I fell in love with bicycling in 1990 while attending graduate school in Washington DC. Having grown up in suburban Dallas Texas, I was used to driving everywhere. Informed that there was no parking available near my school, I borrowed my brother’s 10 speed Schwinn. Within a few weeks, I was in the best shape of my life, and a lifelong love affair had begun. Since then, I have been a dedicated bicyclist for recreation, touring, exercise, and daily utilitarian trips. I have two children – ages 9 and 6 – and see bicycling as a win-win strategy for maintaining my family’s health, safety, budget, and community connection.
My career has included:
- Advocacy work (1989-1993) at an international environmental think tank, during which time I worked with cities in developing countries on transportation energy conservation strategies.
- Government leadership as the City of Portland’s Bicycle Program Manager, where I led Portland’s transformation to the country’s most bicycle friendly city.
- Consulting with communities nationwide (1999 to present) as a Principal at Alta Planning + Design, the nation’s leading firm specializing in bicycle, pedestrian, and trail planning, design, and implementation. I have worked on hundreds of bicycle and pedestrian planning projects around the nation; expanded Alta to a 40-person firm with 7 offices nationwide; and authored studies on such groundbreaking topics as shared lane markings and rails-with-trails.
- Teaching bicycle and pedestrian planning through my role as Adjunct Professor at Portland State University and founder of PSU’s Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation.
I serve on the Transportation Research Board Bicycle Committee, the Board of Cycle Oregon, the advisory board of the Community Cycling Center, and manage the City of Portland’s Safe Routes to School program. I won the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals 2007 Professional of the Year (Private Sector) award, and was featured on the front page of The Oregonian newspaper in August 2007. Investing in bicycling and walking infrastructure and promotion is a win-win strategy."
Announcement: Joyride
Winter 2008 - Mia is hard at work on her forthcoming book: Joyride: One Woman's Journey Empowering People and Transforming Communities. It is a memoir following her career, and telling the story of what we have done to revolutionize Portland and integrate bicycling and walking into daily life in communities across the U.S. Publication is planned for Fall 2009. Click here if you would like to be notified about advance ordering information.
Mia Birk is a Principal at Alta, with 17 years experience in pedestrian, bicycle, trail, and greenway planning, design and implementation. She is an Adjunct Professor at Portland State University, teaching Pedestrian and Bicycle Issues for graduate students in urban planning. She was the Portland Bicycle Program Manager from 1993-99. She has developed more than 100 bicycle, pedestrian, trail, and corridor plans, and has managed the public process, design and implementation of over 500 miles of new bikeways and walkways, as well as programs such as Safe Routes to School, bicycle and pedestrian-friendly development codes, and bikeway/walkway maintenance. In addition, she is an engaging speaker and public process facilitator.
Sample Projects
- Portland (OR) Bicycle Master Plan, Platinum Update, and implementation of over 150 miles of bikeways
- Los Angeles Bicycle Master Plan Update
- Portland Safe Routes to School Program
- Bozeman (MT) Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
- Bremerton (WA) Non-Motorized Transportation Plan
- Newberg (OR) ADA/Pedestrian/Bike Route Improvement Plan
- Florence (OR) Highway 101 Pedestrian Safety Improvement Plan
- Wilsonville (OR) Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trail Plan
- Sellwood Bridge (OR) Replacement Plan/EIS
- San Francisco (CA) Bicycle Master Plan Update and Shared Lane Marking Study
- Grand Junction Rail-with-Trail Master Plan (Cambridge, MA)
- Dundee (OR) Main Street Refinement Plan
- Rails-with-Trails: Lessons Learned – U.S. Department of Transportation
- Santa Barbara (CA) Pedestrian Master Plan
- Marin County (CA) Bicycle Master Plan
- Pasadena (TX) Greenbelt/Bayou Trails Master Plan
- Minnesota State Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Telework Modal Plan
- Vancouver (WA) Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trail Plans
- Plano (TX) Transit Village Veloweb
- Tri-Met (Portland) Pedestrian Safety Evaluation
- Salem (OR) Sidewalk Construction and Management Program
- Tacoma Street Main Street Plan (Portland, OR)
- Salem (OR) Front St/Highway 22 Main Street Plan
- Trolley Trail Master Plan, Milwaukie to Gladstone (OR)
- Springfield (OR) Bicycle Plan Implementation Project
- Los Angeles Regional Bicycle Travel Demand Projection
- Marin County (CA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
- Blue Bike Lanes for Greater Safety, Portland (OR)
- Hillsboro (OR) Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Update
- Government Camp (OR) Trails Master Plan
- Fisher’s Landing Bikeway (Vancouver, OR)