I Just want to quickly point out that there’s an alternative method for legislators to “start a conversation” on complex and/or potentially controversial issues (other than proposing a new law that would prohibit a popular and safe activity). The current legislative session has two such bills that I’m aware of… The first, which we covered … Read more
Oregon House Rep. Ben Cannon has weighed in, urging people to keep reactions civil.(Photo © J. Maus) Oregon House Representative Mitch Greenlick’s idea to start a discussion about child bike safety by proposing a new law (HB 2228) that would make transporting kids six and younger by bike illegal has resulted in a massive response. … Read more
This year, Washington State lawmakers will consider a new safe passing law. The bill, House Bill 1018 (PDF), is just one part of what’s been dubbed as the “Mutual Responsibility Bill.” It appears to have support from both sides of the aisle (in total, eight democrats and three republicans support it) and seems to stand … Read more
Portland’s bikeway signage grant paid for signs like these too.(Photo: Adams Carroll/BikePortland) As the former City of Portland Commissioner of Transportation and current Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland) does not take criticism of bicycling lying down. Blumenauer’s office, working on facts provided by the Portland Bureau of Transportation, issued a … Read more
[Via KGW-TV] Tom Coburn Oklahoma’s Republican Senator Tom Coburn has published a list of 100 federally funded projects that he deems, “the most wasteful government spending of 2010.” On that list is a $900,000 stimulus grant recently received by the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation to pay for bikeway markings and signage. Sen. Coburn … Read more
They work for cars, but for bikes?(Photo © J. Maus) The House Committee on Transportation has put forward a legislative concept (soon to become an official bill) that would direct the Oregon Department of Transportation to conduct a study on the feasibility of bicycling licensing. The idea currently exists as Legislative Concept 1581 (LC 1581). … Read more
Rep. Jules Bailey(Photo © J. Maus) State Representative Jules Bailey (D-Portland) will support a bill in the 2011 legislative session that would amend the Oregon Constitution to make it easier to spend state revenue on transportation projects outside of the highway right-of-way. If the bill is passed by the legislature, it would be sent out … Read more
As we reported on Tuesday, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) is using the upcoming legislative session as a rebuilding year. Coming off a rough session in 2009 and accepting the reality of Oregon’s economic situation, instead of pushing for major new laws or funding bills, the BTA will focus on two minor tweaks to laws … Read more
“We are coming out of a legislative session that really hurt us, so we need to rebuild our core support and rebuild our base in order to be able to pass something… particularly fighting the backlash and hatred that some folks feel about bicycles.” — Rob Sadowsky, BTA Executive Director With the 2011 Oregon legislative … Read more
Tom Hughes, president-elect of Metro. You might have missed it on Friday afternoon, but the extremely close race for president of Metro has officially been won by Tom Hughes. Hughes, a former mayor of Hillsboro, won a close contest (less than 1,000 votes in over 400,000 cast) over Bob Stacey, the former director of the … Read more
Governor-elect John Kitzhaber at his acceptance speech in the Pearl District this morning.(Photos © J. Maus)
