Mayor-Elect Tom Potter spoke tonight at the Bicycle Transportation Alliance's annual meeting/awards night. Also present were newly elected city commissioner Sam Adams, whom Tom asked to speak first, and the much admired former mayor Bud Clark (who did not speak). Clark, who used to ride his bike to work, was known for his accessibility as mayor, and is credited with helping to make Portland nationally known as a bike friendly city.
Potter pledged to continue to participate in rides around town with the community, and to prevail upon the police to work with the cycling community, including "elements of the cycling community that they currently do not understand," which was interpreted as a promising sign by those of us there concerned about Critical Mass. Potter seemed to be well acquainted with Critical Mass and some of the problems it has had, as evidenced by remarks he made afterwards to someone who approached him with a letter signed by Critical Mass riders -- or would-be riders -- fed up with police harrassment. The letter invited Potter to join one of the rides, and he seemed to be very receptive. Commissioner-elect Adams was also receptive to the same invitation.
Potter was police chief during Bud Clark's administration, and it was clear from his remarks that he also had Clark's legacy in mind, pledging to take concrete steps to be accessible. It was also clear from the reception he received at the BTA tonight that the organized cycling community holds out great hopes for Potter, who pledged to promote funding for public transit and cycling related infrastructure in the city.
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