Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (June 10, 2016)
Street Roots • June 10-16, 2016 Page 13 C o m m e n ta ry ‘Embracing a mission that’s bigger than the bike’ Our deputy director, Stephanie Noll, said: “Embracing a mission that’s bigger than the bike aligns with our evolution to work as part of broad coalitions to achieve funding and policy wins that are good for people walking, biking and accessing transit. Working in coalition with powerful BY ROB SADOWSKY community advocates like Oregon Walks, CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST Community Cycling Center, Community icycle Transportation Alliance, a Alliance of Tenants, and OPAL- Portland based nonprofit organization, Environmental Justice keeps us accountable works to improve biking conditions to a broader base of community members throughout the metropolitan and builds power in the region. For the past 25 years, we movement for streets that are have worked in partnership with built around the mobility, health citizens, businesses, community and safety of people, not just groups, government agencies and throughput of cars. I truly believe elected officials to create this coalition-based, people- communities where people can centered approach is the way meet their daily transportation forward to building the kind of needs on a bike. We’re excited to streets in all of our neighborhoods Rob Sadowsky is the announce that we’re expanding that are a joy to bike on, are safe executive director o f our mission to include walking for my kids to cross, and provide and transit and will continue to be the Bicycle efficient transit service to cross Transportation a strong voice for bicycling. Our the region.” Alliance. new mission to advocate for Through conversations we’ve bicycling, walking and public heard concerns that, with this transit will strengthen our work to create broader focus, bike issues will take a back safe, healthy and thriving communities for seat to other matters. Our advocacy all. director, Gerik Kransky, addresses this We’re especially energized by concern and explains that by becoming a restructuring our organization as part of this multi-modal organization, our campaigns will transition. Currently, the BTA is a 501(c)3 be more successful. nonprofit, but we will be adding a 501(c)4 “Bicycle advocacy will always be our core and/or political action committee to allow us work, and in that work we’ve found endless to b e m ore en g a g ed in is su e s and candidate o p p o rtu n ities to w in m ore victories by bein g elections and more directly influence the more inclusive,” said Kransky. “Combining pohtical process. safe bicycle facilities with frequent and How will our new mission and structure reliable transit service and complete improve our ability to advocate for safe and networks of sidewalks and crosswalks is the healthy communities? only way we are going to provide people Our advocacy staff breaks down how this with real choices for how they get ar-ound. reformation will enhance their ability to Our expansion will help make all types of advocate for their communities, provide transportation safe, affordable and more traction for their campaigns, and accessible for everyone.” ultimately create safe streets for all. The BTA’s equity manager and advocate Bicycle Transportation Alliance expands focus to include walking, transit B BTA’S RECENT CAMPAIGNS The BTA worked in coalition with 89 organizations to run a Safe Routes to School #ForEveryKid campaign and won $3.5 million io create safe streets near schools and a regional Safe Routes to School program. BTA successfully advocated for safe space to ride bikes over the Newbury and Vermont Bridges of Southwest Barbur Boulevard. While we have more work to do to raise the millions of dollars required to build the project, pushing our state Department of Transportation to agree to the change took years of effort, and we focused on East Portland, Elizabeth Quiroz, is excited to better represent her community through this expansion: “I believe that expanding our mission to include walking and transit will help broaden and strengthen our existing partnerships in underserved areas like East Portland, where lack of infrastructure is a major challenge to walking, biking and taking transit.” In recent years, the BTA has advocated for complete streets that include safe space for all road users. Many of our advocates believe that this mission expansion is more aligned with the work they have already been doing. LeeAnne Fergason, our Safe Routes to School director, explained: “My . personal goal is to create a world where kids can be safe and healthy. Kids and families use all modes to get to school safely, walking one day, biking the next, and public bus for older students. There is a great need to make these options safe so that everyone can gain the health benefits of walking, biking and accessing transit. Expanding the BTA’s mission to include other modes will There were 11,741 people who biked in the BTA's May Bike More Challenge, and 1,959 were new to biking, making it the biggest encouragement challenge they've ever held! The BTA has worked hard to advocate for safe streets and affordable and accessible active transportation in Washington County. We’re thrilled to see Washington County and Hillsboro launch Transportation Safety Action Plans and move toward Vision Zero. align our organizational vision with my personal vision and with our charge to create safe routes to school for every kid!” Our advocate focused on Washington County, Lisa Frank, has also been working to make streets safe for everyone and sees this mission expansion as a natural progression for the BTA: “I’m excited for this opportunity to strengthen our work in Washington County, such as our Campaign for a Safer Tualatin Valley Highway. From day one this campaign has been about m ak ing T V Highway safer for everyone through improvements like protected bike lanes and safe crossings. Our new mission aligns with those goals and will get more people on board with the changes we seek.” The BTA’s priorities will continue to be fighting for Vision Zero policies, growing Safe Routes to School, and building healthy streets for people who bike, walk and take transit throughout the region. We plan to spend the summer and fall on a strategic plan to implement the expanded mission. homeforward Morning poem htjj:», accsiss, (xMenita;. by Avendor Ring the blue bells of morning two frogs are walking home to sleep the lion’s dreaming he will not wake the sun is rising to his feet are proud of how far we ve led the charge. Subsidized Housing Waiting Lists to Open for Studio, 1, 2, 3, and 4-Bedroom Apartments Wednesday, June 8 through Saturday, June 11, 2016 Home Forward is excited to announce that twelve communities with subsidized housing assistance will be opening the waiting lists for studio, one-, two-, three- The city begins to quietly stir as the fruit outside the market opens an eye wisps of smoke seep from the factory’s roof as the girl with rosy cheeks passes by And the teacher’s lesson plan is sound as the fishermen cast off to sea and the world to me is in my kitchen as the spider climbs down the tapestry and four-bedroom units from June 8 - June 11, 2016. Applicants must meet income and eligibility guidelines. Please call 503-280-3750 or visit wWw.homeforward.org for more information. Applications will be accepted online from any internet connected computer at www.homeforward.org beginning June 8 at 8:30 am. Computers and assistance will be available at our Property Management office at 1605 NE 45th Ave, Portland, OR 97213 or you can visit 4610 N Trenton St. Portland, OR 97203. Help will be available at both locations from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Wednesday, June 8 - Friday, June 10. Assistance will not be Available on Saturday, June 11, 2016.
