The Advocacy Roundup

TriMet’s “Be Seen Be Safe” rally comes
to Pioneer Square Friday.
(Photo © J. Maus)

We now present to you the weekly roundup of meetings, open houses, and other opportunities for activism…

Tuesday, Nov 1

North Williams Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting
Noon to 2:00 pm, Red Cross Board Room (3131 N Vancouver Ave)
Here’s the blurb about this meeting from PBOT (more info here):

“At this meeting the Committee will work on developing its own decision-making process, for making later decisions about the project’s scope, outcomes and alternative designs. This is an open public meeting. The public is welcome to attend and there will be a public comment period at the close of the meeting.”

OPAL Working Group
6:00 – 8:00 pm at the OPAL Office (2407 SE 49th Ave)
OPAL is Portland’s grassroots transit advocacy group. They have working meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. OPAL is the liveliest transportation advocacy group in Portland — even if you’re not a transit rider, you benefit from their peppery advocacy because it jazzes up the usually-staid transportation advocacy scene, and sets a high level of operational effectiveness that other groups can learn from.

Clackamas County Bike/Ped Advisory Committee Meeting
6:15 – 8:00 p.m., Development Services Building (150 Beavercreek Rd., Oregon City)
This month’s agenda includes:

• Clackamas Regional Center Pedestrian/Bicycle Connection Project
• Rural Bike Signage: Two rural segments to review: 1) Oregon City to Canby; 2) West
  Linn to Tualatin
• Hwy 43: Project Update

More info

Wednesday Nov 2nd

KBOO Bike Show
11:00 am – noon, 90.7 FM in Portland
This month’s KBOO Bike Show features Portland mayoral candidate Jefferson Smith and Active Right of Way advocate Steve Bozzone. Bozzone will talk about changes being made to make the streetcar track network more bike-friendly. Tune in, listen, and call in if you have a question.

Sullivan’s Gulch Corridor Plan Open House
6:00-8:00 PM, presentations at 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm, Hollywood Senior Center (1820 NE 40 Ave)
The plans to put a shared-use path in “Sullivan’s Gulch” along I-84 between Gateway and the Willamette River are moving forward. This is the first big public event for this project and it is expected to be very interactive. Plan on at least a half hour, more if you want to mingle, ask questions and leave comments… be sure you tell them what you wanted to see in this Bicycle Megaproject. More info

Get blessed

Blessing of the Bicycles
5:30 – 6:00 pm, St. Stephens Episcopal Church (SW 13th and Clay)
St. Stephens Episcopal Church is home of the Portland Bicycle Shrine. Every November they have a Blessing of the Bicycles, where people wheel their steeds into the sanctuary and up to the altar for a blessing. This is a short service — lasting only 10 – 15 minutes. It’s advertised to start at 5:30, but to be in your pew, with your bicycle, you’re better off arriving at 5:15 to listen to the prelude music and settle in. Expect about 25 people, with a broad range of personal religious beliefs (or lack thereof). More info

Combined Aloha-Reedville Study and TV Highway Corridor Plan Open House
4:00 to 7:00 p.m at Aloha High School (18550 SW Kinnaman Road, Aloha)
There are two major highway and transportation planning projects afoot in Washington County. They’ll have a combined Open House in Aloha.
– Tualatin Valley Hwy Project website.
– Aloha Reedville website.

The project websites make little mention of making these corridors safer for bicycling. If you want to see bicycling prioritized in this area, it’s important to make your opinion known.

Shift Business Meeting
6:30 – about 8:00, Browse’s Place (2222 NE Clackamas St)
Portland’s maverick Bike Fun organization, Shift, has their business meetings at a bar on the first Wednesday of the month. Shift sponsors events like Pedalpalooza and the World Naked Bike Ride. It’s all done on a shoestring budget and lots and lots of passionate volunteers. If you want to help make Portland’s Bike Fun happen, consider helping out with Shift. Shifties are a modest bunch — unassuming, low key, rarely self-promoting, but enthusiastic about welcoming newcomers. Expect about 15 people, come and go at any time, chips, salsa and beer provided!

Friday, November 4th

Be Seen, Be Safe Rally and Parade
4:00 – 7:30 pm, Pioneer Courthouse Square
More info
TriMet’s second annual event to raise awareness of visibility and road safety during the dark winter months. They’ll have giveaways, a fashion show, free tuneups from the Bike Gallery, and a “Best Lit” contest.

Saturday, November 5th

Portland By-Cycle Bike Shop Ride
10:00 am to noon, Alberta Park (NE 19th and Jarrett — one block north of Killingsworth)
This is the last ride of the first fall season — come out, bring a friend, and have an educational and fun ride. From their site: “Get that great “I just rode my bike” feeling year-round! Practice riding in all kinds of weather, make new friends, and have a little fun while learning something new.” More info

Weston Awards

WPC Weston Awards gala
The Willamette Pedestrian Coalition is having its first ever gala — the Weston Awards. It’s a celebration of walking, featuring peppy speeches about getting around by foot, and exhibits of famous Portland shoes. U.S. Congressman and former Portland City Councillor Earl Blumenauer is the keynote speaker. Ticket cost is $35, (I assume this includes dinner). Congrats to the WPC for kicking off this new annual event. More info

Upcoming

Tues Nov 8
– TV Highway Corridor Plan Open House, Hillsboro. More info.
– Portland Bicycle Advisory Committee More info.

Tuesdays Nov 8, 15, 29
– Hearings for the Portland Plan in N, E, and downtown.

Wed Nov 9
Skyline Blvd Traffic Safety Community Forum More info.

Tues Nov 15
– Portland Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting More info

Wed Nov 16
– BTA Bicycle Legal Clinic

Thurs Nov. 17
– Bicycle Brown Bag discussion series More info.
– N/NE Quadrant Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting More info.
– BTA Open House More info.

Mon Nov 28
– North Williams Community Forum More info.

Nov 30
– Deadline for comments on The Portland Plan

Safe Routes to School events
PBOT has events scheduled throughout the winter months, beginning with a “How to start a Bike Train” workshop sometime in November. See the full roster here.

Comments, corrections, additions?

What are in your plans this week?

— The Advocacy Roundup is compiled by Ted Buehler. Thanks Ted!