“Expanding the freeway and constructing six new massive interchanges will do tremendous damage to the bike friendliness of communities around the project.”— From a press release issued today by the BTA The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) issued a statement today in opposition to the Columbia River Crossing project. The statement is by far the BTA’s … Read more
The letter from Eugene’s bike program coordinator in opposition to the Idaho Stop bill.(Download PDF) Last week, when the Idaho Stop Law bill — which would allow bikes to treat stop signs as yields (adopting a law similar to one already on the books in Idaho) — was in its first hearing down in Salem, … Read more
[Update, 10:50am: According to a comment from Karl Rohde of the BTA, the work session has been delayed for a few weeks.] The BTA’s Karl Rohde, seen here on the steps of the capitolearlier this week.(Photos © J. Maus) The House Transportation Committee has scheduled a work session for the Idaho Stop law proposal (HB … Read more
(Photo © J. Maus) Karl Rohde, the BTA lobbyist who is working on a bill in Salem that would allow bicycles to treat stop signs as yields (known as the “Idaho Stop law”), tells us that the fate of the bill hangs in the balance. (The bill received its first committee hearing yesterday). According to … Read more
Below is the full, prepared text of Karl Rohde’s testimony in front of the House Transportation Committee yesterday on behalf of the Idaho Stop law. Rohde is in charge of the BTA’s government affairs and he is their lobbyist in Salem. (For a full report from that hearing, read our story from yesterday.) Chair Beyer … Read more
“The CRC project will degrade everything we’ve collectively invested decades creating. There are cheaper, more environmentally sound ways to do this. We aim to make the public aware of them.”— Joe Kurmaskie As promised, a “grassroots coalition of Portlanders and Vancouverites” has launched their first of several satirical videos mocking the current plans for a … Read more
For the first time in 61 years, people can once again follow the old Columbia River Highway right through the basalt heart of Oneonta Bluff. That quote comes from a story in today’s Portland Tribune about an exciting bit of progress on the project to re-establish the Historic Columbia River Highway as a bike and … Read more
This is a screen shot of an upcoming video that will be released by a coalition of citizens who oppose the current direction of the CRC project.
Local mountain bike advocates are gearing up for a day of trail work in Forest Park.(Photo © J. Maus) This Saturday, trails throughout Forest Park will be full of mountain bikers. Is it a rogue protest for equal access? No. The off-road riding enthusiasts will have their hands on shovels and pick-axes, not on their … Read more
With its calm streets, SE Lincoln is a popular bikeway. That is, until you get past SE 50th.(Photos by Spencer Boomhower) The bike boulevard on Harrison and Lincoln Streets between SE 12th and SE 60th Avenues is one the most popular in Portland, and with good reason: it offers a pleasant ride in a straight … Read more
A politician’s worst nightmare. Kidical Mass storming City Hall.(Photos © J. Maus) The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) plans to use their monthly “Kidical Mass” ride as way to send a clear message to City Council about their upcoming budget: Find more money for the city’s Safer Routes to Schools program. Hoping it is seen as, … Read more
“The costs of providing facilities to accommodate and encourage bicycling are minimal in comparison to the value derived by reducing the impacts of our present reliance on motor vehicles for transportation.”— from the BTA’s statement The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) issued a press release today stating their formal opposition to a proposal that would require … Read more