The Washington DC-based Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) plans to launch a national campaign that would seek $2 billion for 40 communities to fund non-motorized transportation projects in the next federal transportation bill, which is up for re-authorization in 2010. Calling it their 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation, the national advocacy group is in the early stages … Read more
[Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder presents his resolution calling for more alternatives to be considered in the Columbia River Crossing process.]
Opponents of the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) Task Force’s plan to build a gargantuan, $2-6 billion new highway bridge claimed an important victory last night. Metro Councilors heard a steady stream of public testimony in support of two resolutions to study other alternatives that were put forth by Metro Councilors Rex Burkholder and Robert Liberty.
[A new bill proposed by Oregon Sen. Jason Atkinson could bring a new velodrome to Portland. The Alpenrose Velodrome (shown above) is in need of expensive repairs and is not a year-round facility.]
The last, and most innovative of the BTA’s three legislative proposals is just one minor step from being an official bill. Their “vulnerable users” proposal will be turned into the House Judiciary Committee in Salem today. Here’s the official wording of the bill summary:
[Without a new law, this is what some people must resort to.]
[Bjorn Warloe] Portland resident Bjorn Warloe wants Oregon to take a cue from Idaho when it comes to how bicycles treat stop signs and traffic lights. Since I met him last December, he has garnered interest and support from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and some lawmakers in Salem. I asked him a few questions about … Read more
[The Capitol building in Salem.] If you’re interested in this year’s bike legislation in Salem and beyond, you won’t want to miss an upcoming discussion being hosted by PDOT. As part of their ongoing Bicycle Brown Bag series, they’re bringing in Scott Bricker of the BTA and Karmen Fore from U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio’s office … Read more
A few weeks ago, the BTA unveiled their Senate Bill 299 (PDF here), an “omnibus” bill that includes several new provisions. The last section (Section 6) of that bill included amendments to ORS 811.440 which deals with laws pertaining to, “When motor vehicles may operate on bicycle lane.”
There’s a notable addition to the BTA’s 2007 Legislation page. In a section titled “Other Bicycle Bills” (meaning ones they’re not working on themselves) is a mention of a local effort — which I reported on a month ago — to consider changing how bicycles treat stop signs.
[From my trip last year.] The National Bike Summit is just five weeks away. The Summit is a four-day, annual event in Washington D.C. that brings together America’s bike leaders to network, learn, and most importantly, to ask members of Congress to consider bicycles in their decisions.
[A road in North Plains.] Yesterday, the BTA’s Senate Bill 299 — which includes a provision about requiring a minimum three-foot passing distance — got its first debate on the floor of the Judiciary Committee in Salem. A reporter from the Associated Press was there and filed a report that was picked up by the … Read more