This has been an exciting week. We are the midst of cranking on events including Bridge Pedal and Tour De Fat, planning for next year’s Portland Safer Routes to School programs, ramping up our campaign capacity, and busting to get more funding for bicycle boulevards.
We’ve been in the media and have been a subject of the list-serves. At the same time the board and staff are rolling up our sleeves internally to figure out this transition. We’re excited; we are fueled by your excitement.
Oh, yeah we just had signing ceremonies / Governor signatures of SB 108 and HB 3314!
Below is posted my response to a thread on the Shift listserve about the BTA. This post may help you understand what I think makes the BTA tick. It’s not a description of our programs, rather an insight on how we choose our battles, our work.
I want the BTA to be respected as the premiere bicycle organization in the region, state and nation. I urge you to also take action in building the bicycle movement.
Please Comment
Posted by me to Shift’s list serve today, July 27th. Sign up for the list here.
“Thanks for provocative and interesting conversation.
The BTA works to get everyone bicycling. Our research shows two primary issues:
a) people’s top concerns about bicycling are automobiles – speeds, volumes, behaviors
b) 60% of the population likes bikes and does not bicycle regularly (the Orange People – ask me later).
We are targeting that 60%… but in the process we WILL make things better for all of you. Our strategy to increase low-traffic bicycle streets is targeted all the Orange People, but if we can build 100 miles of new bicycle boulevards, it will help all of us.
We are moving more and more towards a campaign model. These campaigns will target the Orange People too. I want to create Ciclovias (car free street events), I want to reduce traffic speeds, make neighborhoods safer for families, children, seniors, and yes the fixie rider also.
But in the process, we also NEED YOU to do YOUR STUFF too. We love that Portland has the best bike blog in the world, created internationally renowned Zoo Bomb and Chunk 666. We support the creation of bike culture and events. Portland is also a leader in Safe Routes to School, and yes we are trying to change the behavior and beliefs of a generation. We hope you understand and support that; come out for a ride with a bike safety class this fall.
This morning I stopped for a donut on the Broadway. Thanks for “Breakfast to Go” Shift…. I look forward to more of your creative ideas too.
Off to Salem to sign SB 108!
Scott B.
E.D.
p.s…. I plan on hiring a really really awesome interim lobbyist.”
OK, you asked for comments.
“My First Week Running the BTA”
First, to be clear I am very appreciative for what the BTA has helped accomplish. I don’t know you, Scott and this isn’t meant to be taken personally. However…
Why is it that the headline for this article just rubs me the wrong way and sort of sums up my feelings about what the BTA has become? In I find BTA staff personable, passionate and informed. But when I see what you write (for example on bikeportland.org) you come across as a bit arrogant, condescending and detached from the average rider. I understand, you’re not after me, you are after what you call that orange group. All I can say is that if you come across that way to a cyclist my guess is that you come across that way to your target audience as well.
The content of your post? Pretty good. The headline? It’s not about you. It shouldn’t be about you. It should be about all of us. Often, the BTA seems to miss this subtle, yet critical point.
Do I support the work of the BTA? Sure, in a passive way. Am I a member? Not ever since it started feeling like the leadership of the BTA was a bit too pleased with themselves. “My First Week Running the BTA.” With a self important attitude like that, you shouldn’t be running much of anything.
I appreciate the feedback. As for the title, I have not had a chance to contact anyone personally about the change, we’ve just been too busy. So I wanted to give people an opportunity to hear something personal, if not slightly provocative, from me.
I will work to contact bicyclists and others in the coming weeks and then blog posts giving an update on the organization.
The irony is though (and perhaps this is the arrogant part of me) that people enjoy writing harsh words about others whom they don’t know, nor have they asked about the work that they are doing; I don’t see that as particularly productive or professional.
I’d love to talk about the work that each of us are doing and see how we can collaborate.
What are you up to?