The Bulletin’s article on July 23 indicated Bend was being urged by the state of Oregon to measure its impacts of growth using a state-developed software program called GreenStep. So the article asks: Want to know how much greenhouse gases would change if Bend built more bike lanes?
Short answer: Emissions would increase due to energy use and the activities necessary to build the lanes. Only more bicycle riding in lieu of car/bus usage would decrease emissions.
Shorter answer: Emissions would change less than if our governor and entourage did not fly to Amsterdam and Berlin in March to promote Oregon tourism, not to mention all the emissions it will take to bring travelers to Oregon. Don’t need a software program to figure that out.