🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏
Ken Wheeler is teaching an old material new tricks — and in the process, he’s doing something that is literally on the cutting edge of framebuilding.
Wheeler, under the name Renovo Hardwood Bicycles, is producing hollow, monocoque bicycle frames out of exotic hardwoods using a CNC machining process (CNC on Wikipedia).
Below is a press release sent to me by Multnomah County:
The last two town hall meetings in a series will be held on February 11 and 19 to present information on the condition of Multnomah County’s Willamette River bridges and a proposal to fund their repair.
County commissioners and transportation staff will share information on the county’s 20-year capital shortfall of $490 million for its six bridges across the Willamette. Bridge repair needs range from replacing or repairing the Sellwood Bridge to safety improvements such as replacing the open steel grating on the Morrison Bridge. The Board of County Commissioners is considering referring a measure for the May ballot that would increase the county vehicle registration fee by $24 per vehicle per year to raise funds for bridge repairs.
The remaining town hall events are scheduled for:
- Monday, February 11, 6 – 8 pm, Multnomah Building, Boardroom, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland
- Tuesday, February 19, 6 – 8 pm, North Portland Health Clinic, 9000 N. Lombard Blvd., Portland
The meeting format will include a presentation, an opportunity for the public to ask questions and share comments, and time to view displays on the condition and repair needs of the Willamette River bridges.
Multnomah County’s Willamette River bridges include the Broadway, Burnside, Hawthorne, Morrison, Sauvie Island and Sellwood. The bridges range in age from 50 to 98 years. Each day more than 180,000 vehicles cross the bridges, in addition to an estimated 12,000 bicyclists and thousands of pedestrians.
Southeast Portland-based River City Bicycles has been named the most “female-friendly” bike shop in the country by Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN).
The shop’s co-owner and head buyer Mark Ontiveros attributes the recognition to their long standing commitment to women’s products and a staff that includes four female managers and eight full-time employees (out of 45 total).
As part of their ongoing stewardship of the Firelane 5 trail in Forest Park, the Portland United Mountain Pedalers (PUMP!) are throwing a trail work party.
Here’s the notice of the event:
As your Forest Park Co-Representative, I am pleased to announce the scheduling of our second trail (work) party on Firelane 5. The first one was an amazing success! I’d like to thank the folks from Fat Tire Farm, Mtbr, Revolver Bikes, OR Bike, OBRA, and the many PUMP members who came out. A huge “Thanks” to Friends of Forest Park who provided us with the trail building expertise and equipment with Jeff Hough. Additionally, thank you Grand Central Bakery for providing all the wonderful breakfast pastries for the crew. Amazing!
This just in…
NAHBS is pleased to announce free indoor bike parking on Friday 8th, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th February.
Access to the bike parking is from Lloyd St, on the south side of the Oregon Convention Center. Look for the Bike Parking signs.Arranged by Portland business consultant Bob Mandelson, the parking area has capacity for 500 bicycles and is constantly attended.
The show itself is in Hall C of the convention center.
(Sorry for that headline, I couldn’t resist.)
You may think the North American Handmade Bicycle Show starts this weekend, but the action has already begun.
Today is move-in day at the Oregon Convention Center and this afternoon the partying begins.
Here’s a quick recap of what’s on tap tonight.
Daniel Johnson’s one-ride crusade against potholes has led to safer, smoother streets in Southeast Portland.
Last month, Johnson led a ride to chalk up potholes on his daily commute. Heather Andrews joined him, and it’s a good thing she did.
Andrews’ photos landed in my story about the ride and they were also noticed by Oregonian reporter Michael Bales, who then covered the story in the inPortland section of the Oregonian the following week.
Remember back in December, when I shared how PDOT was contemplating what color the new bike boxes and colored bike lanes should be?
Well now it’s official: They’ve decided to go green.
I asked PDOT’s bicycle coordinator Roger Geller why. He said their decision stems from the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, who is recommending that green be the color for all “colored bicycle facilities.”
Geller added that, in part, the national committee recommends green because blue is already assigned for disabled parking and “there’s concern it could be confusing to have a curb-tight bicycle lane colored blue.”
[This article was written by contributor Elly Blue. You can read more from Ms. Blue here.]
“…gas stations, convenience stores, and oil suppliers…benefit more than most from having a road system in good repair.”
–Elly Blue
When it comes to road maintenance, what’s good for bicyclists is good for everyone.
In fact, the proposed street fee that has dominated news headlines lately, amounts to a subsidy by those who drive little to those who drive a lot.