Whereas, the League of American Bicyclists named Portland a “Platinum” level bicycle-friendly community; and

Whereas, Portland is in its third consecutive year of double-digit growth in bicycle ridership; and

Whereas, Portland’s bikeway network includes 270 miles of on-street bike lanes, bike boulevards, and paved trails; and another 40 miles of unpaved trails offering mountain biking opportunities in city parks; and

Whereas, 20,000 riders participate in the Providence Bridge Pedal making Portland home to the second largest community bike ride in the United States (after Bike New York); and

Whereas, 15,000 riders, walkers, scooters and skaters participated in the first successful Sunday Parkways event in the United States in June 2008; and

Whereas, More than 9,100 people participated in the September 2007 Bicycle Commuter Challenge, including 1,700 first-time bike commuters; and

Whereas, 2,250 elementary students annually receive a 10-hour bicycle safety course as part of a larger Safe Routes to School initiative delivered by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance helping to increase bicycling to school by 5% in just one year; and

Whereas, 40 bike shops and more than 150 bicycle-related businesses provide thousands of green-collar jobs with an economic benefit of more than $65 million (2005);

Now, therefore, I, Tom Potter, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City of Roses,” do hereby proclaim August 7, 2008 to be

Bicycle Friendly Community Day

   in Portland, and encourage all residents to observe this day.