PBOT 2009-2010 Budget Request

Yesterday, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) released their budget request in which funding for safe routes to school, bike boulevards, and other bike/walking projects were cut or went unfunded.

Below is my letter to the Mayor and Commissioners. Please call or email them and let them know about your transportation priorities.

Pedal Power: Saving the World One Bicycle at a Time

One of the first actions I took when I began to question society’s faith in a growth economy and realized the hazards of dwindling natural resources was to switch my transportation method from relying primarily on a vehicle to relying primarily on my bike.  Getting into the habit of jumping on my bike was a welcome solution and I had little trouble with discarding my car… most of the time.  Occasionally, whether the air was a little too crisp, the rain a little too heavy or the desired destination a little too far away for my taste, the convenience of a car won out in the battle of transportation options.  Working and attending school downtown, where parking is at a premium, having a vehicle was not a feasible option.  Having my bike as the only option for transportation transitioned me into having a greater appreciation for two wheels and pedals.