Today’s edition of Roll Call, a newspaper that has covered Capitol Hill for over half a century, makes it official; bikes are now on the radar of our nation’s lawmakers like never before. In the “Heard on the Hill” column, the paper writes that,
The National Bike Bill is headed to a vote in the Senate Committee on Commerce Science, and Transportation this Thursday (7/31) and the League of American Bicyclists is asking its members to take action. The bill (House Congressional Resolution 305) was introduced by Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) back in February and passed a House vote … Read more
[Updated 7/24, 5:40pm: *See below] Sen. Floyd Prozanski wants to expand Oregon’s helmet law.(Photo © J. Maus) State senator Floyd Prozanski (D-South Lane and North Douglas Counties) plans to introduce an expansion of Oregon’s bicycle helmet law in the 2009 legislative session. Prozanski told me via telephone this morning that he plans to make Oregon’s … Read more
Rep. Blumenauer at this morning’s press conference.Video below(Photos © J. Maus) Ending speculation since the announcement on Friday, U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer was in Portland this morning (sans bowtie) to deliver some “straight talk” about energy policy and unveil a bill that will help cure America’s ailing transportation policies. Expensive oil and gas prices, he … Read more
What sort of mystery legislation does Mr. Blumenauer have up his sleeve?.(Photo © J. Maus) On Monday morning, U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer will be in Portland to announce legislation that he says will provide immediate relief from high gas prices. A statement issued today from Blumenauer’s office says that, “Although there is no silver bullet … Read more
Blumenauer outside his office in March 2008.(Photo © J. Maus) U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer shared his daily ride to his office on Capitol Hill with a reporter from National Public Radio yesterday. Here’s one of the exchanges they had while riding the streets of D.C.: NPR: “Why hasn’t Congress been able to do anything on … Read more
“This has left many in the mountain biking community very frustrated.”–Shane Gould, Portland United Mountain Pedalers Mountain bikers throughout Oregon, with support from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and the Oregon Mountain Bike Alliance (ORMBA), are miffed at a recent proposal by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland) to ban mountain bikes from the Boulder Lake … Read more
An amendment to a “green” schools bill will help with funding for bike access.(Photo © J. Maus) In an illustration that the political winds on transportation are shifting comes news of two bike-friendly bills that have recently passed through the U.S. House of Representatives. In an effort to make Amtrak more bike-friendly, last Wednesday (6/11), … Read more
“If I had to choose between Bush on his mountain bike and John Kerry on his Serotta, I’ll take Obama.”–U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama made headlines last week for his private meeting with members of the bicycle industry in Chicago. U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (who some have whispered would make a … Read more
The bike industry believes in Obama.(Photo © J. Maus) Bicycle Retailer & Industry News magazine (known as BRAIN) reports this morning that in a meeting yesterday with bicycle industry representatives, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said if eleceted he would, “increase funding for cycling and pedestrian projects.” Obama held a private, 20-minute meeting with members … Read more
Mary O’Donnell at this morning’s press conference.(Photos © J. Maus) At a press conference this morning held at a law firm in downtown Portland, Mary O’Donnell — whose husband Tim was killed while riding his bike — told reporters and news cameras that her push for a vehicular homicide law is “definitely what he would … Read more
“It’s really an opportunity to talk about bikes with Barack.”— SRAM CEO Stan Day in Bicycle Retailer magazine BicycleRetailer.com reports that the president and CEO of component manufacturer SRAM will hold a fundraiser for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. According to the story, “the event’s goal is to introduce Obama to industry leaders and to … Read more