Sunday, May 31, 2009

Legislative Update - Week 20: Reactions to House Bill 2001

It's a little Pollyanna-ish to show the bike dude triumphant this week...both chambers quickly acted on House Bill 2001, both passing it, and sent it to the Governor.

Reactions:

Bikeportland first on the House, with comments from Salem's Doug Parrow
. In her floor speech, Rep. Vicki Berger (R-Salem) had an interesting claim about pollution reduction:
“But perhaps the least mentioned green part of this package,” Berger added, “is simply to lessen the gridlock that paralyzes the transportation system in this valley at least two times a day. Sitting in a car or truck, idling or slowly moving is the single most polluting thing we can do.”
Here's Bikeportland on the Senate vote.

Economist Joe Cortright at Impresa Consulting offers a county-by-county breakdown that shows the weird skews, especially for the Newberg-Dundee bypass.

Steve Duin at the Oregonian pays more attention to the Newberg-Dundee bypass and suggests some of the political arithmetic and calculation behind it.

Economist Patrick Emerson at the Oregon Economics Blog suggests that the bill does not address problems in a coherent fashion:
My view has always been that the problem is carbon emissions so we need to address carbon emissions through a gas tax. Full stop.

Here's the Official Press Release after it passed the House. And after the Senate vote.

In other news:

House Bill 2106 - Governor signed
House Bill 2377 - held worksession
House Bill 2554 - no change

Thursday, May 28, 2009

The Salem-Keizer Bikeshed Map

Like water, bicyclists want to flow on the easiest paths!

For a Conservation Fair, Rodger Gutierrez, ODOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Specialist, created a map to encourage ODOT employees to bike to work. The map takes the watershed idea and applies it to biking. Rodger observes:
1) The city of Salem is divided into 10 areas, similar to watersheds, and routes are identified how to get to downtown from each "bike-shed". Not all bike facilities are marked, only a few - in order not to clutter the map. All of the routes converge into 10 entry/exit points to downtown, one for each "bike-shed".

2) Downtown map. This map shows how to get to ODOT from each of the "10 bike-sheds". It shows both bicycle paths and pedestrian amenities in downtown Salem. The mapped area is roughly the same as the Vision 2020 area.
Both the Downtown Vision 2020 Bike & Pedestrian Workgroup and the MWVBTA are excited about this approach to mapping routes. The Salem-Keizer Bike Map is a bare list of infrastructure improvements and designations. It tells you what is there, but not how to get there. It doesn't perform that editorial or advisory role.

This map does! Rodger is done working on it, and of course it is focused on ODOT, but Ray Jackson and the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments, our regional Metropolitan Planning Organization, has graciously agreed to host the document and assist with further revisions or development of it. Thanks Ray & MWVCOGs!

Here's a link to the full map (big pdf).

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Breakfast on Bikes - May 29th

This Friday, May 29th, we'll be at the North Office Mall Building on Winter street NE from 7am to 9am with coffee, pastries, and fruit for you. See you then!

Thanks also to our sponsors - please support them with your business!
Cascade Baking Company
Coffee House Cafe
LifeSource Natural Foods
Salem Bicycle Club
Willamette University Sustainability Council




View Larger Map

Proposed Quarry to Impact Skyline Road

White Cloud Properties proposes to develop a rock quarry on the southern edge of the South Salem Hills. From a traffic analysis:
White Cloud Properties proposes to develop a 260 acre quarry on 700 plus acres west of the intersection of Skyline Road at Setting Sun Road in southwest Marion County, Oregon. The remaining 440 acres will serve as a buffer for the mining area. The quarry will transport rock products from the site by rail which currently runs along the southwest boundary of the site and by truck using an improved access at Setting Sun Road at Skyline Road.
Neighbors have organized opposition to it and have a website here. There will be a hearing on Wednesday, May 27th, at 4:30pm, in the Senator Hearing Room at the 555 Court St. NE., the Courthouse Square building.

The Marion County Planning staff report suggests the county is tending towards approving the quarry: "With additional information, compliance with Public Works traffic requirements, and other conditions of approval, staff can support the request."

The quarry could impact bicycling on Skyline Road and on River Road with increased large truck traffic. There are also significant questions about environmental impact on both the hillside and on Ankeny Bottom (the site is above the Wildlife Refuge).

Monday, May 25, 2009

Legislative Update - Week 19: Gary Numan* Edition

The Oregonian wants it both ways on cars! Their bifurcated sensibility precisely reflects society's desire to have it all without compromise.

On Sunday the Oregonian published an editorial in favor of the current version of HB 2001:
Environmentalists and the bicycle lobby are lining up against the bill because it tilts so heavily -- we would use the word "necessarily" -- toward motor vehicles.
In the same Sunday paper is an essay about the genesis of Blake Nelson's book, Destroy All Cars.
I looked around and was struck by the other cars around me. They were huge. GMC Denalis. Ford Explorers. Every variety of "luxury pickup." Behind the wheels of these enormous vehicles were mostly women (coming out the mall). And except for the drivers, the vehicles were mostly empty.

This happened to be a year or two after Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" was released. Never mind the money these cars were wasting, they were also generating an outrageous amount of pollutants. Did none of these people understand what they were doing? And why was a 40-year-old mother driving a car the size of tank anyway? Did nobody see the absurdity of this situation?

A Special Joint Committee on Transportation convened Thursday and Friday to ratify a series of deals and compromises and to publish the latest version of the bill. Its amendments alone were 42 pages!

The BTA is deeply disappointed in the bill and identifies 4 show-stoppers, without which it will not support the bill:
1. Restore a minimum of $24 million in federal flexible funds for non-highway transportation.
2. Restore the increase in the minimum spending for bike-ped projects to 1.5% or otherwise ensure increased funding for non-motorized transportation.
3. Require the Transportation Commission to apply state transportation planning requirements to the pork projects earmarked in the bill.
4. Restore MPO land use planning aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for at least Eugene-Springfield.
A May 19 letter signed by 1000 Friends of Oregon, Oregon Environmental Council, Environment Oregon, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, and BTA details the concerns.

Bikeportland has coverage from Wednesday and the latest from Friday, on progress with the "urban trail fund." Steve Novick offers witty and incisive commentary on BlueOregon.

The Democratic leadership in the House and Senate released this press release. They acknowledge that it's a roads bill, and not a transportation bill. House Transportation Chair Terry Beyer (D-Springfield) said:
The projects we picked were approved by the Oregon Transportation Commission and are vital to improving our roads system.

Statesman coverage here. Oregonian Coverage here.

1000 Friends is rumored to be planning for Tuesday a 11am protest rally on the Capitol steps.

In other news:

House Bill 2106 - no change
House Bill 2377 - no change
House Bill 2554 - Passed both House & Senate with amended language. Curiously, Rep. Bailey, seems to have switched his vote in the two House votes...

(*Here's a video of "Cars.")

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Last Chance on Transportation Bill?

1000 Friends of Oregon and the BTA yesterday sent out notice that House Bill 2001 was going sideways and morphing into an Eisenhower-era Highways bill. The original intent of the Jobs and Transportation Act was to present the beginnings of a balanced multi-modal approach to transportation planning and funding.

Some believe that the most powerful tool will be the development of "least cost planning." Still, projects like active transportation corridors and funding, and increasing the highway fund allocation for pedestrians and bikes, are out. Bikeportland offers a longer discussion.

As part of the 11th hour maneuvering, legislators created a new special committee, the Joint Special Committee on Transportation, and arranged for a hearing today. It will be at 5pm in hearing room F. They will follow with a work session tomorrow.

It is expected that this will be the last opportunity to testify on transportation. Tara Sulzen at 1000 Friends (503-497-1000 or email tara@friends.org) is coordinating testimony. Please let her know if you are interested in speaking on behalf of bicycling and bicycle infrastructure.

Commercial Street Plan

The Vision 2020 Bicycle and Pedestrian Workgroup started working on a project to accomodate bicycles in the restriping plan for Commercial Street in downtown as part of the first resurfacing project funded by the bond measure that passed last fall.

Between Marion on the north and Trade on the south, Commercial currently has 4 travel lanes, some dual-turns, and no accommodations for bicycles. The right-most lane is little used, and traffic volume projections indicate no loss of capacity by swapping the right most lane for a bike lane.

Here is the current proposed plan, again for Marion to Trade, in section.



The plan retains angle parking on both sides of the road. Going south, the left hand lane will be slightly wider and marked with sharrows. The next two travel lanes are narrowed, and then the right-most travel lane is a 7 foot bike lane.

Current Oregon standards call for a 5 foot minumum bike lane. A 7 foot lane is not the largest possible bike lane, but it is considerablely larger than the minimum.

By comparison, the section below is from the 1995 Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and shows both wider auto lanes and narrower bike lanes. (It also shows parallel rather than angle parking - I couldn't easily find a relevant image with angle parking.)

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Ride to the Legislature for Bike-Friendly Future

update:Ride and Press Conference Cancelled. Look for more tomorrow.

Tomorrow morning BTA Executive Director Scott Bricker and Environment Oregon's Brock Howell will ride from Portland to Salem for a press conference at the Capitol. See the BTA article here.

Please join us!

Salem-area riders can meet the group at the intersection at Hopmere! Hopmere is at the intersection of Brooklake Road and River Road (Highway 219). Plan to meet at the market there at 11am.

Portland area riders will meet at the Skidmore MAX station in downtown Portland at 8:20 am on Wednesday, and travel on MAX and WES to Wilsonville. At 10:00 am they will depart the Wilsonville WES station for Salem on bicycle. See the full Wilsonville to Salem route here.

This will be a great opportunity to give visibility to the need for a truly multi-modal transportation package that makes meaningful progress towards greenhouse gas emissions and a transportation system that moves people rather than engines.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Legislative Update Week 18

There's still time on the big transportation bill! BTA-HQ asks you to let your legislator know how important - and how prevalent - are unfunded bike and ped projects.

Bills Still Moving:

House Bill 2001 - amendments to be published soon; work session scheduled for Tuesday, May 19
House Bill 2106 - Passed the Senate, 28 in favor, 2 excused. Waiting for the Governor's signature.
House Bill 2377 - held work session
House Bill 2554 - The Senate Business and Transportation Committee removed the language about motorcycles, and sent it to the floor with a do pass recommendation.

Work Session Information:

Tuesday, May 19, 8:00 A.M., HR A
Public Hearing and Work Session
HB 2001 A - Directs interim House and Senate committees related to transportation and Oregon Transportation Commission to conduct study.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Pedal Power Free Legal Clinic - June 10th

Competence breeds confidence - and confidence makes everything more fun!

To share the road, most of the time all that’s needed is a mutual interest in civility and safety. But the law’s not always so straightforward or commonsensical, and it’s often changing.

Whether you need a refresher course, or want a complete introduction to bicycling and the law, the City of Salem and the Mid-Willamette Valley Chapter of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance have some answers.

The City and MWVBTA together are pleased to bring to Salem bicycle lawyer Ray Thomas, of Swanson Thomas & Coon, and his Pedal Power legal clinic.

On Wednesday, June 10 from 6pm to 7pm, at the Anderson Room in the Salem Public Library, Ray Thomas will share his wisdom and wit in this 60-minute clinic on bicyclists’ rights and responsibilities on the road. A question and answer period will follow.

Learn the legal basis for sharing the road. The clinic will cover what to expect legally and practically from motorists. It will also discuss what motorists, pedestrians, and other bicyclists should expect from bicyclists. Hear about Oregon’s bike law basics, get inside info about insurance, and learn what to do if you’re in a crash.

The clinic will also get people up to date on the latest legislation.

The 2007 Legislature passed a law that required a “distance that is sufficient to prevent contact with the person operating the bicycle if the person were to fall into the driver's lane of traffic.” Oregon law also contains the “Citizen Prosecution Statute,” which allows regular citizens to initiate an action on a traffic ticket, to subpoena witnesses and present evidence at a trial in traffic court.

The session is free and includes a lively question and answer session. Each person who RSVPs and attends will also take home a free copy of Pedal Power, a Legal Guide for Oregon Cyclists.

Last summer a similar clinic in Bend attracted over 65 people!

RSVP by email to salembikes [at] gmail [dot ] com

Friday, May 15, 2009

Sunday Bike to Silverton Road Races

Jen Akeroyd sends this great news! The weather is looking perfect.


Bike to Silverton and support Salem's local road racers this Sunday!

Hosted by Capitol Velo Racing Club of Salem, the Lulay's Silverton Road Race is this Sunday May 17th. The course is a 17.5 mile loop with few flat sections, constant rollers, some extended climbs and features an uphill finish. Racers will be completing either 2, 3 or 4 loops depending on their category.

Riding the course in the opposite direction of the race is a great way to spectate. The course starts and ends at the Victor Point School.

The Salem-Keizer area is home to just over 80 racers representing more than 15 teams and ranging in age from 9 to 62 with an average age of 36. While most racers are male, nearly 25% of the racers are female.
LifeSource and Venti's are also sponsors! And Bike Peddler, Santiam Bicycle, Scott's Cycle, South Salem Cycleworks.

Here's the course route and map.

Even if you can't go to the race, just get out and ride!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Under new Rules, State Proposes to Impound Bikes Improperly Parked

When you visit the Capitol, if you don't use these lousy racks, the State proposes to impound your bike. (Photo: Jonathan Maus / Bikeportland)

On Friday, May 15, between 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. there will be a hearing on proposed new administrative rules around parking at State offices. The hearing will be in the General Services Building, Mt. Mazama Conference Room, 1225 Ferry Street SE.

In the proposed rules are the following:


Lots of people lock up to parking signs because the racks are so bad. But soon that will be prohibited:
(D) Bicycles parked in any area designated for motor vehicle parking, or chained to signposts, stairwells, trees or other structures not designated for bicycle parking are subject to being removed at the owner's expense, without notice and impounded according to OAR 125-090-0150.
Let Odie Vogel (odie.c.vogel@state.or.us), Manager Parking and Commuting Services, know that you are concerned that there is not enough safe, highly visible, and high quality bike parking for this policy to work.

Without good bike parking, the policy will likely operate as a disincentive for bike parking and bike commuting. The State should be making it easier, not more difficult, to bike!

Ride of Silence & News Round Up

First thing's quiet & contemplative. Take a moment to honor those killed and hurt while bicycling. The Salem Ride of Silence will commence at the Red Lot at 6pm on Wednesday, May 20th.

The Ride of Silence is a world-wide event, and begins in North America and rolls across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed. The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride.

Over at Pacific Pedaling, Paul's got the info on the new website for the new and improved Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway. More photos, more maps, more goodness! It starts at Champoeg and runs through French Prairie and Ankeny Bottom to Armitage park in Eugene.

Oregon Disability Sports is holding an Adaptive Bike Clinic on July 12th. Check out hand-cycles, tricycles, all kinds of cool recumbents! There are bikes for almost everyone now, and if a diamond-frame two-wheeler isn't right for you, check out some of the options!

Finally, Cherriots is undertaking a major redesign, and they've released a plan of the changes. Check out the map and presentation here.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

What's not to like about Least Cost Planning?

At the most abstract level, "least cost planning" makes intuitive sense, right? It's all about bang-for-our-buck. About efficiency.

At the Bike Summit, the Chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission, Gail Achterman, said that one the most important analytical tools moving forward will be least cost planning. The concept is in the current version of House Bill 2001.

Here's what the Governor's original proposal said:
The Governor proposes to direct the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to develop a least cost planning model – similar to what utility companies currently use – that will be applied when solving transportation problems. This modeling directs ODOT to consider the least cost option, such as increased investments in rail or transit, in order to relieve congestion, rather than just building additional capacity.
Who would oppose something like that?

Well, apparently the City of Salem.

In the May 7 Legislative Committee report, presented to Council last night, on HB 2001 the City said:



Least Cost Planning is about saving money! It's not about creating bureaucratic hoops and imposing "onerous burdens." It's about return on investment and cost-effectiveness. Getting the most people where they need to be for the smallest amount of money. What's not to like about that, even for the most conservative of businesspeople?

Monday, May 11, 2009

Council Considers Walkable Neighborhoods, Bike Lanes, and Electric Cars

Chickens are not the only matter of interest in the City Council agenda tonight! Integrating land use planning and transportation planning, as well as electric cars, are also on the docket.

Council will hold a public hearing on amending the Salem Area Comprehensive Plan. Designating "Activity Nodes and Corridors" will help create "walkable neighborhoods" more often and in more places. For analysis on the proposed bike lane benchmarks see last week's post. The updated staff report is here.

Also up is a proposal for a fleet of electric cars and a charging station. On the one hand this is great, but on the other - why aren't they buying more Eneloops? The anticipated annual mileage is only about 5000 miles. Many of the trips will be short enough for bikes! The city is funding their side through:
$59,600 - Downtown Parking Fund
$14,900 - City Services Fund (Fleets)
$9,313 - City Services Fund (Shops Facilities Maintenance)
$24,958 - Pringle Creek Urban Renewal District
There's also talk about funds from the Salmon Run lease.

It's too bad the EV grant can't be repurposed for electric assist bikes!

Also, the City was to hear the TGM grant awards this month, but we have heard the awards have been pushed out to mid-June.

(Photo: Thomas Patterson, Statesman Journal)

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Legislative Update - Week 17 - Be Pedestrian, not Grand

Each $1M in highway projects creates about 45 jobs, but 1$M in bike or pedestrian projects creates about 65 jobs. The Governor proposes to throw billions at hypertrophied highway projects, while modest and waaaay more cost-effective bike and ped projects languish.

BTA-HQ asks you to let your legislator know how important - and how prevalent - are unfunded bike and ped projects. Find balance! Let's see the Golden Pioneer Dude hoist up a bike!

Bills Still Moving:

House Bill 2001 - The relevant developments are here.
House Bill 2106 - held work session
House Bill 2377 - Hearing and Work Session scheduled for Thursday, May 14
House Bill 2554 - held hearing

Work Session Information:

Thursday, May 14, 3:00 P.M., HR B
Public Hearing and Possible Work Session
HB 2377 A - Prohibits person of any age from operating motor vehicle while using mobile communication device except under certain circumstances.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Legislative Update - 16.5 - 2001: A Transportation Odyssey

[updated Wednesday - see below]

Some details are finally public! House Bill 2001 has an official engrossed A version. It's all about electric cars. Nothing about bikes. No increase in the state highway fund, no non-motorized transportation fund. Disappointing. Excerpts directly from the summary:
Directs Department of Transportation to develop one or more pilot programs to implement congestion pricing in Portland metropolitan area.

Directs Department of Transportation to develop least-cost planning model.

Authorizes issuance of lottery bonds for transportation projects funded from Multimodal Transportation Fund.

Defines “medium-speed electric vehicle.” [lots more about electric cars]

Directs Oregon Transportation Commission to work with stakeholders to review and update criteria used to select projects within Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.

Directs Department of Transportation to develop environmental performance standards for highway projects.

Directs Oregon Transportation Commission to determine amount of federal transportation funds available to Department of Transportation that may be used for eligible nonhighway projects.

Permits city with population of more than 500,000 to establish vehicle registration fees.

Prohibits local government from enacting or enforcing provision regulating use of fuel in motor vehicles.

Changes certain vehicle fees and motor vehicle fuel tax.

Extends credit against corporate excise or corporate income tax for corporation that provides motor vehicle insurance issued under mile-based or time-based rating plan.
House Transportation Committee made no recommendation, and passed on to Revenue and then Ways and Means.

We'll pass on analysis and comment as they come.

updates

1000 Friends reports
Currently, the package does not contain the planning component to reduce global warming pollution from cars and trucks. This element, which establishes planning requirements for Oregon’s three largest metropolitan areas, has been broadly endorsed by transportation stakeholders and is important for a balanced transportation package that will provide jobs, lower transportation costs, and build stronger, healthier communities.
The BTA also has an update with about 230 bike/ped projects statewide, most of which are currently unfunded.


Thursday Update. It gets better!

The Mercury is reporting that Governor Kulongoski is pressing the Oregon Transportation Commission for a bunch of earmarks he's not permitting Legislators to insert into HB 2001. Included in the list on pp 11 and 17 are three Salem-area projects. Ostensibly they "enhance safety" but in all cases they degrade the bicycle and pedestrian environment. One, in fact, threatens the Union Street Bridge: Widening the intersection at Wallace & Glen Creek and making dual-turns, which are very difficult for bicycles and pedestrians to navigate. This will make reaching the bridge even more difficult for walking and biking commuters.

More from the Oregonian. The proposed bill will contain a six cent increase in the gas tax. The article goes on:
The package, contained in House Bill 2001, ran into trouble last week, when Kulongoski threatened a veto over lawmakers' desire to list specific projects in the bill. But a compromise emerged that allows state transportation officials to designate the projects that will go forward.

On Thursday, the Oregon Transportation Commission held an emergency meeting and approved a list of $15 billion worth of transportation projects as a "menu" for legislators to pick from. Lawmakers working on the transportation bill will select projects from the list and include them in the bill, Hunt said.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Rock the Peddler - First Wednesday

First Wednesday's looking real good!

At 7:30pm, LeNunes will help the Bike Peddler celebrate their store expansion.

First, Bike Peddler deserves huge congratulations for being able to pull off a store expansion in this economic environment! That's news to put a smile on your face.

Second, indie pop in a bike shop? For the second time this week: How great is that?!

Then head over to Venti's for a beer.

You can see some photos of Le Nunes here at William Bragg. Notes on a recent show (more, though about Grand Duchy and getting hit by a Le Nunes CD) at Desperately Seeking Salem.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Why Updating the TSP is Important - Monday at City Council

Monday night City Council will be discussing some land use planning benchmarks.

The issues have been contentious, and date back to 2005. The City and the State Department of Land Conservation and Development disagreed over the ways the City's Salem Area Comprehensive Plan does or does not conform to the Statewide Planning Goal 12: Transportation. They even tried mediation, but that didn't work.

Finally, a year ago the DLCD decided it was time to move on and look forward rather than backward.

Who knows what a mutually agreeable set of benchmarks for land use and transportation planning might have looked like in 2005.

But in 2009, this is what we bicyclists get:

Bike Lanes.

In 2008 apparently 53% of "streets designated to have bike lanes...are striped with bike lanes." In 2010 this increases to 54%, in 2015 to 58%, in 2020 to 62%, in 2025 to 66%, and in 2030 Salem will enjoy a 70% completion rate. (Though I don't believe these benchmarks are legally binding.)

The Salem Area Comprehensive Plan will be updated with this language:
GOAL: To provide a balanced, multimodal transportation system for the Salem Urban Area that supports the safe and efficient movement of goods and people.

Policy 11: Decreased Reliance on the SOV [single occupant vehicle]

Local governments within the Salem Urban Area shall develop multimodal plans, services, and programs that decrease reliance on the SOV as the dominant means of travel. Progress towards this objective shall be monitored through benchmarks set forth in Table #1.
Table #1 gives the bike lane striping percentages from 53% to 70%.

The Bicycle Element of the TSP stresses striping bike lanes on arterial and collector streets. It seems likely that this document controlled the benchmarks, and accounts for its weakness.

Moving from 53% to 70% bike lane striping sets a pretty low floor of accomplishment. There's no reason why 100% of designated streets can't be striped by 2030. None! Moreover, we know that bike lanes on busy streets appeal only to a small segment of the population; and that to make bicycling appeal to broader numbers, bike lanes on busy streets alone cannot accomplish the job. To make meaningful reductions in our reliance on the SOV will take more than an increment of 17% more bike lanes! It will require a mix of low-traffic bikeways, separated facilities, and lane markings like bike lanes and sharrows.

Getting the TSP updated will help ensure that related transportation planning and issues will give proper weight to bicycle facilities and will incorporate a more appropriate mix of types of facilities.

[updated 10/21/2010 with revised link to staff report, which had been broken]

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Legislative Update - Week 16

Well...with the winnowing things got kinda boring real fast. 2001: A Transportation Odyssey continues, but behind closed doors.

Bills still active:

House Bill 2001 - Word on the street is the Legislative Leadership will present an amended bill with the understanding that legislators will support it - Who knows what's in it? At this point the process is not public.
House Bill 2106 - Public Hearing and Work Session scheduled for Tuesday, May 5.
House Bill 2377 - Referred to Senate Consumer Protection and Public Affairs Committee
House Bill 2554 - Public Hearing and Work Session scheduled for Thursday, May 7.
House Bill 2946 - Hmmm...the April 28 work session disappeared. Maybe dead?

Work Session information:

HB 2106 - Tuesday, May 5, 1:00 P.M. HR A. - Allows school district to select site for large construction project that is different from site proposed prior to bond election if safety improvement evaluation is made for new site before bonds are issued for project.

HB 2554 - Thursday, May 7, 1:00 P.M. HR B - Modifies definition of "vulnerable user of a public way."

Friday, May 1, 2009

Saturday Market Bike Parking!

Robert Fox and the BTA Bike Safety Education program held the first Community Ride of the season at Morningside Elementary earlier today. The program, honored by the Surgeon General, has taught over 40,000 kids how to ride safely. We'll have more of an update on that later, but it's always great to see kids getting the hang of riding, learning to ride safely, and figuring out how easy it is to go places by bike!

At the ride, a couple of the Community Ride volunteers announced that Capitol Velo Racing Club Friends of Salem Saturday Market was working on organizing valet bike parking at the Saturday Market - the one downtown on the "green lot."

How great is that!?

The Capitol Velo FSSM group is meeting tomorrow afternoon at the market to do some planning. The effort will need volunteers, so let us know if you want to help encourage people to bike to the market!