The Bicycle Transportation Alliance has uploaded some of the testimony from when the 2030 Bike Plan was in front of City Council back in February. One of the most stirring speeches was made by Jonathan Nicholas.
Nicholas is a prominent figure in Oregon’s bike movement. A former columnist for The Oregonian, he’s credited as the founder of Cycle Oregon. These days he’s VP of branding and communications for The ODS Companies (an Oregon-based health-care provider) and he’s chair of Metro’s Executive Council for Active Transportation.
Watch the four minute long video above for a very compelling case for funding active transportation. The best part is the last line, when Nicholas stares right at Mayor Adams and council and says:
“The major employers of our community – no fewer than five of the top seven incidentally, are in the health business – are clamoring for this committment, you endanger us all today if you ignore their demands.”
Nicely put Mr. Nicholas.
(You’ll recognize a few of the passages from a similar speech he made at the City Club of Portland in May 2009.)