Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Biking/walking projects now eligible for $42 million in state lottery funds

Text in bold shows new additions to Senate Bill 260, which passed both chambers of the Oregon Legislature today. For the first time ever, with the passage a few minutes ago of Senate Bill 260, the Oregon Legislature has agreed to open up the state’s lottery-backed Multimodal Transportation Fund (a.k.a. ConnectOregon) to biking and walking … Read more


House bill would make bike paths (and more) eligible for highway trust fund

Rep. Jules Bailey.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) A bill in the legislature seeks to amend the Oregon Constitution in order to use gas taxes and motor vehicle fees to pay for biking, walking, transit and other types of projects. Gas tax and vehicle fee revenues — a.k.a. the highway trust fund — accounts for over one-third … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Senate committee hears voluntary bicycle donation bill

“There are concerns that bicyclists don’t pay their fair share… This bill provides an avenue for those of us that support bike and pedestrian facilities to provide additional funding.”— Sen. Jackie Dingfelder Oregon lawmakers considered a bill yesterday that would allow Oregonians to make a voluntary donation to bicycle trail projects through their annual motor … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Oregon Senate says cab drivers should be exempt from cell phone law

“These are people who are struggling and their livings are made by whether or not they can pick folks up… This is their life.”— Sen. Larry George, the bill’s sponsor The Oregon legislature made a strange move on Monday that is very likely to make Portland roads less safe for everyone. By a vote of … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Finally, a bike funding bill worthy of a conversation

Bike advocate Jerry Norquist (L) and Senators Dingfelder and Prozanski at the Oregon Active Transportation Summit in 2011.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) State legislators in Salem have tried time and time again to “start a conversation” about making Oregonians who ride bicycles pay for the pleasure of doing so. In recent memory we’ve had a draconian … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Bill would remove mandatory driving test for people with limited vision

I figured I’d post interesting bills I come across here on Page Two. If they warrant more attention, I’ll consider a Front Page story. Senate Bill 288, “Eliminates requirement that person with limited vision condition take driver test every two years.” The bill was introduced by state Senator Brian Boquist (R-Dallas). Current law calls for … Read more