5 May 2006 Archives

Japanese signage and other links

Here are a few interesting links I’ve come across lately. Some have a Portland connection, some don’t. I’ll try and make this a regular thing from now on, so if you find a neat link feel free to send it my way.

[Shows distance and
calories burned]

Portland resident Peter Loewi (photo) is spending the year studying in Japan and he’s got a blog to chronicle his experiences. He posted about this cool Japanese bikeway network sign that includes calories burned along with distances.

Ayleen and Sara talked with Dumpster Dave and veteran bike messenger Dabby McCrashalot on Wednesday’s KBOO Bike Show.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

[Dave Johnson, President]

You wouldn’t know it from the outside, but up on MLK Blvd. (at Jessup Street), behind an IT company called Netropole, is an online retailer of bike apparel called Veloclothes.com.

I recently paid them a visit to find out more about the company.

Dave Johnson, a major bike enthusiast, is the owner and founder of Netropole. Two years ago, seeing a downturn in the tech sector, he decided to launch Veloclothes.com as a side business. He figured it was a safe bet because he loves bikes, this city loves bikes, and Netropole just so happens to develop and support e-commerce software.

Former Portland Mayor Neil Goldschmidt leads the Bike to Work Day ride on his last day in office in 1979. (Photos: City of Portland archives)

After a hiatus of nearly a decade, the City of Portland will host an official Bike to Work Day celebration at Pioneer Courthouse Square on May 17th, from 7:30-9:00am. Find out all the details in the official press release.

It should be a great party and continuation of a proud tradition that dates back to the 1970s. I thought it’d be fun to get a sense of this bikey legacy so I got in touch with Jeff Smith at the Office Of Transportation. Jeff started as an intern for the City’s Bike Program back in the ’80s and knows a lot about Portland’s bike history, and what he doesn’t know he’s always willing to find out. He dug up some classic old photos that had been gathering dust in archives at the Portland Building…

Vintage City of Portland “Bike Day” poster from 1979

L to R: State Rep Chris Beck, Metro Councilor
Ed Washington and Darcelle (c. 1995). Check out the old BTA banner!

Note: Some images in this post have gone missing and I need to track them down. Sorry!

[The incomparable Bud Clark]

[Who can spot the old Transerv helmet?]

[A crew from ODOT, mid 90’s]

It’d be great to hear more about the history of this event. If you’ve been around a while feel free to add your historical perspective…and does anyone know who the heck “Darcelle” is?

Japanese signage and other links

Veloclothes.com up and running on MLK

Bike to Work tradition continues at Pioneer Square

Latest Headlines

Dispatch from hiatus and update on the future

Reminder: No riding through River View Cemetery during Memorial Day Weekend

Guest Article: Demand a pause on PBOT’s SW Alder decision

Guest Opinion: The bike beat lives on in all of us

From the Archives

The 10 busiest bicycling spots in Portland