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The City of Portland now has a web site for motorcycle resources. The address is http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=40219
It has a listing of motorcycle parking spaces and lots around town. They also have a survey for as they state, "We are surveying the public to help us determine how best we can serve the Motorcycle and Scooter users here in Portland." Now, I would never advocate that anyone that does not live in the area to answer the survey, but...
With this being the ultra-liberal area as it is, I am suprised that they have this. But, not suprised that they included scooters along with motorcycles. With their attitiude I am suprised that they didn't put motorcycles in a smaller font than scooters.

Soren,
At least they are trying to recognize motorcyclists as being a part of the city.

Its a shame more cities didnt try and be more accomadating to two wheel transportation. Might help take ease up some of this congestion.

Now how do you want us to answer this survey

At least they are trying. Not here. I think with gas prices as they are we will see more commuters riding and the need for services by government increase.
Dave

Dwight, But here it may be even further left than you. The mayor of Portland (Moscow on the Willamette as some call it) has stated publicly several times that he would like to see a day when there are absolutely no motorized vehicles allowed in the downtown area at all.

Soren

Quite the opposite of an anarchist (trust me I tend to be one), he's a social communist. Most true anarchists believe in self-rule and responsibility. I am almost certain that he and the city counsel are direct decendants of Marx, Lenin or Stalin. But, maybe things are starting to change. Time will tell. Someday it may even be legal again to cut down a tree, nuke the whales or ride a two stroke motorcycle off road.

Soren

Actually, by definition, true anarchists believe in no rule, law or government authority at all. Self-rule and responsibility are not part of being a true anarchist. That actually smacks of having socialist beliefs (political power exercised by the whole community) but certainly not anarchism.

The Portland mayor and Portland is far from socialism or communism. We may not always like the laws that are passed or feeling like we are having freedoms snatched from us but when the alternatives are considered, I will take the good ol' USA (any state, including Oregon), hands down. I have family that live in NE Portland and they are rather pleased with the city (except that the schools are being buried and a few rogue cops) and it's leaders. They feel that out of the 4 larger cities they have lived in (Houston, Baltimore, Phoenix and Portland) that Portland leaders consistantly will at least try to see all sides to the story before acting. Much better than decisions being made in biased opinion, religiously based or with partisan bias. We are actually moving to that, in your words "social communist" mayor's city this summer when school gets out. Think of the motorcycle survey as something to be lauded. How many other metropolitan areas are even willing or can even conjure up enough whatever to think about motorcyclists?

oooohhhh....JT!!!

YOU don't know WHAT you've JUST STARTED here with your somewhat well reasoned and articulate response to Soren's response to MY sarcastic response.(hey...I THOUGHT the Sacho and Vanzetti line was pretty funny, anyway)

BUT....DON'T BE SURPRISED if your words get a less than enthusiastic response from some of our fellow members who may be proud "Red State" denizens here...OKAY?!!!

Cheers,
Dwight
(just a friendly WARNING here, buddy)

Dwight,

Actually your sarcasm cracked me up and I guess I'm ready for the responses. I'll just sick my 6'3, 3rd degree black belt kick boxing son on them all or erect a statue of the Portland mayor (Tom Potter) in their yards to intimidate them into believing in Soren's "social communism".

Yes, most anarchists believe in personal rule and responsibility without any government control or interference and even more importantly not having a government at all. However, in reality that would last only about 5 minutes until someone decides that they are in control. But the idea of the government not telling me what to think or do and letting me reap the consequences of my own actions is very nice. It would also be good if they would stop letting the lazy slackers be lazy and slackers by providing every need that they have or want and actually make them work for something. The whole idea of everyone share with everyone else no matter what their contribution to society is, really sucks. It make me working my butt off everyday almost meaningless. Why should I work another second of my life when I can live off the government, which really isn't living off of the government, it would be someone else working and paying taxes. I am just a goverment hater in general.

Maybe Tom Potter isn't as bad as Vera Katz (the former Portland dictator) in attitude towards motorcycles who was even more of a hypocritical environmentalist, terrorist loving social communist that like to waste even more money than Tom Potter foolishly. But, then again, most people know that while Tom is out busily coming up with more ways to tax everyone (I think he is a member of the new tax of the week club) it is really Erik Sten that is running the city and he really isn't much better.

Yes, I wouldn't rather live anywhere but in the U.S.A., even with the direction that we are headed (total reliance on the government at all levels), it is still freer than any other country, other wise I wouldn't be able to say all this (oh crap, the CIA is here)

And yes, it is very good that they are thinking about motorcycles at all. It is still surprising that I ran across that page and survey. Hopefully something good will come about from it, like being able to lane split and filter. So, hopefully more people will get to that survey.

My 9 year old taekwondo green belt can beat up your kick boxing black belt any day and twice on Sunday… maybe.

When you move up here, let me know. It will be good to have another person on this board up here. There are a lot of great places to ride.

Soren