Counting the Faithful

Want to help make the bicycle holy land even holier? It's time to count your many bicyclings!

Once again Portland will be conducting it's annual summer-fall bicycle count making use of our most precious of resources: YOU!

Portland collects some of the best data on bicycle use in the country and it's all because of the tremendous support we get from volunteers. As anybody who's done a count in past years will tell you--it's fun! It requires only two hours of your time and the information you collectively provide us is invaluable.


BACKGROUND

This year we will hope to collect data at more than 140 locations throughout Portland. That will require the participation of a lot of people. Because there is a specific protocol to follow, and because we want to make sure we're collecting data from when and where we need it, we offer a brief training for new volunteers. It involves pizza and soda, is informative and fun and is mandatory if you haven't counted before.

To see how we've used the data, look at our past reports here (count reports on left side of page)


VOLUNTEER COUNTER TRAINING: THURSDAY JULY 15

All new volunteers must attend the training. This year we'll be holding a one-hour training at The Portland Building (1120 SW 5th Ave) in Room C (second floor) beginning at 6:00pm. It may take less than an hour and we'll be serving pizza and soda.

PLEASE RSVP! (Just shoot Roger Geller a quick note and when you do, let us know what type of pizza you prefer)

We'd prefer to have only one training, but if you really can't make it let us know and we'll work with you to get you trained.


RETURNING VOLUNTEERS

If you counted for us in previous years and would like to do so again, just let us know and we'll send you the forms. What you need to tell us is:

Which location(s) you counted last year
Which location(s) you'd like to count this year
When you'll complete the counts

Even if you counted in previous years you are, of course, welcome to join us for pizza and soda.

Meeting With the Elders of The Bicycle Holy Land

Tonight I went to Mt. Tabor Middle School to join the community conversation with Mayor Adams and the Council about the new proposed Mayor's budget. While it sounds a little wonky, and granted, I expected it to be, I was amazed at just how pleased I was to be experiencing yet another convergence of the citizens of Portland, The Bicycle Holy Land.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was how many people were carrying helmets and sporting bicycle pins. Keep in mind this was a hearing about the entire city budget, not just bicycle funding. The number of people there to show their support of and testify about bicycle funding was inspiring. Representatives of the BTA, bikeportland.org, and the Bike Temple were just some of the faces seen in the crowd and at the testimony table.

Most of the comments made to the Mayor and Council were positive, I lost track of how many 'Thank You's they received. While there are many things that people will disagree with, as with any government action, I took tonight as a sign that city hall is listening, and responding to it's people, and it's people want to ride bikes.


Update: Check out bikeportland.org's coverage of this event and a statement by yours truly.