15 September 2008 Archives

Metro councilors set for their own ‘commute challenge’

Metro councilor Rex Burkholder
on his commute bike (just kidding).
(Photo courtesty Mr. Burkholder)

This just in from the public affairs office at Metro (our regional, elected government): Tomorrow (9/16), ~~five~~ six members of the Metro Council (excluding President David Bragdon) will ride their bikes into Metro headquarters at 600 NE Grand.

According to the Metro press release, “This event is being held in celebration of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance’s annual Bike Commute Challenge,” which is held each September.

Oregon state legislator Jason Atkinson (R-Central Point) sent out an email update to friends and supporters last week. It was regarding a freak incident eight weeks ago that left his right leg/kneecap in shambles due to a gunshot wound.

He’s undergone major surgery and the former bike racer (and supporter of several bike-friendly bills last legislative session) is just now looking down the road to recovery. Check out the photo and the email below:

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

NY Times columnist David
Brooks is one of the trash-talkers
outed by the League of
American Bicyclists.

In their most recent email newsletter to members, the League of American Bicyclists shared a new educational campaign aimed at fighting back against statements that discriminate against bicycles.

On their web page, Who’s Trash Talking Bikes?, the League has a list of recent anti-bike statements by politicians and pundits. For each one they include sections titled: “What he/she said”; “What’s the issue”; “What are the facts”; “What he/she could have said”; and “What you can do.”

Deputy DA Chuck Sparks.
(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

The Deputy District Attorney for Multnomah County Chuck Sparks wants the community to know that upon further analysis, his office believes the injuries sustained by Steven Volz in a collision on July 31st in Gresham constitute “serious physical injury”.

In a story posted on September 4th, I reported that Gresham DA Ben O’Glasser had elected to not seek Reckless Driving charges against the motor vehicle operator in the case, Lance Waddy. I then asked O’Glasser if the Careless Driving charge came with the new Vulnerable Roadway Users portion of the statute (which carries much higher consequences).

O’Glasser’s answer was no, that because they felt Volz’s injuries did not rise to the level of “serious physical injury” as defined by Oregon law, the Vulnerable statute would not apply (“serious physical injury” is required to trigger the new law).

The ride began with a roll
through downtown Hillsboro.
Video report below
Photo Gallery
(Photos © J. Maus)

With crowds much larger than organizers expected, the first annual Tour de Parks, held yesterday in Hillsboro, was a smashing success.

My family and I made the trek out West (thanks to the MAX) for our first foray into the Hillsboro bike scene.

As the crowd milled about, kids on BMX bikes raced around the parking lot (playing a two-wheeled version of tag), Bruce Buffington and volunteers from the Northwest Bicycle Safety Council fitted helmets, gave a brief traffic safety presentation, and then we were off.

Wyatt Baldwin, the web programmer who created the bicycle trip-planning tool byCycle.org, has been hired by Portland’s public transit operator TriMet.

The announcement was made by TriMet communications director Carolyn Young during a presentation at the recent Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference in Seattle.

Baldwin starts today and he told me last week that he’ll be working with TriMet’s GIS & Location-Based Services team doing software and Web development. Back in June, TriMet unveiled their latest online trip-planning tool and TriMet developer Bibiana McHugh said she was working with Baldwin to incorporate bike routes.

This month at The Office of Transportation’s Bicycle Brown Bag series is a discussion on family biking.

PDOT employee Timo Forsberg will host a panel of biking parents for what is sure to be an interesting chat.

Here is more information:

Parents on Bikes: Bike & Walk to School Day all year-round!

Thursday, Sept. 18th, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Portland Building
1120 SW 5th Avenue, 2d floor , Room C
(bring your lunch!)

Metro councilors set for their own ‘commute challenge’

Photo: Oregon legislator back on the bike after shooting incident

League helps you talk back to trash talk

DA wants to set record straight in Stark Street case

Families flock to Hillsboro’s first annual ‘Tour de Parks’

byCycle.org creator hired by TriMet

PDOT to host discussion on family biking

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