Oregon's most influential alternative transportation advocacy group, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), has been without an executive director for four months. Back in November, the group's board of directors decided to fire then-chief Scott Bricker.

This afternoon the BTA announced its hired a new leader: Chicago bike and pedestrian advocate Rob Sadowsky.

Sadowsky is currently the executive director of Chicago's Active Transportation Alliance, the bike AND pedestrian AND transit group for the Chicagoland area. This could set up the BTA to expand its focus from just bikes to pedestrians and transit, too, as some have suggested.

From the BTA press release:

Mr. Sadowsky leaves the Active Transportation Alliance having grown the budget of the organization from $1 million to $3 million and from a staff of 10 to more than 30. During his time at the Active Transportation Alliance, he oversaw a successful rebranding of the organization from the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation to the Active Transportation Alliance, the development of a 20 year strategic plan for cycling in the Chicago area, and the creation of a professional services organization developing non-motorized transportation plans to numerous Midwest communities.

Things I know about Rob Sadowsky:

1. He's on Twitter!
2. His image on Twitter is pretty ridiculous.
3. I will be interviewing him and the BTA Board Chair today at 3pm. Updates coming.

Thoughts, gossip or scuttlebutt on the new hire, anyone? He will not begin work in Portland until July 1st, leaving the BTA without an executive director for seven months altogether.

Update: Full interview with Rob here.