Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Big city commissioners talk politics of transportation reform

Commissioners on stage for, Raising the Bar: Building political capital to implement key design initiatives.(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland) What is the latest thinking on transportation politics and perspectives in America’s largest cities? How do transportation department chiefs view bicycling and transit? On Friday, the top transportation officials from Chicago, New York City, Boston, San Francisco … Read more


Mayor Bloomberg: “Cyclists… more important than automobile riders”

Bloomberg said street projects and transportation have played major role in New York City’s success.(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland) New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke at the closing plenary of the NACTO Designing Cities Conference today. At an event held at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of NYU in Manhattan, … Read more


The quest for ‘8-80’ bikeways

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A true 8-80 bikeway. Much has been written lately about a “bicycling renaissance” that has taken hold in America. At the NACTO Designing Cities conference here in New York City, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about the reality behind that renaissance and I’m happy to say that it’s real. Nowhere … Read more


Brookings’ Bruce Katz: Transportation reform key to “metropolitan revolution”

Brookings Institute VP Bruce Katz wants a revolution.(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland) Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution opened up day two of the NACTO Designing Cities conference with nothing short of a manifesto. The noted expert on what makes cities and metropolitan areas tick, stopped short of calling for cities to secede from the union; … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

PBOT staff in NYC to soak up the latest, greatest ideas

PBOT Bike Coordinator Roger Geller gleaning secrets from US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood.(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland.org) As you might expect at a conference about innovative street designs and city planning, the City of Portland has sent a team to participate. Here at the NACTO Designing Cities conference, I’ve bumped into several Bureau of Transportation staffers. … Read more


NACTO Conference kicks off with bold words from Sadik-Khan, LaHood

NYC DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland.org) The first ever conference of the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) got underway on the campus of New York University this morning. The opening plenary features speeches from NACTO President and New York City DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray … Read more


Headed to New York City for ‘Designing Cities’ conference

Next Tuesday (10/23) I will head to New York City to attend the NACTO Designing Cities conference. NACTO is the National Association for City Transportation Officials, a group that was formed as a counterbalance to AASHTO, the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials. In a nutshell, the folks behind NACTO (whose founders include … Read more