genec

What are his views as a cyclist? Is he a paint and path guy, a Vehicular Cyclist, or what? Does he actively promote cycling?

Is Congressman Blumenauer the cyclists' representative???

RobertHurst

Blumenauer is about as much a "cyclists' representative" as we are going to get. No word on how he feels about "paint n' path" (I think he lets the locals worry about the details at street-level) but he is generally an advocate for so-called alternative transportation. Light rail, walkable communities, bicycling for transport, etc. He has come out against "oil shale" development, which in this political climate is a courageous, some would say politically stupid move.

A while back Blumenauer introduced to Congress the legislation concerning tax credits to even the playing field for employers who provide facilities for cycle-commuters. This is the legislation that was included in and passed with the recent historic No Banker Left Behind bill. It would seem that the legislation was inserted into the bill in an effort to win Blumenauer's vote -- an effort which didn't work, to his credit.

CB HI

Huge believer in man made global warming. He does cycle commute to work. Paint and path type of guy.
His original purpose in the Bike Commuter Act was to give parody for cyclist with other public transport tax breaks.
He says he is more for family cycling and indicates that he really does not care so much about the lycra group.

CB HI

Bekologist

...a quippy inditement against urban sprawl and autocentrism seen in every state in the nation, dontchyathink, CBHI?

A politician that believes in liveable communities, maass transit, human influence on greenhouse gas emmissions affecting global climate, and a proponent for cyclists at the US congressional level?

seems damn sound to me. Blumanauer is one of the few visible bike advocates in congress.

CB HI

Even living in the suburbs, it has never required a gallon of gas for me to get a gallon of milk. Seattle and Portland must really be screwed up if you folks need that much gas to get milk.

Or are you saying that he just lied to make some false point, Bek?

Bekologist

duuuuuuuuude, it's called 'rhetoric'.

you're heard of it? I suspect more than several americans burned more than a gallon of gas to get groceries today. Are you saying YOU'RE lying, or your experience mirrors that of all americans??

I don't burn gas to get milk, but recognize a LOT of the US

1) drives gas guzzlers; and

2) live far enough from a store to burn a gallon of gas sitting in traffic getting there. people in LA probably burn a gallon of gas getting to their neighborhood grocery store, not only people that live in dystopian suburbia.


Despite the congressman's allusions to american auto dependence using a quip about gas mileage, cbhi -

if you can name a more visible bicycling advocate at the US house level, let the forum know.

I'll think congressman Blumenauer's sound bite about american's gas habit is pretty clever.

CB HI

I was sure you would, knowing how you love to throw in several of your own falsehoods into any debate.

Bekologist

off topic smear. nice.

can you name a more visible bicycling advocate in congress, cbhi?

you realize politicians speak persuasively using rhetoric, dontchya?

CBHI< PLEASE explain what's soo far off base surrounding his comment about americans being tied to the automobile to make trips to the store? are you driving to work this morning?

America is very auto dependant, cbhi, in case you haven't noticed. As 5 percent of the worlds population we use 25 percent of the world petroleum production every year.

So, a politician makes a rhetorical comment about americans' auto dependence....... hmmmm. where's the fire, cbhi?

Allister

You people buy milk by the gallon?!

kccommuter

Here in Wisconsin most of us just go out to the barn...

genec

Doesn't come in liters.

Need "big milk" to make those proverbial giant lattes...

I-Like-To-Bike

At least our beer cans don't require two hands to heft like those wacky Foster's cans.

Cromulent

Oi! Speak for yourself. I don't have a barn. I keep the cows in my garage.

genec

Heck you should see the can openers they use...

CB HI

So for Bek, a lie = speak persuasively using rhetoric

And how much of the worlds food supply and global products does the USA produce that are shipped abroad with that 25%; funny how you and others fail to take that into account when trying to shove figures around. Are you in favor of nuclear power to lower our petroleum use (as Japan and France have)? Congressman Blumenauer does not favor nuclear power, so he has help keep petroleum use in the USA higher than needed.

Congressman Blumenauer is hardly a visible cyclist advocate in Congress to the average American. Other than cyclist and a few others in Portland, few Americans even know who he is, let alone that he is a cyclist. I would say that the other sponsors of the Bike Commuter Act (in all of its various forms) are at least as visible to the American Public. Did you even know who the other sponsors where, Bek? Reps. McDermott, and Neal get as much credit as sponsors of the bill. Congressman Blumenauer did not even put the proposal in the bill which actually made it law and was signed by President Bush. Congressman Blumenauer actually voted against that bill.

Bekologist

you mean after all the pork got added?



cb - congressman are most visible to the district they represent but their efforts in washington can serve all. and blumenthaler sounds the most bike-y of our representatives.


I don't know what the gripe is all about cbhi -you dislike his rhetoric about american autodependance so vehemently you'd call him a liar? Wait a second, are you telling the forum you're taking Blumenthaler's statement literally about 'the gallon of gas to get a gallon of milk?"


dontchya think there's some bigger worries to get your chamois up in a bunch about than allusions to american auto dependency?

Allister

Perhaps you need to work on your upper body strength

Bekologist

mmmm... oilcans.

Saving Hawaii

Bekologist! Are you mad!?!? I'm running around Seattle too right now (though I generally live a couple states south), and it's ragingly cold here. Imagine all the benefits of global warming / environmental catastrophe.

Rising Sea Levels - More Beach Front Property
Rising Temperatures - Less Clothing on Said Additional Beach Front Property

Global warming is the best thing that could happen to Seattle! Bloody Blumenauer's trying to screw the pooch on this one.

CB HI

Including the Bike Commuter Act, right!

CB HI

Who or what are you talking about now?

Bekologist

...sorry, can't spell.

....did you take my spelling of the congressman's name literally too, and you didn't know who i was talking about because of a slight butchery of his name?


and you haven't explained yourself yet, cbhi - were you taking his comment 'a gallon of gas for a gallon of milk' literally??

CB HI

Who do you think you are, my mother.

My post are quite clear, no demands of explanation from Bek, the mother hen are required.

Bekologist

come on cbhi, 'a gallon of gas for a gallon of milk' - rhetorical or literal?

is your calling him a 'liar' a rhetorical statement too?

in the NYTimes today, a spokesperson for Blumenauer explained why the congressman was bittersweet about the bicycle commuter act's passage and that he was frustrated the 700B rescue bill didn't do more to help individual homeowners.

thousands of constituents had contacted his office oppossing the bill.

Just to make sure my misspelling of the congressmans' name didn't throw you off, cbhi, we're talking about Oregon congressman Earl Blumenauer, the founder of the Congressional Bike Caucus. right?