BikePortland

PBOT Director Leah Treat likes bikes

Leah Treat’s family vehicle.
(Photo @leahtreat on Twitter)

In case it didn’t come through in the two stories I’ve posted about new PBOT Director Leah Treat today, I want to make it clear that she likes bikes. Treat rides bicycles regularly and she’s not shy about sharing her appreciation of bicycling with the public. Does this matter? Yes. Does it mean everybody’s bike dreams will suddenly come true? No.

As we’ve unfortunately experienced for the past four-plus years, politics often trumps good policy and projects here in Portland. But that being said, I think Treat’s love of cycling and her understanding that bicycling plays a crucial and valuable role in the urban transportation mix, is an extremely important trait that is likely bode very well for Portland’s future. This is especially true when her perspective is combined with that of her two bosses — Commissioner Steve Novick and Mayor Charlie Hales — both of whom are very supportive of bicycling and seem poised to shake up the local transportation status quo.

What evidence do I have that Treat likes bikes? Here are a few things quickly gleaned from the Interwebs…

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 1995
Brand: Cannondale
Model: 800
Color:RED
Stolen in Portland, OR 97227
Stolen:2013-06-14
Stolen From: Sassy’s on Morrison
Neighborhood: SE
Owner: Tyler Bice Bice
OwnerEmail: tyler_bice(at sign)hotmail.com
Description: RED. Cannondale 800. Missing left pedal. fendors and hybrid tires.
Police reference#: 13-153821
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Ride takes closer look at I-205 path, the ‘Grandaddy of MUPs’

A Pedalpalooza ride explored the I-205 path last night.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

When it comes to our region’s multi-use paths (known by wonks as MUPs), it’s not a stretch to call the I-205 path the “Granddaddy” of them all. Built by the Oregon Department of Transportation with money from our heralded “Bicycle Bill” (that mandates 1% of new highway funds go toward bicycling), the first section of the path opened in the 1970s and it was “completed” in 1982. Today the path connects five cities, ten neighborhoods, and stretches 16.5 miles from the Clackamas River in Gladstone to Vancouver, Washington.

Last night, staffers from ODOT and TriMet led a Pedalpalooza ride (sponsored by the Women’s Transportation Seminar) that gave attendees a chance to learn more about the path’s past, present and future.

Before we got rolling, it was fun to hear the reasons why each person showed up on a weekday evening for a wonky tour of the I-205 path. “This was the closest Pedalpalooza ride to me tonight,” said one guy. Another guy said, “I do all of the wonk rides.” We were also joined by a a married couple named Michael and Wendy. Wendy shared that they live just one block off the path. “I love having this path next to our house,” she said, “because I could re-learn how to ride a bike without cars scaring the crap out of me.”

“I do believe that Portland has started stagnating in terms of progressive transportation.”
— Leah Treat, incoming Director of PBOT

Last month I accepted an invitation from the Mayor’s office to be involved in the selection process for a new director of the Bureau of Transportation. The event was billed as a “meet and greet” and an opportunity to have informal, small-group discussions with each of the final candidates. Three finalists had already been through grilling formal interview and the City wanted to hear feedback from citizen transportation advocates. I gladly accepted and agreed to not share any details of the conversations until a final selection was made. One of the people we spoke to that day was Leah Treat, who we’ve now learned is Mayor Hales and Commissioner Novick’s ultimate choice for the job.

The first thing that impressed me about Treat was that before we (myself and three others) even started asking her questions, she opened up the conversation by asking each of us what our priorities were. What followed was an enlightening back-and-forth that ranged from Portland’s transportation stagnation, to equity, financing, and other issues. I made an audio recording of the event and the Q & A with Treat is below:

Year: 2013
Brand: JAMIS
Model: Satellite Sport
Color:BLACK
Size:56cm
Serial: U120U04762
Photo: http://cambridgebicycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013_jamis_satellite_sport.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2013-06-16
Stolen From: 609 SE Ankeny St in front of “Abby’s Table”. se 6th and ankeny
Neighborhood: Buckman
Owner: Erik O’Banion
OwnerEmail: eobanion( atsign )gmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: Black 2013 Jamis Satellite Sport with drop handlebars. The Jamis logo is in blocky all caps letters (the earlier models ie. the 2010 has a script-like/handwritten font).

The picture I included looks identical to my bike apart from the seat and a few stickers. The seat is a Serfas E-GEL seat and the bike has a Seven-Corners Cycles stickers on it. Here is a link to a picture of the Serfas E-GEL saddle.
https://www.serfas.com/uploads/ProductLineItemImage/cache/1000x1000_4ec2e7242aa6b.jpg
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-49112
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Chicago’s Leah Treat named as new PBOT Director

Leah Treat.
(Photo: PBOT)

The City of Portland has selected Leah Treat to be the new Director of the Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). Treat is currently the Managing Deputy Commissioner at the Chicago Department of Transportation where she serves under Chicago’s Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein.

In a statement released this morning, PBOT Commissioner Steve Novick said, “Portland needs a transportation leader who has the budget management background to help us address our deficit in basic street maintenance and who understands the value of sustainable modes such as biking and walking. We know we have found the right person for PBOT in Leah Treat and we are excited to have her join us in Portland.”

Treat has been in government service her entire 17-year career. Her background is in budgeting and finance and the majority of her past positions have been focused on “standing up organizations financially.” Treat and Klein first worked together in Washington D.C. where she was Klein’s deputy director of finance and managed D.C. over $1 billion transportation budget. Prior to working in D.C. Treat served in advisory roles for the governor and Legislature of New Mexico.

Year: 1988
Brand: motobacane
Color:blue
Size:58 cm
Photo: https://m.facebook.com/home.php?refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch&refid=8&_rdr#!/home.php?refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch&soft=side-area&__user=100000013748046
Stolen in Greshem, OR 97030
Stolen:2013-06-18
Stolen From: Loyyd center near the nail salon below a camera at 7:30-9
Neighborhood: loyyd center district
Owner: forest jade
OwnerEmail: ag3ntg(at sign)gmail.com
Reward: 200
Description: It has a rare brake cable that threads on the inside of the top main frame. A brand new white seat two new matching tires and mismatch peddles. Missing grip tape on one side from a accident. Please if you have any information this was my baby. 503 816 3936
Police reference#: 1347411
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Red/Black Trek 2000 Alpha 2002

Year: 2002
Brand: Trek
Model: 2000 Alpha
Color:Red/Black
Size:68cm
Serial: WL1717269
Stolen in Portland, OR 97213
Stolen:2013-06-17
Stolen From: 62nd and Glisan stolen from a shed
Neighborhood: North Tabor
Owner: Chris Stenken
OwnerEmail: chrisstenken( atsign )gmail.com
Reward: 100$
Description: Has waterproof black panniers (with rain-pants and u lock inside), rear rack, front and rear lights, black bar tape, and a significant dent in the top bar of the frame.
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Red/White/Green Torelli

Brand: Torelli
Color:Red/White/Green
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/U1icc0e.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2013-06-14
Stolen From: Lloyd Center Tower
Neighborhood: Lloyd Center Neighborhood
Owner: Tali Best
OwnerEmail: talifly(replace with at sign)yahoo.com
Reward: Yes.
Description: Torelli Road Bike. Terry Firefly bike seat. Cane Creek Wheel Set. White handlebar tape. Time clipless pedals.
Police record with: Portland Police
Police reference#: 1349555
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Silver Specialized Sequoia 2005

Year: 2005
Brand: Specialized
Model: Sequoia
Color:Silver
Size:XS
Serial: P3HM20062
Stolen in Portland, OR
Stolen:2013-06-15
Stolen From: 41st and Division at Village Merchant
Neighborhood: 41st and Division
Owner: Maura Kell
OwnerEmail: Mokell(AT)usa.net
Reward: Yes!
Description: XS Specialized Sequoia – silver road bike. Carbon fork with dampers and carbon seat post. White rack on back covered with stickers.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 1348709
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

White/Black Trek 1.5 2012

Year: 2012
Brand: Trek
Model: 1.5
Color:White/Black
Serial: WTU148C0233G
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2013-06-12
Stolen From: Front porch of my house. NE 10th and NE Skidmore.
Neighborhood: Northeast
Owner: Justin Ledbetter
OwnerEmail: justin.r.ledbetter( atsign )gmail.com
Description: White & black Trek 1.5 road bike. Has a Specialized saddle (with approx 3 inch scratch on the right side) and Keo (I think) pedals. Had a seat bag and bento box at time of theft.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T13005261
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

PBOT Director Leah Treat likes bikes

RED Cannondale 800 1995

Ride takes closer look at I-205 path, the ‘Grandaddy of MUPs’

Job interview Q & A with new PBOT Director Leah Treat

BLACK JAMIS Satellite Sport 2013

Chicago’s Leah Treat named as new PBOT Director

blue motobacane 1988

Red/Black Trek 2000 Alpha 2002

Red/White/Green Torelli

Silver Specialized Sequoia 2005

White/Black Trek 1.5 2012

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