You can also read about the BTA’s legislative efforts on their website.
She would have gotten a lower traffic fine had Bailey’s bill moved forward.(Photo © J. Maus) Last week we reported on State Representative Jules Bailey‘s proposed bill to create a new vehicle weight class that would include bicycles and to base traffic fine amounts on the weight class of offenders’ vehicles. If passed, the law … Read more
State Rep. Jules Bailey Newly elected Oregon State Representative from Southeast Portland, Jules Bailey, has introduced a bill into the legislature that would create a new vehicle weight class for non-motorized vehicles weighing under 50 pounds — such as bicycles (we think that weight might be too low with some of today’s new cargo bikes, … Read more
Getting paid to ride to work isn’t that easy…yet.(Photo © J. Maus) I’ve gotten many emails over the past few weeks wondering why I haven’t covered the Bike Commute Tax Benefit that became law on January 1. One reason is that I’m just not all that enthused about it; and it turns out I’m not … Read more
The Frequently Asked Questions below were developed by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) as supporting material for their Idaho Stop Law proposal. Frequently Asked Questions What would this law do? This law would make it legal for bicyclists to treat stop signs like yield signs. A cyclist approaching an intersection controlled by a stop sign, … Read more
The BTA hopes to make it legal to roll through stop signs.(Photos © J. Maus) The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), a Portland-based non-profit with over 5,000 members statewide, has proposed a new law that would make it legal to roll through a stop sign while riding a bicycle in Oregon. In an interview this afternoon, … Read more
Kulongoski speaking at an event in Portland back in April.(Photo © J. Maus) At a press conference this morning in Portland, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski unveiled more details about the ambitious climate change agenda he’ll pursue in the 2009 legislative session. The Portland Tribune reports that Kulongoski says climate change is, “the most important environmental … Read more
[Via BikingBis.com] After news broke about the passage of the bike commuter tax provision in the recent financial bailout bill, many commenters had questions about how it would work. To help answer those questions, the League of American Bicyclists has published a list of Frequently Asked Questions. I’ve pasted excerpts from each question below:
Blumenauer at the unveiling of his Gas Price Relief Act, one of manypieces of legislation that included a bike commuter tax break over the years.(Photo: J. Maus) What a long, strange trip it’s been for Congressman Earl Blumenauer and his Bike Commuter Act. The House Democrat is a former City Commissioner of Transportation in Portland … Read more
[See below for updates: Hint, Blumenauer is saying he won’t support the bailout package.] “The (bailout) bill now includes a… tax benefit for bicycle commuting sought by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat, also a “no” vote on Monday.”— from an article in the Baltimore Sun Hoping to garner votes from House members who previously … Read more
As bike ridership spikes in cities across the state, Oregon’s upcoming legislative session is sure to be full of bike-related action. Figuring prominently in that mix will be the lobbying efforts of the Portland-based Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA). Leading the charge for the BTA will be their new Government Affairs (a.k.a. lobbyist) man Karl Rohde. … Read more
John Lim (R-Gresham) This morning’s Gresham Outlook newspaper has a story about new legislation that has been drafted by Oregon State Rep. John Lim (R-Gresham) that would give a tax break to bike commuters. According to the Outlook, the current draft language of the bill says, “a taxpayer who rides a bicycle to work at … Read more
“I think it’s the best chance the Bike Commuter Act has had so far in the Senate.”— Katie Drennan, a legislative assistant for Congressman Earl Blumenauer For the fourth time this session, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that includes a tax benefit people who ride their bikes to work. The Bike … Read more