Portland, OR 2030 Bike Plan Meeting

[ngchen]

(also forwarded to TN Bike Advocates mailing list)
I just read http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2010/02/live_blogging_the_2030_portlan.html the live blog from the city council meeting they had in Portland, OR on how they would like to spend $600 million over 20 years to have 700+ miles worth of bike facilities. The proposal is widely expected to ultimately pass, although the anticipated vote did not take place today. FWIW, Portland is already one of the most bike friendly cities in the country, with around 300 mi of facilities already. The proposal is a plan that does not commit any hard money - coming up with that money will be the hard part. The people there were extremely supportive of the plan for the most part. Concerns and arguments both pro and con may be worthwhile to study in terms of advocacy.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we can have something similar happen here? I say it's possible.

[Tom]

It would be possible if our gov't was a bit more supportive of cycling.
That being said, if more of us petitioned our government, maybe they would be.

[Tom]

Speaking of petitioning our government, if anyone wants to take the lead and create a well written letter to Mayor Haslam regarding the creation of bicycle lanes and completion of the "Complete Streets Study", I'll gladly attach my signature to it.
I would do it myself, but my writing skills are not the best by any stretch of the imagination.

[COG]

Unless it's something the Mayor can use to campaign with, I doubt it would be of much use. He has aspirations for the Governors chair.

[Tom]

Making a part of town better for its residents would definitely be something that can be used in his campaign. Would it not?

[none]

Making a part of town better for its residents would definitely be something that can be used in his campaign. Would it not?

I concur.

[COG]

You are right Tom, it would but I think, it could be better to hit up the candidates replacing Haslam and let them use this as a stump topic. Then with a new pro-cycling/pedestrian Mayor, and Haslam in Nashville, we might be able to get a lot more. Haslam will have strong ties to Knoxville. Lastly, hundreds of millions of dollars are getting harder and harder to come by with the unemployment rate like it is. No working, no buying, no tax paying locally and nationally. SSI is in trouble for the first time ever due to the high unemployment and loss of contributions to the fund. We have some huge fish to fry and if it stays the course, the only thing people will be able to afford will be a bicycle so it's going to work out either way.
If China keeps jacking up prices like they have been due to transportation costs, we will have to start making bikes here in the US again. Yay!

[none]

You are right Tom, it would but I think, it could be better to hit up the candidates replacing Haslam and let them use this as a stump topic. Then with a new pro-cycling/pedestrian Mayor, and Haslam in Nashville, we might be able to get a lot more. Haslam will have strong ties to Knoxville. Lastly, hundreds of millions of dollars are getting harder and harder to come by with the unemployment rate like it is. No working, no buying, no tax paying locally and nationally. SSI is in trouble for the first time ever due to the high unemployment and loss of contributions to the fund. We have some huge fish to fry and if it stays the course, the only thing people will be able to afford will be a bicycle so it's going to work out either way.
If China keeps jacking up prices like they have been due to transportation costs, we will have to start making bikes here in the US again. Yay!

Perhaps you should become a lobbyist with theses far fetched Utopian ideas of yours!

[ericmoritz]

You are right Tom, it would but I think, it could be better to hit up the candidates replacing Haslam and let them use this as a stump topic. Then with a new pro-cycling/pedestrian Mayor, and Haslam in Nashville, we might be able to get a lot more. Haslam will have strong ties to Knoxville. Lastly, hundreds of millions of dollars are getting harder and harder to come by with the unemployment rate like it is. No working, no buying, no tax paying locally and nationally. SSI is in trouble for the first time ever due to the high unemployment and loss of contributions to the fund. We have some huge fish to fry and if it stays the course, the only thing people will be able to afford will be a bicycle so it's going to work out either way.
If China keeps jacking up prices like they have been due to transportation costs, we will have to start making bikes here in the US again. Yay!

Perhaps you should become a lobbyist with theses far fetched Utopian ideas of yours!

COG for Mayor!

[Tom]

You are right Tom, it would but I think, it could be better to hit up the candidates replacing Haslam and let them use this as a stump topic. Then with a new pro-cycling/pedestrian Mayor, and Haslam in Nashville, we might be able to get a lot more. Haslam will have strong ties to Knoxville. Lastly, hundreds of millions of dollars are getting harder and harder to come by with the unemployment rate like it is. No working, no buying, no tax paying locally and nationally. SSI is in trouble for the first time ever due to the high unemployment and loss of contributions to the fund. We have some huge fish to fry and if it stays the course, the only thing people will be able to afford will be a bicycle so it's going to work out either way.
If China keeps jacking up prices like they have been due to transportation costs, we will have to start making bikes here in the US again. Yay!

I agree with you regarding hitting up the candidates, but I would still continue to hammer the msg home with Haslam.
He still has some time in office and there are stimulus funds that need to be spent now.
I'm all for the continued manufacturing of bicycles in the USA.
Of course, it also helps if people actually buy the things.

COG for Mayor!

I'd go for that.