http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog The BTA : Opening minds and roads to bicycling Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:48:45 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en As a Bostonian who grew up surrounded by "the Big Dig," , the concept of "contract savings" (i.e. contracts coming in under budget) is mindboggling. More impressive, still, is how Portland City Council has chosen to deal with contract savings on their "big pipe" project. Today City Council expressed support ... http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2010/03/10/city-hall-likely-to-approve-20m-kickstart-to-bike-plan/ Elementary and middle schools in Oregon are invited to register online for the Walk + Bike Challenge, a friendly competition that encourages students and families to use safe, active transportation to and from school during the month of May. Click here to register your school online and create a user ... http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2010/03/10/registration-is-open-for-walk-bike-challenge-month/ During the past few months, hundreds of community members have rallied at City Hall, attended Community Budget Hearings, and written to City Council in support of the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030. Together, we asked City Council to take critical first steps beyond adopting the plan to identify new funding ... http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2010/03/09/city-council-will-decide-on-new-funding-for-portland-bike-plan-tomorrow/ The National Center for Safe Routes to School is now accepting applications for $1,000 mini-grants from organizations and groups with creative ideas that support safe walking and bicycling to school and youth-focused activities for elementary and middle schools. Applications are due by April 7, 2010. More details from the National Center ... http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2010/03/09/apply-for-1000-mini-grants-to-promote-walking-and-biking-to-school/ People who live or bike in Washington County are invited to attend a neighborhood open house on Tuesday, March 30 to discuss proposed improvements, including bike lanes, planned for NW Bethany Boulevard between NW Bronson Drive and West Union Road. Tell the county and project team that bike lanes are a ... http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2010/03/09/speak-up-for-new-bike-lanes-on-nw-bethany-blvd-in-washington-county/ On March 18, join the Westside Transportation Alliance (WTA) staff, members, and special guests at WTA's Annual Meeting. Featured speakers include Kaiser Permanente's Dr. Philip Wu, Washington County Commissioner Dick Schouten and Metro Senior Policy Advisor Andy Cotugno. Here's more from WTA: How does what we build and where we build ... http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2010/03/05/march-18-westside-transportation-alliance-annual-meeting/ Finding information about what is going on about bikes in Eugene just got easier. Two new bike blogs have recently been launched to provide Eugene and Springfield residents information about bike issues in their community WeBikeEugene and Eugene Cycles have started to help fill residents (and onlookers) in on ... http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2010/03/04/eugene-has-not-one-but-two-new-bike-blogs/ Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer (lifelong Portland resident) introduced the Active Community Transportation Act, H.R. 4722, on March 3rd. The bill is also known as the ACT Act is a revolutionary piece of proposed legislation. The bill would create a competitive grant program where communities compete for $2 billion (that's ... http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2010/03/04/take-action-to-support-active-community-transportation-act-act/ You have until March 31 to nominate your bike hero for an Alice Award, but why wait? Read about the people and groups who have already been nominated, and get inspired to nominate someone (or several someones) today. List as of March 2, 2010: Alix Land Bend's Community BikeShed Bike Temple Bud Rice Ian Stude Jim "K'Tesh" ... http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2010/03/04/nominate-someone-for-an-alice-award-today/ Now that the Bicycle Plan for 2030 has been adopted, it needs to be funded in order to get built. The City of Portland is seeking input on their proposed 2010-2011 budget by holding Community Budget Forums all over the city. On Monday there was a forum on the West ... http://www.bta4bikes.org/btablog/2010/03/03/this-saturday-ask-the-city-to-fund-it/