Day: May 9, 2008
Portland tops Bicycling’s “Best Cities” list — again
Bike traffic on the Hawthorne Bridge.
(Photo © J. Maus)
(Photo © J. Maus)
Bicycling Magazine has released their list of the “Best Cities for Cycling” and Portland is once again on top.
Here’s what Bicycling’s Brian Fiske writes about Portland in their June issue:
Press Release: Bicycling Magazine Names the Best Cities for Cycling
This just in…
Bicycling Magazine Names the Best Cities for Cycling
Boston moves off “The Worst” list and on to “5 For the Future”; Portland is “Still the Greatest” and New York and DC are “Most Improved”
–Top International Cities for Cycling Also Named–
In its June issue, Bicycling magazine names the best American cities for cycling. Portland Oregon, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco and Boulder snagged the top spots as America’s overall best but especially notable on this year’s list is Boston ranking in the “5 for the Future” category; Boston has been a recurring fixture on Bicycling’s “Worst Cities for Cycling” list for the past three years.
Mt. Hood Classic – Stage 2
Stage 2 – Mt. Tabor Criterium
Wednesday, May 14
Length: 1.3 Miles per lap
Elevation: 135 Feet per lap
Description: One tough crit is the best way to describe the Mt. Tabor Criterium. Keeping with the theme of riding Volcanoes, this now extinct Volcano located in the middle of Portland, Oregon has some serious challenges to it. Extremely winding and with nearly 135 feet of elevation for every 1.3 mile lap it will require tremendous physical strength to win this stage. Look for frequent attacks and the possibility of a breakaway as the sprinters take a chance and getting into the race leaders jersey before the mountains the following day.
Start: Mt. Tabor Park, Portland OR
Finish: Mt. Tabor Park, Portland OR
Results will be posted following the race.
Start Times
Pro Women 3:00 PM
Pro Men 5:00 PM
Note: Start times are approximate. Please consult the Race Bible handed out with your resgistration packet.
Mt. Hood Classic – Stage 1
Stage 1 – Portland Prologue — More info here
Presented by
Health Net
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Length: 1.7 Miles
Elevation: 0
Description: This year’s Prologue will run through the downtown streets of Portland, Oregon. Known as the cycling capital of North America this bicycle crazy town will host the stage one kick off of the 2008 Mt. Hood Cycling Classic. Riders will roll along the Tom McCall River Front Park on an out and back course. Brand new asphalt, dead flat, out and back course will make for some very fast times. Expect huge crowds and tremendous excitement as Portland experiences its first look at a NRC race.
Start: Portland, OR
Finish: Portland, OR
Start times will be posted here. Results will be posted following the race.
Note: Packet pickup will be from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. with the first rider off at 3:00 p.m.
Event website
Open House planned for Clinton Street Bike Blvd. Project
This just in from PDOT…
What: CLINTON STREET BICYCLE BOULEVARD ENHANCEMENT PROJECT OPEN HOUSE
When: Wednesday, May 14th 2008
Time: 4:30 – 7:30pm – drop by anytime
Open House: Clinton Street Bike Blvd. Project
What: CLINTON STREET BICYCLE BOULEVARD
ENHANCEMENT PROJECT OPEN HOUSE
When: Wednesday, May 14th 2008
Time: 4:30 – 7:30pm – drop by anytime
Where: St Philip Neri Parish Church – Carvlin Hall
2408 SE 16th Avenue – near SE 18th & Division
(Opposite & a few blocks down from New Seasons)
About the Open House…
Drop by to learn more about this new PDOT enhanced traffic safety markings and signage project planned for the city’s Clinton Street Bicycle Boulevard! The Open House is an opportunity for all interested community members to find out more information. More importantly, the Open House will enable attendees to provide valuable input to the City regarding the types of potential markings and signage designs the community would like to see along the bicycle boulevard. PDOT will be working with a project artist team in order to develop all signage – drop by to meet the artists and provide input on what you might like to see!
What is the Clinton Street Bicycle Boulevard Enhancement Project?
The Clinton Street Bike Boulevard Enhancement Project will aim to let all users of the corridor know that they are on a street prioritized for use by cyclists and, by association, other non-motorized users. PDOT hopes to use creative communicative design and art features, such as bold street signage and on-street markings, to communicate the message that the street is a bicycle boulevard to all users of the street – cyclists, pedestrians, and particularly motorists. The outcome should be to make Portland’s most well-utilized bicycle boulevard a more pleasant, safe place to live, bicycle & walk.
Want More Information?
For more information, please contact Kirsty Hall at 503-823-6981 or Kirsty.Hall@trans.ci.portland.or.us. Or alternatively, to find out more, or to take the project survey, visit the project website –
http://www.portlandonline.com/TRANSPORTATION/index.cfm?c=46371
See you there!
Kirsty Hall
Community and Schools Traffic Safety Partnership
City of Portland Office of Transportation
503-823-6981
kirsty.hall@trans.ci.portland.or.us
Olympic hopefuls will compete in Portland next week
After a downtown time-trial on Tuesday,
racers will tackle Mt. Tabor.
(Photos © J. Maus)
racers will tackle Mt. Tabor.
(Photos © J. Maus)
The sixth annual Mt. Hood Cycling Classic will kick-off in Portland early next week. The event be the most prestigious professional cycling race ever held in the city.
Race director Chad Sperry says the race will be a qualifier for the Beijing Olympics and, with its prime place on the National Racing Calendar (NRC), it has been given the highest possible ranking (in terms of importance) on the U.S. racing circuit.
Green bike lanes spread to Seattle
Green bike lanes, like this one on
SE 7th in Portland, are also being installed
in Seattle.
(Photo © J. Maus)
SE 7th in Portland, are also being installed
in Seattle.
(Photo © J. Maus)
Portland isn’t the only city in the region to go green for bikes. The Seattle Department of Transportation installed that city’s first green bike lanes earlier this week.
According to a press release from SDOT, green bike lanes were laid out in two locations on Tuesday (5/6) and additional locations are slated for installation today.
Midnight Mystery Ride
MMR Tonight!
10pm, ride @ MIDNIGHT!
Cornerspot Tavern
6008 N Greeley
map: http://tinyurl.com/3zxeb2
Beautiful spring weather is forecasted so bring your bivy/camping gear. This is a little longer ride than most but don\’t worry, we won\’t leave the city limits like that other MMR Gabe did!
The Cornerspot is a pretty small bar with limited bike parking, either pack em in and git a beer, or don\’t show up until midnight. Whatever you do don\’t sprawl onto ainsworth.
The destination (is a mystery) is a really beautiful spot, so leave the fireworks and guns at home and please pick up after yourselves. Like cigarette butts and everything folks. Thanks.
One Million Bicycles officially launches: Watch the video
One Million Bicycles, the ambitious event that plans to hold 100 bike rallies in 50 states and recycle and donate 1 million bikes by August 2009, is rolling full steam ahead.
Organizer and author/activist Joe “Metal Cowboy” Kurmaskie is assembling his staff, registration is now open at OneMillionBicycles.org and a kick-off video has just been released (watch it below).
What to do (on a bike) this weekend
Exchange Cycle Tours — who led
a ride to Kelly Point last month — will
lead the Butte Buster Challenge
on Saturday.
(Photo: Matt Picio)
a ride to Kelly Point last month — will
lead the Butte Buster Challenge
on Saturday.
(Photo: Matt Picio)
Here’s a listing of some of the bike events and rides happening in and around Portland this weekend.
Major thanks are due to the all-powerful Shift Calendar. If you know of any bike events not listed, please add them in the comments and I’ll update this post when I can.
Saturday May 10
Annual Alpenrose Velodrome Clean-up
- – Show up ready to paint, pull weeds, lift and carry stuff, etc. Starts at 10:00 AM and we will be there all day. Please show up because we need the help.
– If you haven’t been to one of these seasons before you should go. In the past we have had lots of people show up and hopefully this year will be the same. Lots of people make the work go quickly. In many ways it is a lot like a barn raising. It is very satisfying to see people giving back to the bike racing community and to see the velodrome look good.
– Free pancake breakfast provided by Chris King!!!
– Free pizza lunch provided by Portland Velodrome Committee!
– More info here.
Intermediate Level Road Ride
-
– Trainer’s Club, 333 S State St, Lake Oswego
– 10:00am, Every Saturday
– Meet at Trainer’s Club in Lake Place Shopping Center for an intermediate level road ride. Helmets required
– Kelly At Bike Gallery , www.bikegallery.com/, Casey – at Trainer’s Club 503.636.3900, 503-254-2663