🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) has scored a huge win for kids in Oregon and Southwest Washington by securing 323 new bicycles for use in their Bicycle Safety Education programs. The highly discounted bikes were acquired from Giant Bicycles through a deal brokered by local bike retailer Bike N’ Hike. Bike N’ Hike, who was recently named a “Top 100” retailer in the country, also assembled the bikes at no cost.
On Saturday me and my ladies rode over to Alberta Street to check out the annual Art Hop. The picture-perfect day attracted all sorts of folks riding all sorts of bikes. And, as usual, I couldn’t keep my eyes (and my camera) off them.
I noticed some old favorites in action like the Clownhouse’s Spin Bike, which Dingo said is sadly, “on its last wheels”. This bike is an engineering feat and one of the most fun things I’ve ever pedaled. Another old fave is Bethany’s grass bike. I first saw this scintillating creation at the Bunny on a Bike Ride and it was good to see it (and Bethany!) again.
Lawyer Ray Thomas, of the Portland-based Swanson, Thomas and Coon law firm has announced a new initiative. He plans to form a legal team to scrutinize the Bicycle Bill to make sure that a “fair share” of state highway construction funds are going toward bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
Officer Darke Hull of the Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division is one of six Portland officers to have been recently certified as a Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Investigation expert. The certification came after a rigourous, 5-day course offered by the Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM).
I met with Officer Hull to learn more about the class and his role within the PPB.
Officer Hull has been on the force for 7 years, with three of those in the Traffic Division. He is a motorcycle officer on one of two Fatal Crash Investigation teams. He and his team investigate around 50 fatal incidents a year and he also works Critical Mass and other events.