Crystal Clear

Another crystal clear morning with quiet ripples on the lake.
The weather this week has been pretty darn amazing!

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2017 Oregon transportation bill: Here’s how to make your voice matter

(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Our elected representatives need to hear what you think of the $8.2 billion transportation package.

The Joint Committee on Transportation Preservation and Modernization just released the full details for the upcoming hearings for House Bill 2017. And The Street Trust is riding to Salem for one of them.

Here are the details:

The committee is having three hearings. The first one on Monday will include invited testimony only. The other two are open to the public. All the hearings begin at 5:00 pm and will take place at the State Capitol in Hearing Room F. Committee meetings are usually streamed live online. We’ve asked for a confirmation on that and have yet to hear back.

Keep in mind that if a significant disagreement arises and an amendment is needed, the committee plans to hear those on Wednesday. Also, the current plan is for this committee to vote on the bill sometime between June 12th and 16th.

If you’d like to join others who care about transportation, The Street Trust is hosting Ride to Salem Tuesday in time to speak at the hearing. Here’s more from TST:

Join us in bicycling to Salem on June 6th to make our priorities known at the first public hearing on HB 2017, the transportation funding package.

We ride for Safe Routes to School for Every Kid and especially for low-income families.

We ride for off-street bicycle and pedestrian paths.

We ride for more funding for public transportation and free transit passes for youth.

We ride for in-school bicycle and pedestrian safety education.

We ride for safe streets for all Oregonians.

We ride to say bicycling is part of the solution- not something to be targeted with a bike tax.

If you’d like to join, meet at the Portland State University Urban Plaza (south of Mill Street between 5th and 6th) at 9:30 am. The route is 58 miles long and will stick to the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway. See the event listing for more details.

You can also contact your representative directly using this handy tool or send an email to the JTPM committee via jtpm.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

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Weekend Event Guide: Pioneer Century, Pedalpalooza, and more

Quite a variety of rides to choose from this weekend.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

It’s June and every Portland calendar is absolutely jam-packed. Not only is everyone psyched for summer, but it’s also Pedalpalooza season!

The Weekend Event Guide is sponsored by Abus Bike Locks. Thanks Abus!

There are 41 events on the Pedalpalooza calendar from now through Sunday. If you can’t find a ride you love this weekend you don’t love cycling.

And there’s plenty of adventure to be had this weekend far beyond Portland’s bike fun spheres. The Pioneer Century is a classic that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Enjoy the weekend!

Friday, June 2nd

Dirty Diablo’s Wild Ride – 8:00 pm at Devil’s Point (5305 SE Foster)
Follow the inimitable Diablo on Pedalpalooza’s first big dance party ride. Now in its 8th year, this ride is guaranteed fun for those looking for a night out on the town with “wild devilish delights.” More info here.

Saturday, June 3rd

*The Pioneer Century – All day in Canby*
This ride follows a breathtakingly beautiful route through the bucolic vistas of Champoeg, Canby and Mollala. Different mileage options to choose from, very nice people to ride with, and a fantastic lunch. I’ve done this twice now and can highly recommend it! More info here.

Gifford Gravel Century – 8:00 am in Yacolt (WA)
Not for the faint of heart, this unsupported ride will cover 70 miles and over 8,700 feet of climbing. I did this ride a few years ago and the great memories are still very vivid. More info here.

Velo Cirque Vintage Bike Ride & Show – 10:00 am at Velo Cult (1969 NE 42nd)
Calling all classic bike riders and lovers! This is the event for you. All types of classic and vintage bikes are welcome. Organizer says to bring, “anything with soul”. Ride at 10, show starts at 3:00. Remember to bring a bike stand if you have one. More info here.

Norther Cycles Swap Meet – 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at Norther Cycles (5515 N Albina)
Its the third annual swap meet hosted by Norther Cycles. Expect to hang out with some very nice people and see tons of hard-to-find used parts and bikes to browse and buy. Bring your stuff to sell for $10 per space. More info here.

Sunday, June 4th

Triple Ronde Ride – All day all over the place
This unsanctioned ride is a bonkers attempt to ride 150 miles and over 20,000 feet of elevation in one day. It will link Portland’s three toughest one-day rides — the Ronde, the Giro PDX and La Doyenne. Only the strong should apply. More info here.

PDW Omnium – 10:00 am at Alpenrose Velodrome (6149 SW Shattuck)
Come for the great track racing action and stay for the free BBQ, root beer and ice cream. More info here.

Jade District/Montavilla Bike Tour – 12:00 pm at Montavilla City Park
Bring your appetite to this food tour of a great Portland neighborhood. Stops will have theme of “tofu, buns and dumplings,” – yum! More info here.

Portland Stands United Against Hate – 12:30 pm at City Hall
In response to the attacks on a MAX train last week by a white supremacist, Portlanders will honor the victims and rally for tolerance. “Now is the time to show these bigots, this country, and the world that Portland stands united and will not tolerate this hate,” say organizers. More info here.

If we didn’t mention something, feel free to give it a shout-out in the comments. Have fun out there!

Stay plugged into all the bike and transportation-related events around the region via our comprehensive event calendar.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

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Oregon’s $8 billion transportation bill promises ‘congestion relief’ by doubling down on highways

Too much of one, not enough of the other.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

The speculations are over and now the debates can begin.

On Wednesday night a bipartisan committee of state legislators released the first draft of the transportation funding package. The 298-page House Bill 2017 aims to raise $8.2 billion over the next 10 years from a combination of increases to existing taxes and fees, and a few new ones.

The bill tilts heavily toward major new investments in roads and highways that will make driving more convenient. Local bus services get a boost, while investment in light rail is explicitly prohibited. Biking and walking see an amount of dedicated investment that’s unprecedented compared to past packages; but is still embarrassingly small relative to other priorities.

The broad outlines of the bill are similar to what has been discussed during recent meetings of the 14-member Joint Transportation Preservation and Modernization Committee. But there are several noteworthy new details to discuss.

Here are my takeaways so far, in no particular order…

Powell Blvd could become a city-managed road

Frustrations with ODOT at a May 2015 rally on Powell Blvd.

HB 2017 would set into motion the transfer of Powell Boulevard (Highway 26) from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). This change in management (known as jurisdictional transfer) is something both agencies have wanted for a long time (this is just one of several urban highways they’ve discussed). The reason is simple: ODOT manages roads in a way that makes motor vehicle speeds and traffic volume the top priority — an approach PBOT is moving away from. While PBOT wants to tame auto traffic to improve human safety and livability outcomes, ODOT continues to act as a de-facto automobile advocacy group even though local plans aim to significantly decrease the appeal of driving in the next decade.

The barrier to these transfers has always been money. PBOT doesn’t want an ODOT road that has major maintenance needs. To remedy this, this bill (on page 167) sets aside $16.5 million for the City of Portland to make “Powell Boulevard improvements.” Then, to cement the deal, page 279 of the bill says ODOT and PBOT “shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to transfer jurisdiction of Southeast Powell Boulevard beginning where the highway intersects with Southeast 9th Avenue and ending where the highway intersects with Southeast 174th Avenue.”

Under PBOT’s control, the future of Powell — and the people who live and work on and around it — is much brighter.

Accountability at ODOT and the rise of the OTC

Current OTC Chair Tammy Baney.

Several provisions in HB 2017 aim to increase transparency and create stronger oversight of ODOT. The bill gives more power (and an increased workload) to the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC), a governor-appointed body charged with implementing the state’s transportation policies.

Language in the bill calls for the OTC to create a new website that lists major transportation projects along with details like its estimated cost and completion date, expected benefits and so on. Another section calls for ODOT to create written project proposals for the OTC that include expansive cost details including any environmental impacts and vehicle emissions. “The analysis required by this section,” reads the bill, “May include a discussion of… The value of any other social, economic or environmental benefits or costs of the project.”

The OTC will also have to figure out how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by transportation. The bill mandates the adoption of an OTC-led strategy that will help Oregon reach its greenhouse gas emissions goals.

Further expanding the OTC’s authority, the bill would grant it the power to appoint the ODOT director (“after consultation with the governor”) and relieve that person of their duties if necessary.

Driving will get even more expensive

To help pay for new and improved roads and bridges, Oregonians will spend even more of their money for the privilege of owning and operating a motor vehicle if this bill passes. Here’s the breakdown:

• A surcharge of $100 for electric vehicles and $15 for gas-guzzlers.

• A per-gallon gas tax increase that will be 36 cents starting in 2018 and will rise to 42 cents in 2025.

• A tiered increase in title fees based on a vehicle’s miles-per-gallon rating. The amount will go up each biennium and vehicles with a lower mpg rating pay less than those that are more fuel efficien. Electric vehicles pay the most — over three times the amount of the most efficienct gas-guzzlers.Tolls and congestion pricing aren’t finalized in the bill, but lawmakers have created a framework where we could see them in the near future.

• A “dealer privilege tax” of 0.75 percent (not to exceed $3,750) on new and used car purchases. 10 percent will go into the Connect Oregon Fund and 90 percent will go into a new Congestion Relief Fund with the stipulation that it can be spent only on highway construction and maintenance projects.

• 


How transit fares

To improve and expand bus service, HB 2017 would raise new revenue from an employee payroll tax of one-tenth of one percent. A minimum wage worker would pay about $20 a year and the tax is estimated to raise about $100 million a year. The money cannot be used for light rail and must be spent on increasing bus frequency, purchasing new buses, subsidizing fares for low-income people, and expanding routes into rural areas.

Advocacy groups are hailing this part of the bill, calling it a “major investment in public transit.”

Biking’s share

Keep in mind that while we often parse the package into tidy modal silos, the truth is that “road and highway” projects often include elements that improve cycling conditions. That being said, the amount of money dedicated specifically to cycling infrastructure is important as a political barometer and because it provides planners with a target which encourages them to think big.

The package includes about $8 million per year specifically for multi-use paths and $10 million per year for the Safe Routes to School program. Here are the specifics:

• The lottery-backed Connect Oregon program (that funds non-highway projects like air, marine, rail, port, and bike paths) will have a 7 percent set-aside for bicycling and walking projects. This is likely to equate to about $5 million. (Note: These projects used to compete for a much larger portion of the fund, so this isn’t new money.)

• ODOT will administer a grant program for biking and walking projects using State Parks and Recreation Department funds to the tune of $4 million every two years.

• About $1.2 million per year from a 3 percent tax on new bicycles (more on that below).

• A $10 million matching grant program for Safe Routes to School projects. Projects must provide a local match of 40 percent and be within a quarter-mile of a school. Specific project-types can include those that, “Improve sidewalks; reduce vehicle speeds; improve pedestrian and bicycle crossings; create or improve bicycle lanes; or improve traffic diversion.”

The bike tax lives; but it should die

In a classic case of bad policy that makes good politics, lawmakers have proposed a 3 percent bike tax. The only good news here is that earlier proposals called for a tax of 5 percent. ODOT estimates this will raise about $1.2 million a year. It will be levied only on new bikes that cost $500 or more and that have wheels of at least 26-inches in diameter.

The minimum price was done to soften the impact of the tax on lower-income people; but it will just push business toward large multi-national corporations and away from the mom-and-pop bike shops that fuel our local economies. The wheel size provision was done to exempt kids bikes from the tax; but it ignores the reality that many “kids bikes” have adult-sized tires.

This first draft of HB 2017 includes new details on how the bike tax will be implemented.

Bike sellers (legislatively defined as “a person engaged in whole or in part in the business of selling bicycles”) already hate this idea and now they will have even less reason to support it. Shops will be required to state the amount of the tax as a line-item on the customer’s receipt. Receipts and invoices pertaining to the tax must be kept for five years. Sellers will also be required to file a quarterly tax return with the Department of Revenue. If they fail to pay the proper amount of tax in the allotted time, the state will issue a warrant for collection and pursue the case, “in the same manner… and  the same force and effect as is prescribed with respect to warrants for  the collection of delinquent income taxes.” 


Revenue from the bike excise tax will go into a new fund at the Department of Revenue. After they pay for administration and enforcement of the tax, any money left over will be transferred to the Connect Oregon fund where it will be added to a grant program for “bicycle and pedestrian transportation projects.” 


How does Oregon spell congestion relief? W-I-D-E-R F-R-E-E-W-A-Y-S

In an attempt to quell fears that Oregon is sliding into a traffic abyss, lawmakers put the vast majority of their time and effort into trying to “fix” congestion. Science and history tells us widening freeways and building new ones isn’t the best way to do this, but our legislature wants to give it another try.

HB 2017 would turn Oregon’s metropolitan planning organizations into “Congestion Relief Districts”. In the Portland region, the bill uses Metro’s current boundary to create the Metro Congestion Relief District.

These new districts would act as funding and policymaking mechanisms and would be governed by the Joint Committee on Transportation Preservation and Modernization. With that power, the bill states that the committee has the power to approve and fund specific projects in the Portland metro region:

• $338 million to widen I-5 at the Rose Quarter.

• $152 million to build a wider I-205 Abernethy Bridge.

• $188 million to widen I-205 between Oregon City and Stafford Road.

• $99 million to widen Highway 217.

The bill includes a special set of new taxes and fees to pay for these projects. For two years beginning on January 2019, the legislature would impose a 3 cent gas tax increase and a $5 vehicle registration fee within the Metro Congestion Relief District boundary.

A nod to tolling and congestion pricing

HB 2017 calls for the creation of a “traffic congestion relief program” within the OTC. This new program will provide the framework for Oregon to begin to use tolling and “value pricing” (aka congestion pricing) as a way to discourage auto use. The bill calls on the OTC to implement value pricing on two specific locations: I-205 and I-5 from Washington to where they intersect in Oregon (south of the Portland metro area).

Once a tolling and pricing system is set up, HB 2017 has already earmarked over $40 million in highway projects to spend it on.

Closer scrutiny of mega-projects

I didn’t expect to see the phrase “mega transportation projects” in a bill; but HB 2017 is full of surprises. The bill proposes to establish a new legislative task force that would take a closer look at any transportation project with a pricetag of $500 million or more.

This is the legislature’s attempt to avoid embarrassing boondoggles and cost overruns on major projects. The bill says the task force is needed for projects, “that attract a high level of public attention or political interest because of substantial direct and indirect impacts on the community or environment or that re- quire a high level of attention to manage the project successfully.”

And a pinch of salt

Tucked into the end of the bill is a provision that would require the salting of roads throughout Oregon. In the past our state hasn’t used salt during snow and ice storms because of environmental and maintenance conerns. However, the drubbing we took this past winter appears to have lawmakers erring on the side of traffic over trout.

As written, the bill would require ODOT to salt their roads if at least two inches of snow falls within a 12-hour period. The law would also require large cities (over 160,000 population) to use salt under the same circumstances.

---

There’s a lot to absorb here and I’ll share more of my opinions and analysis in the coming days and weeks. Overall, bill is extremely disappointing. In a craven attempt to cross infrastructure spending off their political wish list, Oregon lawmakers are going down the wrong road.

Public hearings on the bill are set for Tuesday June 6th and Wednesday June 7th. You can also email your comments to jtpm.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov.

Here are some other views on the bill:

— The Street Trust (via the Oregon Environmental Council): Transportation Bill Includes Some Potential Wins for Bicycling, Walking, Transit, and Safe Routes

— Portland Tribune: Legislators make transportation package an all-or-nothing deal

— The Oregonian: Lawmakers air massive road-fixing bill amid rising tensions

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

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June.

Happy morning. Happy ride. Happy JUNE!!!

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Headed to Canada to cover the Go Bike Montréal festival

It feels strange heading to Montréal for a big bike festival on the first day of Portland’s big bike festival. But that’s exactly what I’m doing, thanks to an invite from advocacy group Vélo Québec.

From today through the weekend I’ll immerse myself in the street and bicycle culture of what has historically been considered one of North America’s most bike-friendly cities. Montreal built their first protected bike lane in the 1980s, making them a pioneer in prioritizing cycling. They also helped spark a global revolution by creating one of the earliest and most robust bike share systems from the ground up.

This summer Montréal celebrates its 375th birthday and Vélo Québec turns 50 years old. Those milestones will make the annual Go Bike Montréal festival — which is expected to attract over 50,000 people — even bigger this year. The event is a week of bike rides and events that aim to showcase the city and cycling.

While I’m in town my plans include: the Tour la Nuit, which looks a bit like nighttime version of Bridge Pedal; a bike tour of Montréal’s urban neighborhoods that promises “A real taste of authentic Montreal lifestyle”; and the Tour de l’Île, which looks like a combination of Sunday Parkways and the Portland Century.

And of course in-between these scheduled excursions I’ll have time for my favorite pastime — exploring the city as a camera-equipped, bicycle-mounted flâneur.

I’ll miss Portland and the kickoff of Pedalpalooza; but hopefully I’ll gain a new perspective on urban planning and culture in a city that shares our dual blessing and curse of having a (possibly outsized?) cycling reputation.

If you have insights into Montréal that I must know about, please feel free to share.

Quick programming note: I’ll still be working on the road, but with an all-day flight today coverage of the Oregon transportation bill that was just released last night and publication of the Weekend Event Guide won’t happen until tomorrow morning.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

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Shedding Light on Anxiety and Sunlight

Researchers are beginning to shed light on the relationship between anxiety and sunlight, and it’s becoming evident that the sun is linked to anxiety and possibly even panic disorder. The connection between sunlight and depression has long been established. The inclusion of anxiety in this mix is a development that just might illuminate more strategies to reduce anxiety. 

Do Sunlight Levels Cause Anxiety?

While the exact dance between anxiety and sunlight is still somewhat in the dark, researchers are seeing a connection. With depression, levels of serotonin—the neurotransmitter linked to such things as mood, sleep, sexual function, and more—drop. Low serotonin levels can be an important factor in depression and seasonal affective disorder.

The effect of sunlight is a bit more indirect with anxiety, but there is indeed a connection. While there doesn’t appear to be a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the two, people can and do experience increased anxiety and panic in response to decreased sun exposure. (Note: Anecdotal, but not scientific, reports indicate that some anxiety sufferers experience more anxiety during the summer months when their sun exposure is higher. Again, a clear causal relationship hasn’t been established.)

“Anxiety-related disorders and panic attacks have also been linked with changing seasons and reduced sunlight.”  —Rachel Nall, RN, BSN, CCRN

Enlightening the Importance of Sunlight for Anxiety

Healthline reports that sunlight offers many benefits, including mental health benefits. It increases the production of serotonin as well as Vitamin D. Each of these play a role in proper health and functioning, and of course this includes mental health. When it comes to anxiety, sunlight offers something else, too: lifestyle.

It’s quite possible that the sun reduces anxiety because it influences how we live our lives. When the sun is out, we tend to do things differently. We often become more active, and we naturally spend more time out in nature. These activities boost wellbeing and reduce anxiety.

Using sunlight to reduce anxiety can be a simple, natural process. You don’t have to lie outside for hours without sunscreen in hopes that you’ll feel less anxious when you’re done baking. More than likely, you’ll just feel pain and increased agitation and anxiety.

Instead, incorporate some nature into your plan for a low-anxiety, high-quality life. Consider these elements as you work sun in and anxiety out:

• Daily dose. What can you do every day to get more sun? I set my fitness band to buzz every hour to remind me to get up and go out. What would work for you?
• Mix in mindfulness. Mindfulness is an anxiety-reducing tool with proven effectiveness. Consider going for mindful walks to reap the benefits of both mindfulness and sunlight.
• Fun in the sun. Having fun is essential, but sometimes in our quest for anxiety relief, we forget about fun. Lightheartedness and laughter are important for our mental health and key components of an anxiety free life.

While research is still being done to shed light on anxiety and sunlight, we know enough to take advantage of the benefits of sunlight. We need vitamin D, serotonin, and an outdoor, anxiety-reducing lifestyle. Go forth and discover all of the anxiety-reducing benefits under the sun.

Sources:

More Vitamin D, Less Anxiety? . (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2017, from http://ift.tt/2sgxPjz

Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2013). Sunshine, Serotonin, and Skin: A Partial Explanation for Seasonal Patterns in Psychopathology? Retrieved May 31, 2017, from http://ift.tt/2hWaUYR

 

 

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