In case you missed Critical Mass on Friday, there are some great photos and comments posted at BikeForums. If you like the photos, you should check the Bicycle-Eye blog by the same guy…and don’t forget to read his great collection of bicycle haikus.
Month: July 2005
Is Portland a safe cycling town?
There has been a lot of talk this summer about the amount of cyclists killed on Portland’s roadways. In my opinion no amount of infrastructure, bike lanes, signs, or clever engineering can truly make cyclists safe on the streets. Let’s be honest, we’re 100% vulnerable to cars whenever we’re out there.
That being said, I think the most important thing we can do is spend more effort and money on education to change behaviors on both sides of the equation (no, not all cyclists are innocent). If both cyclists and drivers had a good grasp of the laws, a heightened awareness of each other, and more mutual respect and consideration, we would all be safer.
For some authoritative opinions on the subject, check out the recent post on the new Portland Transport Blog.
Bike Town coming to Portland
You might have noticed the mention of Bike Town coming to Portland in Jonathan Nicholas’s column today.
Bicycling Magazine is giving away 50 commuter/city bikes to “the most compelling entries” about why you should receive the free bike and/or what you’d do with it. If you’re interested in playing along, just go to the Bicycling Magazine website to submit your entry.
Here’s more info direct from the press release:
Portland’s Bicycle Transportation Alliance and the Bike Gallery will be providing vital local support for the program.
The free bike giveaway will kick off the Bike Commute Challenge, an annual competition to see what workplace can achieve the highest level of ridership throughout the month of September.
Beginning today and through August 15, any Portland resident interested in receiving an Electra Townie bike as part of the Bike To Work program can visit this website and submit a short essay (50 words or less) on how, or why, they would use a bike as part of their daily commute. Fifty of the most compelling entries will be selected by the editors, and all selected participants will be asked to keep track of their commuting experiences with the bike for three months.
So there you have it. May the best bike lover win!
Welcome Bike Fun readers
If you’re just clicking over from the Bike Fun blog on Oregonlive.com…welcome! I hope you like the new look (and name) of my blog. I’ve still got a lot of work to do to make this a valuable resource for the Portland bike community, so I hope you’ll be patient while I tweak things around.
So you might be wondering how BikePortland.org is different than the old Bike Fun blog?
- You can now search through all 150 or so posts. Go ahead, type in “ice cream” and see what you get!
- You can leave comments!
- You can check out the Bike Portland photostream on Flickr.
- You can sign up for email notification whenever a new entry is posted.
- And much more…stay tuned for more features and content coming soon.
Bikes in Willy Week Finder’s Guide
The Willamette Week’s first ever magazine hit the streets yesterday. It’s called the Finder. I did a short little piece on the cycling scene on page 131 called, “Bikeopolis USA.” The photo is of River City Bikes owner Dave Guettler holding a Sycip Java Boy with a custom front rack made by local builder Joseph Ahearne.
Click here for a larger version of the image or you can pick up a copy of the magazine at these locations.
Great rides for the weekend
Saturday:
Women on Bikes Ride
If you’re a lady and you like to bike, grab your girlfriends and head to Laurelhurst Park (SE 33rd and Oak) for a 10-12 mile ride on the Springwater Corridor along the Willamette River. This ride is part of the “Women on Bikes” series put on by the City of Portland Office of Transportation. Ride meets at 9:00AM. Contact Janis McDonald: (503) 823-5358, or email janis.mcdonald@pdxtrans.org
Sunday:
Heritage Trees Ride at Peninsula Park
Join a local bike-loving arborist on a ride that will explore the majestic trees of the St. Johns neighborhood. Meet at 1:00 at Peninsula Park (700 N. Portland Blvd). Ride will last about 2 hours.
Have fun and don’t forget to bring plenty of cold water along…or a few dollars to get a drink if necessary.
Naked ride protests St. Johns Bridge
Last night a fun-loving group of Portland cyclists rode across the St. Johns Bridge sans clothing to make a statement about how vulnerable cyclists will be if ODOT (Oreg. Dept. of Transp.) goes throught with their non-bike-friendly bridge remodel plans.
Here’s a report of the ride:
The ride went off to rousing success. 14 free-spirited ciclonudistas took a lane on the St John’s Bridge and refused to be cowed by fossil-fueled, death machines.
The petition gathered some 20 signatures (a few peds sympathetic to our cause signed) and has been mailed to Stuart Foster at OTC. Sam Adams also has been CC’d.
This is just the start of the cycling community response to ODOT’s decision. The BTA is in full defense mode and Portland citizens concerned about safe walking, biking and living will not let this decision pass without a fight.
Track Racing at Alpenrose
I had a great time on Sunday at the Alpenrose Challenge. I was really impressed with the national and international caliber of riders that showed up. The racing was hotter than the sun, and that’s saying something! It was great to immerse myself in the scene and learn more about track racing.
Check out my photos of all the action.
Big thanks and credit due to Mike and Candi Murray and OBRA for putting together such a great event. There was an exciting expo area, a live band, and some great food to enjoy. You should definitely plan to attend next year.
Cyclists on the St. Johns Bridge
A while back I posted something about how ODOT (Ore. Dept. of Transportation) had decided not to make cycling safe on the St. Johns Bridge. ODOT has caved into special interest groups and ignored the research on traffic congestion on the bridge. The result is a remodel plan that makes crossing the bridge dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.
Now, the mighty BTA has written a scathing op-ed on the topic voicing their disapproval of ODOT’s decision. Here’s an excerpt:
Alpenrose Challenge this weekend
One of the biggest and baddest track races of the year will go down this weekend (July 15-17) at our very own Alpenrose Velodrome. It’s called the Alpenrose Challenge and there will be top-notch talent and tons of action.
Here’s what race organizer Candi Murray says:
The velodrome is a stadium type venue that allows you to see the entire course of the race. Here in Portland we have the tradition of fast, exciting track racing at Alpenrose which is one of the steepest tracks in North America with its 42 degree banking and fast drop-offs in the turns. Track racers fly around the velodrome on bikes with one gear and no brakes at speeds of 40 mph plus. They seem to defy gravity as they ride the steep banking, which is as high as a two-story building at the rail. Each race is short and the action is fast and furious.
I’ll be out there on Sunday and it would be great to see a big crowd. Before you guy, check out this great Track Spectator’s Guide. See you there!
Freedom from Cars Declaration
Back on 4th of July weekend I asked everyone to declare independence from the automobile. I also said if anyone wanted to sign a declaration I’d put something together.
I got a few responses so here’s what I came up with.
Declaration of Independence (From Cars)
We, the undersigned, solemnly swear to strive for a better way to move around our cities, towns, and neighborhoods.We have been held captive by automobiles for too long and we’re ready to break the shackles once and for all.
We are tired of the lies forced upon us by automakers that spend billions to try and convince us that cars are fun, sexy, and can make us happy. We know better.
We are saddened by the deaths of cyclists on dangerous roadways and we believe our local and national politicians must protect our interests with greater vigilance.
We are convinced that the joy and freedom experienced while riding a bicycle can bring about an important revolution of values that has vast potential.
_______________________This declaration will live forever as a symbol of our collective voice. It is a small but important step to reclaiming our streets, our health, our happiness, and our lives.
If you’d like to sign this declaration, please do so in the comments. You can help spread the word by linking back to it from your blog. Thank you.
It is not intended to be an anti-car manifesto. I believe cars have their place in our lives but I also believe that we’ve let them take over our lives in too many ways. We, as cyclists, need to show solidarity and begin to increase awareness and try to establish a more sensible equality on the roads.
One person has already signed and I hope more of you will consider. It doesn’t make you obligated to anything. Just read it, think about it, and pass it along to family and friends if you’d like. You’re also free to ridicule it and offer feedback. Whatever happens, happens. It felt good to put that stuff down and publish it for the world to see.
Bicycle roadside assistance
A friend of mine passed this along. He saw a brochure for it while eating lunch at the Ecotrust Building. It’s sort of like having AAA coverage for your car…but for your bike. The company, Better World Club, says:
The nation’s first and only bicycle roadside assistance service is now available…
Bicycle Membership provides nationwide emergency roadside assistance (up to 30 miles annually) for you and your bicycle.
We’ll take you and your bike to the nearest repair facility, or home, within 30 miles from pick up. There is a maximum of two service calls per covered member per year. The annual fee is $39.95 for one person, plus a one-time non-refundable sign up fee of $10. You may add additional household cyclists for just $15 more.
The plan is nationwide, so this would be a cool thing to sign up for if you were doing a long tour, or if you’re riding in places you’re not familiar with and don’t want to break down in uncharted territory.
If you’re a commuter and you break down, you’ll probably get help from a fellow cyclist or be within walking distance of a local shop. But still, this is a nifty service and it just might be that extra security some people need to start riding more.
Comment of the Week: Tolling Schmolling