Bicycle Transportation Alliance

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit bicycle advocacy organization based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The BTA promotes bicycling and the improvement of bicycling conditions in Oregon and southwest Washington through advocacy,[1] programs and events. The BTA has a membership of 5000+ who elect candidates to the board of directors each October. A newly constituted Board is expected to have seventeen members.

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance was formed in 1990. The BTA does legislative work at the statewide and national level and endorses legislation and ballot measures. The BTA successfully lobbied Portland's mass transit company, TriMet, to accommodate bicycles on buses and prevailed in a lawsuit to uphold Oregon's Bicycle Bill. The BTA produces a bimonthly newsletter, the Cycletter and works to ensure that road projects in the Portland Metro area accommodate bicycles.

Advocacy

BTA's bicycle boulevards campaign is working to create and promote a comprehensive network of low-traffic streets in order to improve safety and increase bicycle ridership.

Programs

Safe Routes to School is a collaboration with the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition (WPC) that seeks to increase the number of children walking and bicycling to school. The partnership provides technical advice and assistance for Oregon communities. The BTA, along with the WPC received a pedestrian safety grant in 2008 from the Oregon Department of Transportation.[2]

The Bike Safety Education Program brings courses in bicycle safety to 4th-7th grade classrooms. The BTA donates bicycles to cities holding the program so that they may reach more students.[3]

Annual events

The top deck of the Fremont Bridge during the 2006 Bridge Pedal

The Bike Commute Challenge is an annual challenge to workplaces and individual cyclists to bicycle to work during the month of September. The Challenge started in 1995 and now attracts over 700 participant businesses.

Alice Awards are presented to individuals, businesses, and organizations in Oregon and southwest Washington whose work has promoted the use of bicycles and increased the livability of their communities.

Among the 2008 Alice Award honorees were State Senator Floyd Prozanski, and the Central Point Police Department Bike Team.[4]

The Providence Bridge Pedal is an annual bicycle ride across the ten Willamette River bridges in Portland. Thousands of cyclists participate in this ride every year.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dirt Rag (2006-04-07). "Tidbits".
  2. ↑ "Sheriff's office receives pedestrian safety grant". News-Times. March 19, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  3. ↑ Pollock, Buffy (March 15, 2008). "Central Point kick starts bike safety plan for kids". Mail Tribune. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  4. ↑ "News Briefs: Police bike team wins 'Alice B. Toe Clips' award". Mail Tribune. March 26, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-03.

External links