June 2007 Archives

TriMet gets $254 million for new Willamette River Bridge

TriMet map shows proposed
bridge location (enlarge).
Graphic: TriMet

TriMet’s plans to build a new bridge over the Willamette River for their Portland to Milwaukie light rail line got a big boost in Salem on Saturday.

The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Capital Construction approved a funding bill (backed taxpayer and lottery bonds) that included $254 million to help build the bridge that is proposed to go from Riverplace to OMSI (see map at right).

Along with light rail, the “Caruthers Bridge” is expected to have a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian facility (I hope to have a comment on this from TriMet communications czar Mary Fetsch later today).

The project, which is also expected to receive $500 million in funds from the federal government, is expected to be completed by 2014.

Twilight Crit moves to North Park Blocks, adds women’s racet

Last year’s action.
(File photo)

Bus mall construction has forced Portland’s premiere professional bike race to a new location. After five years of being held at the South Park Blocks (with a start/finish line in front of the Portland Art Museum), The Health Net Twilight Criterium will move to the North Park Blocks this year.

The event, which takes place on August 24th, draws thousands of spectators who watch top bike racers battle shoulder-to-shoulder around tight, dark corners for a shot at victory.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Rep. Jerry Krummel
(Photo: Krummel)

State Representative Jerry Krummel (R-Wilsonville) is blaming House Democrats for killing HB 3020, a bill that would have directed the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain roadside memorial signs for pedestrians or bicyclists killed in motor vehicle collisions (upon application by a family member).

Less than an hour after a rally for bike safety on the steps of the Capitol last Saturday, House Dems voted down (26-31) a motion to get the bill out of committee, where it has languished since May.

Phil made posters (like this one)
to encourage support at his trials.
Poster photo by Dat Nguyen
(File photo)

Just over a year ago, while holding up traffic on W. Burnside for hundreds of cyclists during the 2006 World Naked Bike Ride, bike scene personality and filmmaker Reverend Phil got into an altercation with a motor vehicle (read this story for a photo and full rundown of what happened).

The incident ended up with Rev Phil facing four misdemeanors and up to 2 1/2 years in jail. Phil has always maintained his innocence and his legal team (a lawyer, witnesses, and investigators) has uncovered some not-so flattering facts about the motorist and her passenger (an off-duty Portland Police officer who accosted Phil during the incident).

Cameron at the 2006
Twilight Criterium.
(File photo)

Downtown Portland bike shop owner Molly Cameron placed fifth in the Tour of Ohio stage race that finished up on Sunday. Racing for the Organic Athlete/Team Vegan, Cameron finished just 1:20 behind the overall race winner.

The six-stage race took place throughout Central and Southeast Ohio.

Cameron, who blogged about each stage, owns the Veloshop (211 SW 9th Ave.) and is also a national caliber cyclocross racer.

Her best result was in the stage five circuit race when she made a wily move and snagged second place in the finishing sprint. Way to go Molly!

For more Molly Cameron, view my file photos.

Australia hits speeders where it counts

The dreaded small pinky wave.
From the RTA campaign

Via the BBC

The Australian Road and Transit Authority (RTA) has launched a new anti-speeding campaign targeted at young drivers.

The campaign is based on the slogan, “Speeding. No one thinks big of you.” According to the BBC,

Just got this from a reliable source:

“A MAX train hits a bicyclist in front of Gresham’s City Hall this evening. TriMet officials say two bicyclists admit they were trying to “beat the train”. The first cyclist made it — the second was struck by the front of the train. The victim, who was female, was alert and talking before she was taken to the hospital.”

Geez. What is it with cyclists running into MAX trains? Remember this incident back in May?

Watch your local news at 11 for more on the story (I’m going to bed).

Mountain bike race series begins tonight

And they’re off! Short track racing at PIR.
(File photo)

Tonight at Portland International Raceway, mountain bikers will race shoulder-to-shoulder on a mix of singletrack, whoop-de-doos, and banked corners usually reserved for motorcycles.

The Portland Mountain Bike Short Track Series is a popular weekly event that is promoted by Portland Racing and runs each Monday evening from tonight until the end of July.

The Office of Transportation has published the first bit of their Bicycle Master Plan online. It’s a draft of an introduction to the Existing Conditions Report and it sheds light on how the city sees Portland’s cycling future.

The report starts out stating how far we’ve come since the plan was last updated in 1996,

“In the past decade bicycling has truly become an integral part of daily life for thousands of Portlanders.”

With the recent flap over stop sign enforcement, there is growing momentum to consider a change in the law. Idaho’s example is often held up as a model Oregon might seek to emulate.

Since 1982 Idaho has had a law in the books that allows cyclists to treat stop-signs as yields. In 2005 lawmakers went one step further and passed legislation that said stop-lights can be treated like stop-signs.

Is this type of law necessary in Oregon? The jury is still out but it already seems to have some momentum.

Visiting from Canada, the all-male Brakes thrilled a huge and appreciative crowd.
(File photo) – View Gallery – Slideshow Below

The bill was introduced at
a rally in Salem yesterday.
(Photo: Rep. Jerry Krummel)

At a rally in Salem yesterday to bring attention to bike safety bills, Representative Tobias Read and Senator Floyd Prozanski introduced Senate Bill 1058.

The bill would create the crime of vehicular homicide and make it punishable by a maximum of five years improsinment and/or a fine of up to $125,000.

According to the new bill, the crime would be a Class C Felony and it stipulates that,

TriMet gets $254 million for new Willamette River Bridge

Twilight Crit moves to North Park Blocks, adds women’s racet

Krummel decries dems for memorial sign bill failure

Naked justice is served, Rev Phil goes free

Cameron nets fifth in Tour of Ohio

Australia hits speeders where it counts

MAX train hits bicyclist in Gresham

Mountain bike race series begins tonight

Master Plan intro sheds light on potential, challenges

Is “Idaho-style” stop sign law the way to go?

Bike Fair puts exclamation mark on Pedalpalooza

Vehicular homicide bill introduced in Salem

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