We're pleased to bring you this bike interview with Portland City Council District 1 candidate Timur Ender. Timur is running to represent East Portland and invited me into his car on Tuesday to get a closer look at his district.
I have known Timur since he was a recent graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School. He showed up at one of our Wonk Night events in February 2013. Timur is a volunteer with the tactical urbanist group Better Block PDX, and he was the sole lead organizer of the Better Naito pilot project that eventually became an official City of Portland project for all of us to work on. did. I love riding today. Mr. Timur served as transportation policy advisor to former City Commissioner Steve Novick and was part of PBOT's Capital Projects team, where he served for five years.
In short, I can't think of a better person to guide me through East Portland's bike infrastructure.
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In this episode, Timur and I talk about various bike path treatments and projects as we pedal a loop from Northeast Glisan and Highway 102 down to Southeast Powell, then up Highway 162 to Glendoveer Golf Course. (see route map below). . (Don't worry about getting lost. We remind people to cross the road at regular intervals. Also note that the pictures above are in order.) Hear how opportunism is important (such as his idea to pave gravel roads on NE 113 between Oregon and Oregon) and the new Glisan plans as part of the Safe Routes to School Project Connecting to traffic lights is key to making cycling better in East Portland.
Also about Timur's ideas for making roads safer and less car-centric, including his vision to create a Barcelona-inspired superblock surrounded by the 102nd, Glissant, Starck and 122nd arrondissements. You can learn.
One of the things that struck me during the ride was how much of an impact one dedicated and thoughtful PBOT employee can have on the operations of our streets. At one point, while riding his bike in East Burnside, Timur pointed out the buffer stripes that give more space between motorists in bike lanes. “I’m really proud of this buffer,” Timur told how he said during the meeting, “We just have to draw another line.” And they did.
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Timur is a man with a love for East Portland, and that really comes through in this episode. As he was riding his bike across Southeast 122 near Market, he wanted to stop and point out one of his favorite intersections. I expected him to talk about infrastructure, but he went on to list some small businesses. It could be your favorite Ethiopian restaurant, your favorite bodega, or the community space where you had a memorable dinner.
Bus rapid transit (which he believes is a “low-hanging fruit” on places like 122nd Street, Halsey Street and Stark Street), buffered bike lanes, and housing policies (Timur feels there will be fewer people displaced) The book is interspersed with stories about the government's support for increasing the number of housing units in the city center. in his district). Why Timur decided to (reluctantly) run for City Council, how he first fell in love with cycling, why he chose to live in Portland, what car-free life is like in East Portland, and more. you will be able to hear it speak.
Listen to the full episode above or wherever you get your podcasts.