For me, "new ideas" are not the top priority. I think there are plenty of unimplemented good (old) ideas already. Electing an actively pro-bike majority on the city council is the key.

I'm with Josh. New ideas are good, but so are good ideas.

I concur with Josh and James X. I don't really care that's there's no "earth shattering, innovative ideas" coming from Smith. Bike infrastructure and safety implementation isn't like some challenge where you have to design a new rocketship to the moon. The biking community has already identified a million ways to make this city a better biking city. Ultimately, I'm far more concerned about finding an individual who's a biking advocate AND powerful enough in the city's government to help implement these existing ideas than about finding someone with a neat and shiny new "idea" to work on.

Research indicates many more Portlanders would commute by bicycle.

Right.

In January?

Anon,

Excellent Point!

Just to clarify for others who may not understand what you're trying to say: There were MORE bike commuters in winter of this year than there were in the summertime of the year 2000. So yeah, not only does research indicate it, the statistics prove it! GO PORTLAND!!!

For some masochistic reason I actually prefer to bike in the rainy, wintry months. I think it's the challenge. Or maybe the bragging rights. Or just the awesomeness of being completely cozy while biking in the coldest, wettest weather. I cover myself from head to toe in a rain jacket and pants set, put on flexible waterproof boots, wear a waterproof balaclava to keep my face warm and dry (also convenient for knocking over liquor stores), don flexible waterproof gloves with fleece lining, and off I go, riding a bike with climate control.

Amy, for future reference, it's Mia Birk, not Burke.

Thanks for the coverage. Like the other commenters, I'm not concerned that Chris Smith isn't advertising "innovative ideas". There are plenty of things to do around Portland before we go high-tech with bicycle infrastructure. Getting another person on city council who would actively find funding for bike projects is most important; we need new money for our existing plans before we need new ideas. And frankly all the new ideas I've heard lately are bunk. Licensing cyclists? No thank you.

As an aside, I'm sure Chris could bury us in technical notes on transportation models if he wanted to, but he's running a political campaign now, not a blog. His policy statements are going to be written for a broader audience.

Damn straight, James X.
All weather is the only way to go.

Set in 2009:

"So Commissioner Smith you've been in your seat now for six months. Portland's city budget is still stretched, we still have problems with police brutality and the renaming of Interstate Ave has made possible future name changes even more contentious. Can you lay out a plan that we can use to tackle these tough problems?"

Smith responds: "Uhhh, more bike lanes and maybe about six more street cars?"

_______________________________________

No offense to Smith since I ride my bike to work but c'mon folks. He's a one trick pony. Sure he's a good bike activist but a city commissioner? Yeah right.

And he's liable to favor streetcars over bikes, to the detriment of all those people who go ass-over-teakettle in the f-in streetcar tracks that are in the way of bike lanes.