Local wrenches turn for Katrina

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

On Sunday, Oct 16th and 22nd bike mechanics from several Portland bike shops will come together to restore old bicycles for Gulf Coast evacuees who have recently been relocated to Portland. The completed bikes will be donated and distributed to new Portlanders by the Red Cross of Portland. The goal is to build approximately twenty bikes (10 adult and 10 kids) for those who want affordable, self-reliant, and environmentally sustainable transportation.

Mississippi Street Fair, Portland OR

The bike building sessions are organized and hosted by North Portland BikeWorks, a small, non-profit neighborhood bike shop, located in the Mississippi Business District.

Read more

Meet Portland’s bike lane characters

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Portland bike lane stencils

If you’ve ridden your bike around this city long enough, you’ve probably come in contact with Portland’s bike lane people.

Customized bike lane markings were started in 1999 by a former city employee named Todd Roberts and is a tradition that has carried on ever since. One of my faithful readers turned up this great article (PDF) on them from the September 2003 issue of VeloVision Magazine (a really great UK bike mag). It’s a great read. Turns out Todd doesn’t even like bikes (“It’s boring as hell”). In fact, he’s the last guy you think would be behind these markings. He is, as the author puts it, “an unlikely cycling hero.”

I’ve been given permission by the city to share some photos of these markings from their archives. So far, I’ve got 19 of them in the BikePortland photostream. I have no idea how many are out there but if you come across one and remember to snap a photo, please consider sharing it with me!

First “Platinum” bike city to be announced Wednesday

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Despite much energy and excitement recently here in Portland, it seems as though we won’t be the first city in the country to be designated with the League of American Bicyclists‘ “Platinum-level” Bicycle Friendly City award.

Here’s an excerpt from the League’s latest newsletter:

“The latest list of Bicycle Friendly Communities, including the first platinum-level award, will be announced on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 8:40 a.m. at the League’s booth (at the Interbike Show in Las Vegas)”

This is a somewhat unexpected announcement that definitely throws a wrench in the City’s plans. It’s not that we won’t still move forward with the “Go Platinum” campaign, but there was a real sense of pride about getting it before anyone else.

I leave tomorrow morning for Vegas to attend Interbike, and you can bet I’ll be on hand for that announcement. Expect a full report Wednesday morning.

Stolen: Road bike with flat bars

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Stolen roadbike with mountainbike handlebars. Solid grey frame with black fork and bright blue rear wheel rim.

My roadbike was stolen from PSU on Thursday (September 22). The bike is a custom build women’s road bike (53cm) plain medium grey frame with no decals or markings. The bike has a flat (mountainbike) handlebar with black bar extensions and mountain bike gearing (7 speed). One other distinctive feature is the bright blue rear rim. I know the chances of recovery are slim, but if you see this bike please contact me at vorosk@planet-save.com.

stolen1

Stolen: Marin Quake 5.0

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Taken from 122nd and Glisan area in front of Anoush Deli. So, what happens when your lock is too good? They take the whole bleeping rack out of the sidewalk!

My beloved 17″ Titanium finish Marin Quake 5.0 with downhill block stem and red Alex rims was locked to a large black snake style rack. checked on at random intervals and discovered to be missing (along with the rack) about 11:20pm on

Monday the 12th of September. Police report was filed.
seat tube and saddle were in my bag…

i miss it…and it cripples my resources for getting a new bike.

Ride for Gareth this Sunday

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Just a reminder to join the community and Commissioner Sam Adams for a special ride to remember Gareth Parker.

Sunday, September 25th
2:00PM – We ride at 2:30
Meet near the Bronze Elephant at the North Park Blocks in downtown Portland

We will ride by the following locations that were a part of Gareth’s life as a bicycle advocate and volunteer:

* Car Free Day 2004 site
* BTA Office
* Portland Building and City Hall
* Car Free Day 2003 site
* We end at Lucky Lab Brewery

A private room has been reserved at the Lucky Lab after the ride. All are welcome to hang out and watch the last stage of the Tour de France. The gathering will start around 3:30 PM. Big thanks to The Lucky Lab and Chris King for helping make this possible.

Calling all women on bikes!

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
wombikes2

Once upon a time, city employee Janis McDonald was counting bikes (yes, they have people that do that) and she noticed that only 1 out of 3 riders were female. Bummed that more women weren’t riding she decided to start the Women on Bikes Program.

Since May, the series of rides and clinics has attracted tons of ladies eager to get together, share experiences and bond over bikes. And, since this ride is put on by the City of Portland, they’ve got prizes to give away and a chance to win a Breezer bike if you complete an evaluation form! Wow, that would be cool.

Sorry it’s so last minute, but THIS Saturday (9/24) is the final ride of the series. To join in the fun, meet at Laurelhurst Park (SE33rd/SE Oak) at 9 am. The ride will go out to Marine Drive via the I-205 Bike Path.

For more information email janis.mcdonald@pdxtrans.org or call her at (503) 823-5358.

Like beer and bikes? Read this…

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Portland leads the nation in two great pastimes; bikes and beer. Bridgeport and Widmer take care of our beer…but who takes care of our bikes? Who makes sure we’re getting loved down in Salem when the issues get sticky? Who gets the word out and mobilizes the troops when someone is trying to pull the wool over our eyes? That’s right…the BTA. And they do it with a shoestring budget and staff.

So besides becoming a member, wouldn’t it be a great if there was a fun and easy way to support them? Well there is!

Join your biking brethren on Monday, September 26th at McMenamins Market Street Pub. When you drop in between 5 PM and 1 AM for a drink or snack 50% of the proceeds from your purchase go directly to the BTA. So get out your pens, PDAs, whatever…that’s McMenamins’ Market Street Pub, 1526 SW 10th Ave, Monday, September 26th from 5 PM to 1 AM. Be there or be square, and remember to please consider taking the MAX or bus or stuff your bike into a cab. Whatever you do, don’t drink and ride.

Talk Like a Pirate Ride report

Capt'n Cody Cougar in Charge
Bike Pirates Downtown Portland

Last Monday was Talk Like a Pirate Day and some local bike pirates took to the streets to celebrate. Below is a report from one such scallywag named Pirate sCarye, aka “Squinty Gunpot.” It’s fun to read…it must have been fun to be there!

“…Twas a wild night indeed – plundering donuts and gurglin’ the grog. We gathered at The Slammer Bar Island – There I met me mateys Fancy Pants the Well Endowed and Smelly Rumpbucket, and many more. I say there were close to 20 of us, but aye, I can only count the fingers on my hands, and that would be nine. (long story!). So at 45 sands past the 7 o’clock hourglass. We be off on our landlubber bikes – we entered unchartered waters in the depths of inner SE across navigational hazards such as train tracks and old brick roads. Me thinks the Captain’s side kick Pirate Arrghh! Allan had one too many grogs when he ordered us on this choppy path. Yar.. on with the story, So our stripey, cross boned- menacing sea-fairing’ swearing group took the night streets, aye, we looped up around and over the Burnside Bridge, and loudly sang “99 bottles of grog.” Before claiming Captain Ankeny’s Pub as our own. Ah was fine night indeed to be out under the stars.”

See all the photos of pirates on bikes.

“Broadside Johnnie,” a biking pirate

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

jollyOK, I completely goofed on this one. I know today was Talk Like a Pirate Day and this is being posted sort of late. Oh well.

I thought it’d be fitting to post something about “Broadside Johnnie”. You may have seen this guy around town. He dresses like a pirate and flies a bikey-inspired Jolly Roger flag (see photo). I met Johnnie when I parked his bike at the Blues Festival earlier this summer.

He’s hung up his cutlass and now he makes his way by selling these flags for $8-10 depending on the color. Here’s a bit more about them from Johnnie himself:

“The design is an adaptation of the Jolly Roger flown by Henry Every. Keep yer weathereye open because I usually carry inventory with me when I ride. If you see me on the road and want to see what I have, shout out “Broadside!” Yeah, the copyright notice in the picture is the one my parents gave me, but my performing name, Broadside Johnnie, has also been adopted by friends as my nickname.

I also carry inventory when I busk on Hawthorne, along the water front (Riverplace) and at farmers’ markets, festivals, and other events. You may have seen me on the sidewalk, or at the Festival de Piratas. If you run across me in mid-tune while I’m busking, I’d prefer to finish the tune before answering questions or making a sale.

You can also send email to broadsidejohnnie@comcast.net, and expect a response within a day. At present, I can only accept cash or money orders. If I can’t make change, I’ll make up for the inconvenience by delivering a flag to you when I have change.”

Tall bike racing at the Clownhouse

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Clownhouse tallbike race

Ever wondered what a bunch of clowns racing tall bikes looks like? On Saturday, as part of the Alberta Street Fair, the Clownhouse hosted such an event. Check out this photo of Dingo the Clown as he rounds a bend in the yard. For a few more photos of the tall bike craziness, check out the rest of my photos.