31 August 2006 Archives

Catch the Clownhouse and carfree activism at Last Thursday

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Tonight is the big Last Thursday celebration on Alberta Street in Northeast Portland. If you head out there, here are two special happenings you don’t want to miss.

First, those kooky clowns at the famous Clownhouse on NE 25th and Alberta Streets are holding their first ever talent show. Dubbed “Shmanarchist Idol,” beginning at around 5:30 the clowns will offer their stage to anyone with a talent to share.

Contestants will be judged by yours truly (such an honor) and invited back for the final round competition at 8:00. There are some nice prizes including gift certificates from local businesses and of course a shot at stardom in front of hoardes of fans.

Freightliner bike commute challenge kickoff

[Freightliner employees
kick off the Bike
Commute Challenge.]

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) kicks off their annual Bike Commute Challenge tomorrow and organizers say an estimated 700 companies (view list) from Oregon and Washington will participate.

The event promotes bike commuting by encouraging companies to compete against each other to see who can get more employees riding to work.

The companies are separated into several categories and can track their progress via the event’s website. Winners are announced at a party in mid-October.

[Update: According to a rep from Friends of Forest Park—who were instrumental in making this trail happen—some minor work remains to complete this trail.]

Last Saturday was the second of two trail work parties to complete a new mountain bike trail in Forest Park. The trail, which extends off an existing firelane, is the first new mountain bike trail added to the park since 1988.

[Trail work volunteers at the entrance to Firelane 5 in Forest Park.]

[Jeff Bernards, founder
of Get Lit]

For the last three years, Jeff Bernards and his Get Lit program have distributed over 1500 free bike lights and 500 helmets to Portland cyclists.

His program—which was initially funded by an ODOT grant—has become such a success that it has garnered national media attention, earned him an Alice B. Toeclips award, and has been emulated by the Portland Police Bureau and other advocacy groups across the country.

There’s no doubt about it; Jeff’s dedication to Get Lit has had a major impact on the cycling community.

Catch the Clownhouse and carfree activism at Last Thursday

Bike Commute Challenge kicks off tomorrow

Mountain bikers finish new Forest Park trail

Get Lit founder hopes to pass the torch

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