Active Right of Way

Stop the CRC at Independent Review Panel Meeting at Portland Expo Center

Protesters, organized by Stop the CRC Coalition, handed out sheets of paper that called the panel a “rubber stamp.” The implication of course with those handouts, which were stamped red “A-OK,” being that the panel had already reached a conclusion in favor of the proposed 12-lane, $3.6-billion dollar bridge across the Columbia River between Portland and Vancouver.

One protester carried a sign that said, “We are the experts of our own transportation needs.”

“How independent can a panel be that is selected by those in charge of the project?” asked demonstrator Jonathon Irwin of Portland.

Read more of Willamette Week’s coverage.  See also: David Bragdon Takes Down CRC

“Wonk Party” for AROW, today, 2-4pm.

It’s kind of like a “work party” but instead of work, we’ll wonk.

Come, bring yourself, your ideas.  If you have a laptop, good, if you have technical documents or propaganda to review, good.  Otherwise I have 2 working computers, scanner, laser printer, and other resources.

Projects:

* Work on agenda for Pedalpalooza “Transportation Activism” ride

• contact AORTA, Willamette Ped Coalition, Bus Riders’ Union

• come up with a list of elected officials, and different means of contact (phone, text, email, snail mail, etc)
• find out who to contact for more bike hooks on Amtrak.

* AROW “Advocacy Desk” for Pedalpalooza rides

• design desk — cubbies for different topics, different resources

• solicit advocacy project info from BTA, Stop CRC, WPA, 1000 Friends, etc. etc.

* Couch Squiggle

• dig through road design manuals to determine appropriate width of lanes for various radii of curves

• dig through bike lane design manuals for info on cross slope, design speed, etc.

Location: 60 NE Tillamook.  Come if you can, or shoot ideas for the next Wonk Party, etc.  Maybe we’ll do this every couple weeks, alternating between daytime hours for the un/under/self employed and evening hours.

Ted Buehler

**This is an OPEN meeting — All are welcome — New folks strongly encouraged to bring their projects & ideas**

Agenda
– Katelyn from Stop the CRC will talk to us about organizing an event this summer
– “Transport Your Activism” Pedalpalooza Ride
– Couch onramp reportback
– Pedalpalooza “Desk Bike” project & new lit
– Ban Studded Tires reportback
– New website / Facebook / Twitter
– *Your item here*

Tuesday, May 18, 7:00pm – come early for snacks

Ted’s House
60 NE Tillamook (between Williams and MLK)
Portland, OR

TRANSPORT YOUR ACTIVISM– June 21, 2010
Meet at West end of Steel Bridge, Japanese American Historical Plaza, NW Waterfront Park
Snacks at 5:30pm, Roll out at 6

Portland has great biking, walking, and transit options because citizens have demanded and supported it.

Active Right of Way (AROW) is a new grassroots group working to empower people to take control of their streets. Our goal is to facilitate transportation improvements citywide.

Join us on a ride to five sites where change is needed. We’ll talk about the problems and possible solutions, the political and technical aspects, and what is inhibiting change. We’ll provide the tools, and you’ll learn how citizen action can lead to tremendous results.

Check out the Pedalpalooza calendar for hundreds of other fun bike rides in June.