I remember the day clearly. As Sam's campaign manager during the general election, I encouraged him to attend a meeting at city hall with Andy Clarke, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists, a national bicycle advocacy organization. Though he had served as the mayor's chief of staff for awhile, his responsibilities were such that he hadn't had much exposure to Portland's unique bike culture. By example, the mayor had never led the Office of Transportation.
So, I reasoned that he ought to check out this group of bike interests for some insight into a piece of local culture with which he hadn't had much interaction. After all, bike commuters constitute a meaningful part of that daily ebb and flow that makes Portland Portland. Sam and I attended, and there's Andy to talk about all the great things Portland has done to achieve "gold" status from the League. "Portland is one of just four cities in the country to achieve our highest honor yet," Andy explained. (Corvallis, Boulder, and Palo Alto for those keeping score.) Portlanders being Portlanders, attendees patiently waited for Andy to stop and immediately barraged him with questions about how Portland can achieve the next level: PLATINUM.
Well, Andy wasn't entirely sure. The League has never awarded Platinum. But he'd give it some thought and get back to us. Later, Sam and I were headed back to the campaign office when I asked him for his thoughts on the meeting. "If I win, we're going for Platinum. Freight interests need to understand that more people on bikes reduces congestion which benefits them. Bike advocates need to understand that freight movement is an integral part of the local economy. In the end, there is no 'either/or' and we're gonna chase Platinum and prove that in the process."
So there you have it. To date, Sam has had two exploratory meetings with leaders in the bike community. The plan is still in its infancy, but rest assured you'll hear more on this topic from the elected official who says, "We're going for Platinum."