9 January 2009 Archives

Weekend Open Thread: Share your bike fun

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Midnight Mystery Ride anyone?
(Photo © J. Maus)

Believe it or not, the sun was actually out for much of the day today. It’s really cold, but at least the ground is dry and we can see the sky — a welcome change after so many days of rain, snow, etc…

I hope the weather holds for the weekend. Do you have bike plans?

Some folks will kick off the weekend with the Midnight Mystery Ride. It leaves tonight at midnight from the Jolly Inn (1937 SE 11th Ave). If you go, make sure to dress warm and show up early to catch a performance by “Full Face Riot“, a new band of Zoobomb regulars who will start playing at 8:00 ($2 cover until 11:30ish).

He’ll need to be Super-Sam
to get all this stuff done.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Mayor Sam Adams has released his list of goals for his first 100 days in office.

From the section on transportation, here are some things that pertain to bicycling:

Develop a four-year strategic vision for Portland’s transportation investments and infrastructure
1. Appoint a Transportation Cabinet
2. Initiate development of a strategic transportation investment plan as a component of the Portland Plan
3. Advocate for federal stimulus package
4. Conduct a snow and ice storm readiness assessment for the city and region; develop a plan of action for future efforts and investment
5. Provide leadership and support to secure passage of a transportation funding package at the State Legislature

[Publisher’s note: This is the first product review by new contributor Ellee Thalheimer. Learn more about Ellee here.]

The women at Inverness, California based My Alibi cycling apparel are dedicated to ‘making sure you feel beautiful on your bike.’ After spending some time in their “Bloomers” cycling shorts, I’d have to say they’re achieving that goal.

Their bloomers are, in a word, sexy. These sleek, boy-cut chamois shorts (available in chocolate brown and pink) cup buns firmly but sensually like a 1940’s style-swim suit. They are meant to go under a skirt or any non-cycling clothing a woman may wish to wear while navigating on two wheels.

Here’s an interesting lawsuit filed by a Southeast Portland man. It was featured in a roundup of lawsuits published in The Oregonian yesterday:

A man bicycling through Southeast Portland is suing a pair of homeowners after he allegedly crashed into a mound of dirt placed on the side of the street.

Jeremy Hooten was pedaling along 21st Avenue near Division Street at 2 a.m. when he hit the pile, causing him to fly over his handlebars and slam into the street, according to his suit.

Read more

An interview with Portland racing veteran Tina Brubaker

Contributor
Jessica Roberts
(Photo © J. Maus)

This article was written by contributing writer Jessica Roberts. Jessica is a bicycle planning professional with Alta Planning+Design and she previously shared her thoughts on the notorious Broadway/Williams intersection. Below, she strikes a completely different tone with the first in a series of interviews where she’ll sit down and chat with a broad cross-section of Portland bike scene veterans.

“Over the few blocks that I rode, I saw it used in a number of ways, including actual cycling.”

While I was in New York City for a few hours on Wednesday on my way from New Haven to Baltimore, I took the Brompton for a rainy ride down the new 9th Avenue cycletrack. The cycletrack, common in Copenhagen and Amsterdam but still relatively rare in the US, is a bike lane that is physically separated from motor vehicle traffic.

Portland is building a cycle track in the Northeast Cully neighborhood, and new mayor Sam Adams has pledged to build a higher-profile one in his first 100 days in office.

StreetFilms captured some New Yorkers’ first reactions to this cycletrack, the city’s first.

Since then, New Yorkers have incorporated the cycletrack into their daily life. Over the few blocks that I rode, I saw it used in a number of ways, including actual cycling. Below are some photos and more of my thoughts:

Whitney Avenue, shown here at
New Haven’s northern border, is ready
for a Complete Streets makeover
(Photos by Elly Blue)

New Haven, Connecticut, which has never been known for progressive transportation initiatives, is now home to a Complete Streets law — one of only a handful in the country, and one of the most comprehensive.

When I arrived at a Yale University office last week to meet with their Transportation Options team (more on that soon), I learned that the program’s assistant director, Erin Sturgis-Pascale, also serves on New Haven’s Board of Alders (their city council).

This October, Sturgis-Pascale and another board member introduced and passed a Complete Streets bill, making New Haven one of the few communities in the country to have such a law. For this accomplishment, she has been called “the preeminent “livable streets” elected official in Connecticut.”

Weekend Open Thread: Share your bike fun

Adams’ first 100 days as Mayor: Here’s what’s in store (updated)

Product review: My Alibi ‘Bloomer’ shorts for women

Man sues for $575K after crashing on dirt pile

An interview with Portland racing veteran Tina Brubaker

On the street in NYC: Checking out the 9th Ave. cycletrack

Dispatch from New Haven: A look at new Complete Streets law

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