Job Title: Bike Retail sales
Company/Organization: Bike Gallery
Day: May 13, 2008
Election Notes: The race for City Council Seat #1
Yesterday, I shared some thoughts (and asked for yours) on the race for Council seat #2. Today, we move to to the other hotly contested battle for City Commissioner being waged by six candidates, five of which are likely to garner a significant number of votes.
This race features several impressive candidates and two — Chris Smith and Jeff Bissonnette — that have major upside for the bike and alternative energy/sustainability crowds. In fact, even the Bike.Walk.Vote political action committee couldn’t make up their minds and decided to endorse both of them.
Below are my thoughts on the candidates (three of whom I’ve met with personally to discuss bike issues).
Blessing of the Bikes
This just in from Archdiocese of Portland’s Department of Evangelization…
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, Contact:
Deacon Thomas Gornick
(503) 233-8335
tgornick [at] archdpdx [dot] orgBlessing of the Bikes
The Parish Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (St. Mary’s) and the Archdiocese of Portland’s Department of Evangelization announce the Blessing of the Bikes, on Sunday, June 8, 2008 at 2 PM in the courtyard of the Cathedral school.
The parish, which is located at the corner of NW 18th and Couch in the heart of Northwest Portland and bordered by the Everett Street bike lane, values and raises up the contribution that cyclists make to the community and environment. Portland biking is the platinum standard, and the cyclists bring a special life to our neighborhood and city whether they ride for recreation, commuting or competition. The Cathedral parish will welcome everyone to celebrate and recognize our biking community. In addition, the service will pray for those injured and will especially remember those who have died in bike accidents in 2007. “Cyclists are members of the parish and staff,” says Father George Wolf, Pastor of the Cathedral, “many of our neighbors regularly ride by our church. We invite everyone to bring their bikes and celebrate the many miles ridden each day.”
“The Catholic community has a long tradition of recognizing the cyclist and remembering those injured and killed in accidents” said Deacon Thomas Gornick, Director of Evangelization for the Archdiocese and bike commuter. On October 13, 1949, Pope Pius XII formally named Our Lady of Ghisallo as the patroness of cyclists.
The chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Ghisallo is located at the top of a steep hill in the Lake Como region of Italy. An eternal flame burns at the chapel in memory of those cyclists who have died.
Blessing of the Bikes
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
(St. Mary’s)
NW 18th and Couch
Sunday – June 8, 2008
2-2:30 PM (Rain or Shine)
###
Local manufacturer part of international sustainable design exhibition
Chris King hubs on display.
(Photos: Swell2008 on Flickr)
(Photos: Swell2008 on Flickr)
A Portland bike component manufacturer has been recognized for their earth-friendly production methods.
Chris King Precision Components — based in Portland’s northwest industrial area — is part of the third annual Swell Future show, an exhibition of “future friendly design” being held in Vancouver, B.C. Chris King is one of 28 companies from around the world to be chosen for the show.
Trek casting call: “Ride through real rush hour traffic” for $500
From the looks of a casting call (below) that made it’s way onto the Shift email list (via ExtrasOnly.com), Trek Bicycles plans to film an upcoming national commercial in Portland — and they’re looking for a few good bicyclists.
Check out the flyer…
More bike month events: Bike to Market Day, PSU gets busy, and clinics galore
(Photos © J. Maus)
I can’t really keep up with all the bike events these days — but below is an attempt to share a few that have come to my attention.
By the way, in case you haven’t noticed, May is National Bike Month and it’s an ideal time to spread the word about biking to your friends and neighbors and prod them into showing up at an event to learn more or meet other newbies.
Here are some great events coming up in the next few days…
People’s Food Co-op: Bike to Market Day
People’s Co-op (3029 SE 21st Ave) thanks cyclists with Bike to Market Day
Wednesday May 14th People’s Farmers Market will reward everybody who rides their bicycle by providing free bike tune-ups, free workshops on how to repair your own bike, fun live music and free snacks.
Roll on over between 2 and 7pm to People’s Market and check out our beautiful local spring foods while getting your bike spruced up for summer. People’s will thank you for riding your bicycle by offering you:
— Free workshops on bicycle maintenance hosted by A Better Cycle 2-7pm
— Free tune-ups and repairs from Seven Corners Cycles 3-6pm
— Free cycle-powered home delivery of your groceries (within our neighborhood)
— Free tasty treats and bicycle powered smoothies and an amazing variety of Oregon’s locally grown and produced foods
Come join us in celebrating Portland’s growing people-powered community.
‘Black spot mirrors’ save lives in Amsterdam
Mirrors like this are being
used in Amsterdam to reduce
right-hook collisions.
(Photos: Todd Boulanger)
used in Amsterdam to reduce
right-hook collisions.
(Photos: Todd Boulanger)
Here’s an interesting idea that was spotted by City of Vancouver transportation planner Todd Boulanger on a recent trip to Amsterdam.
Boulanger visited the Netherlands in April to attend the Intertraffic Conference and he ran across what he calls a “new application of a traditional tool” — convex mirrors placed on traffic signals. They’re called black spot mirrors or “dead angle mirrors”.
According to Boulanger, the mirror is heated for all-weather use and it can be turned to any angle, independent of the existing traffic signal.
CCC Bike of the Month – May
This is a monthly feature to remind you that when you buy a used bike from the Community Cycling Center’s retail shop (1700 NE Alberta) you are not just getting a cool bike, you’re also helping fund their amazing education programs for low-income youth and adults.
Sneak preview: Portland bike moves get national spotlight
Like I mentioned back in April, Portland will be prominently featured on a TV show to air on the Sundance Channel later this month.
Our bike-friendliness will be on the national stage yet again when their Big Ideas for a Small Planet series turns its attention to transportation. The episode features Mia Birk (former PDOT bike program manager and now consultant at Alta Planning), as well as one of Portland’s time-honored bikey traditions — the bike move.
Check a “webisode” of the segment below (or watch it here):
BTA raises $150,000 at Alice Awards event
The crowd at Alice ’08.
(Photo © J. Maus)
(Photo © J. Maus)
According to a post this morning on the BTA Blog, the 2008 Alice Awards and Auction event brought in $150,000 for the Portland-based non-profit:
“During dinner, bidders raised their paddles in the live auction for a trip to France, a private dinner party, fancy bikes, and more. After screening a short film advocating for safer streets, the whole audience was invited to donate toward the cause, and guests pledged over $34,000!
Combined, the live and silent auctions, ticket sales, and restaurant raffle raised a total of $150,000.”