BTA will ask members for input on new leader

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BTA's new office

Yesterday we shared some names of folks who might be a good fit for the top job at the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA). Now, the organization has announced two meetings where they’ll ask members what qualities and attributes they want in their next executive director.

Former ED Scott Bricker was let go in November and a national search has begun for his replacement. To kick off that search, the BTA will ask members to provide input on this major decision.

Here’s a snip from an email sent out a few minutes ago to BTA members:

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Holiday Bike Drive will reach out to diverse communities

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CCC's Holiday Bike Drive

There are always lots of
smiles at the Holiday Bike Drive.
(Photos © J. Maus)

This weekend is the Community Cycling Center’s annual Holiday Bike Drive. This year the theme is “It takes a community” and it will be the most diverse group of participants the CCC has ever served.

According to the CCC’s Director of Community and Programs Alison Hill Graves, they targeted outreach for the event at the same organizations they have met through their Understanding Barriers to Bicycling project. Those organizations include New Columbia, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Self Enhancement, Inc., and others.

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In Portland region, transportation safety gets larger seat at the table

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Safer Routes to School event-1-2.jpg

ODOT Region 1 Director
Jason Tell.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Portland metro area’s regional director of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is leading a charge to raise the profile of transportation safety for all modes.

ODOT Region 1 Director Jason Tell put forth a successful amendment yesterday (download PDF) at a meeting of Metro’s Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation that will fundamentally change how the influential Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) looks at safety. The RTP, a $20 billion package of projects, was supported by JPACT yesterday and is expected to be officially adopted by Metro later this month.

Tell’s amendment changes the safety performance measure in transportation project evaluation, adds biking and walking traffic into safety risk calculations (only motor vehicle traffic used to be considered), and directs ODOT, Metro, and other agencies to create a “Regional Safety Working Group.”

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Bike business group, BTA, look to drum up corporate support for Bicycle Plan

Alberta needs on-street bike parking

Biking and walking are good for business.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The fledgling Bicycle Business League (BBL) and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) have joined forces to garner support from local businesses for the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030.

The BBL has drafted a letter of support for the plan and the group hopes to get 100 businesses to sign on to it before the plan comes before Portland City Council on January 20th. The BTA, which helped facilitate the formation of the BBL since its first meeting back in May, says the public and business leaders are aligned in their support of biking and walking.

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Raliegh Cadent 2.0 2005

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Year: 2005
Brand: Raliegh
Model: Cadent 2.0
Serial: u59k2553
Stolen in Portland, OR
Stolen:2009-12-3
Stolen From: 6th and SW pine
Neighborhood: Downtown
Owner: Danny DeBates
OwnerEmail: daniel.debates@pcc.edu
Description: Black and Silver with front touring bars and a bell light duct taped on them also a back blackburn rack
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Check out the bike packages in Mercury’s charity auction

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The Merc’s Mirk on a bike.
(Photo: Portland Mercury)

For the second year in a row, the Portland Mercury’s annual Holiday Auction (and its saucy photo spread) entices would-be donors with several bike-filled gift packages. If you want to help a great local non-profit (Outside In) and show your true biking spirit, get over to their site and bid on one of them.

This year there are three bike-alicious packages to choose from:

  • Bike With The Mayor – Includes a ride and lunch with me and Mayor Sam Adams with a Patagonia messenger bag thrown in for good measure.
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Weekend Event Guide

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Snow Day!

Will it snow this weekend? Bring it on!
(Photo © J. Maus)

The forecast calls for a chance of snow and freezing rain on Saturday morning, and better chance of less-freezing rain for the rest of the weekend. Other than that it should be a great time to get out there for a ride (all night, at that). And this being Portland, there’s no lack of opportunity.

There’s also a sizeable Portland contingent down in Bend right now for the 2009 Cyclocross National Championships — good luck to them!

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gray Fuji Tahoe 29 comp 2008

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Year: 2008
Brand: Fuji
Model: Tahoe 29 comp
Color:gray
Size:21″
Serial: icf7l02059
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2009-12-3
Stolen From: Backpedal Cycleworks bike, 7126 SE Harold. along with cash and laptop which had the pictures of the bike on it.
Neighborhood: Arleta/Woodstock
Owner: Rick Shaputis
OwnerEmail: rick@bpcycleworks.com
Description: Dark gray paint with red lettering and red handgrips.
Police record with: Aaron Cole PDX Police
Police reference#: 09-107927
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Metro committee says no to Adams’ amendment, yes on RTP

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metro hearing on the CRC-2.jpg

Metro’s RTP contains a $20 billion
list of transportation projects.
(Photo © J. Maus)

This morning, Metro’s Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation voted 14-3 in support of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Portland Mayor Sam Adams had an amendment to the plan rejected 11-5 and was one of the three “no” votes.

The RTP contains a list of over 600 transportation infrastructure projects at a total price tag of $20 billion. The plan has come under fire from bicycle and environmental advocacy groups (it even earned a “Rogue of the Week” award from The Willamette Week) because, if the project list was built out, it would increase greenhouse gas emissions by 50% and run afoul of our region’s emissions reduction goals.

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Who might take the reins of the BTA?

BTA's new office

The door is open. Who will walk in?
(Photos © J. Maus)

As the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) readies to launch a national search for a leader to replace Scott Bricker, we thought it’d be fun to make a few guesses as to who might take the reins.

So far, we don’t have many specifics about the type of leader the BTA is looking for (they haven’t released a job description yet). However, it’s safe to assume they’re looking for someone who will take the organization to the next level. They’ve hinted at becoming a more “aggressive” advocacy organization, and, with an annual budget in excess of $1 million and a large staff, they’ll also need a sterling manager (of both people and pennies).

What follows, in no particular order, is a completely unscientific and unsubstantiated list of local, regional, and national bike superstars who might want to consider throwing their hat in to the ring (or not).

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