They’re changing the name of something because it reveals the city’s priorities and, frankly, people are noticing and don’t like it. That’s my opinion and it’s certainly what I’m hearing from the ‘just folks’ around Portland. The name change revelation is reported in the Portland Tribune (here):
City officials found the term bicycle boulevard doesn’t do justice to the neighborhood greenway projects, Chisek says, because they also improve pedestrian safety and help slow traffic in neighborhoods.
We’re all adults and know what’s going on here. The name “bike boulevard” shows it for what it is: a diss on everyone else. Now they’re putting a green veneer on it for PC, PR and probably $$ reasons (grant money, anyone?)
Portland has been doing a slow drive-by on cars for years. Liking bicyclists doesn’t automatically mean you hate cars. But I believe Portland long ago crossed the line into official car hating, if you will. Just take a look at this top of the head/back of the envelope list I came up with this morning to show you the shape of the anti car attitude.
- Portland alligns itself with an international car hating group.
- Portland implements the car hating group’s agenda complete with car free zones.
- Mayor Sam Adams puts bike transport higher on budget priority list.
- Portland becomes a “Platinum Bike City,” above other city required priorities.
- Uses stimulus money to buy redundant bike signs on streets thus confusing drivers. Here and here.
- The City of Portland implements dangerous bike boxes to, as the mayor puts it, “Put bikes in front of cars.”
- Portland asks state legislature to change laws in order to reduce city speed limits to slow down car traffic.
- Commissioner Randy Leonard states that he dreams of a car free downtown.
- Car hating “Critical Mass” participants become “mainstream” bike activists with sway at city hall even encouraging children to take over the streets.
- Naked bike riders aren’t, um, touch by the cops. See my previous post Here.
