When City Council approved the $4.2 billion 12-lane Columbia River Crossing Bridge at the end of February, a (very small) handful of transit activists immediately met up at a north Portland bar to figure out how to protest the fat, car-friendly bridge. The group decided to go with a positive message, slating an “Opposition and Alternatives” rally for April 5th. Finally, April 5th is here and the 12-lane bridge is still steamrolling forward. The weather forecast says sunshine for Sunday and the transit wonk celebrity forecast says Former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, City Councilwoman Amanda Fritz, Metro Councilor Robert Liberty and BTA advocate Michelle Poyourow will speak Sunday at NOON in Waterfront Park.
And if you care about the bridge or about your local government spending billions on a misguided transit project, consider dropping by Lucky Lab this afternoon to draw up your very own CRC protest sign with some Shift kids. The bike group is bringing the Sharpies and posterboard to Lucky Lab today from 4-7PM. You bring the snappy slogans.
Or, if you’re not quick on the bridge puns, take our line: “We don’t want it!”
Except that we do want it. Those of us with any sense, that is. Those of us who actually commute to jobs and can’t use bikes. Those of us who don’t want to spend billions to replace a six-lane bridge with a six-lane bridge.
Good luck with your rally, though. Will there be papier-mâché? Maybe a big Sam Adams head? That would be great.
As a North Portland resident who cannot use I-5 in the evenings (mornings are fine), I welcome the 12-lane version. However, as the first poster says, have a fun time at your little get-together. Be sure to bring balloons and have some really rousing speakers.
I like how you try and structure your argument as an “us car drivers” versus “them bicycle riders.” I’m humored by your rhetoric and how you essentialize things, whether its grouping people into one category with no room for being a car commuter and bike rider, or plain simple ignoring the fact that there are other options that exist between the six lanes that we currently have and maximum twelve lanes proposed.
As a more often than not car commuter, though I occassionally bike commute, you would probably say that I am one of “you” who support the current plan. As a more often than not car commuter, I DO NOT support the plan because I think it is wasteful and the antithesis of sustainable. As a more often than not car commuter, I think we, collectively, need to start imaging and implementing new ways to reduce carbon emissions–which is why I try and ride places as much as possible.
Imaging news ideas is the primary thrust of this Alternatives and Oppositions rally, and it would be nice if you drove on down to help us think about creating a new and sustainable bridge.
Screw carbon emissions. When the economy takes off again, oil prices will skyrocket.
Oil prices will only be low when the economy/demand is low.
You can wish/want low gas all your pretty little head wants, but we’re not ever seeing it again. The golden age of the automobile is past us.
I know it’s a paradox, but why is it so hard for people to grasp the concept of induced demand. Building more lanes will NOT reduce congestion. It will NOT make your commute any faster. You will simply be stuck in more traffic. Again. Try to imagine a more sophisticated solution than: Make a Bigger One. And don’t make me write the check for your inability to grasp a concept more complex than traffic signal.