Rep. Jim Oberstar addressing the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Seattle.(Photos © J. Maus) In the closing address of the 2008 Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Seattle on Friday, bicycling’s Grand Man in Congress, Jim Oberstar, shared a history of America’s bike movement, and inspired the assembled crowd with his trademark energy and bravado. For … Read more
A Freewheelin’ station in Denver.(Photo: Freewheelin/Flickr) A bike-sharing program that started as an employee perk for Lousville, Kentucky-based Humana Corporation has taken the national stage this week. Humana — a $30 billion a year, 9,000 employee health insurance company — has partnered up with Bikes Belong and a host of bike manufacturers to set up … Read more
Jeff Merkley(Photo: JeffMerkley.com) Jeff Merkley (D-Portland), the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, is turning to Portland’s bike community for help in his race to grab a seat in the United States Senate from incumbent Gordon Smith. I received an invitation yesterday for a fundraising event in September that will take place at the … Read more
From L to R: State Rep. Jackie Dingfelder, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, and State Rep. Ben Cannon.
Tom Miller will be the Mayor’s chief of staff.(Photos © J. Maus) In what is probably not too surprising of a move for City Hall watchers, City Commissioner and Mayor-elect Sam Adams has named Tom Miller to be his chief of staff once he becomes Portland’s mayor in January. Miller is already chief of staff … Read more
The Oregonian is reporting that Oregon state senator Floyd Prozanski is backing off his idea to introduce a law would have made helmets mandatory for adults. The O’s Michelle Cole says Prozanski felt pressure to pull back due to the negative response he received. She wrote, “Prozanski also got a pounding this week from bloggers…”. … Read more
Atkinson testifying in support of the Fixed Gear Brake bill during a hearing in Salem in March 2007. His shirt reads, “Ride a fixed gear, go to jail.”(Photo © J. Maus) Oregon state Senator Jason Atkinson (R-Central Point) — an avid cyclist and a regular supporter of bike-related legislation in Salem — was accidently shot … Read more
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