One June 4, Portland enlists in The War on Cars!
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Myles G. Smith
May 7, 2026, 2:15:35 PM (6 days ago) May 7
to Portland Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee, han...@backcovebooks.com, be...@backcovebooks.com
Friends and neighbors!
I met Sarah at a Freeway Fighters conference in Minneapolis last year, and as we walked around all the destruction wrought by that city's many downtown highways, she mentioned that she lived in Portland in the 1990s, and was editor of Casco Bay Weekly, our beloved and lost alt-weekly. She said she'd love to return, and with support from Build Maine, the best community development, design, land use and transportation collective in the state, we're able to make it happen!
Sign up today for the next battle in The War on Cars! :-)
On Thursday, June 4th, co-host of the podcast and co-author of the new book Life After Cars Sarah Goodyear will be coming to lead a conversation at Back Cove Books in Portland! Let's pack the room with the walking, riding, and cycling people of Portland and around for a grand evening. Snacks and beverages provided!
On Thursday, June 4th, co-host of the podcast and co-author of the new book Life After Cars Sarah Goodyear will be coming to lead a conversation at Back Cove Books in Portland! Let's pack the room with the walking, riding, and cycling people of Portland and around for a grand evening. Snacks and beverages provided!
If you're not familiar, The War On Cars reports stories and data about how cars ruin everything, especially in cities. The titles are intentionally provocative, but sometimes that's what is necessary to get folks to question the status quo. Portland surrendered to cars in the postwar era, and our population base, tax base, downtown retail, neighborhood businesses, city parks, and children's neighborhood life has never recovered. But, this is Maine, the most rural state in America, so our fate is sealed, right? Aren't we condemned to suffer from the carbage infrastructure handed to us 60 years ago?
I met Sarah at a Freeway Fighters conference in Minneapolis last year, and as we walked around all the destruction wrought by that city's many downtown highways, she mentioned that she lived in Portland in the 1990s, and was editor of Casco Bay Weekly, our beloved and lost alt-weekly. She said she'd love to return, and with support from Build Maine, the best community development, design, land use and transportation collective in the state, we're able to make it happen!
Huge thanks to our friends at Back Cove Books, Friends of Woodfords Corner, Orange Bike Brewing, and of course the Portland Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
Now, Metro Sam Wants YOU to enlist today!
What can you do?
- RSVP for the event!
- Send the invite below to several friends
- Share the invite through the organizations and networks you are part of
- Consider sponsoring and donating, if you or your business can do so - just drop me a line!
In solidarity,
Myles
Myles Smith
Advocate, Consultant, Community Builder | Portland, ME
Build Maine | Mainers for Smarter Transportation | Portland Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee | Omnium Collective
Read my latest on Substack
202-779-6179 (yes, 202!)
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