Elly Blue
Elly Blue
Full Name and Common Aliases
Elly Blue is a Portland-based writer, advocate, and activist known for her work on bicycle infrastructure, transportation policy, and social justice issues.
Birth and Death Dates
Born in 1979, Elly Blue's exact birthdate remains private. Unfortunately, there is no recorded information regarding her passing, as she is still active in her writing career.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Elly Blue identifies as an American writer, advocate, and activist. Her profession primarily revolves around writing, with a focus on topics like transportation policy, social justice, and bicycle infrastructure.
Early Life and Background
Raised in various locations across the United States, Elly Blue's early life was marked by frequent moves due to her family's nomadic lifestyle. This constant change had a profound impact on her perspective, teaching her adaptability and a keen awareness of diverse environments and cultures. As she grew older, Elly developed a strong interest in social justice issues, which would eventually become the core of her work.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout her career, Elly Blue has achieved significant milestones that have cemented her position as a leading voice on transportation policy and bicycle infrastructure:
She authored "Bike Shop: Repairs, Rescues & Rants from an Independent Bike Technician," which offers readers an insider's look at the world of bike repair.
As a regular contributor to outlets such as TreeHugger and The Huffington Post, Elly Blue has shared her expertise on topics ranging from sustainable transportation systems to social justice issues.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to her writing, Elly Blue is also an advocate for cycling rights and infrastructure. She's worked tirelessly to promote a more inclusive approach to urban planning, focusing on the needs of cyclists and pedestrians in particular:
Her advocacy has led to changes in local transportation policies, prioritizing bike-friendly infrastructure and safer streets.
Through her writing and public appearances, Elly Blue continues to inspire readers and listeners to think critically about their relationship with their environment.
Impact and Legacy
Elly Blue's influence extends far beyond the world of cycling. Her work has sparked important conversations about social justice, urban planning, and the role individuals can play in creating positive change:
By advocating for more inclusive transportation policies, Elly Blue is helping to create a more equitable and sustainable future.
Through her writing, she's provided readers with a unique perspective on the intersection of transportation policy, social justice, and environmentalism.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Elly Blue's dedication to creating a more just and sustainable world has earned her widespread recognition within her community:
Her unwavering commitment to advocating for cycling rights and infrastructure has made her a respected voice in the field.
By sharing her expertise through writing and public appearances, Elly Blue continues to inspire readers and listeners to think critically about their relationship with their environment.
Quotes by Elly Blue
Elly Blue's insights on:
Everyone who wants to and has either the determination, social support, or infrastructure support can ride a bicycle, as recent times are proving.
Converting car parking to bike parking is one of the cheapest, easiest, and most effective ways for any city to make a sizeable dent in the bad economics of our current transportation system.
In larger scale disasters, bicycles are also proving to be valuable resources. After a hurricane, a tornado, or a flood, the streets tend to be clogged with debris, fuel is unavailable, cars are out of commission, and resources are strained. A bicycle with tough, knobby tires is often the only way to get around the city. These are times when the latent demand for bicycling makes itself known.
We're caught up in a vicious cycle of debt. We borrow money to build a giant road project. That project attracts new development, which brings more traffic. Eventually the road needs to be expanded; the initial debt has not been paid off, so a new, larger loan is taken out to fund the new project and pay off the old one. The money is borrowed against the promise of further development to bring in new tax revenue. And so it continues.
We are, most of us, paying far more for transportation than we can truly afford. And more and more of us are starting to realize it.
When it comes to bicycling, short trips, close to home, are the lowest-hanging fruit. A quarter of all our daily travel is done within a mile of our homes. We do most of these short hops by car; less car-centric standards for neighborhood roads could easily make bicycling or walking a more attractive option. This need becomes especially clear when you know that these short local trips result in 60% of the pollution caused by our cars.
The best scenario of all when it comes to air pollution has nothing to do with tailpipe filters or hybrid, electric, or zero emissions car technology. The way to reduce pollution is to reduce driving, plain and simple.
No matter how good the car, or how well you care for it and how much utility and enjoyment you get from using it, you end up losing money in the long run.
Over the years, I bought a trailer -- and then a cargo bike -- and then a trailer for the cargo bike -- and that's when things got really out of hand. I've moved a full size bed and frame (with a friend riding on top of the bed), a drafting table, a sleeper sofa, my dog, another bicycle and its rider, a load of twelve foot long 2x4s, and half a garden's worth of plants.
When bicycling, you’re simply less likely to make unplanned purchases, especially large ones. Shopping, especially for bulky items, must be more carefully planned and premeditated—you’ll want to do it all at once, and either bringing your trailer or renting or borrowing a car for an afternoon.