Coalition Advocating for Transportation Solutions (CATS)

Email:
cats@lclark.edu
Web:
CATS Website

Executive Board:

• Megan Kent, Ryan Hamilton, Nate Larsen, Don Gourlie, Jeffrey Van Name

About Us

CATS works to build a future where transportation-related greenhouse gases are at a minimum, and where riding bikes, taking busses, and carpooling are more common than driving single occupancy vehicles. We work to increase bike awareness, safety and advocacy on campus and beyond. We work with the administration, students and the community to increase environmentally sensible and sustainable modes of travel for the L&C Law School family.

We want to be a resource to you - as an incoming student or graduating 3L, faculty, staff, community member, partner, etc. We’re available by phone, email, and in-person to talk to you about where you live (or want to live) and what your transportation options are.  Please reach out to us to answer your questions like HOW DO I BIKE TO SCHOOL?

CATS has been an active student group on the law school campus for well over a decade. The club was founded around the time the college proposed a parking garage to remedy its transportation problems. Some of the founders actually sued the college over it because they found the “solution” inadequate to address the real issues - that is, too many cars coming to campus every day. While their lawsuit proved unsuccessful in court, it did motivate the college to strike a compromise: parking pass fees would be instituted to pay for a shuttle program and the parking garage would not be built.

The shuttle program survives to this day, although the budget crisis in 2008 resulted in significant service cuts. CATS and its members played an active role in the 2008-2009 school year and fought hard against shuttle cuts. We raised awareness on the law school and undergrad campuses, met with administrators, attended neighborhood meetings, signed petitions and presented to the Board of Trustees, but we were ultimately unsuccessful. An entire shuttle route was eliminated and service on the mid-day Pioneer Express was canceled. However, CATS didn’t give up. We forged strong relationships with student government and lobbied the law school’s budget chair heavily. We held meetings on campus and continued to keep students informed. In the 2009-2010 school year the law school responded and now provides mid-day shuttle service to students can travel to and from the law school and downtown clinics where they provide pro bono legal services to the community.

Mission

The MISSION of CATS is to raise awareness and use of sensible, alternative, and sustainable modes of transportation. 

Goals

More people on bikes! More people on busses and shuttles! No cuts to bus or shuttle service! More carpools! More support for carpool parking on campus! Fewer single occupancy vehicle travels! Be good neighbors and encourage our friends to do the same!

Agenda

The CATS agenda for 2011-2012 includes: Get more people out than ever for September’s Bike Commute Challenge. Develop a critical mass morning bike meet-up to cross the Sellwood Bridge, and to help encourage people to ride through the Riverview Cemetery to school. Create opportunities for L&C students to experience the joy of bicycling together. Ensure no new cuts to shuttle service. Continue to work with faculty, staff, the SBA, and other students to develop a long-term solution to our congested parking lots and commute sheds. Educate and involve our student body to take part in the International Day of Climate Action. Help create and foster sustainable transportation solutions for the entire community. Respond to the community’s needs and wants, help advocate for change and stand up for sensible transportation options. Serve as a resource for new and seasoned students, faculty, staff, and community members for transportation advice, recommendations, and ideas.