🚨 Please note that BikePortland slows down during this time of year as I have family in town and just need a break! Please don't expect typical volume of news stories and content. I'll be back in regular form after the new year. Thanks. - Jonathan 🙏
“The cascading effect of others with equally well intentioned objectives to use the right of way for their expressions is something that we must be mindful of.”–Oregon state Senator Rick Metsger For the second time in a row, the roadside memorial sign bill (HB 3623) has failed reach passage by the Oregon legislature. After it … Read more
Senator Rick Metsger, shown here in a file photo, has not supportedthe bill.(Photo © J. Maus) The only bicycle-related bill in the abbreviated legislative session in Salem is on life support. HB 3623, which would allow bereaved families to request (and pay for) the installation of a “roadside memorial sign that commemorates a bicyclist or … Read more
Rep. Krummel at a press event for the bill last summer.(Photos courtesy Krummel’s office.) Wilsonville Republican Jerry Krummel wants to give “Eric’s Law” another try. The measure (House Bill 3020, named after cyclist Eric Kautzky who was killed by a sleepy driver in 2005) would allow relatives of cyclists or pedestrians killed on Oregon’s roadways … Read more
Rep. Jerry Krummel(Photo: Krummel) State Representative Jerry Krummel (R-Wilsonville) is blaming House Democrats for killing HB 3020, a bill that would have directed the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain roadside memorial signs for pedestrians or bicyclists killed in motor vehicle collisions (upon application by a family member). Less than an hour after a … Read more
Oregon state capitol in Salem.(File photo) Before a bill becomes law, it must first pass through both House and Senate committees. If a bill doesn’t move out of committee (and onto a floor vote) it is dead. Today was the final day for bills to pass out of committee so I figured it’d be a … Read more
UPDATE (4/12, 9:50am): According to a commenter, this bill did not pass committee yesterday. It was only considered and was not voted on yet. I picked up the story from an OPB story that ran with the headline, “House Committee Approves Cyclist Memorial Signs Bill.” I regret the error and will keep you posted on … Read more
A bill that would require transportation departments to erect a memorial sign whenever “a cyclist is killed in an accident involving a motor vehicle” will get a hearing at the state capitol in Salem on Wednesday (4/11). So far, 14 lawmakers have signed on as sponsors of House Bill 3020, which was created in response … Read more
In response to the tragic death of local cyclist Eric Kautzky, State Representative Jerry Krummel (seen at right) plans to push for “Eric’ Law” in the 2007 legislative session. According to Krummel: “I plan to push legislation at the state level to encourage other counties to offer these memorial signs. We are also looking at … Read more
Tigard school teacher Eric Kautzky was killed in June of 2005 by a teenager who fell asleep at the wheel (more on Kautzky here). Evan Manvel of the BTA just forwarded me this news release from Salem from the office of State Representative Jerry Krummel (R-Wilsonville). It’s an announcement of a special ceremony this Sunday … Read more