Second Oregon Active Transportation Summit Brings Together Top Minds in Walking, Cycling and Transit

April 16-17 event, outgrowth of original Oregon Bike Summit, examines progress made and plans future strategies for active transportation advocacy.

The complete agenda is available at www.oat-summit.com

(PORTLAND, OR) - The 2012 Oregon Active Transportation Summit, to be held April 16-17 in Salem, will bring together more than a hundred bicycle, pedestrian and transit advocates to address current and future issues, gauge progress on initiatives, and plan strategies to encourage more active transportation throughout Oregon – on the ground level and through legislation.

The event marks the second year of the event’s evolution from the original Oregon Bike Summit, which began in 2006. Over time, event organizers acknowledged common issues between the different modes of active transportation, and decided to expand the summit’s scope.

“There’s such similarity in the overall goals of walking, riding and transit that we recognized that bringing everyone together to marshal our resources and collective knowledge would only increase our effectiveness as advocates,” said Jerry Norquist, executive director of Cycle Oregon, which organizes the event.

The Oregon Active Transportation Summit’s general sessions feature speakers Alan Durning, executive director of Sightline Institute; Anita Hairston, senior associate at PolicyLink; and Matt Garrett, director of Oregon’s Department of Transportation. In addition, attendees will choose from 15 different topics over three breakout sessions, including subjects such as project funding, bicycle tourism, active transportation planning and safe routes to schools.

“The summit provides a unique opportunity for people with a shared passion active transportation to come together, compare notes, form strategies and strengthen advocacy networks,” Norquist continued. “Every year we’ve held a summit we’ve made more progress, raising awareness of the positive health and economic effects active transportation modes have on our society, as well as having a major impact on legislative issues related to active transportation.”

The complete agenda is available at www.oat-summit.com