Amsterdam's Formula for "Sustainable Mobility"

In his presentation to local scholars, business leaders and public sector practitioners at PSU's College of Urban and Public Affairs, Dutch transportation planner and German Marshall Fund Fellow Thomas Straatemeier asked his audience whether in his reflections on Portland's accomplishments in the realm of transportation and land use planning, they wanted him to consider Portland as an American city or a European one? Because if it's reflection in comparison alongside other U.S. cities, then Portland is a standout to be sure, but in comparison to some examples from Europe, then it still has a long way to go. There was, however, a lot that European cities could learn from Portland, in his estimation, as well.

Nohad Toulan, founder and emeritus dean of  PSUs College of Urban and Public Affairs  discusses the similarities and differences between Portland and Amsterdam with Danish  planning expert Thomas Straatemeier at a recent First Stop Portland debrief session.

More than a Footnote: Observing Homelessness in Portland

During lunch yesterday, while the interpreter took a well-deserved break, a poignant conversation emerged when one of the delegates from St. Petersburg asked a seemingly benign question:

"What are all these people building beds on the streets?"

"I'm sorry, could you repeat the question, I don't understand."

"The people, they are lying down in the streets everywhere. It is not very pretty. Why is the city promoting that?"

Again, more confusion. Then, clarity: "Ah, you're talking about the homeless, yes. Portland has a pretty significant problem with homelessness."

"Where are all these refugees coming from?"

"I don't think most of them are refugees."

[Long pause.]

"So these are not foreigners? They're American citizens? These are your own people?"

"Yup, most of them."

[Another long pause.]

"Wow, that's unbelievable."

Source: KATU News

Old World meets New: Russia's Young Leaders Visit Portland

This week, First Stop Portland is hosting a delegation of young leaders from St. Petersburg, Russia who have come to Portland because they see it as "one of the best examples of human-made and natural landscapes in the world" and they are looking to take away lessons from Portland's experiences in sustainable development and apply them to the many challenges they face back at home, where they are working to shape old St. Petersburg into an energy-efficient and accessible 21st Century city.

Jillian Detweiler, TriMet & Dean Larry Wallack, PSU College of Urban and Public Affairs, with St. Petersburg's emerging leadership

Korean Daily "Dong-A Ilbo" features Portland Transportation Innovations

This July, a reporter from one of South Korea's largest newspapers, Dong-A Ilbo, toured the city with First Stop Portland to learn more about Portland's approach to environmental conservation through innovations in transportation. Seoul is currently working on a bicycle strategy to deal with environmental issues, although, according to Soojun Shin, lead reporter for the story, it's still a pretty scary place to cycle.

In addition to meeting with folks from Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainable Development (to talk about the city's Climate Action Plan) and Bureau of Transportation (to learn more about the 2030 Bicycle Plan), we stopped by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance's (BTA) new digs in Old Town to meet with their director, Rob Sadowsky, who shared some of the lessons he's learned as an advocate in Portland's efforts to become a more bike-friendly city.

As we hear time and again from the experts we encounter, Portland's commitment to transparency in local politics and development of partnerships between the public sector, business, NGOs, and citizens is key. "We've learned to praise loudly and criticize softly," says Sadowsky of Portland's democratic culture and effective advocacy groups. "Then we get inside and effect change from the inside out."

Cascadia's Economic Leaders tour PDX by Bicycle

PNWER, the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region, recently held it's annual summit in Portland. A selection of these high level delegates opted to explore the city Portland-style by way of a three-hour bike tour of Portland's bicycle infrastructure. This tour, led by Mia Birk, showed riders how the city has adapted to the exponential growth in city cyclists, along with innovative ways the city has promoted transportation options. Riders experienced greens streets, cycle tracks, buffered bike lanes, and other infrastructure developed to support cycling in Portland. A big shout out to PSU's own Bike Hub for graciously accommodating our bike rental needs!

Building the Compact City: The OECD Explores Portland's Smart Growth Policies and Practices

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an economic development organization of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic growth and world trade by providing a forum in which member countries can compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, share best practices, and co-ordinate domestic and international policies, often through non-binding treaties. They undertake peer-reviewed research, compile statistics, offer recommendations and publish over 250 books annually with their findings.

First Stop Portland recently hosted a 5-person delegation from the Regional Urban, and Rural committee of the OECD who were studying Portland as part of a comparative case study (Melbourne [AU], Vancouver [CA], Toyama [JP], Portland [US] and Paris [FR]) exploring compact cities, i.e. those with higher densities, mixed land-uses, and mass transit linkages. They met for discussions with practitioners from the public and private sectors, policy makers, elected officials and business owners from across the region to gain a better understanding of Portland’s “Smart Growth” policies and tools. They toured the city and region, observing first hand the impacts of these policies and practices in urban space, from transit-oriented development in the Pearl District to the interface of agriculture and development at the edge of the UGB (urban growth boundary).

More Carrot, Less Stick: Columbia University Students Study Portland's Food Cart "Revolution"

Recently, a graduate studio class in urban planning (MURP) from Columbia University's GSAPP toured the city to learn about  Portland's food cart movement. Their study tour investigated the economic and social implications of Portland’s growing food cart industry, especially as regards neighborhood livability and economic development. To give them a broader understanding of their interests within a context of sustainable food policy, regional food system security, and the artisan economy, First Stop Portland included panel discussions with experts from Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability as well as Portland State faculty.

Columbia Faculty Kaja Kuhl and Julie Behrens evaluate their  lunches at the SW 5th and Oak Food Cart Pod