🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏
[Updated at 8:02pm on 6/30 — see end of story.]
In a brilliantly ironic bit of activism, two strategically placed cars helped created a three-block stretch of carfree streets during last week’s Last Thursday event on Alberta Street.
The event was first reported by Stephen Upchurch, who shared what he saw on the Shift email list.
“There are a lot of [bike-sharing] systems out there and we really want to pick the best model.”
–Shoshanah Oppenheim, transportation policy aide for Commissioner Adams
With the announcement last week that the City of Portland has canceled their search for a bike-sharing vendor, some are wondering what’s next in Portland’s public-bike future.
Far from giving up on the idea, Commissioner Sam Adams’ office says just they’re taking a new approach.
Ending speculation since the announcement on Friday, U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer was in Portland this morning (sans bowtie) to deliver some “straight talk” about energy policy and unveil a bill that will help cure America’s ailing transportation policies.
Expensive oil and gas prices, he said, “has exposed the vulnerabilities of American families to what President Bush famously said was an addiction to oil.”
Standing next to a chart that showed American households living near public transportation services save over $6,000 per year (over those who don’t), Blumenauer introduced his Transportation and Housing Options for Gas Price Relief Act of 2008 (download summary of bill — PDF).
Those who were brave enough to confront the freakishly hot weather at the Multnomah County Bike Fair on Saturday, were rewarded with a fun and fitting end to Pedalpalooza.
While some were happy to enjoy the two-wheeled ambiance with a nap in the shade, others carried on in the grand MCBF tradition of beer, bikes, dancing, and, like the sign says, “All bike fun, all the time.”
After perusing the expo for a cheap helmet, a free bike tune-up, a cap by Shaun Deller, or a cool, pedal-powered smoothie, most folks ended up watching (or being part of) the bike action.
