2017 Oregon transportation bill: Here’s how to make your voice matter

Great coverage on this bill Jonathan. I sent e-mails to my state representative, state senator, and this committee. This is not something I normally do, however the legislation is just so backwards given the stated outcomes they desire.

They have managed to take a bill aimed at reducing congestion and greenhouse gas emissions and twist it to encourage people to drive while not meaningfully funding alternatives. They could spend a small fraction of this, make cycling more than a fringe activity and have a larger impact on the state’s transportation network.

Also, if going all the way to Salem is a bit much for you, BikeLoudPDX is holding a protest against the Portland-area freeway-widening projects this Monday, June 5, from 4:30-6pm.
https://www.facebook.com/events/195941414258756

Since I won’t be able to attend, could someone do me a favor?

Wheel eating storm drain grates that were installed prior to 1971 were grandfathered back in 1971. Grandpa’s dead… Let’s get the grandfathered grates replaced.

So, do you believe the BTA was an effective advocate for cycling and, now that they have broadened their focus, do you think they will do a good job advocating for cycling this time? Why are we following them?

My belief is that we would do much better if we were advocating forcefully for a major list of specific bicycle facility construction projects to go with the highway projects and testifying that we were willing to make a financial contribution to building them. That would get a lot of respect and would have a chance at success in order to get us in a coalition supporting passage.

Saying no to highway projects, saying no to a sales tax on some new bicycles, saying no no no will just render us irrelevant and ignored.

Another option to Salem is Amtrak. They have a train at 6am and buses at 7am, 10:40 am, & 11:40 am (and others in the afternoon) from Union Station to the Salem depot. Return train at 5:11pm, plus buses at 1:05 pm, 2:40 pm, 4:10 pm, 6:15 pm, and 6:55 pm. About an hour and 20 min each way. Tickets start at $16 per person in each direction, plus $5 per bike, so $42 round trip for you and your bike. Your bike needs a ticket too. Bikes are hung up on the train; in general, you’ll need not remove pedals, wheels, nor handlebars (tandems are not allowed). Amtrak also offers the incredibly unreliable Coast Starlight service at the same price, leaving at 2:25 pm and returning at 1:55 pm the next day, assuming it’s running on time.

As someone who worked on the Capitol Mall for a number of years and has testified on a couple laws, the best thing you can do is contact legislators individually.

The Capital is a magnet for protests and kooks — there were so many I couldn’t begin to keep track of them. There are too many for any to have any effect.

A group with a focused message does make a difference. Showing up to hearings matters. But the individual contact is most important.

TST needs to set up a webpage that allows one-click sending of emails to all relevant legislators, and blast that page out to its entire mailing list, publicize here, etc.

Here is what I am sending my state rep and senator:

I am writing you with my concerns about the propose transportation bill. It appears to me that the proposed bill punishes the low carbon transportation options that will help keep our air clean and lower CO2 emissions.
Reports have talked about registration fees being higher for higher fuel economy and electric vehicles so that a car getting 40 miles per gallon will cost much more than a vehicle getting under 19 miles per gallon. It makes no sense to incentivize someone to buy a LESS fuel efficient vehicle if we care about C02 emissions. If we care about the planet and Oregon it would cost more to register a gas guzzler than a fuel efficient vehicle. It would seem to me to be much fairer to base registration fees on the value of the vehicle. If someone owns a new Porsche they should pay more than someone who purchases a used Chevy.
A sales tax on adult bicycles also punishes people for a low carbon transportation option. Why not tax running shoes because people run on sidewalks and roads?
The state already has the bureaucracy to collect the gas tax. Why not just increase the gas tax enough to cover transportation costs? Increasing the gas tax makes larger more polluting vehicles more expensive to operate which is good for everyone that breaths and lives in Oregon.
Thanks, Jon