You can also read about the BTA’s legislative efforts on their website.
Tim O’Donnell’s widow, Mary O’Donnell, had these buttons made for the hearing. Last Friday, just two days after he relieved former BTA lobbyist Karl Rohde from his duties, executive director Scott Bricker was down in Salem filling his former role as the organization’s chief lobbyist. Bricker presented the BTA’s position on their proposed Vehicular Homicide … 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
“And you’re scratching your head wondering when was the last time you saw one actually stop.”— Harry Esteve, The Oregonian It’s the BTA’s worst nightmare. They’ve spent months preparing for the smooth passage of the Idaho Stop Law (the proposed bill, HB 2690, would allow bicycle operators to enter a stop-sign controlled intersection without stopping … Read more
Through those doors, the laws are made.(Photos © J. Maus) Tomorrow I’ll make my first trip down to Salem this session — and what a full day it’s shaping up to be. My day will start with a meeting of the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC). The OTC is the five-person, governor-appointed cabinet that sets transportation … Read more
“Right now, it’s not moving…it’s not going anywhere.”— Colleen Krieger, legislative assistant to Rep. Wayne Krieger As the bike registration bill saga enters its second week, all signs point to the demise of H.B. 3008. The bill, which seeks a mandatory fee of $54 to register all bicycles in Oregon that are operated on public … Read more
A scene from last summer’s Sunday Parkways event.(Photo © J. Maus) It may not feel like it outside, but summer is fast approaching and the City of Portland Office of Transportation is busy putting the pieces together for their second annual Sunday Parkways events. Last year, the city held one Sunday Parkways event in North … Read more
Rep. Earl Blumenauer at a reception this morning on Capitol Hill.(Photo © J. Maus) When the Bike Commuter Benefit Act passed back in October, it was somewhat of a shallow victory for advocates who had pushed for its passage for seven long years. Not only did it pass as a ploy to build support for … Read more
Oregon state Senator Sal Esquivel It has been interesting to follow the widespread discussion spurred by the proposal in the Oregon legislature that would establish a $54, mandatory bike registration fee in Oregon. Even though the bill is highly unlikely to pass, it has drawn the attention of advocates, the media, and citizens like few … Read more
This story is part of our special 2009 National Bike Summit coverage (sponsored by Planet Bike). For more coverage, follow BikePortland on Twitter and browse the latest photos in our Bike Summit photo gallery. Rep. Doris Matsui wants to slay the evil, bloated, highway dragon.(Photos © J. Maus) With a commitment to focus on livable … Read more
“This is an opportunity for the bicyclists to start contributing to our roads… everybody needs to contribute to what’s there… if there were not bicycles we wouldn’t need bicycle lanes.” — Rep. Wayne Krieger Representative Wayne Krieger (R-Gold Beach) wants everyone who owns a bicycle in the state of Oregon to pay a mandatory, $54 … Read more