Wednesday’s regularly scheduled KBOO Bike Show will host the BTA’s public affairs director Karl Rohde for some post-election analysis. Post election woes and victories. Guest Karl Rhode will discuss current pro-bicycle legislation, what passed, what didn’t pass and what’s coming down the bike lane. 9-10AM, Wednesday, November 5th KBOO FM 90.7 Streamed live at KBOO.fm … Read more
The Ace Hotel is throwing a big election night party that will raise a glass to a new era in American politics and will raise money for a few local non-profits; including the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA).
Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN)(Photo © J. Maus) Politico published a story today about who might get cabinet-level appointments in a Barack Obama presidency (if he’s elected on Tuesday night of course). Politico reporter Ben Smith and ABC’s Jonathan Karl (who used “well-positioned Democrats” as sources) have put two familiar names in the running for Obama’s … 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 BlueOregon] AOL’s Lemondrop (an “edgy women’s lifestyle site”) has put together a list of the The 51 Hottest Politicians in America. #1 on the list is 32-year-old Oregon State representative Ben Cannon from Southeast Portland. I searched my archives and found this shot of him pedaling along the Marine Drive bike path in July … Read more
I was wondering when we’d hear from AASHTO — the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (the “voice of transportation” a.k.a. the highway lobby). This just in (via Traffic World and Carfree USA): “AASHTO is weighing a $544.5 billion proposal for the next highway reauthorization bill… Such a proposal would be almost double 2005’s … Read more
[Editor’s note: This story was originally posted on Friday 10/10 but has been re-posted after a server outage.] Commissioner Leonard on his ride home from City Hall in May 2007. (Photo ? J. Maus) According to an article by Amy Ruiz in this week’s Portland Mercury, Commissioner Randy Leonard is intrigued by carfree public spaces … 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:
[via Treehugger and EarthFirst.] Riding bikes; a “wacky idea”. In honor of Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s call to “hold the weasels accountable” and taking a cue from the League of American Bicyclist’s “Trash Talk” campaign, here’s a political attack ad (watch below) from Pennsylvania that is simply shocking. The National Republican Congressional Committee is running an … Read more
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
The BTA’s Government Affairs Director Karl Rohde and I have something in common; we can’t stand the outdated perception (held by all too many legislators and decision makers) that bikes are simply a means of recreation and that funding bike infrastructure is some sort of frivolous, non-essential expenditure. Mr. Rohde is on a crusade of … 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