David Hart

Election turns wheels of power in favor of bikes
Roads - Cyclists are pumped as advocates move into key House transportation roles

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

JEFF MAPES
The Oregonian

Andy Clarke, who heads the League of American Cyclists, says he won't advocate that interstates become bike paths after last Tuesday's elections.

But cycling enthusiasts are dreaming big after their three biggest supporters in Congress -- including two from Oregon -- were swept into powerful new transportation positions after the Democrats took control of the U.S. House.

Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., who helped author the 1991 law that opened the door to federal funding for bike projects, is in line to become chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., a one-time bike mechanic, expects to chair the surface transportation subcommittee. And Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., founder of the Congressional Bicycle Caucus, will either hold a senior position on the transportation committee or move to the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. All three Democrats are strong supporters of alternative transportation who believe that bicycling can play an important role in moving people, particularly in dense urban settings, and in providing recreational opportunities.

"Bikes are going to be an integral part of our transportation network," vowed DeFazio, whose subcommittee has broad jurisdiction over the nation's roads and bridges.

Oberstar took up bicycling in the 1980s with his wife when she was battling breast cancer and a doctor recommended the activity to build her strength. After she died in 1991, he helped write a law that wound up producing hundreds of millions of dollars for new bike paths and other alternative transportation projects. Portland's Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade was one beneficiary of that money.

Oberstar, still an avid recreational cyclist at age 72, also played an important role in winning more than $600 million last year for a program to encourage kids to ride and walk to school and to provide safe ways for them to do so. Just before the election, he announced that he'd push airports to provide bike parking after a bicyclist had his vintage cycle cut into pieces by security officials at the Minneapolis airport. The cyclist, rushing to make a flight, had left the bike locked to an out-of-the-way pole after being unable to find any bike parking.

Oberstar could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but his allies in the bike community said they expect him to help develop a new national strategy to encourage bicycling.

Clarke said cycling advocates have a chance to develop a national cycling network and to adopt a program that encourages local planners to include pedestrian and bicycling improvements in road projects. Oregon already does this through its 1971 Bicycle Bill, which requires that at least 1 percent of highway money be used to accommodate biking and walking.

DeFazio said he and Oberstar are well positioned to protect bicycling from budget-cutting attempts by the administration and to get federal agencies working together to encourage cycling and to improve safety.

DeFazio, who noted the death of a cyclist earlier this year on a road with narrow shoulders west of Eugene, said he also wants to improve the safety of rural roads popular with cyclists. He said this would also help Oregon's burgeoning efforts to encourage cycle tourism.

Blumenauer said he has strong hopes of passing a bill he's sponsored that would allow bike commuters to be included in the program that gives motorists and transit users a tax break on commuting expenses through their employers.

"I think it's going to be a very good session for cycling," he said.

Gary Sjoquist, a bike industry lobbyist who runs a bicycling political action committee, said he's found that Oberstar has always been willing to participate in bike-related events if a good ride is included.

"I'm really looking forward to going on a nice bike ride with Jim," said Sjoquist. "I have a couple of ideas to float by him."

Jeff Mapes: 503-221-8209; jeffmapes@news.oregonian.com