Oregon Bicycle Bill
Encyclopedia
The Oregon Bicycle Bill is transportation legislation
passed in the U.S. state
of Oregon
in 1971. It requires the inclusion of facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists wherever a road, street or highway is being constructed or reconstructed and applies to the Oregon Department of Transportation
(ODOT) as well as Oregon cities and counties.
The law requires that in any given fiscal year, a minimum of 1% of the state highway fund received by the ODOT, a city or county is used to provide walkways and bikeway
s located within the right-of-way of public roads, streets or highways open to motor vehicle traffic.
, sponsored House Bill 1700. Nine representatives and one state senator originally backed the bicycle bill. At each stage of the legislative process, the bill passed by one vote. Initially, Governor Tom McCall
didn't favor the bill, but changed his mind as he came to believe it was good for Oregon and Oregonians. The governor signed the bill into law on the seat of a Schwinn
Paramount.
The bill allowed for the creation of the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, a governor-appointed committee that meets quarterly. The
committee awards grants that provide approximately $5 million dollars every two years for the design and construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Grants are awarded to Oregon cities and counties through the ODOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Grant Program.
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
passed in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in 1971. It requires the inclusion of facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists wherever a road, street or highway is being constructed or reconstructed and applies to the Oregon Department of Transportation
Oregon Department of Transportation
The Oregon Department of Transportation is a department of the state government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for systems of transportation. It was first established in 1969. It had been preceded by the Oregon State Highway Department which, along with the Oregon State Highway...
(ODOT) as well as Oregon cities and counties.
The law requires that in any given fiscal year, a minimum of 1% of the state highway fund received by the ODOT, a city or county is used to provide walkways and bikeway
Bikeway
A Bikeway is a route, way or path which in some manner is specifically designed and /or designated for bicycle travel.-See also:*Bicycle boulevard*Bicycle trail*Bicycle transportation engineering*Foreshoreway*Greenway* List of cycleways...
s located within the right-of-way of public roads, streets or highways open to motor vehicle traffic.
History
In 1971, Don Stathos, a Republican state representative and avid bicyclist from JacksonvilleJacksonville, Oregon
Jacksonville is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, a few miles west of Medford. It was named for Jackson Creek, which runs through the community and was the site of one of the first placer gold claims in the area. It includes Jacksonville Historic District which was designated a U.S....
, sponsored House Bill 1700. Nine representatives and one state senator originally backed the bicycle bill. At each stage of the legislative process, the bill passed by one vote. Initially, Governor Tom McCall
Tom McCall
Thomas Lawson McCall was an American politician and journalist in the state of Oregon. A Republican, he was the 30th Governor of Oregon from 1967 to 1975. A native of Massachusetts, he grew up there and in Central Oregon before attending the University of Oregon...
didn't favor the bill, but changed his mind as he came to believe it was good for Oregon and Oregonians. The governor signed the bill into law on the seat of a Schwinn
Schwinn Bicycle Company
The Schwinn Bicycle Company was founded by German-born mechanical engineer Ignaz Schwinn in Chicago in 1895. It became the dominant manufacturer of American bicycles through most of the 20th century and today it is a sub-brand of Pacific Cycle, owned by the multi-national conglomerate, Dorel...
Paramount.
The bill allowed for the creation of the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, a governor-appointed committee that meets quarterly. The
committee awards grants that provide approximately $5 million dollars every two years for the design and construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Grants are awarded to Oregon cities and counties through the ODOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Grant Program.
