Mary O’Donnell, shown hereat a press conference for the bill last June, lost her husband due to a careless driver.(Photos © J. Maus) At a work session of the House Judiciary Committee in Salem today, the BTA’s Vehicular Homicide Bill (HB 3399) was withdrawn from the agenda, thereby terminating its chances to become law this … Read more
The Oregon City Bridge(Photo: Wikipedia) The historic arch bridge that connects Oregon City to West Linn will close for two years starting this November. The Oregon City Bridge opened in 1922 and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) says it is in dire need of maintenance and rehabilitation work. The result of this major project … Read more
Inside the House Transportation Committee.(Photos © J. Maus) As the clock ticks in Salem on the 2009 legislative session, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) and other bike advocates are making last ditch efforts to make Oregon’s laws more friendly to bikes. Today in Salem, work sessions (different from public hearings in that no testimony is … Read more
Mayor Adams being filmed by the PBS crew outside Council Chambersback in March.(Photos © J. Maus) An upcoming, one-hour long PBS documentary will take a look at how three American cities — Denver, New York City, and Portland — are grappling with today’s transportation infrastructure challenges. The documentary, titled Road to the Future, is part … Read more
I’ll have something on the Front Page next week, but for now, below is the press release from the Bureau of Transportation with all the info about the upcoming Bicycle and Streetcar Open Houses. BICYCLE AND STREETCAR OPEN HOUSES Portlanders examine long-range plans to shape transportation and livability (PORTLAND, OR) – Imagine getting around Portland … Read more
Todd Roll, owner of Pedal Bike Tours, wants to guide you to work.(Photo © J. Maus) North Portland-based Pedal Bike Tours wants you to “Ditch the car and discover the best route to safely ride your bike to work,” and they have a novel way of helping you do it. The company, founded by Todd … Read more
Graphic from a postcard announcing the event. A down economy hasn’t stopped a local bike shop from completing a major remodel and expansion. To mark the occasion, the Bike N Hike store on SE Grand Ave in Portland will hold a special grand re-opening celebration that kicks off tonight with a private, VIP cocktail party … Read more
Catherine Ciarlo with Mayor Adams(Photos © J. Maus) Yesterday I met with Mayor Sam Adams’ Transportation Policy Director Catherine Ciarlo. Ciarlo was the executive director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) from 1998-2005 and is a former member of the Portland Planning Commission. In a rapid-fire conversation that lasted just about an hour, we touched … Read more
Bikes Belong Executive Director Tim Blumenthal spoke at the Oregon Bike Summit yesterday.(Photos © J. Maus) Bikes Belong Executive Director Tim Blumenthal shared a lot of inspiring news and information during his remarks at the end of the Oregon Bike Summit yesterday. Blumenthal is a key figure in the national bike movement. He’s at the … Read more
“I bike and walk a lot…I’m especially careful when people are on a cell phone because their attention is obviously on someone else and not me.”–State Rep. Carolyn Tomei, sponsor of a bill to ban use of mobile devices while driving. A bill that would ban cell phones and texting while driving passed out of … Read more
Rep. Dembrow (right) with Jay Graves (center) and Ray Thomas in the State Capitol building yesterday.(Photos © J. Maus) Billing it as a “A new kind of town hall,” two Oregon State Legislators will lead a bike ride around their districts next month. Representative Michael Dembrow and Senator Jackie Dingfelder — both of whom represent … Read more
On the steps of the Capitol.-Slideshow below-(Photos © J. Maus) This morning, as part of the Oregon Bike Summit, a handful of state legislators suited up for the first-ever Legislator Bike Ride. About 50 summit attendees met on the steps of the Capitol building before taking a leisurely, five-mile ride around Salem. Joining the bike … Read more