Ride draws attention to hazards, potholes
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Editor) on June 3rd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
(Photos: Ashley Mitchell)
On Sunday, a group of Portlanders took it upon themselves to make several popular bike routes a bit safer and more pleasant to ride on.
Daniel Johnson conceived of the ride back in January and the first one went so well he decided to do it again.
Writing on a local email list, Johnson explained that the premise for the ride is simple: “My plan was to make art around potholes in order to make people look at them, think about them, and talk about them… to show people that we don’t have to just live with wrecked streets, we can do something about it.”
at N. Williams and Killingsworth.
Armed with chalk, brooms, and cell phones, Johnson and a few others set out from SE Portland and rode to St. Johns — stopping along the way to draw, sweep, and report the hazards to PDOT’s pothole hotline (823-BUMP).
Ashley Mitchell was on the ride and reports that PDOT has already started to fix some of the potholes they called in.
Check out more photos from the ride here.
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June 3rd, 2008 15:32
Yes Daniel! Thanks for doing the good work. I would like to participate in one of these rides!
June 3rd, 2008 15:56
some other numbers of note...
503.823.SAFE (7233) for traffic safety issues (things that need to be investigated like placement of stop signs, new crosswalk requests, etc.)
503.823.1700 for maintenance issues such as damaged traffic signs, signals, pavement markings (including bike lane lines), street sweeping of bike lanes, sidewalk repair, and clogged catch basins
June 3rd, 2008 16:47
Thanks for the write up Jonathan!
We're going to try super hard to work together on making these a monthly event, and additionally work up some plans for that pesky bicycle street sweeper. There's something really awesome about drawing with giant sidewalk chalk.
June 3rd, 2008 17:04
what is the location of that wheel swallowing drain? I want to ride into it and sue the City..
not really..but that is a liability suit waiting to happen, and could seriously injure someone. that is an issue that should be sent to PDOT with a followup call.. before someone biffs into it.Please make sure they (PDOT) is notified and document your call or email.
June 3rd, 2008 17:52
Why chalk instead of paint?
June 3rd, 2008 19:35
Has anyone, anywhere made a human powered bicycle-lane street sweeper? Would be great after winter ice/snow storms when all that gravel/dirt is in the bike lanes. Be rad to see the mutant bike folk cook one up.
June 3rd, 2008 21:46
There were I think three intersections in a row on N Williams that had the wheel catchers. Look for them by the hospital if they are still there.
This evening the ones by the train tracks on SE clay were still there, as were the wheel catching ruts on the same street.
June 3rd, 2008 21:49
"Why chalk instead of paint?" Paint would get us in trouble with the folks who consider marking hazards defacing property (i.e. the guy who got fined for painting a crosswalk where people were speeding to keep kids safe)
Maybe washable paint?
"Has anyone, anywhere made a human powered bicycle-lane street sweeper?"
Google bicycle street sweeper and a couple will come up, there's been some interest, but it hasn't come together with the resource and the people needed to make it happen. It's hard with so much bikeness goin' on in this town!
June 4th, 2008 06:49
The City of Portland maintenance bureau is supposed to have a number you can call for these {wheel eater} grates. They will be replaced or repaired within 24 hrs. Does anyone have this # ?
June 4th, 2008 08:41
Wow, talk about community in action! Having fun, creating art, & making stuff happen! You guys rock. I would be interested in a future ride. Thank You!
:D
June 4th, 2008 09:57
I would like to help with future rides. You can add me to your mailing list mkhadabux@aol.com
June 4th, 2008 13:46
You should be able to get temporary chalk paint in spray cans designed to spray down from any of the local survey supply houses, or online, see examples below.
http://www.ultracolor.com.au/Survey%20Marker.html
http://www.utilitysafeguard.com/Marking-Paint
June 4th, 2008 15:24
Anybody want to help me with the westside?
June 4th, 2008 21:34
If you want something done right, you can't wait for the government, you gotta get up and do it yourself!
-Utah Phillips
(or something like that)
June 5th, 2008 09:22
Yay! Thanks for the writeup (and for featuring my argyle-clad feet up there). This ride was a ton of fun, and I'm up for another one on the west side or anywhere else people want to see it done.
We called in those wheel-catchers, but I haven't seen them replaced yet. One was partially covered with sand at the same time as the potholes, which is a nice gesture but makes it harder to see the hazard. I'll keep checking up on them on my way home.