Why? And where is she going instead?

If she and Bicker are founding "BTA with a Spine/Shift with Organization," I'll be happy to give them money. Taking years to change their mind on the CRC was tiring, I want them to be more aggressive like Shift, but still lobby Salem and city hall like they mean it.

"and will leave Portland cycling advocates scrambling for leadership just a month before the major 2030 bike plan heads to a vote at city council."

The "Build It" article you link to says the vote is on Feb 4th. Do you mean to say just a *day* before the plan heads to a vote? Or is there some other vote happening in a month?

And Matthew D, agreed. I'd love to see a new organization formed from these departures. Not to take away from the BTA, but there's plenty of room for another group, one with perhaps a more arm-twisty approach to things.

"Her rumored resignation follows the firing of former BTA boss Scott Bricker last November.."

And Scott's departure follows the departure of their prior executive director, also let go within the last 12 months.

I'd love them to form a different organization. I'd love for the whole "bike movement" to become fractured and infighting and completely ineffective.

I guess she wasn't shrill and preachy enough for the board. They need someone to really tell drivers how terrible they are. I don't think the whole "burn in hell you morally deficient gashole troglodytes" message is getting across quite like it should.

@Blabby

On the contrary, I think that message has been getting across loud and clear for years, now. And that's the problem.

Matt, you mean you think the BTA board might be ready to take a more collaborative tack? I hope you're right.

Wait, are you guys suggesting bike advocates should be plugging more of a pro-car message?

Have you been giving advice to senate Democrats?

I'm suggesting that the bike advocates should stop being so confrontational with the 92% of the city that doesn't bike regularly.

92% vs. 8% (a bike-ridership statistic I don't actually believe, BTW) are bad odds, and at some point it's going to dawn on drivers/bus riders and the like that "hey, these guys are really acting like a bunch of pushy, entitled dicks."

@blabby

I'm also at a loss to understand why MP would quit on the verge of a big opportunity to get the bike plan funded. Does she think it's not going to get funded? That her work would be wasted? It hardly bodes well for the "BUILD IT" campaign that the lead advocate is rumored to be walking away.

In my experience—and believe I've quit a few jobs in my time—one tends to think that quitting is going to be ground shaking. But nobody is indispensable. And ultimately one has to weigh the effect of one's departure against one's belief in the overall mission.

If it's simply about internal personality clashes at the BTA, well, that'd be a shame. I hope Poyourouw stays on, or at least, gives us a decent interview about her reasons for quitting when she goes.

@Blabby

Confrontational? I'm not seeing it, but then I'm on the pro-bike side of things, so I could easily miss it.

I mean, Critical Mass, one the most confrontational forms of bike advocacy ever devised, died in Portland a long time ago, and this is pretty much the one place that's happened. This I think is because the conversation has long ago moved beyond that, to a much more civil tone.

And Michelle's approach is pretty representative of that tone; she's well-spoken and professional.

The most confrontational thing I can think of that Poyourow has done in recent memory is represent the BTA's position in walking off the CRC:

'"The BTA was explicitly clear six months ago, three months ago, one month ago that we would not recommend anything without a firm commitment to maintenance and security," says Poyourow, who adds that it was galling to have the CRC staff schedule only 15 minutes for discussion on a topic her group views as a top priority. "What we really need are results and what we're getting is a deaf ear."'

Oooo, scathing. She said it was galling! Look out.

Now, last night as I made my previous comments and I almost wrote: "Cue Blabby in 5, 4, 3, 2..." Because it's a forgone conclusion that given any story here about bikes or bike activism you will pop up and start slinging insults at the interested parties. Now that's somewhat confrontational, don't you think?

As for the 92% vs. 8% thing: is it written that groups in the minority must shut up and take what they're given? I don't think so. But they're constantly told that's how it is. And if they listened to that advice, they would stay in the minority.

Here's what happens with any subset of a population that promotes what it sees as new and a better way of doing things. The rest of the population sees this as an accusing finger pointed at them, and accuses the subset of being shrill, preachy, confrontational, and pushy. Ask vegetarians, it happens to them all the time.

"And Michelle's approach is pretty representative of that tone; she's well-spoken and professional."

That was the point of my first comment, Inductee. Is she too civil? Is she being pushed out because the organization wants the tone to be more shrill and pushy?

I'm honestly curious. Hopefully Matt gets some more background.

@ Blabby

Whoops, I totally missed that point - sorry about that!

But I'll cover my ass somewhat and stand by my points with regard to the rest of the BTA, and bike advocates in general (and vegetarians): they can make their case in the most civil and positive way possible, and still they will be interpreted as shrill and confrontational by those who perceive the simple pursuit non-mainstream values as some kind of attack on the majority.

@ Matt Davis:

I'm not seeing where she's quitting right before the plan is funded, only the spreading of rumors of her quitting (right before the plan is funded). The difference makes a difference.

I have no inside knowledge, but while we're tossing around theories, and making the assumption she wants to quit: Maybe she wanted to help the plan get funded first, and then quit. Sometimes you just want to move on, and generally when people quit - if there's not too much animosity involved - they try to make sure they wrap up their work first, so as to not screw over their coworkers. Keeping it classy, or at least maintaining appearances.

If that was the case here, this would seem to be about the worst possible time for rumors of her quitting to be floated.

Are you trying to shake loose a response by spreading these rumors?

Inductee, I think that is a valid point regarding how people over-react to minority groups....

and/or does your source have an agenda?

Conspiracy, conjecture, political intrigue, rumors, blame, secret agendas, professional failure! Or perhaps she's just leaving for personal reasons, with absolutely nothing related to conspiracy, conjecture, political intrigue, rumors, blame, secret agendas, professional failure. We all have personal goals, dreams, ideas, and choose the time that works for us personally to follow them. Relax, friends.

I've been saying for 3 years now that as soon as Bricker and Poyourow are gone from the BTA that I might consider a membership. Looks like I might have to put my money where my mouth is. The continued extrication of bicycling from the Church of Green and her Nanny State clergy can only help cyclists in the long-run.

Here's to sensible growth, and the redress of ACC!