More of Earl's friends?

Ideology usually precedes actual data. Consider, for example, this modest suggestion regarding painted bike lanes:

"According to a recent Harvard Medical School study, the implementation of cycle tracks, physically segregated bike lanes that provide barriers between vehicle traffic and bicyclists, rather than painted bike lanes, may lessen bicycle-related injuries.

Anne Lusk, a nutrition research associate at Harvard University's School of Public Health who co-authored the study, said bicyclists in Montreal who used cycle tracks had a 28 percent lower injury rate in comparison to those who chose to bike on public roads throughout the city.

Although Lusk said the results 'were not significant,' she noted that the 'barrier-protected, bicycle-exclusive cycle tracks were safer in comparison to bicycling in the road without bicycling position.'

Beyond the reduction of bicycle-related injuries, Lusk said the implementation of cycle tracks also encourages more people to commute by bicycle. In fact, nearly 2.5 times as many cyclists used the cycle tracks instead of biking on the roads, according to the study."
http://bit.ly/hwYmBT

Ideologues, of course, are seldom responsive to or dependent upon actual research.

Khaaaaaaaaan!

Sorry...that one was too easy.

Though I despise Anthony Weiner, I may have to move to NYC so I can vote for him. God...did I just write that?

I only wish I could live long enough to witness all these now relatively young and able bodied folks become old and unable to ride on bicycles.
Motorized trikes and more wheelchairs will then fill the bike lanes.

Why is this not surprising?

Just human nature. The bikeists don't strike me as any snottier or more selfish than the carists. Maybe a touch less defensive and more self-righteous.

I've worked as an analyst for a couple of government bureaucracies over the years. It varies but if you've got a strong minded idealogue leading the bureaucracy, the role of the analyst becomes more of "making the dat fit" than in other cases where the data can actually lead at times.

David Bragdon moved to New York city to pipe up the big Apple's pipe dreams. By comparison, the city Of Portland is hopeless because you have enough 20 and 30 single somethings to swing governance towards over spending on pipe dreams. It's the pro government forces of Portland State University and others against the long time Portland residents some of whom try futilely to mount a resistance. Some of the experienced folk don't mount a resistance but flee for the burbs, exurbia, or across the river. I try to resist the pro government forces but also hope to escape at some point.

Ideologues, of course, are seldom responsive to or dependent upon actual research.

I completely agree. For example, that study you cited was preceded by an even larger, more extensive study that proved the opposite:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segregated_cycle_facilities

The Harvard study, in fact, was commissioned for cash, in the hopes of getting the exact conclusion it presented.

From the NYT article, bicycling aside, what I got was annoying bureau chiefs are just annoying and probably (and hopefully) soon gone. BTW, Bob, what has Bragdon been doing besides criticizing the region which seems odd since he had the opportunity to effect change when he was a Metro Councilor for 8+? years and Council President for 8 more (oh wait, sorry, forgot, he resigned early to take the NY job with Bloomie)years. Be sure to tell David Metro employees remember him FONDLY. Maybe David could weigh in and tell them how he feels now that he is an EMPLOYEE.

"According to a recent Harvard Medical School study, the implementation of cycle tracks, physically segregated bike lanes that provide barriers between vehicle traffic and bicyclists, rather than painted bike lanes, may lessen bicycle-related injuries."

Duh
This must rank with cow flatulance at WSU.