers on the Wallowa Mountains;
Cycle Oregon: The Weekend, Aug. 1-3, to be based at Fort Stevens State Park
PORTLAND, Ore. – Jan. 31, 2008 – Cycle Oregon announced at its annual Kickoff Party today the week-long and weekend routes for its annual bicycle tours of Oregon’s back roads and small communities: the Wallowa Mountains for the 21st version of the longer tour, and the area around Fort Stevens State Park for the weekend event.
26″ dual suspension mountain bike. Silver with red accents. not round body(rectangleish)
More Info on Finetoothcog
New black Trek 1.2T road bike. Has small red stripe, gel seat, simple black bottle holders, toe baskets, mounts for lights. Front tire is missing white reflector.
More Info on Finetoothcog
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) says they are “shocked and stunned” by the news that a group will attempt to refer the Safe, Sound, and Green Streets funding proposal to the ballot.
Executive Director Scott Bricker says they have strongly supported the proposal — which includes over $25 million in bike safety improvements — from the outset and that the threat of it being stopped by “petroleum companies” is being taken very seriously and that the BTA will commit considerable resources to making sure the referral effort is stopped.
The decision by a coalition of business groups and lobbyists to oppose Commissioner Adams’ Safe, Sound, and Green Streets transportation funding package (which passed City Council yesterday) has sent shockwaves through City Hall and bike advocacy groups in Portland.
Given what’s at stake and who’s involved, this is without a doubt the most important transportation-related issue our city has dealt with in many years. Mayor Potter’s decision to un-fund the Bicycle Master Plan, which resulted in widespread concern and saw the community come together in unprecedented numbers, looks minor in comparison.
Rejuvenation, the Portland-based retailer of vintage lighting and housewares, has launched an ambitious program to encourage more employees to get to work by bike.
The company — which has been in business since 1977 and employs 200 people between its manufacturing facility, retail store, and catalog sales operation — has partnered with The Bike Gallery to give a bike and commuting gear package away to one lucky employee each month.
Rejuvenation President Alysa Rose says the program is part of a larger effort by the company to reduce their carbon footprint. “We’ve made a corporate commitment to reduce our carbon footprint by 5% a year and we realize employee transportation is a big part of that,” Rose said during a phone conversation yesterday.
Whether you’re for or against the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) team’s efforts to build a new I-5 bridge over the Columbia River, it’s a good idea to stay informed on what they’re thinking about for the bike and pedestrian facilities.
On that note, I shared a photo last week taken by a member of the CRC’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (that’s the CRC PBAC for anyone keeping track). The photo was taken as inspiration and fodder for discussion on the type of bike and ped facilities that might be a part of a new bridge.