This article is the twenty-second in a series profiling the varied and amazing nominees for the 2009 Alice B. Toeclips Awards, which will be presented to five winners at the Alice Awards & Auction on March 7th. We won’t be able to profile everyone, so read the nominees’ descriptions online. This profile was written by BTA correspondent Stephanie Chase.
While some might be surprised to learn about the Portland Water Bureau’s Alice nomination, the Bureau is a leading example of educating and encouraging employee bike commuting and safety. Commissioner Randy Leonard, who oversees the Bureau, is a regular bike commuter, and Administrator David G. Shaff is a past participant in Cycle Oregon. Both nominees Tim Hall and Peter Nierengarten, who have spearheaded most of the Bureau’s programs, are recreational cyclists who have incorporated their passion for cycling with the practical aims of the Water Bureau’s Sustainability Plan.
Situated at one of Portland’s most notorious and dangerous intersections for drivers and cyclists, in 2008 the Water Bureau proactively mandated that their employees refrain from using the North Wheeler entrance to their facility. Nierengarten cites the Bureau’s actions as “having gone a long ways towards preventing any serious injuries,” for both cyclists and drivers while helping to reduce and mitigate heavy traffic through the intersection. While some employees were resistant at first to the closure, Nierengarten notes the Bureau’s outreach and education behind the closed road was successful and “most folks eventually willingly accepted the change.” Additionally the 2007-2008 Sustainability Plan called for the Water Bureau to reduce or offset one million pounds of CO2 emissions, and with this goal in mind Nierengarten and Hall advocated that the Bureau to purchase bicycles for employees to get to and from meetings instead of relying on cars. And after last the success of last September’s Bike Commute Challenge, where the Water Bureau placed second with 10% of their staff commuting by bike, Nierengarten and Hall initiated the Bicycle Buddy Program, designed to help retain September commuters. With about twenty-five consistent commuters on staff, Nierengarten and Hall set up a buddy program that paired an experienced commuter with a novice to help them learn safe routes to get to work.
Safety is an essential component in convincing people to bike commute, and last fall the Water Bureau created and hosted an “Eye to Eye” event to help both cyclists and large-vehicle drivers to shift perspective on sharing the road. The video serves as a valuable education tool and reinforces the Water Bureau’s commitment to education and safety. After “Eye to Eye’s” positive reception, the Water Bureau has a few ideas for future campaigns dealing with issues surrounding construction zones, pedestrians, and bikes. With these small steps of incorporating proactive safety and sustainability into business practices, Nierengarten and Hall have set an excellent example of how similar companies and organizations can get employees riding their bikes.
