As the work intensifies on Capitol Hill to re-write America’s next surface transportation bill, the lobbying is heating up to make sure it includes more money for biking and walking. As the prime pusher of pedaling in Congress, Rep. Earl Blumenauer will play an important role in making sure those who are writing the bill … Read more
George Will, Public Weasel No. 1. Remember just over a year ago, when U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer told the crowd at the Oregon Bike Summit that we need to “Hold the weasels accountable” when their partisan bickering holds up good bike policy? Now, Blumenauer is doing just that in his efforts to take Newsweek’s George … Read more
U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer has made his transportation project requests public.(Photo © J. Maus) [Via Mapes on Politics] U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer has made his list of “High Priority” transportation projects public, and several of them are for bike-related projects in and around the Portland metro area. According to Blumenauer, the list was created to … Read more
Rep. Earl Blumenauer at a reception this morning on Capitol Hill.(Photo © J. Maus) When the Bike Commuter Benefit Act passed back in October, it was somewhat of a shallow victory for advocates who had pushed for its passage for seven long years. Not only did it pass as a ploy to build support for … Read more
Rep. Blumenauer and Streetsblog’s Aaron Naparstek. – Watch video below – Streetfilms nabbed a few minutes with Congressman Earl Blumenauer during his recent visit to New York City. In the film below, Streetsblog Editor-in-Chief Aaron Naparstek asks Blumenauer how livable streets advocates can most effectively engage their leaders and influence national transportation policy (a very … Read more
Senator Jim DeMint Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) introduced an amendment last night that would prohibit funding of “bicycle routes” and paths from the economic stimulus package that’s working its way through Capitol Hill right now. According to staffers in Representative Earl Blumenauer’s office who are following the bill closely, Sen. DeMint’s amendment was supported in … Read more
Getting paid to ride to work isn’t that easy…yet.(Photo © J. Maus) I’ve gotten many emails over the past few weeks wondering why I haven’t covered the Bike Commute Tax Benefit that became law on January 1. One reason is that I’m just not all that enthused about it; and it turns out I’m not … Read more
Blumenauer presents the coveted ticket.(Photos: James Koski) Back in December, Los Angeleno Ryan Bowen and an energetic band of friends and followers left L.A. for D.C. on their bikes to be a part of the Inaugural event. They dubbed their journey “Biking for Obama” and kept up a great blog about their adventure. And, showing … Read more
This was sent to us from Blumenauer’s office on Saturday. We’re hoping for some photos and will likely put something on the Front Page if/when we get them. Biking for Obama Riders Finally Arrive In DC Joined by Rep. Blumenauer after Month-Long Bike Trek Cross-country for Inauguration Blumenauer and Becerra Answer Cyclists’ Plea for Inauguration … Read more
Blumenauer in front of his office in D.C.(Photo © J. Maus) The New York Times has published a profile on Portland Congressional Rep. Earl Blumenauer. The story, A Bicycle Evangelist With the Wind Now at His Back appears above-the-fold on page two of the paper’s weekly “Science Times” section. Unlike the recent anti-bike comments by … Read more
Mayor-elect Sam Adams in a screen grab from an upcoming PBS series. Portland is set to be featured in an episode of a PBS television series about the “economies of being environmentally conscious”. The series, e2 transport, is in its third season. The Portland segment is titled: Portland: a Sense of Place. A trailer for … Read more
Blumenauer on his “green commute” down Pennsylvania Ave.(Photo © J. Maus) Portland’s favorite pedaling politico got his views on biking into the hands of 72.6 million Americans on Sunday. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) was featured in a Parade Magazine column titled “Greener Commute”. In the article, he was asked three questions, including one that featured … Read more