Bike Plan passes with unanimous support and a $20 million commitment
Day: February 11, 2010
A new way to think of the Bike Plan: It’s all business
Many local bike folks (myself included) have been trying to think of ways to talk about the 2030 Bike Plan that clearly explain why it’s so important, without getting into all the wonky details. On that note, I came up with an analogy today (just before going on camera with a local TV station) that I want to share.
Think of the Bike Plan as a business plan. Everyone knows what those are right (if not, check Wikipedia).
So here’s the analogy: PBOT has this amazing product (a bike network) that they know will revolutionize Portland — but without a plan, they’re just like every other entrepreneur with a big, crazy dream. Before they can even approach investors, start hiring employees, expand the product line, reach out to new customers, and so on — they must have a plan.
Your Big Bike Weekend Guide
What a lovely group.
(Photo © J. Maus)
(Photo © J. Maus)
Rejoice in tons of great bike stuff to do this weekend! The 7th annual Mini Bike Winter starts tonight and goes through Sunday. If you’ve never checked it out before, this would be an excellent year to do so.
Check out the listings below:
Thursday, February 11th
8:30 pm: Mini Bike Winter (MBW) – Opening Gala
“We will be sharing with you a panel of exciting speakers, a collection of bicycle films, and the ever popular DIY stencil station.” This is the kickoff event for Mini Bike Winter!
How they roll (across the tracks) in Seattle
Screen grab from new Streetfilm
showing Seattle’s track treatment.
showing Seattle’s track treatment.
Streetfilms’ latest video comes from our neighbors to the north in Seattle. The film takes a closer look at how the Seattle DOT is helping people who ride bicycles avoid a common problem — falling on streetcar and rail tracks.
The film features John Mauro from Seattle’s non-profit bike group Cascade (he narrates the short video below). Here’s a quote from the film that stood out to me (watch the vid below the jump):
“The Seattle DOT has taken a pedal-by-pedal approach to getting people across the cross by taking sharrows and marking every couple feet of the cyclist’s path.”
City’s Bike Advisory Committee steps back from Saltzman proposal
Download BAC letter (PDF)
The City of Portland’s Bicycle Advisory Committee — a 13 member group that advises the City on “bicycle-related matters” — has released their letter in response to Commissioner Dan Saltzman’s Bike Plan funding proposal.
The BAC initially intended to draft a letter in support of Saltzman’s idea (after he pitched it to them in person at their monthly meeting on Tuesday), but now they have put some conditions on that support.
A Bike Plan media coverage roundup
“… While we support the objectives of the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 that goes before the City Council today, adopting such a plan is far from enough.”
— Opinion from Portland Tribune
With the 2030 Bike Plan up for adoption at City Council this afternoon, there is a fresh crop of stories about it in the local media. Below are links and thoughts to how it’s being covered.
The Oregonian’s Joseph Rose must be breathing a sigh of relief this morning because the Portland Business Journal has successfully wrestled away his trophy for most misleading coverage of the plan so far. Their weekly “Business Pulse” survey asks: “Should the city of Portland spend $600M to build bike lanes?”