This article is the ninth 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 Margaux Mennesson.

Michael Armstrong is the Senior Sustainability Manager for the City of Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, where he manages the City's climate protection strategy. To reach the City and Multnomah County goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from 1990 levels before 2050, Michael views funding the City's Bicycle Master Plan as an essential step. Creating a world-class bicycle infrastructure is part of his and his colleagues’ vision to develop vibrant neighborhoods where 95 percent of Portland residents can easily bike or walk to their daily needs.

Public policy enables people to make these choices, Armstrong explains, by encouraging livable development and providing safe, accessible infrastructure. Other factors are equally important; a supportive work environment is essential. Gesturing toward his collared shirt, Armstrong explained how much he appreciates the encouragement of his colleagues for supporting a casual dress code and flexible hours. “No one who works for the City thinks it’s strange to see you pulling off your rain pants in the lobby right before a meeting,” he said.

“My daughters think that bicycling to work or school is completely normal, not weird or different at all.”

That’s not to say that Armstrong and his family look like “normal” cyclists when they’re out biking in the neighborhood. At home, Armstrong’s bike-friendly lifestyle is less about policy and more about fun. Michael, his wife Laurie and their two young daughters may be seen riding around the neighborhood on their tandem bike built for four. Recently, his young daughters built their own kid-sized tandem bike, which they spray-painted red and sprinkled with glitter. It was the first time his younger daughter had ridden without training wheels.

Armstrong emphasizes the significance of individual actions in changing public attitudes toward biking and walking. Several years ago, the Armstrongs were among the few regular cyclists in their northeast Portland neighborhood; now, they see more families biking regularly. “Just a few weeks ago I saw a neighbor, who I had never seen leave the house without getting in her car – not even walking – pedal away on a bike,” said Armstrong, “and then the next week the same thing happened with another neighbor.”

Portland is on its way to becoming a truly world-class bike-friendly and environmentally sustainable city, though there’s still a long way to go. “Cultural expectations of biking need to change,” says Armstrong.

Or maybe expectations should be abandoned. With Portland families pedaling the streets on shiny tandem bikes of all shapes and sizes, even Michael doesn’t know what to expect. “I think my daughters’ next project is to build a kid-sized tall bike.”

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