Portland Community

Mr. Fisher goes to Washington —
in a Dashing Tweeds suit.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Bike industry titan Gary Fisher is hard to miss here at the Summit. A pioneer of mountain bikes in the 1980s, Fisher has gone on to be the namesake of a successful bike brand, a fashion icon, and one of only a few celebrities the bike world can call our own. He’s done a lot for biking over the years, but this is the first time he’s ever been to the National Bike Summit.

“I regret not coming before,” Fisher told me in the breakfast buffet line prior to our pep rally on Capitol Hill this morning. “I just never really made the effort.” So why this year? Fisher said his presence is the result of a classic case of arm-twisting. “Everybody kept telling me, ‘You’ve gotta’ go to this thing!’”

“We’ve got something very special here… a powerful grassroots movement.”

Fisher is just part of a huge contingent here from Trek Bicycle Corporation (Gary Fisher Bicycles is owned by Trek). There are 105 people in attendance thanks to Trek. Most of them are dealers, but a healthy handful are from their corporate offices. Trek President John Burke — who you might recall for his stirring “Inconvenient Truth” presentation at the 2007 Summit — is one of the brightest stars in a growing constellation of industry a-listers who support bike advocacy.

Fisher attended a session on
youth cycling yesterday.

Fisher says he’s impressed at how professional and organized the bicycle lobby is, but adds that it’s still the passion that sets them apart. “We’ve got something very special here… a powerful grassroots movement.”

And Fisher knows a thing or two about grassroots movements. He and his friends in Marin were laughed at when they came up with this crazy thing called a mountain bike. The industry barely gave them the time of day. But eventually, the mountain bike become wildly popular and ushered in an entire new era of bicycling in America.

Hopefully, with Fisher’s help, the bike advocacy movement will have similar results.

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

A view of the Capitol this morning.
(Photo © J. Maus)

With the lobby day in full swing here on Capitol Hill, bike advocates from around the country are asking their representatives in Congress to support a variety of pending bike-related legislation. Last night, while looking through some information on these bills put together for us by the League, I was shocked at how partisan all the bills have become.

Close readers of this site will recall several past occasions when Congress Earl Blumenauer spoke about “bike-partisan” efforts to push bike legislation through.

But this year, things have become anything but bike-partisan.

Before the lobbying began today, there were 227 total co-sponsors of six different bills. Of those 227, all but nine are Democrats. There are only six Republicans members of Congress currently signed on as co-sponsors of all the major pending bike legislation in America. Here’s how it shakes out:

• The two Complete Streets bills (H.R. 1443, and S. 584) have 66 co-sponsors between them and not one of them is a Republican.
• The newly launched Active Community Transportation Act has six co-sponsors — all of them are Democrats.
• The Safe Routes to School bill (S. 1156) has 21 co-sponsors, all but four are Democrats.
• The Safe Routes to High Schools Act (H.R. 4021) has 21 co-sponsors; only two are Republican.
• The Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act (H.R. 3734) has 104 co-sponsors; 102 are Democrats and only two are Republican.
• The Land and Water Reauthorization and Funding Act (S. 2724) has nine co-sponsors. None of them are Republican.

Even Oregon is not immune.
League of American Bicyclists executive director Andy Clarke says the partisan politics around biking “has gotten worse.” It’s gotten so bad, Clarke told me this morning, that “We’re at a point where we might have to start introducing two separate bills, one Republican can support, and one a Democrat can support.”

Bike bills are not immune to the partisan politics permeating the Hill these days, and Clarke says, “We’ve just got to play within the system… It’s not that they’re opposed to what we’re talking about, but it’s the party line.”

Even in Oregon, there’s one glaring example of this partisanship. House Representative Greg Walden, a Republican, is the only member of Congress from Oregon who is not currently signed on to any bills on the Bike Summit agenda.

Hopefully, with over 700 advocates armed for battle on the Hill today, we’ll see that line start to change, but that’s a tall order in a town where political alliances between Democrats and Republicans are cooler than the mounds of snow still piled up outside their offices.

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

Scott Bricker
(Photo © J. Maus)

Scott Bricker, the former executive director of the Portland-based Bicycle Transportation Alliance has been hired by non-profit America Walks, a national coalition of pedestrian advocacy groups.

Bricker, who was let go by the BTA back in November, is now working as a consultant. With his new contract position as Campaign Manager with America Walks, he’ll be responsible for managing their Walking Wins Summit that will be held during the annual Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference coming to Chattanooga, Tennessee in September.

The summit is a project of America Walks and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP). The aim of the summit is to coalesce interest groups to support an action plan they hope will fund walking infrastructure and “thus strengthen American communities and ensure that everyone of all ages and abilities has high-quality walking access to their daily needs.”

Gary Boulanger is Board President of the
National Interscholastic Cycling Association.
(Photos © J. Maus)

One of today’s many excellent breakout sessions focused on youth cycling programs. When I popped my head in I saw a familiar face at the lectern. It was Gary Boulanger, former bike industry journalist, PR guy, and entrepreneur behind the now defunct bike brand Cycles Gaansari (and the eponymously named bike shop in Dayton, Ohio).

Boulanger is now the recently elected Board President of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). NICA is a new organization (they held their first board meeting just last month) working toward the ambitious goal of developing competitive high school mountain biking leagues from coast-to-coast by 2020. So far there are just three states with leagues — California (NorCal and SoCal), Colorado, and Washington. But, with an impressive list of big-time corporate sponsors (Specialized, SRAM, Trek among others) and partners, the future looks very bright.

Freshman girls compete in a recent race in the NorCal League.

During today’s session, Boulanger highlighted a program in Marin County, California. At Sir Francis Drake High School, the 60-student bike team is larger than the football team. Last Sunday, he added, nearly 500 students competed at a national competition. Last year, the SoCal League (from Southern California) boasted 16 teams. Boulanger said that league will have 20 teams this year and most teams have grown 30-50 percent over last year.

Gary Fisher is a big fan of
youth cycling.

The Colorado league will start this fall and a league in Washington State has plans to kick off in 2011.

One big fan of NICA is bike industry icon Gary Fisher. Fisher was in the audience at the session today and I chatted with him about it afterwards. He’s excited not only about the positive aspects biking can bring to young people, but also about the economic potential this could have for the bike industry. “There are about 50,000 high schools in this country,” he said, “If we can get bike leagues going in a lot more them, it would really lift the industry.”

I wonder if there’s a way to tie this in with Earl Blumenauer’s Safe Routes to High Schools bill (H.R. 4021)? And Oregon, come on! We should be all over this!

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

Advocates from Omaha, Nebraska.
L to R: Tammie Dodge, Kerri Peterson,
Julie Harris.
(Photo © J. Maus)

One of the great things about being at the National Bike Summit is the feeling that biking, as a movement, is growing. And each year I’m reminded that it’s growing far beyond the typical, bike-friendly cities you always see on top ten lists.

Last night I met Julie Harris and a few of her friends from Activate Omaha.

When I did a double-take at her name badge and joked about biking in Omaha (in a nice way, I wasn’t condescending) she jumped right in and said, “You’d be surprised!” Julie said they’ve got seven bike-friendly businesses, a nascent bikeway with 20 more miles coming soon (paid for with $600,000 raised from private corporations), and a solid Safe Routes to Schools program.

Nebraska is one of 48 states represented at the summit this year. Nice meeting you Julie and best of luck in your advocacy work!

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

Peter Birch from Google.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Earlier today, I got he opportunity to speak with Peter Birch, the product manager for Google Earth (and world traveler) who spearheaded development of their new biking directions feature.

Before I get to the Q & A with Birch, here’s a recap of his comments from this morning’s Opening Plenary.

“The challenge we face is, how do we get more people on bikes…. A lot of people don’t feel comfortable on a lot of the routes they’re on with busy roads and unfamiliar streets. We wanted to figure out, how can we scale this up, so we can handle every ride? At Google, we love problems of scale.”

Birch shared that they’ve got detailed map data ready to go on the site for 150 cities and over 12,000 miles of trail data — thanks to a partnership with the Rails to Trails Conservancy. “And over the next several months, we hope to extend that coverage as well as improve the quality of directions we provide.”

Birch then started talking like an advocate (which it turns out, he is — see my Q & A below):

“With this launch, we’re showing our commitment to providing maps for people, not just cars. We’re really proud to be a part of this growing movement in helping to build greener and more sustainable communities… What we’re launching today is just a start, we know they’re only as good as the data that’s fed into it, that’s why we need your help. You guys are the experts, we need your feedback in terms of providing directions and advice in terms of which roads and trails are the best ones… then we’ll transfer the knowledge to the people who aren’t as confident and experienced in where to go.”

“With this launch, we’re showing our commitment to providing maps for people, not just cars.”
— Peter Birch, Google Earth Product Manager

Next up was Google product manager Shannon Guymon. “Cyclists have not let us forget that they haven’t been included [with Google Maps]. We’ve heard you all loud and clear.”

Guymon pointed out some of the new tool’s features. “We weight the algorithm to put you on trails as much as possible, if those aren’t possible, we go to the next best options avoiding steep hills and busy roads.” Guyton says they’ve also updated trip times. In addition, the new tool also allows you to drag and drop your route anywhere you choose and the directions update automatically. There’s also a gadget on the main Google Maps Biking so website publishers can embed the tool in their site.

Here’s a quick and rough transcript of my Q & A with Birch:

With car directions, a wrong turn can be a hassle, but with biking directions, bad directions can led to serious safety issues. How do you respond to people who are pointing out direction results that put them in harm’s way?

We know that’s going to happen. But this feature is in beta… it’s not a mature product yet. We really want to get everything right, that’s why we made this announcement here at the Summit; because these are the people with the expertise to tell us which roads are good and which ones aren’t.

What about data? Where did most of the bike route data come from?

“We’ve been working with RTC [Rails to Trails Conservancy] to get access to their rail-trail network. Most of the other data was brought in more ad-hoc from municipalities.”

Will this be brought to the iPhone and other mobile platforms any time soon?

“You can expect that to happen. Mobile is a key focus for Google, especially with directions, it’s great to have it in your pocket. I can’t tell you any specific dates right now, but we’re working on it.”

Is there any compatibility with GPS?

Right now, users can import a .KML file through the MyMaps tool. Just go to the “mymaps” tab and hit “import.”

What about problem spots and handling feedback from users?

“[There's a nice "Report a Problem" feature on the Google Maps Biking page.] Once it comes in, we vet it and say, “Is this a valid change?” If it is, it’ll take about a month for us to make the change.”

While you spoke, it was clear that your heart is in bike advocacy. Can you speak to how/if advocacy plays into this for you personally and for Google?

“I’ve been a bike advocate for years. I tried to get on the SFBC board and have been a member for 15 years. At Google, we like to make change thru action. Google is very bottom up… This [biking direcdtions] happened because people that work here are passionate about biking… We also want toserver the needs of our users. By launching bike direcstion, we want to make it easier for more people to get into biking.”

What do you think about the summit?

“It’s great. I wish I could stay here all week. Bicycling advocacy is hard work and it’s great to see so many tough and persistent people working on this.”

Go to Maps.Google.com/biking to learn more. Previous coverage of this story here (with lots of informative comments) and here.

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

Alison Graves.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Alison Graves is the new executive director of the Community Cycling Center. She takes the reins from Susan Remmers, who took over leadership of the non-profit four years ago. Remmers has been on medical leave since December (the medical issue is not related to this decision).

Graves was formerly the organization’s director of community and programs and she’s married to Bike Gallery owner and uber-advocate Jay Graves.

“I always imagined this would be my next step. I’ve been interim for the past few months and it’s been really fun. We’re in a really strong place. I love this organization and I’m ready!”

A statement posted today on the CCC’s website recaps the Remmers era:

“When she started in the spring of 2006, the Community Cycling Center was in a challenging stage of its organizational growth. While programs were successful, organizational infrastructure and key elements were missing. Remmers remembers, “I was looking for the mission statement and I found six versions of it.” She set to work immediately, igniting board and staff alike to gain clarity and focus.”

Susan Remmers.

Here are some highlights of Remmers’ accomplishments:

• Grew organization from $900,000 organization to $1.5M;
• Implemented living wage compensations and health benefits for full-time staff;
• Oversaw creation of vision statement, updated mission statement and designed strategic plan shifting organization from individual service delivery focus to a community change model;
• Led strategic program approach, focusing on north and northeast Portland;
• Created successful bike shop plan, resulting in a thriving, profitable enterprise.

Remmers also sat on the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 Steering Committee. Suffice it to say, Remmers’ contributions to the community will be sorely missed.

Graves plans to write a new business plan to map the organization’s next steps. She presented on a panel at the National Bike Summit today that focused on promoting bikes in underserved communities, an issue she’s championed at the CCC, and one that she says will become an even larger focus in the future.

[The big Google bike directions announcement also happened at this Opening Plenary, but I've decided to separate that out into a different post and combine it with a short interview I did with the product manager.]

Nearly every seat was filled.
(Photos © J. Maus)

I’ve got a front row seat at the big Opening Plenary session at the National Bike Summit. There’s even more excitement than usual because there are a few guys standing around with blue Google t-shirts. In addition to a big announcement from Google about their new bike directions feature, there is an excellent panel of speakers on tap.

The opening session is billed, “The Next Decade” and Congressman Earl Blumenauer is first to speak.

Pennsylvania Ave bike lanes.

He’s going over the goals from last year. One of them was to fill every seat in this ampitheater. Done (there are a few empty, but there are also lots of people standing in back). One of the other goals was to get a bikeway on Pennsylvania Avenue. Blumenauer has been working on that for years, and he announced this morning that by Bike to Work Day in DC (early May) this year, there will be green painted bikeways on Pennsylvania Avenue.

About the impending bike lane project, Blumenauer likened them to one of America’s most historic and iconic streets, “An exciting symbol of cycling haven risen in our nation’s capitol.”

Blumenauer had a lot of gratitude for advocates. “Persistence pays… and I’m in a culture that reveres seniority. But we need new blood, people that are fired up… they are the hallmark of this effort.” Blumenauer asked the crowd how many were first-timers at the Summit and hundreds of hands went up.

Blumenauer needs help to make
his policies fly.
(Photos © J. Maus)

“We need you know more than ever!”

Blumenauer also spoke about gridlock — not on streets, but on Capitol Hill. “We’re here to show people in the Capitol how to break that gridlock.” Trying to raise spirits a day before the troops head up to the Hill for meetings with members of Congress, Blumenauer said, “We need you know more than ever!”

Blumenauer outline several of his bike-related legislative efforts including, his Active Communities for Transportation bill (a.k.a. “the ACT act”), a Safe Routes for High Schools bill, and a bill he calls “Green Routes to Work” that would give all modes equal commuting reimbursements from employers.

“This is a blueprint for how we’re going to end socialism for the car.”
— Earl Blumenauer

On Safe Routes to High Schools: “We know childhood obesity strikes between 12 and 19… We shouldn’t abandon high schools… We want to make sure there’s a bike culture to complete with car culture.”

On Green Routes to Work: “This is a blueprint for how we’re going to end socialism for the car… We’re not anit-car but we want to stop titling the playing field dramatically in favor of them.”

Of all the years I’ve heard Blumenauer speak at this Opening Plenary, this year he seemed weary and less inspirational than in the past. During the Bush years, his anger stirred up great emotion in the crowd. Then, at the dawn of the Obama era, he was imbued with a hope that things would finally start going his way in terms of biking. This year, I think the pall of partisanship hanging over D.C. is impacting a lot of Democrats. Blumenauer pleaded with advocates as sort of a Great Last Hope to help this town see some light. Here are a few of his remarks on this topic:

“I wasn’t joking before when I talked about gridlock. I’ve been here all my life and have never seen anything like we’ve had over the course of the last year… We need your energy, your vision, your blueprint for how to make things better… They [his colleagues] need to hear the message that this is not partisan or idealogical… a message that you can deliver…”

It was as if he’s tried everything, and that now it’s up to the power of people to make it happen. He went on,

“… Help them understand you are just the tip of the iceberg in every community. Help them understand you don’t want explanations why this place doesn’t work… You want them to work with you to help make it work… Our mission has become more important, it’s become grander in scope even as it’s become more urgent…”

Peter Rogoff, administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (one of the main sponsors of the even by the way) also addressed the crowd. He had high praise for Blumenauer, saying, “I may live on the other side of the country, but as a cyclist myself, he is my congressman too.”

“Our mission is the same as your mission,” said Rogoff, “We are trying to get our policies and our programs to recognize the new reality.” According to Rogoff, a new reality exists because people are “cramming for choices” in how they move around and “We need to upgrade our policies and programs to reflect it.”

Rogoff said the sour economy has many Americans looking to “jettison” their cars. “These families are discovering that transit works for them and that bikes work for them, and — what’s critically important — is that many of them are discovering that cycling and transit works for them.”

Rogoff also pointed out that the Obama Administration has boosted transit spending by 84% in just one year. Of the 51 projects selected for stimulus funding through the TIGER program, he said 24 of them included some type of bike improvement. “I think we’re beginning to put our money where our mouth is on these issues.”

He also acknowledged that there is “pushback on this agenda.” Then, echoing Blumenauer’s sentiment, he said, “That’s why it’s all the more important you’re here.”

As what may be the last line of defense to push transportation politics toward a new status quo, the 700 assembled advocates here at the Summit have a lot of expectations on their shoulders heading into the big day on Capitol Hill tomorrow.

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

Mr. Armstrong gave us a personal
welcome and thank you at the
opening reception party.
-Slideshow below-
(Photos © J. Maus)

First day is in the books here at the 2010 National Bike Summit — and it was a big one. Lots of excitment, record attendance, the launch of a major national promotional campaign, big news from Google, a guest appearance (via video) from Lance Armstrong, and lots more.

Check out the slideshow below (or browse the gallery). It contains all my best shots from today, including a visit to Bikestation D.C., a few snaps of the local bike-sharing solution, Smartbike DC, and photos of advocates from around the country:

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

Bikes Belong executive director Tim Blumenthal.
(Photos © J. Maus)

As reported earlier, Bikes Belong revealed a major new campaign tonight aimed at unifying a million voices in support of bicycling across America. The People for Bikes campaign was launched to a room packed with bike advocates and industry leaders from across the country at the opening reception of the National Bike Summit.

During the announcement, Bikes Belong executive director Tim Blumenthal shared a bit more about the campaign. He also shared a video they used as inspiration for the campaign (watch it below). Blumenthal said the official public launch will take place at the Sea Otter Classic bike race and festival in California on April 15th-18th.

Andy Clarke as Wile E. Coyote.

During a slideshow presentation, Blumenthal illustrated the goal of the campaign by sharing a Photoshopped image of League of American Bicyclists director Andy Clarke as Wile E. Coyote jumping a bike over the Grand Canyon. One side was labeled “250,000 advocates” and the other, “50 million riders.” Blumenthal also shared one of the campaign ads and said, “You’re going to see these ads everywhere.”

Assisting Bikes Belong on the campaign was creative firm Colle McVoy . Blue State Digital, the database technology and online strategists behind Barack Obama’s meteoric rise to popularity are also involved. Bike parts maker SRAM also played a key role as a “special investor” in the project.

A video was also played during the launch presentation. Blumenthal said it was created during the development of the campaign and shows the kind of spirit they’re after. I recorded the video with my iPhone. Watch it below (and listen to the rousing ovation at the end!):

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

“Over the past two years, actual contract costs have come in much lower than the estimates on which rates were based. These significant savings mean we can make these Green Streets investments without impacting rate payers.”
— Mayor Sam Adams

Last week, the City released the ordinance language behind Mayor Sam Adams’ plans to find $20 million to “kickstart” funding of the 2030 Bike Master Plan. According to the ordinance, the $20 million would be allocated from the capital project budget of the Bureau of Environmental Services and directed into bike boulevards via BES’s Green Streets program.

Also released last week was a memo from BES stating where the $20 million would come from. That memo grabbed a lot of headlines because it said the $20 million would come, in large part, from funds set aside to fix old, leaky sewer pipelines. As you can imagine, that idea rankled some Portlanders.

But, as Adams pointed out via Twitter yesterday, that memo was from BES, not the Mayor’s office. In response to an update I posted that linked to an article in the Tribune titled, Swap sewers for bikes?, Adams tweeted, “this is Saltzman’s bike funding $ list not mine. Mine tomorrow.”

So, just where will Adams’ promised $20 million come from? According to a statement from Adams’ office, he’ll bring a proposal to council Wednesday (3/10) that will “re-allocate a portion of the unused contingency and contract savings that have become available within the Bureau of Environmental Services as a result of the recession.”

That idea is not new. Adams mentioned it at the Council hearing on the Bike Plan back in February 11th. What is new are the specific details behind the idea.

In his statement today, Adams calls Green Streets funding a “double-win” for Portlanders because of how they treat stormwater and calm traffic (learn more about Green Streets in this video).

Here’s how Adams explains the contract savings:

“Over the past two years, actual contract costs have come in much lower than the estimates on which rates were based. These significant savings mean we can make these Green Streets investments without impacting rate payers. As a result, millions of dollars in contract savings give us the opportunity to reprogram funding for Green Streets investments.”

And here is Adams’ detailed list of funding sources that account for the $20 million for each of the next three years (through FY 2014):

Grey to Green – $3.0 million
This funding is already slated for city-wide green street projects. It would be redirected to Green Streets projects to enhance prioritized bicycle boulevards through 2014.

Recession-related contractor bid/contingency savings – $15.4 million
As analysis from the City’s Office of Management and Finance shows, BES has experienced millions of dollars of contract savings over the past two years, providing the opportunity to reprogram funding for Green Street investments.

1% for Green – $0.8 million
Water, BES and PBOT pay 1% of construction costs for projects in the public right of way which do not trigger the Stormwater Management Manual requirements. Some of this money currently funds green streets. This would redirect all of it through 2014.

Innovative Wet Weather Grant $0.8 million
This is money received as a grant from EPA to build innovative stormwater facilities. Green Streets projects are an allowable use of these grant funds.

Total – $20 million

Adams also released a matrix of BES and PBOT projects prepared by the Office of Management and Finance that detailed contract savings amounts.

This proposal will go in front of Council on Wednesday. More coverage in the Portland Tribune.

There it is.

The League of American Bicyclists has just sent out a press release confirming what I speculated (and all but confirmed) earlier today — Google has turned on biking directions for Google Maps.

Google will publicly announce the big news at Wednesday morning’s Opening Plenary Session. About the announcement, the League’s Andy Clarke says, “… It is a game-changer, especially for those short trips that are the most polluting… This new tool will open people’s eyes to the possibility and practicality of hopping on a bike and riding.”

In addition to an option for “Bicycling” directions, Google also has a new layer view that include

A view of Portland with the “bicycling” layer turned on. Green shows bike routes (note for you non-Portlanders, the green line on Waterfront Park is an off-street, multi-use path).

According to Google, bike directions have been the most requested addition to Google Maps.

I tried out the feature using Portland as my base location (I’ll confirm tomorrow what cities the bicycling layer works in) and it worked well. With the “bicycling” layer turned on, I noticed it automatically found off-street paths like the Waterfront Park path and the Springwater Corridor Trail.

Here’s a blurb from the League’s press release:

“Simply enter a start point and destination and select “Bicycling” from the drop-down menu. You will receive a route that is optimized for cycling, taking advantage of bike trails, bike lanes, and bike-friendly streets and avoiding hilly terrain whenever possible.”

Read Gabe Tiller tried a route from Northeast Portland to Oaks Park via the Springwater and reports that it’s not the exact route he’d use. Another person via Twitter said it recommended riding on West Burnside, a very unsafe street for bikes.

I’ve got a demo scheduled with a Google rep tomorrow. If you have questions you want me to ask her, leave them in the comments. In the mean time, I’d love to know if the bicycling feature works for you. Give it a try and report back in the comments 1) if it’s turned on in your area and 2) if it works.

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

Screenshot from the just-launched
PeopleForBikes.org.

At tonight’s opening reception of the National Bike Summit, national non-profit group Bikes Belong will announce the People for Bikes campaign.

A tri-fold promo brochure being handed out here at the Summit reads:

“Millions of Americans ride bicycles and recognize the economic, social and physical benefits. But, only a fraction of those who ride have stood up to help advance the cause of bicycling in America.

The goal of peopleforbikes.org is to gather a million names of support, to speak with one powerful voice — to let policy makers, the media and the public know that bicycling is important and should be promoted.

Whether you’re a commuter, a roadie, a mountain biker or just a casual rider, by uniting your voice with a million others, you can help build a national movement to improve bicycling in our country.”

The campaign’s main icon (there are
different types of bikes).

This campaign has been in the works since November 2008 (we last reported about it in April 2009). Bikes Belong created the campaign with Minneapolis-based creative agency Colle+McVoy. The firm has previously worked on marketing campaigns for Caribou Coffee, the Minnesota State Lottery and others.

According to Bikes Belong executive director Tim Blumenthal, who I ran into a few minutes ago, People for Bikes will try to bridge the gap between the 250,000 bike advocates in America and the 50 million people who like to ride bikes, but who are currently not engaged with the movement. The tagline is, “Uniting a Million Voices to Improve the Future of Biking.”

At the People for Bikes website, people can sign a pledge, share the site with a friend, or upload their own bike story. The pledge states:

“I am for bikes. I’m for long rides and short rides. I’m for commuting to work, weekend rides, racing, riding to school, or just a quick spin around the block. I believe that no matter how I ride, biking makes me happy and is great for my health, my community and the environment we all share. That is why I am pledging my name in support of a better future for bicycling—one that is safe and fun for everyone. By uniting my voice with a million others, I believe that we can make our world a better place to ride.”

The aim of this initiative for Bikes Belong is to harness American’s love of bicycles and channel it into influence. It’s no accident that this effort is being launched just as Congress works to re-write our country’s transportation bill. The site’s Goals page reads, “Passion is nothing without a purpose. If we’re going to positively influence our country’s outlook on biking, we need to come together. We need your participation.”

I liken this effort to a MoveOn.org for bikes — which is something I’ve advocated for starting here in Portland. It’s something we sorely need in the bike advocacy movement and I hope it succeeds. Reps from Colle+McVoy that I spoke with said this is just an opening salvo and there is a lot more planned around this initiative. I’m headed to the official announcement now. I’ll update this story if necessary.

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

Bikestation DC has a location
that’s impossible to miss.
- Slideshow below-
(Photos © J. Maus)

Today I took a peek at the latest and most conspicuous addition to Washington D.C.’s transportation infrastructure — Bikestation DC.

Opened for business only since last October (it was under construction last time I was here), the facility is striking in stature and has a location that any bike planner would drool over. The modern, curved glass structure sits just a few yards from the main entrance of Union Station, a historic landmark and tourist attraction visited by 32 million people each year. The dynamic lines of the Bikestation create an interesting juxtaposition to the Classical-era inspired architecture of Union Station.

Zach Petry pulls a few rental
bikes from the racks.

With so much foot traffic passing by, shop manager Zachary Petry said about three out of five people that stop in are simply curious. Petry works the facility along with one other employee. Both staffers are with a local bike rental and tour company called Bike and Roll (formerly known as Bike the Sites).

Petry said most of the members of the secure parking facility are people who commute for work into downtown D.C. and want a bike for getting around the city. Another big chunk of customers comes from people doing the reverse-commute. They ride to the Bikestation and then hop on a Metro or Amtrak train to get work. A few members, Petry says, are just weekend warriors who need a secure place to park their bikes in between recreational jaunts.

With so much foot traffic nearby,
there’s a distinctly non-motorized
feel to the entire area.

Bikestation DC was built for about $4 million, 80% of which came from federal taxpayer revenue. The 1,600 square foot facility can store up to 100 bikes (it was about 70% full when I was in there today) and it also offers a changing room, lockers, and 24/7 access via a secure key fob. Membership costs $12 a month or $96 a year. Members also get discounts at the full-service repair and retail shop.

Petry said the winter season was tough. The modern structure didn’t insulate very well and it leaked, but business has been brisk of late with the onset of Spring. “Now we’ve just got to figure out how to serve all the people coming through — in this really small space.”

Watch the slideshow below:

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

Morrison Bridge back in September.
(Photo: Elly Blue)

It’s been a very long time in the making, but according to The Oregonian’s Joseph Rose, Multnomah County is set to open the new bikeway on the Morrison Bridge by this Friday.

Here’s the blurb from The Oregonian:

“After months of delays, a 15-foot-wide pedestrian and bike path over the Morrison Bridge — as well as a new automobile off-ramp to Southeast Water Avenue — is expected to be open to the public by the end of the week.

“We’re finally going to be opening it up it sounds like,” Multnomah County spokesman Mike Pullen said with a chuckle and a sigh.”

Rose also put together this short video showing how it looks.

A tour of the Morrison Bridge bike, ped path

I’m in D.C. until late Friday night, but I’ll be hopping on my bike and riding across this as soon I can. How about a group ride over the weekend to properly break it in?

— Read all seven of our stories about the Morrison Bridge Project here.

Ted Wheeler, State Treasurer.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Earlier today, Jeff Mapes at The Oregonian broke the news that Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler has accepted an appointment by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski to be State Treasurer (filling the void left by the late Ben Westlund).

The news is a blow to our region, as Wheeler was an effective and well-liked politician who was tackling big issues with an all-too-rare-these-days combination of skill, charisma, and candor. Last week he left a comment on our story about studded tires.

I won’t get into who might take his place and what this means to our region’s and Oregon’s political landscape (I’ll leave that to folks at BlueOregon, Jeff Mapes, etc..) — but, just for the record, I thought I’d share a photo I snapped of Mr. Wheeler back in August.

Wheeler riding across the Hawthorne Bridge on a ride organized during the Safe Routes National Conference back in August.

Congratulations on your appointment Ted, let us know how the riding is down in Salem.

Finally?!
(Graphic: Peter Smith)

The League of American Bicyclists just announced record attendance for the 10th annual National Bike Summit. They’ve also announced a new speaker for tomorrow morning’s Opening Plenary: Shannon Guymon of Google, Inc. Could Ms. Guymon be here to make a big announcement about adding bike directions to Google Maps?

According to a press release from the League, more than 700 people from 48 states have already registered. That’s more than 100 more than last year (in 2001, the Summit’s first year, fewer than 150 people showed up). League President Andy Clarke says that more than 400 meetings have been scheduled with members of Congress during Thursday’s Capitol Hill lobbying day. “The Summit and bicycle movement is on the rise,” said Clarke.

That’s great news… but let’s get back to Google. A cursory search on Guymon shows that she does indeed work on Google Maps. She’s slated to present on “new features” at SXSW this Saturday in Austin..

Google has been working on bike directions for at least two years. Peter Smith, a citizen activist from San Francisco and author of the Google Maps Bike There blog reported in November that Google was actively seeking partners to help them gather data to launch the feature.

This is all speculation at this point, but it seems curious that the League would have Mrs. Guymon in the line-up (and she was a late addition). Also set to speak at tomorrow’s opening session are Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Delaware Governor Jack Markell, and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE: It now seems likely that Google will announce a “Bike There” feature tomorrow morning. I’m meeting with a rep from the company after what they referred to as “an announcement.” They’d like to show me a “demo” and a spokesperson for Google said I “won’t be disappointed with the news.”

2010 Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

D.C. here we come!
The Summit starts tomorrow.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Tomorrow is the opening day of the 2010 National Bike Summit in Washington D.C. (I hope on a red-eye flight tonight!). Last week I introduced you to the Oregon advocates that will make the trek to D.C. to attend. But, some of you may be wondering, what the heck happens at the Summit? Hopefully this post answers a few of your questions.

The Summit is, at its core, a lobbying event. The intention is to make the presence of bicycling felt on Capitol Hill, shake hands with members of Congress, and explain to them why bicycling is important and deserving of their support.

In addition to building strong relationships with our country’s most powerful politicians, the Summit is a chance to meet and network with other advocates and be inspired by their work.

Flip through an interactive version
of the official Summit guide!

The meat of the Summit happens on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, the opening plenary is usually anchored by Congressman Earl Blumenauer. He does his part to whip up the inspirational fuel that carries everyone through Friday. After that, there are three blocks of breakout sessions. Here’s the list of panels and workshops (some very interesting stuff!):

• Jump Start Your State and Local Advocacy Efforts
• Investing In Our Future – Will 2010 Be Our Year
• Energy, Global Security and Sustainability
• Best Practices in Youth Cycling Programs – IMBA Track
• Broadening the Movement in Underserved Communities
• Progressive Cities – When We Build, Will They Come?
• Promoting Livable Communities – Can we Remake America’s Communities?
• Mobilizing for a Healthier Transportation System
• Taking Public Transportation to the Next Level and How Bicycling Can Boost Public Transit
• Entrepreneurial IMBA-Growing Mountain Bike Participation
• Traffic Justice – Don’t be Driven to Distraction
• Maximizing the Role of Bicycle Retailers in Local Advocacy
• Strengthening Safe Routes to School in the Next Transportation Bill
• The Madison Story – Platinum and Beyond: How Do We Replicate it Nationwide
• Complete Streets – Building on Momentum at the Local, State and National Level
• Cycle Tracks to Pump Tracks – The Transportation-Recreation Connection
• Dollars, Partnerships, and New Riders – How Tourism can Play a Role
• Social Marketing – Real Potential for Advocacy

What sessions would you attend?

Team Oregon in full effect inside
Rep. Peter DeFazio’s office last year.

After a day full of information and inspiration, it’s time to hit the Hill. On Thursday, we rise and shine early for an 8:00 a.m. rally and continental breakfast on Capitol Hill followed by a day full of meetings with congressional representatives. This is the day when bike advocates take over the Senate and House office buildings to spread the good word. Each state visits their representatives to explain and build support for bike-related legislation. Sometimes the member of Congress will be present, but most of the time a legislative aide/staffer sits in and takes notes.

A very busy day on Capitol Hill is followed by a big party on Thursday night where triumphs are toasted and the real work of the Summit comes to an end. The next morning, advocates lead members of Congress and their staffers on a leisurely bike ride around the Capitol.

That’s a general view of how the Summit shakes out. I didn’t mention all the keynotes and other speeches by notable politicians, agency heads, and national advocacy luminaries that are sometimes the highlight of the event. Also, while the official agenda is full, much of the work of the Summit happens at parties and other, sometimes spontaneous meetings not on the schedule.

Also not on the official schedule are many lobbying and networking opportunities organized by each individual state. For instance, on Thursday night, all of us in the Oregon delegation will have a special dinner with Congressman Earl Blumenauer.

Stay tuned! I’ll be in D.C. tomorrow morning with camera in hand and notebook at the ready. Special thanks to Planet Bike, official sponsor of all our Bike Summit coverage. You can also follow my live updates and quick thoughts via Twitter.

Johnnie Olivan.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Johnnie Olivan of Portland-based Rejuiced Bikes has won a $15,000 commission to build a mini-fleet of “bike-cars.” Olivan has already been riding several of his bike-cars around Portland, but he’ll use the money to take the design to the next level.

The commission comes from a joint project by Seattle-based non-profits 4Culture and Great City. Olivan replied to a call for ideas through Great City’s aLIVe project, which “aims to spark interaction across disciplines, showcase ideas and suggest action around issues of energy, livability and design.”

A side-view of an early bike-car design.
(Photo: Johnnie Olivan)

The aLIVe project, which stands for A Low Impact Vehicle Exploration, was born from an event put together by Seattle artist Cheryl los Remedios. Here’s more about aLIVe from Great City:

“A Low Impact Vehicle exploration is an artist-initiated, multi-phase effort to re-imagine our transportation system as designed around the human body. Right now, we design vehicles to withstand high-impact collisions, and our roads move freight and people at high speeds. aLIVe asks, How can we make transportation safer for our own biology and use less fossil fuel, reduce vehicular emissions, and prevent unchecked growth of the transportation network?”

This version has a large shelf
for hauling and two speakers
in the back.

Olivan was one of eight recipients to win a commission. He has already built several bike cars and has been riding and testing them on the streets of Portland for over seven months. This funding will allow him to take the design to the next level.

When I met with Olivan over the weekend, he said he’s most excited about how the money will allow him to improve his design. He’s especially interested in a version of his bike-car that incorporates a hand-cycle that can be accessed and driven by someone in a wheelchair. A ramp flips out and the wheelchair rolls right into position.

Check out the schematic:

Other designs he’s working on are a bike-car that doubles as a rainwater catcher and a “mini school bus” Olivan says will fit up to six kids. In addition to getting high marks for utility, Olivan says riding one of his bike-cars is just a lot of fun. “People that have experienced the bike-car always say, ‘This is so much fun, I’ll go the store with this just because it’s fun to ride.’”

Another interesting aspect of Olivan’s work is that he builds out of used bikes exclusively. Olivan is a master at making useful products out of used bikes and parts. I profiled his cargo trailers a few months ago and he has kept busy of late doing custom work for Klean Kanteen, the Community Cycling Center, the Sprockettes and others.

A short film about the bike-car (produced by Olivan) will be shown at the upcoming Filmed By Bike festival.

(Photos © J. Maus)

Saturday was one of the most gorgeous days Portland has seen in recent memory. The warm sun and the spring blooms on trees all over the city combined for a nearly perfect day to be on a bicycle. Riding under Portland’s blossoming street trees this time of year is something I can’t get enough of. And I’m not the only one.

On days like Saturday, Portland streets come alive with people on bikes. I rode around north and northeast Portland for a bit, just taking it all in and snapping photos…

Did you get out for a ride on Saturday?