It’s been an exciting year for bikes — and 2010 is shaping up to be even more so. We asked a wide variety of people from across the vast spectrum of the Portland bike scene about their big hopes and dreams for the coming year — personal, in their work, and on a bigger scale. The range of responses we got was suitably broad and inspiring.
Take a minute to read them and add your own 2010 hopes and resolutions in the comments… and have a Happy New Year!
Chris Smith, Portland Planning Commissioner and author of PortlandTransport.com:
“Get the Bicycle Master Plan adopted and FUNDED!”
Matt Picio, founder of Cycle Wild and board member of Umbrella:
“Equal access to the roads for all vehicles, including bikes; and a commitment from the City of Portland to create complete streets on the entire existing grid before adding a single lane-mile of new roads.”
Angela Koch, BTA Operations and Communications Director:
“BTA: We resolve to listen more to our members and people who ride bikes, be more clear in what we say and the remain steadfast and resolute in our demand for increased funding for bicycles.
Myself: I resolve to eat fewer donuts and take Clementine for a long ride every weekend in our new homemade-by-dad cargo bike, lovingly dubbed the Slobber Rocket.”
Kris Schamp, race organizer and founder of Portland Racing and communications director for the Northwest Trail Alliance:
“A lot of my own dreams and plans for the next year involve cycling, from spending more time riding my bike and discovering new trails, to doing some leisure bike touring and bike camping next summer with my 5-yr old daughter, to organizing some fun and new bike events.
However, my biggest dream for the coming year is to see a ton of people (especially in the bike race community) and local businesses join and support the efforts of the reborn Northwest Trail Alliance in the realm of local mountain bike advocacy and trail stewardship. My hope is that with the support of the many folks in the bike community who enjoy riding (or racing) on dirt, we can become a world-class city/region for off-road cycling.”
Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian political reporter and author of Pedaling Revolution:
“My big bike dream is to ride in Copenhagen this summer – and to travel around Paris via Velib’. But you know, a friend and I took advantage of Monday’s sun to ride to the top of Mt. Tabor, and I will be happy if 2010 brings a lot more days like that.”
Greg Raisman, PBOT traffic safety:
“My personal bike goal for 2010 is to ride RAGBRAI to celebrate Beth and my 10th anniversary. My professional goal for 2010 is to finish public process, design, and funding identification to extend Portland’s bike boulevard network to Powell Butte.”
Kristin Dahl, Tourism Development & Sustainability Manager with Travel Oregon:
“I hope that we find funding for an Oregon cycling concierge to help guide anyone to the best Oregon has to offer on two wheels; the Bike Business League takes off with great success and develops into a solid statewide organization with which we can partner and support; that a badass cargo bike drops into our lap for hauling building supplies and my 11 year old chocolate lab; and that my climbing capacity improves by 30%.”
Carye Bye, artist/founder of Red Bat Press and bike funnist:
“A Go By Bicycle Neon Sign before the end of 2010. Bicycle Valentines by Red Bat Press. Take my folding bike on the train to Minnesota.”
Christian Ettinger, founder Hopworks Urban Brewery:
“Ride more. Drive less. Spend more time outside. Reduce my footprint. Brew more organic beer. Wrestle with my kids.”
The “bike phantom” did not unmask his or her identity, but did send a list of resolutions:
“To protect all – starting with intelligence and avoiding violence
– To be a darker part of the night and give light to those who need it
– To ride harder and get there faster breathing deep to calm my heart and mind
– To find better ways for people to contact me and for me to contact the world.”
Sarah Mirk, Portland Mercury news reporter:
“2010 should be the year Portland puts its money where its mouth is and spends six percent of its transportation budget on bike projects, seeing as at least six percent of Portlanders get around primarily by bike. I resolve that every city commissioner should bike to work every day in September. And I resolve for Sam Adams to preside over one City Council meeting wearing only Spandex and tweed.
Personally, I resolve to never leave my home without lights, learn how to ride a tall bike, wear skirts more often and never again get beat in a cyclocross race by a unicyclist wearing a snorkel and flippers.”
“Deacon” Amos Hunter, founder of Bike Temple:
“My hope for Portland in 2010 is that more people than ever will choose to ride their bicycle instead of driving, and that we will not see a single cycling fatality. My resolution is to do whatever I can to make those two things a reality.”
Chris “Fool” McCraw, Shift:
“I don’t have any notable biking plans, but my hopes are that in leading by example I bring more of my friends into the world of joy and fun that includes more biking and less driving.”
Elly Blue, BikePortland managing editor:
“My resolutions are the same every year: never to succumb to road rage, and to see the end of the era of urban freeways. This might not be the year for either, but I’ll keep trying.”
Jonathan Maus, founder and publisher of BikePortland:
“In 2010, I hope our local politicians, in partnership with the public and advocacy groups, take concrete steps to make driving less attractive and convenient within a 4 mile radius of downtown Portland. On the personal side, I want to find a more healthy balance between my bike life and my family life and build a more stable and sustainable foundation for my business.”
What are your big bike hopes, dreams and resolutions for 2010?