eye to eye campaign

BTA: Eye to Eye campaign a success

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

BTA director Scott Bricker at the Eye to
Eye campaign launch in August. Mayor-elect Adams
and PDOT director Sue Keil look on.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) is calling their three-month “Eye to Eye” campaign a success after a ride-along with the Portland Police Bureau in search of unlit bike riders turned up nearly empty.

One of the key goals of the campaign, which launched back in August, was to increase awareness for bike light usage. The BTA worked with the Police Bureau to re-instate a month-long, free bike light program (accompanied by warnings), that was followed up by citations given out to unlit riders.

A Portland police officer gives
out a free set of bike lights
back in August 2006.
(Photos � J. Maus)

As part of their ongoing Eye to Eye campaign, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) and the Traffic Division of the Portland Police Bureau have partnered up on an effort to increase awareness of using bike lights and being more visible while riding. Their efforts build on a history of bike light advocacy here in Portland that started over three years ago.

According to a press release issued this morning, the BTA will kick off the project tomorrow with an event at the “Seven Corners” intersection (SE Division, SE Ladd, and SE 20th). They’ll be serving “mocktails” (non-alcoholic beverages) and giving cyclists information about lights and visibility.

That event will be followed by a series of “targeted bike light education and enforcement actions” by the Police Bureau. The actions are slated to begin next week and the plan is for police officers to educate non-lit cyclists about light laws, pass out safety information, and install free lights (thanks to an ODOT grant) when necessary.

BTA leader Scott Bricker speaking at the
Eye to Eye campaign launch in downtown
Portland this morning.
(Commissioner Adams and PDOT Director
Sue Keil in background.)
Video below
(Photos © J. Maus)

With morning bike commuters streaming into downtown Portland, the BTA led a press conference this morning to launch their new Eye to Eye campaign.

A free bell giveaway was also part of the event

Speaking in front of the post office building at the corner of Broadway and Hoyt, Commissioner Sam Adams tried to put the “war” between cars and bikes that has dominated headlines for several weeks into perspective:

A coalition of organizations in Portland, Eugene, and Springfield will launch the “Eye to Eye campaign” with a press conference and events tomorrow morning.

Here’s a first look at the ad banner that will be appearing on TriMet buses and in print ads for the next few months:

“One of the key themes of the campaign is looking for other road users and being aware.”
— BTA education coordinator Stephanie Noll

“We need to see Eye to Eye—a lot is riding on it.”

That’s the theme of a new, statewide safety campaign being organized by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA). Last week, the BTA and their partners agreed on a logo (see it below) that will play an important role in this fledgling road user safety awareness effort.

The BTA is working to solidify plans for a new educational campaign focused not just on people who ride, but all users of the roadway.

The campaign, dubbed Eye to Eye … a lot is riding on it, is still in the formational stages, but initial campaign materials describe it as,

“A safety campaign targeted at all road users… To foster a culture of awareness and respect on our shared paths and roadways… To make the streets of our communities safer for everyone.”

BTA: Eye to Eye campaign a success

BTA, Police Bureau launch latest incarnation of bike light education program

Eye to Eye campaign launches in downtown Portland (updated with video)

First look at ‘Eye to Eye’ banner; campaign will launch tomorrow

First look at new ‘Eye to Eye ’ campaign logo

New BTA campaign will aim to ‘foster a culture of awareness’

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