The bike plan in Portland was unveiled this week and City Council will undoubtedly pass this pork barrel plan today in its continuing effort to be “precious” and “green” and “sustainable.” (Here’s where I insert my comment about them caring about sustainability until it comes to my wallet).
But after talking with Dr. Tim Ball on the show last night about the latest “man made” global warming scams and his going over the original mandate of the IPCC which included looking only at “man made” influences on climate (which are negligible but obviously inflated when only looking at them), I was reminded of the mandates of the bicycle plan.
Yesterday I looked at some of the assumptions the city “stake holders” (no, that doesn’t include you) took into consideration when considering the bike plan. Now, look at their mandate and you will know why we have these people coming up with a half a billion dollars in spending on bike lanes:

The Bicycle Master Plan addresses five key elements:

1) policies and objectives that form part of Portland’s Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element;

2) developing a recommended bikeway network;

3) providing end-of-trip facilities;

4) improving the bicycle-transit link; and

5) promoting bicycling through education and encouragement.

As you can easily see, the people tasked with coming up with a bike future for Portland weren’t asked if it would be cost effective, the best and highest use of Portland citizens’ money or whether it made sense.
It didn’t consider that bike ridership in Portland is DOWN.
They were asked for a preordained outcome which would include increasing the amount we spend promoting bike use.
The result? A half a billion in bike paths. $1 million a mile.
They say this is only a suggestion. Ha. The city’s ‘want to’s’ have a funny way of becoming ‘have to’s.’
Decisions will be based upon this pork barrel spending.