[Blumenauer in D.C]

Earl Blumenauer understands the link between traffic safety, sharing the road, and livability. As a child, he rode his bike to school and now, as a U.S. Congressman, he has made livable communities his top-priority issue.

A Portland native and former City Commissioner (1986-96), Blumenauer commutes by bike daily to his office on Capitol Hill, loves to jog around his neighborhood, and has driven all over the country during a political career that has spanned over three decades.

I spoke with him yesterday and he shared some of his perspectives on sharing the road.
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How has your experience as a bicyclist and regular bike commuter impacted your work?

Much of my transportation in the metro area is to see what’s going on in the community. Being able to bike and run is much more valuable for me because I’m able to take in so much more and really get a sense of the transportation and livability issues in the community.

With such an increase in the number of bikes on the road, it seems inevitable that we will have more conflicts. The media seems to be reporting more hit-and-runs, and other road-rage situations lately. Do you feel this is a positive or negative thing for our community?

“I think increaseed media attention is a positive thing. Twenty years ago we had nowhere near the bike traffic or the media attention we get today. Just this morning, I was stunned while driving through downtown…I was distracted from the work I was supposed to be doing because I coudn’t believe all the bikes throughout the city. And last weekend, I biked to several Labor Day events and there were bikes all over the place. I believe there’s strength in numbers.”

How can we increase the civility on our roads and in our communities?

I think there are three main ways to do this.

First, I’m very pleased with the work being done to educate cyclists…especially to young people through our Safe Routes to School program and those new to cycling. We can’t start too soon to get kids and new riders to be alert and mindful while out on the roads. I also think it’s especially important to educate cyclists to not engage in behavior that irritates and provokes drivers.

Secondly there needs to be a commensurate effort on the part of motorists. I have been driving thousands of miles across the state recently and I’ve seen a lot of rude driving behavior.

(How do we change that behavior? There has been some talk about adding new information to the driver’s manual.)

I think the answer isn’t just a few lines in a DMV manual, but a broader effort from the DMV, law enforcement, and the insurance industry.

And finally, we need to complete our transportation network (for bicycles). The more we’re able to have enough lanes, signs and other facilities…it sends the right message. It’s a completed transportation network mentality and it’s about treating cyclists with the same consideration as motorists and giving them a sense of purpose.

I love the new directional signs I’m seeing all over town—Library 3 miles, Downtown 2 miles—It’s a subtle enhancement that I think really makes all the difference.

How will the new federal transportation bill impact our Safe Routes to School programs?

It will provide the financial and policy backbone to give the program the strength it needs. I feel there’s nothing more important than educating our kids.

Do you have any personal methods you use to help you stay calm when things don’t go your way out on the roads?

For me, the cycling experience itself is calming…it’s such a de-compressing experience whether I’m riding in the sunshine or the rain. My stress level just goes way down.

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Thank you Congressman for representing us on these important issues and for everything you’ve done to improve the safety of our streets and neighborhoods.

For more information on Earl Blumenauer, visit his official website.