5 November 2008 Archives

Lance in France at Wordstock

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Cover of Lance in France by
Ashley Maceachern.

Lance Armstrong is coming to the Wordstock Festival.

Well, OK, not really. But Lance fans (especially little ones) still have a reason to get excited about Wordstock.

That’s because local author Ashley Maceachern tells us she’ll be a featured author. Ashley is a friend of Lance’s and a former Nike executive who has written Lance in France, a children’s book (with fun illustrations by Michelle Barbera) that follows Lance through the adventures of the Tour de France.

Ben Farver’s track bike won “Best in Show” over the weekend.
(Photo: Argonaut Cycles)

52% of California voters said yes to a proposition that helps fund a $45 billion “bullet train” between Orange County in the south to the San Francisco Bay Area.

This was a closely watched vote by transportation advocates nationwide because, if built, it will be the first project of its kind in America.

While driving (alone) down to a conference in Eugene a few weeks ago, I wondered why there was no such service from Portland to points south. Amtrak’s got their Cascade Corridor, but at 2.5 hours (if it’s on time) and $26.00 for a ticket, it’s hardly a competitive option.

One of the Pacific ReCycles bikes.
(Photo: Pacific University)

Back in 1994, the Northeast Portland-based Community Cycling Center helped get Portland’s infamous Yellow Bikes program off the ground. The CCC donated bikes to kick-off the program and later became an official co-sponsor.

The Yellow Bike program only lasted for about a year before the bikes vanished and it became nothing more than a piece of urban history. Now, the CCC is backing a program that is similar in spirit, but much different in execution.

With expectations that president-elect Obama might pick his cabinet in the next few weeks, we’re following his pick for Transportation Secretary very closely.

Previously, we reported early rumors that Obama was considering former City of Portland transportation commissioner and now U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer or Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar (whose arguably the most important and revered politician to the national bike movement).

Amanda Fritz
(Photo � J. Maus)

With 70% of the vote, Amanda Fritz, a neighborhood activist and Registered Nurse, has been elected to Portland City Council.

Ms. Fritz, who lost a bid for Commissioner in 2006, won a decisive victory over Charles Lewis and she is the first non-incumbent to win a council seat using Portland’s public campaign funding system.

Fritz seems likely to be a very capable and effective commissioner. She’s very detail-oriented, has a lot of experience on local issues, and she listens and actively tries to engage all perspectives.

Lance in France at Wordstock

Portland builders win awards at Rocky Mountain Bicycle Show

California says yes to high-speed rail

Bike-share pioneers come full circle with Pacific University rental program

Sadik-Khan mentioned as possible Obama pick

Thoughts on Amanda Fritz, our newest City Commissioner

Latest Headlines

Dispatch from hiatus and update on the future

Reminder: No riding through River View Cemetery during Memorial Day Weekend

Guest Article: Demand a pause on PBOT’s SW Alder decision

Guest Opinion: The bike beat lives on in all of us

From the Archives

The 10 busiest bicycling spots in Portland