It seems like just yesterday this guy named Hami Ramani started popping up in our social media lists and messages. Who is this guy? I thought. And why on earth is he so eager to move to Portland (from San Diego, California) just to get involved with our bike scene?
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)
Fast forward a year or so later and there’s Hami — and he’s playing an active role in the community as a ride leader, volunteer, and strong voice pushing to make bicycling better (you should follow him on Twitter @hamiramani if you aren’t already). His weekly PSU Farmers Market Ride has evolved into a little gem of a meet-up. Last weekend I caught the end of this ride and followed Hami and his crew as he dispensed insights about concrete diverters and discussed how to pressure PBOT to make neighborhood greenways even better. I’ve always loved watching volunteer activists find their way and create and impact. It’s inspiring to me how Hami has so quickly and capably plugged into the scene, found a crew to ride with, and become and important part of our community.
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Is this street legal? How do we report this? Who do we report it to?
cc: @PortlandPolice @PBOTinfo pic.twitter.com/lId7klkaPA
— Hami (he/they) (@hamiramani) July 7, 2021
I caught up with him this week for the podcast to share more about who he is, what he thinks of Portland as a new resident, and what it’s like to get trolled on Twitter by people who get offended when you tell the truth about massive trucks and the imminent threats they pose to public safety (it’s a wild story). In our our you’ll also learn that Hami first assumed moving to “America’s Best Bike City” of Portland meant he could take a break from bike activism (haha!), and why, even though he found more work to do here than expected, he loves being a part of our community.
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— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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It was an absolute honor and pleasure to talk with you, Jonathan. It means so much to be a part of a community where folks are diligently working to make the city better for the whole. The antidote to the toxic tribalism of our times is community; I am thankful to be a part of the solution.
Hami, I’m with you on Portland’s bike infrastructure & community. Pretty good, but could be better.
Hi Hami, Welcome to the Vancouver-Portland region!
Interesting your quote from Jonathan, “that Hami first assumed moving to “America’s Best Bike City” of Portland meant he could take a break from bike activism (haha!)”…local bike advocacy is like cycling in a group bike tour…someone got to carry the important heavy stuff (beer, ice and case iron cookware!, oh! CycleWild I miss thee)…or riding in a peloton…everyone has to take a supporting and then leading role …blocking the political headwinds until bike nirvana is reached!! PS. Sorry that we had not reached bike nirvana before you arrived. 🙂
that was 2003. the nibana thang. . . good luck improving on that. Too many californians did ya.
foul up one place, infest a freshy. . . repeat.
with Love from Ashland, Austin and Reno.
Rain (10 yr californian), yup this one
Hi Jonathan,
Can you please provide transcripts for these podcasts. Even automated transcripts would be greatly appreciated.
Soren