Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer is one of Capitol Hill's strongest voices for
walking, biking and transit. Soon after arriving in Congress in 1996,
he started the Congressional Bike Caucus, now more than 160 members strong, and he's the founding chairman of the House's new "Livable Communities Task Force," which he announced two weeks ago here on Streetsblog.
Blumenauer's bike commute to the Capitol
has become as much a personal hallmark as his predilection for bowties.
So when he went to New York City over the weekend to stump for a progressive
federal transportation bill, the congressman didn't pass up the chance
to tour the city's evolving bike infrastructure with bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group Transportation Alternatives. Clarence Eckerson and
his camera were there too, of course.
Watch this
Streetfilm to hear Blumenauer's thoughts on the big federal
transportation bill, the emergence of a national movement for safe
biking and walking, and the difference between protected bike lanes and
regular old Class 2 facilities. Then ask yourself: When will we get to
see a congressperson or senator from California walk, bike, or ride the bus with Clarence?
Also, a reminder that Streetsblog San Francisco Editor Bryan Goebel and Reporter Matthew Roth will be in Portland, Oregon, this week, reporting on Congress for the New Urbanism's Project on Transportation Reform. Catch them on our Twitter feed and look for posts starting tomorrow.
