Bikes, blossoms bloom all over Portland

This weekend felt like the official start of bike season. As if someone turned on a switch, bikeways and paths were flooded with two-wheelers and bike shops were buzzing with customers.

This morning, while riding into work on SE 7th Avenue in inner southeast Portland, I got that feeling I hadn’t had since last summer — that bikes were everywhere.

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I was fortunate to spend a few hours on Saturday in Waterfront Park with my camera to capture this amazing time of year, when both blossoms and bikers are abloom all over our city:

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

— On a sort-of related note, now that bike traffic is ramping up, make sure to read PBOT bike coordinator Roger Geller’s guest editorial from Friday: Riding with courtesy in a city of bikes.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Marion
Marion
14 years ago

I loved taking the kids to school today. There were so many bikes with parents and kids and so many different types of set ups for family cycling.. it was GREAT! More nice weather please 🙂

Adams Carroll (News Intern)
14 years ago

marion,

didn’t you love the 12 new staple racks in the Trillium school parking lot?!

Dave
14 years ago

My wife and I got out down on the waterfront and saturday market on Sunday too and got some good pictures (and video to be coming soon, once I piece it together). I don’t know if I’ve ever been on the waterfront with more people around, except maybe during rose festival. It was a gorgeous day, and so nice to interact with so many people.

Meghan H
Meghan H
14 years ago

This morning I was reminded why sometimes riding in the rain isn’t so bad — no bike bottlenecks on the Hawthorne Bridge and surrounding choke points! But it’s a slight bike traffic issue I’m happy to see…

brd
brd
14 years ago

Marion/Jonathan,

How many kids does 12 staple bike racks support? We just jot 3 new ones at Beach School so just curious…

Adams Carroll (News Intern)
14 years ago

each staple rack is designed to hold two bicycles.

brd
brd
14 years ago

I was thinking more about 12 staple racks supports a school of x number of students.

Are there known facts recommendations about that ratio that would be ideal.

Adams Carroll (News Intern)
14 years ago

oh. sorry.

that would be a great question for someone that works in the Safe Routes to Schools dept. at the BTA. not sure if there are set guidelines for that sort of thing but it’s worth asking.

Sovole
Sovole
14 years ago

Hi Jonathan- thanks for the post. Also, thank you for the link to Mr. Geller’s editorial.

Several pedestrians, oncoming cyclists, overtaken cyclists, not to mention my capable 7-year-olds just getting into cycling, were buzzed a couple of times by “gentlemen” trying to make record time through the corridor on a congested Sunday afternoon.

I commute a couple times per week on country roads with no bike lanes, and I ride in fear of the reputation inconsiderate cyclists give all cyclists. Payback’s no fun for the lone cyclist on Willamette Falls Drive.

Hopefully the gentlemen read your post, read the editorial, and read this comment and realize that there’s a time a place for racing down springwater corridor. It’s certainly not a congested Sunday afternoon.

BTW, I’m guessing I’m not the first to mention this behavior, unfortunately.

Kevin Wagoner
14 years ago

I ride through here on my commute and it was packed today after work. Very cool!

Angela Koch, BTA
Angela Koch, BTA
14 years ago

Oh how I love the lovely weather!

Anyway, I just learned from Julie Yip, the SRTS Coordinator at ODOT, that schools that apply for SRTS funds typically use school district or city standards, which means it can vary. At the state level, ODOT Transportation Growth Management recommends a standard of 1 rack per classroom for schools grade 2 – 5; 2 racks per classroom for schools grade 6 – 12.

I was unable to find any national standard SRTS recommendation, although I really love what I found for Minnesota: 10 – 15 racks per student!

I’m waiting to hear back from someone at PBOT about Portland recommendations.

Angela Koch, BTA
Angela Koch, BTA
14 years ago

Ha ha!!!

What I meant to say was 10 – 15 students per rack!

I guess the 10 -15 racks per student would be a good Portland standard. 🙂

Dave
14 years ago

In case anyone is interested – some photos and video from Sunday, SE Portland and the Waterfront:

http://www.portlandize.com/2009/04/hello-spring_07.html