Author: Chris Smith

  • Apparently, Driveways Matter

    OTREC is pleased to welcome Jim Gattis, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Arkansas, to give a special seminar at Portland State University on Tuesday, May 17th at 3pm. (Learn more about Dr. Gattis and his upcoming visit to OSU and PSU from OTREC’s news story.) What: Free seminar/webinar, “Driveway Design: Lessons…

  • At the Crux of Transportation and Land Use

    So here’s a paradox. In Portland we attempt to build Transit-oriented Development near Light Rail stations. But the LRT corridors often parallel freeways (both because that’s where the demand is, and because we often find right-of-way we can use next to freeways). As a result, these developments are often near freeway interchanges. But the “Transportation…

  • When Will You Walk (or Bike)?

    Nice piece on NPR Sunday that suggests that we may have reached ‘peaked gasoline’ (i.e., peak demand for gasoline) in the U.S. as folks make alternative choices (even as the economy comes back, gasoline use is not tracking upward with the economy). However, worldwide demand continues to rise because of the appetite in developing countries…

  • Is the Enemy of My Enemy My Friend?

    I can’t say I have a lot of love for folks who attempt to use the initiative system to limit the role of government. I cut my teeth in statewide politics a decade ago working to oppose measures by anti-tax activists that would have gutted critical services. But now here is Tim Eyman, Washington State’s…

  • KBOO Bike Show: Cycling Authors

    Listen to the show (mp3, 26.5MB) Tori and Michelle interview Sue Macy, Author of Wheels of Change, How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way) and Jesús Ilundáin-Agurruza, editor of Cycling – Philosophy for Everyone: A Philosophical Tour de Force. Both books are available as premiums in KBOO’s…