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.