Rep. John Mica at a bike industry fundraising event in March 2009.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) Since the House transportation bill has gone all crazy, I’ve been banging my head against my desk to figure out why Republican members of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee are so afraid of including any mention of bicycling, transit … Read more
Clark County and SW Washington House Rep. Jamie Herrera Beutler voted against an amendment that would have set aside funds for Safe Routes to School and other projects to improve biking.(Still from Committee video) It was very close; but despite passionate defense of biking and walking by House T & I Committee member Peter DeFazio … Read more
He’s fired up.(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland) Oregon Congressmen Earl Blumenauer and Peter DeFazio are pulling no punches when it comes to leveling criticism at the House transportation bill that was released yesterday. Referring to it as the, “Republican Highway and Transportation Bill,” Blumenauer said in an official statement, “I am appalled at the fantasy finance … Read more
Republican House member Jamie Herrera Beutler, who represents southwest Washington, sits on the House T & I Committee and bike advocates want her support of an amendment to the transportation bill.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) It’s the morning after the House transportation bill was unveiled, and it’s being viewed as an abomination by national bike advocacy … Read more
Congressman John Mica (R-FL) at a Safe Routes to School event in his district in October 2010. A bill drafted by Mica would end the program.(Photo: Safe Routes Partnership) The draft federal transportation bill that was unveiled yesterday by Chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee John Mica (R-FL) would eliminate the national Safe … Read more
Cover of the bill (because transportation is all about big pipes and ugly freeway overpasses right?!). Once again, national advocacy groups are prepping the cannons for an all out assault on Congress as word spreads that the U.S. House of Representatives is will unveil a new surface transportation bill — dubbed the American Energy and … Read more
A sidepath in Beaverton. (Photo © J. Maus) Mandatory sidepath laws — which state that bikes must use a sidepath/bikeway when one is available — are the bane of bicycling advocates. They’re seen as a clear sign of disrespect and inequality on our roads. The fact that Oregon still has one was called out by … Read more
The BTA’s Rob Sadowsky is already working contacts in DC to improve the bill.(Photo © J. Maus) The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released their long-awaited transportation reauthorization bill last week (known as MAP-21), sending alarms throughout national bike advocacy circles because it, according to Streetsblog DC “eviscerates successful and popular programs to … Read more
Portland wants $25 million for 100 miles of new bike boulevards.(Photos © J. Maus) After a press conference in Portland last week, the City of Portland and Mayor Adams put out a statement that included a list of “priority projects” they’d like to see funded in the upcoming rewrite of the transportation bill. I sort … Read more
“Over reliance on automobiles can have adverse impacts on public health, both through lessened physical activity and from increased pollutants.”— from the bill’s description of the Office of Livability U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has released the full text of the federal transportation bill. Calling it the “Surface … Read more
Rep. Jim Oberstar speaking at the 2007 National Bike Summit.(Photos © J. Maus) Today — the man who just two years ago stood in front of 2,000 Cycle Oregon riders in lycra shorts (after he himself battled the day’s grueling climb) and told them he would “thread the language of bicycles into the federal transportation … Read more
U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood.(Photo © J. Maus) U.S. Transporation Secretary Ray LaHood issued a statement today proposing an immediate, 18-month “highway reauthorization” to the current transportation bill. The proposal is being made in an attempt to replenish the ailing Highway Trust Fund that could run out of cash by late August. Also, beyond the … Read more