Editorial: While Portland stalls, New York City moves boldly forward
New York City has a plan to radically transform Broadway at 7th Ave. near Times Square.(Photo courtesy Streetsblog)
Opinion
NY Times columnist: Americans prefer sprawl
“Amsterdam is a wonderful city, but Americans never seem to want to live there.”— David Brooks in the New York Times In his latest piece in the New York Times, columnist David Brooks opines that, while Americans might appreciate the finer points of Amsterdam’s urban life (like bikes and beer), they really would rather have … Read more
The Portland that might have been
I recently came across this image again — it’s the map that might have sealed our fate, developed by Portland city planners in 1966 in response to freeway guru Robert Moses’ vision for the city. Robert Moses’ freeway plan for the City of Portland Moses was known for saying “Cities are for traffic,” and he … Read more
Guest Editorial: A city where bikes and streetcars coexist
Chris Smith [This article was written by Chris Smith. Chris is a multi-modal transportation advocate who writes regularly on PortlandTransport.com. In the late 1990s he helped win neighborhood approval of the NW Bikeways plan that established the bicycle network in NW Portland and the Pearl District. He currently serves as chair of the Streetcar Citizens … Read more
Guest Editorial: Speaking up on the CRC
[Editor’s note: This guest editorial was written by first-time BikePortland contributor Spencer Boomhower. Spencer testified in front of City Council during a hearing on the Columbia River Crossing held last Thursday.] Spencer Boomhower I’m sitting at a table with a microphone sticking in my face, and a little digital counter telling me how much time … Read more
Adams’ light dimming fast
Adams at his press conference yesterday.(Photos © J. Maus) If Mayor Sam Adams hoped for progress overnight in his effort to save his reputation and his political life, it seems things have only gotten worse. This morning I awoke to both of our local daily newspapers — The Oregonian and the Portland Tribune — calling … Read more
The unfortunate situation with Mayor Adams
Mayor Sam Adams in October 2007.(Photos © J. Maus) This is a surreal day. While I watched our new President’s moving inaugural speech this morning, it took all of my focus to not keep thinking about the big story I’d heard about the night before involving our leader here in Portland, Mayor Sam Adams. In … Read more
Outgoing planning director says bikes should be “primary mode of transportation”
“Retrofitting the cityscape for bicycles as a primary mode of transportation needs to be a priority.”— Gill Kelley, outgoing director of the Planning Bureau Whether you follow city politics or not, you’ve got to recognize that Portland is at an exciting point in its history. Yes, we face major challenges, but we’ve got a fresh … Read more
Adams wants Portland to be hub of “green revolution”
Adams, looking confident at a party in City Hall last night.(Photos © J. Maus) During his speech at the swearing-in ceremony at Parkrose High School yesterday, Mayor Sam Adams laid out his top three priorities; jobs, education, and sustainability. There was no mention of bikes specifically, but it’s clear that “sustainability” is where Adams plans … Read more
Wall Street Journal suggests going carfree to save money
“Whether you drive a hybrid or an SUV, your car is a cash-guzzler. Families trying to save real money should consider going without.” It may be a true sign of change when the Wall Street Journal suggests that giving up your car could be good for your personal finances and the economy as a whole. … Read more
Cruisers and crowds; a trip to Surf City, USA
Bike parking under the Huntington Beach Pier.(Photos © J. Maus) A trip to Huntington Beach for dinner last night made me feel old. As a kid, I remember spending countless days at that beach, trying to hone my surfing skills and hanging out on the sand with friends. The boardwalk path that runs at the … Read more
Guest Article: Why Portland needs a safe passing distance ordinance
Christopher Heaps The article below was written by Christopher Heaps. Heaps is a Sellwood resident who rides his bike daily to his job as a lawyer with Stoel Rives in downtown Portland. You might remember Heaps as the lawyer who garnered a headline or two for successfully carrying out the “citizen-initiated citation” process. We wrote … Read more