On its 20th anniversary, one of Portland’s best ride guides has taken another evolutionary step. The Rubber to the Road guidebook is now available as a series of short films on YouTube.
Bike tax a big moment for cycling movement says Oregon Congressman Blumenauer
“It’s an acknowledgment of the power of the cycling community.”
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)
The face of bicycling in Oregon isn’t that mad about our state’s new, $15 tax on new bicycles.
U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who served six years in the Oregon House of Representatives and nearly 10 years as a Portland city commissioner, shared via a phone interview yesterday that he feels the tax is a “modest fee” that isn’t that big of a deal when viewed in the light of the overall infrastructure funding package.
I caught up with Blumenauer from his office in Washington D.C. where he’s standing against strong political winds.
“I think this is a really great opportunity for the cycling community to take a step back and think about the bigger picture,” he said.
Blumenauer probably knows more about the “bigger picture” than anyone in the bike advocacy game. He has fought for bicycle-related transportation funding for about 40 years. During that time he’s heard all the anti-bike arguments you can imagine.
“One of the arguments we hear repeatedly is that cyclists don’t have any skin in the game… so there’s been blowback.” Blumenauer thinks the “cyclists don’t pay” argument has only gotten louder as more money has gone to bike projects. During his tenure in politics, Blumenauer has seen Oregon implement the pioneering 1971 “Bicycle Bill” which sets aside 1 percent of all the state’s highway gas tax money for biking and walking infrastructure (which should equal about $3.7 million per year over ten years in the new bill. And federal programs like Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancements, and TIGER grants have funded billions in bike infrastructure. “That’s big money,” he said.
State bike/walk advisory committee seeks two new members
With a new transportation bill in the books, this is an important time to get engaged and influence where the money goes.
Check out the press release below for info on two openings on the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (or OBPAC as the wonks say):
SALEM – The Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is seeking two new members: one local government/land use planning member and one at-large member. The eight-member volunteer committee, appointed by the governor, acts as a liaison between the public and ODOT. It advises ODOT in the regulation of bicycle and pedestrian traffic and the establishment of bikeways and walkways. Members serve four-year terms.
The committee was first formed by Oregon Statute 366.112, a bill passed in the 1973 Oregon Legislature. In 1995, the Oregon Transportation Commission officially recognized the committee’s additional role in pedestrian issues, and the group became the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, or OBPAC.
Throughout the year, the committee gathers input from residents, officials and ODOT staff as it considers bicycle and pedestrian transportation-related issues. The committee meets up to six times per year, with several of those meetings in locations outside of the Salem area; travel expenses are reimbursed. Upcoming work items include input on the new Safe Routes to School program, ODOT’s Active Transportation Section, and the department’s multimodal policies. Interest forms are available online.
For questions about the appointment process, contact Judge Kemp, Boards & Commissions manager, 503-378-2317.
For questions about the committee, contact Sheila Lyons, ODOT Bicycle & Pedestrian Program manager, 503-986-3555, sheila.a.lyons@odot.state.or.us.
Weekend Event Guide: Accessible overnighters, MTB endurance, track racing, and more
Load up your bike and do an overnighter. Portland has several nearby spots to choose from.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)
Camping trips, off-road bike races, dance party rides – this is summer in the Portland region.
Portland will launch Biketown-inspired adaptive bike rental program next week
(Photo: PBOT)
One year ago Portland was readying for the big debut of its Nike-sponsored bike share system when a thorny issue popped up: The 1,000 Biketown bikes were useless to those with disabilities and who otherwise are unable to ride a standard bicycle.
Instead of ignore the problem, PBOT put their heads down and got to work. They launched a survey to garner feedback from people with disabilities (192 people responded) and convened a task force to figure out how the program could work. The result is a new bike rental system that will be separate from — but complementary to — the Biketown system. It’s set to launch next Friday July 21st.
The new program isn’t fully fleshed out yet; but based on the survey and interviews with adaptive bike users, PBOT has figured out enough to launch a pilot.
The city will work with two existing shops: Kerr Bikes, a rental company; and Different Spokes, an adaptive bike specialist. Each of them have agreed to provide a selection of handcycles, trikes, and tandems to registered users for short-term rentals. Kerr has locations on the Esplanade (near OMSI) and at Salmon Street Fountain in Waterfront Park. Different Spokes is located at SE 4th and Ivon, just steps away from the entrance of the Springwater Corridor.
City set to adopt list of 105 ‘Vision Zero’ projects
As many advocates and insiders reading this already know, before a project can get funded it must be on a list. The more powerful the list, the more important it is that your project gets on it. These lists are were the money goes first and inclusion of a project on them is often the only justification needed to get it built.
Tomorrow at City Council the Portland Bureau of Transportation will ask Mayor Ted Wheeler and the four other commissioners to approve a list of 105 “Vision Zero projects” PBOT says are critical to, “systematically address the safety needs” on our most dangerous streets (see the full ordinance and list here). The total estimated cost of all the projects could be close to $750 million. About one-quarter of the projects on the list are already funded. PBOT has also requested that 17 of the 105 projects (estimated to cost upwards of $74 million) get added to Portland’s Transportation System Plan — which would give them the highest priority possible.
This important move to prioritize infrastructure projects that back up PBOT’s Vision Zero effort began two years ago when City Council adopted a resolution that read in part, “No loss of life is acceptable on our city streets.”
Job: Bike Moves Maintenance Coordinator – The Street Trust
Job Title *
Bike Moves Maintenance Coordinator
Company/Organization *
The Street Trust
Job Description *
Reporting To: Education Director
Rate of Pay: $14.00/hour
Status: 10-15 hours a week, Temporary: August – November and March – June
Location: Portland, OR
We are hiring a Bike Moves and Maintenance Coordinator for the fall and spring semester.
Why you should apply for this fantastic job.
Do you like logistics, being outside, getting exercise, and working in an encouraging team atmosphere? Do you support our mission of promoting and improving public transit, walking and bicycling conditions in Oregon? We want you to work with us! We advocate for healthy thriving communities where it is safe and easy for people to bike walk and ride public transit. Our vision is a region where all those who call our community home embrace walking, biking and riding transit.
These jobs are perfect for anyone who has a bit of bike maintenance experience and is thinking about furthering their experience with bicycle maintenance. Our team is excited to add your expertise and creativity to our program!
The Street Trust formerly The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), is a non-profit membership organization with a mission to create healthy, sustainable communities by making bicycling, walking and transit safer, more convenient and more accessible in Oregon and SW Washington. We are hiring one temporary, part-time Bike Move and Maintenance Coordinator to support The Street Trust’s Bike Safety Education program from August through November 2017 and February through June 2018. The Bike Safety Education program is a ten-hour class including on-bike and on-street training taught to 4th and 5th grade students at 40 elementary schools throughout Portland. We need a person to coordinate moving bikes to and from these schools and coordinate the maintenance of the fleets.
This is a Safe Routes to School Program, a partnership between The Street Trust, City of Portland, schools, neighborhoods, community organizations and agencies. The program increases safety and improves health for students and their families through making walking, biking and rolling around neighborhoods and schools fun, easy, safe and healthy for youth and families.
This position will work in culturally, ethnically, linguistically and economically diverse schools located all over the city of Portland in three schools districts. Some of the Portland schools are in North Portland at Rosa Parks, and Peninsula Elementary schools, in Northeast at Rigler and Roseway Heights Elementary schools, in Southeast at Lent and Lewis Elementary schools, in Southwest at Maplewood, Bridlemile Elementary schools, and in East Portland at Lincoln Park, Earl Boyles, and Gilbert Heights Elementary schools just to name a few.
What you would be doing as a Bike Moves and Maintenance Coordinator.
Lead bike fleet maintenance monthly events.
Lead bike moves to and from schools.
Coordinate and communicate with The Street Trust BSE team and schools for the bike moves.
What we believe.
We believe that bicycling, walking and transit transforms communities by reinventing transportation and offering solutions that help solve the universal challenges to health, livability and the environment.
The Street Trust is committed to racial equity across the organization: in our service to stakeholders, in our workforce composition and practices, and in our organizational culture. While still seeking to improve our demonstration of this commitment, candidates should know that racial equity is a cornerstone of our commitment to all communities in the region. We believe in equity, diversity and inclusion.
We envision a community where everyone from all racial backgrounds has access to safe, healthy, and affordable transportation options in the neighborhoods where they live, work, learn, pray, and play. We want all residents to equally share in the prosperity created by investments in active transportation regardless of race, income and socio-economic status.
Please see our equity policy document
Minimum Requirements:
Able to lift 30 lbs above your shoulders.
Able to walk or use a mobility device for one mile.
Able to move 40 bikes in and out of a truck up to 5 times in one day.
Able to recruit, inspire and guide volunteers to help with bike maintenance events.
Able to rent and drive a box truck.
Basic bike Maintenance experience.
Punctual, patient, and engaged.
Must be available for training in August and during school hours, Monday through Friday, August through November and February through June for program delivery.
Successful candidates will demonstrate a commitment to working effectively with diverse community populations.
If you have experience in the following, please highlight it in your cover letter:
Experience working with bikes
Experience with the cultural diversity represented in our Portland schools
Strong organizational skills.
Experience recruiting, organizing, supervising, and guiding volunteers
How to Apply *
Please send your cover letter and resume (in PDF format if possible) via email to greg@thestreettrust.org. The resume and cover letter should highlight relevant experience and demonstrate how you meet the minimum requirements.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Candidates of color are strongly encouraged to apply. The organization is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment.
Beyond the bike tax: Here’s what else Oregon’s new transportation bill does for biking and walking
“This historic investment in walking, biking, & transit puts [Oregon] on the map as a leader in accessibility & active transportation.
— The Street Trust via Twitter
It’s no small task that Oregon legislators passed a $5.3 billion transportation package last week. We haven’t had a new way to fund transportation projects and programs since the Jobs and Transportation Act passed in 2009 and this year’s bill was nearly dead just days before being resurrected thanks to a few major compromises.
But a small part of House Bill 2017 — a $15 tax on new bicycles — has gotten a lot of attention from transportation reformers (did you see the tweet from former New York City DOT Director Janette Sadik Khan?!). And for good reason. The tax an unprecedented step in the wrong direction from a state previously famous for passing the forward-thinking “Bicycle Bill” way back in 1971. And while our debates and discussions about the bike tax will continue, let’s not forget the other major components of this bill.
After all, there had to be something good in the bill for The Street Trust and other progressive nonprofit groups to support it.
So… What exactly did they come away with? Here’s how transit, biking, and walking fared.
Here’s the deal on new gate at River View Cemetery
(Photos
As several of you may have noticed there’s a new gate at the lower entrance to River View Cemetery just across from the new Sellwood Bridge.
The bad news is it’ll be closed at 4:00 pm from now on. The good news is that it’s intended for motor vehicle drivers and they’ve left a space for bicycle users to walk around it.
We received several emails about the gate last week from readers concerned that the gate was the disaster we had hoped to avert when we reported on this issue last month. As you recall, cemetery staff are in a tough spot. The private nonprofit must balance its desire to maintain public access to their roads while maintaining a safe and respectful environment for their customers. The issue continues to bubble up because the cemetery receives many complaints about people riding bicycles too fast and without respect for others.
After hearing about the newly closed gate we contacted River View Cemetery Executive Director David Noble. He said the gate is now operational and is programmed to open at 6:00 am (specifically for morning bicycle commuters — staff doesn’t show up until 8:00) and close at 4:00 pm daily.
Rider calls police after being forced off I-205 path by truck driver
A man in a pickup truck allegedly forced a bicycle rider off the I-205 bike path in southeast Portland Saturday afternoon.
Time to design a permanent bikeway on NE Multnomah through the Lloyd District
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)
It’s good, but it should be great.
Nearly five years after it first opened, it’s time to implement a permanent design for the protected bikeway on Northeast Multnomah Street through the Lloyd District. Hopefully one that’s truly befitting of one of America’s best biking cities — not an overly comprised, on-the-cheap, paint-and-posts half-measure.
Riding ODOT’s Columbia Gorge “Not-So” Express Bus
“The new service has potential but unfortunately misses the mark at nearly every step of the way.”
This past weekend, my family and I decided to try out ODOT’s new Columbia Gorge Express bus and spend a few hours at Multnomah Falls. After our experience, I unfortunately cannot personally recommend this service.
We decided to take the 12:55 pm bus from Gateway TC. Getting to Gateway car-free already meant a bus and a train from where we live. Unfortunately, our Columbia Gorge Express bus was 20 minutes late – not arriving until 1:15 and departing around 1:20. Tickets are purchased pre-paid but don’t actually guarantee you a spot on the bus. After a minor hassle with the ticket checker about the tickets being purchased for the wrong day (the website makes you pick a day, but specifies the ticket is in fact good for any day in the current season), we were aboard.
The bus first made a stop at Rooster Rock park to pick up and drop off passengers. There was not room for everyone, so many were left waiting for the next bus. After this ten minute stop, we were finally on our way to the falls. Upon coming up to the falls, our bus driver informed us that since the parking lot at Multnomah Falls was full, that we would not be able to exit the highway here, as there would be no room for the bus to turn around. We instead had to make a 20 minute detour to the next exit, get off the highway, then get back on the highway so that we were facing the correct direction.
Boarding the bus back was a confusing mess. We headed to the bus stop area, only to be informed by an ODOT employee that the line was further back. Schedules are posted at the stop but don’t bother using them, since the bus was nowhere near on any semblance of a schedule all day. We waited for 15 minutes before boarding the bus (that was either 15 minutes early or 35 minutes late, depending on how you read the schedule). Again, you are not guaranteed a spot on the bus back, so on busy days you might have to wait a good hour before getting on a bus. On the way back we predictably got stuck in traffic on I-84. Overall, we spent a total of four hours in transit, door-to-door, due to the bus’ lateness and detour, and TriMet’s infrequent Sunday schedule. Perhaps if you are staying somewhere overnight, the hassles might be worth it, but for a day trip, the bus was not very convenient.
The new service has potential but unfortunately misses the mark at nearly every step of the way. It was late, slow, and not well signed. If ODOT is serious about continuing this popular service, they should make the following changes:
- Adhere to the damn schedule. 20 minutes late is completely unacceptable for a bus that runs every 30 minutes. Either build in traffic time to the timetables or find some way to improve on-time performance.
- Add a dedicated bus turnaround area. The fact that a full parking lot at the falls caused the bus to make a 20 minute detour is unacceptable. This is not going to convince people not to drive and is yet another example of caving to auto interests over all else. Just remove a few parking spaces if needed. Or maybe start charging for parking to better manage demand.
- Better signage and waiting area at Multnomah Falls. The waiting area is a dingey pedestrian underpass under I-84. A higher-quality shelter with daylight visible would be welcome here.
- Integrate Hop Fastpass. Having to purchase your tickets separately just seems so arcane. We now have a really nice unified transit account for our region. This should be a priority in the next year not just for ODOT, but for all agencies operating in the Portland metro area. This should especially apply to the agencies that opted to secede from TriMet: SMART, SAM, etc.
While I welcome this forward-thinking idea (for a highway building department, anyway) to address traffic concerns at Oregon’s most popular destination, it seems to me that this service is still very much an afterthought by ODOT. If we are serious about getting people out of their cars, then this service falls flat. Unfortunately, the drawbacks don’t outweigh the benefits. When the service expands to Hood River next year (in my opinion, a far more useful destination that I do plan on taking advantage of) I hope that ODOT will take the time to make these simple improvements to this service.