Tranportation activist considers City Council run

Chris Smith at Pioneer Courthouse SquareFile photo: 7/27/06 The word on the street is that citizen activist, blogger and consummate Portland transportation insider Chris Smith is considering a run for Portland City Council. Smith was recently profiled in the Portland Tribune in a front page story that called him, “Citizen Smith”. A former transportation chair … Read more


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Blumenauer asks for help with Bike Commuter Act

(Note: The title of this post was originally, “Benefits fraud may stymie progress on Bike Commuter Act.” I changed it to better reflect the situation.). I just got an email from Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s legislative assistant Katie Drennan. She said that although there is considerable momentum for the Bike Commuter Act (42 co-sponsors so far), … Read more


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Vulnerable Roadway User bill passes committee

Rep. MacPherson, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee.Photo: State of OR The House Judiciary Committee voted 5-4 (along party lines) in favor the Vulnerable Roadway Users bill (H.B. 3314) this morning. The bill was passed with some significant amendments. The amendments change the base infraction from a Class A misdemeanor to a traffic violation payable … Read more


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Police, citizens testify on Vulnerable Roadway Users bill

“What we are very interested in is moving the violator into a driver improvement program, which would include training, completion of community service, and a physical test for competency.”–BTA Board Member Doug Parrow, testifying in Salem yesterday. A bill backed by the BTA and the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition (WPC) that seeks to increase the penalty … Read more


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Rails-to-Trails rallies Portland for new funding campaign

Laura Cohen of the Rails toTrails Conservancy inCity Hall last week.File photo: 4/12/07 The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) stopped in Portland recently to meet with advocates and policy-makers to rally support for an ambitious congressional funding campaign. As I reported a few weeks ago, the RTC hopes to secure $2 billion in the next Federal Transportation … Read more


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BTA pushes for pedestrian hand signal law

Bricker demonstrates the proposed pedestrian hand signal.File photo: 2/15/07 The BTA is working the halls of Salem right now to build support for Senate Bill 573. According to an action alert sent out by BTA lobbyist Scott Bricker yesterday, “The bill would allow pedestrians to use a hand signal to employ their right-of-way, rather than … Read more