File photo As I reported yesterday, the fixed-gear brake bill is moving along nicely in Salem. What I didn’t mention was that an amendment has been added to the bill that will allow police bicycles to be equipped with a siren. Here’s the deal. Existing Oregon statute (ORS 815.280(b)) states that, “A person shall not … Read more
I mentioned in my legislation update earlier this week that the chances of the velodrome bill (S.B. 926) passing were slim. Now it seems like the final nail is in the coffin. Here’s what the Co-Chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee recently said in response to a reader’s email:
Senate Bill 729, which seeks to clarify the existing bicycle brake requirement so that fixed-gear bicycles don’t need an additional brake (as long as they meet the performance standard), got its first hearing on the House side of the capitol in Salem this morning.
Adams showed his form at the 2006 Alice Awards.File photo: 3/4/06 On May 21st, Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams will get a taste of a long-standing institution; bike racing at Portland International Raceway. The venue has hosted thousands of speeding cyclists for over 30 years. Race promoter Jim Anderson, the man behind the popular Monday … Read more
The 2007 legislative session in Salem has been a busy one for bike bills. Here’s a rundown of where things stand on the ones I’ve been following. House Bill 3314 – Vulnerable Users of a Public Right of Way This bill (text), which seeks to create a new offense for inflicting serious injury or death … Read more
Cyclists at the hearing (not everyone shown). From L to R: Dat Nguyen, Steve Upchurch, Tomas Quinones, Steve Kirkendall, Kirsty Hall.File photo: 5/10/07 Cyclists made their voices heard in front of the Mayor and four City Commissioners at the Community Budget Hearing last night. A week or so ago, with funding for the Bike Master … Read more
Mayor Tom Potter was the guest of Sheila Hamilton on the KINK-FM Afternoon Show yesterday. In an interview that dealt mostly with Potter’s charter reform effort, Hamilton also brought up the Bike Master Plan funding fiasco. It’s rare to hear Potter talk about bikes, so I thought I’d share his words with you. Below is … Read more
Commissioner Leonardgets ready in his office.File photo: 5/8/07 On Tuesday I joined City Commissioner Randy Leonard on his ride home from work. I requested the meeting/interview/ride because I’ve heard he’s a dedicated bike commuter, and more importantly, because one of the lessons I learned during the Bike Master Plan funding fiasco is that if we … Read more
Senator Jason Atkinson (R-Central Point)testifies on behalf of S.B 926, while Steve Brown looks on.File photo: 3/29/07 Senate Bill 926, which seeks to use $3.5 million in state lottery funds to build three new velodromes in Oregon, is stalled on the desk of the Ways and Means Committee. The bill is awaiting referral to a … Read more
Download PDF (232 KB) Mayor Tom Potter has just sent a letter to all four City Commissioners and the City Auditor detailing six additional expenditures he will be able to fund in the budget. Included among them is $100,000 for the Bicycle Master Plan Update process. Here’s an excerpt from the letter: “OMF (Office of … Read more
Potter at a Walk and Bike to School event last year.File photo: 10/4/06 When Portland Mayor Tom Potter decided to cut funding for the Bicycle Master Plan, his office received over 300 calls and emails, the third highest response of any issue during his tenure Potter recently told KGW-TV that the community’s reaction was “dissappointing,” … Read more
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