10 July 2009 Archives

The Night Ride, STP, Food Cart Ride, and more: Weekend Open Thread

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

The Night Ride is a sure bet
for bike fun.
(Photo: Good Sport Promotion)

Lots of great rides happening this weekend. Use this post to see what other folks are up to and share your bike adventures. Here’s a brief rundown of what folks might be up to on their bikes…

Many Portlanders will hope for a good night sleep tonight before embarking on a 200+ mile journey from Seattle to Portland. They’ll be part of a 10,000 person strong floatilla of riders in the 30th annual Group Health Seattle to Portland Classic.

But don’t feel left out if you’re staying in town. Folding bike lovers are riding on Saturday and later that night is the annual Night Ride, an awesome event put on by Good Sport Promotion that benefits the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Check out the ride preview video for a taste of what it’s like:

Year: 2009
Brand: Schwin
Model: Women’s Hybrid
Color:White w/Lime Green
Stolen in Portland, OR 97217
Stolen:2009-07-9
Stolen From: House on Vancouver Ave between Killingsworth and Alberta in N Portland
Neighborhood: Humbolt
Owner: Betsy Dillner
OwnerEmail: betsy.dillner@gmail.com
Reward: $25
Description: Brand New women’s Schwinn hybrid. Has a mount for a basket in the front and light brackets on the handle bars, and below the seat.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

ODOT: I-5 closed to bikes over Boone Bridge for six weeks

This just in from ODOT (emphasis mine):

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Shoulder closure on I-5 north in Wilsonville

The 6-week closure will impact bicyclists and pedestrians on the Boone Bridge

As part of ODOT’s ongoing I-5 Preservation Project from the Willamette River in Wilsonville to the Tualatin River, the contractor will be closing the right shoulder of I-5 northbound from the north end of the Boone Bridge over the Willamette River to the Wilsonville Rd. off-ramp. The shoulder closure – starting this Monday, July 13 and lasting approximately 6 weeks – will prevent bicyclists and pedestrians from crossing the Willamette River in the northbound direction. Southbound traffic will not be impacted.

The right shoulder closure is required to prepare for the construction of the new auxiliary lane being built on I-5 north from the Boone Bridge to the Wilsonville Rd. off-ramp. The 6-week shoulder closure is approximate and could be take longer due to weather and scheduling conflicts.

ODOT appreciates the patience of bicyclists and pedestrians while crews work in the area and encourages finding alternate routes or using other modes of transportation during the closure period.

Special screening of ‘Bike Porn’ for lycra-clad STP riders

STP is this weekend.
(Photo © J. Maus)

This weekend is the 30th annual Seattle to Portland ride and around 10,000 people are expected to roll into town.

After over 200 miles (30 of them uphill) in the saddle, the riders will have a lot to be happy about when they arrive at Holladay Park near the Lloyd Center. There will be congratulatory hugs from family and friends, food, drinks, music, an expo area, and now — thanks to entrepreneurial bike fun provocateur “Reverend” Phil Sano — there will be bike porn.

Sano has spent the last three years touring the country with a varied collection of short films that celebrate bodies and bikes. His latest (the third set he has put together) is Bike Porn 3: Cycle Bound. Sano says the six or so screenings so far gotten a “stellar reaction”.

A DIY warning.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Willamette Week’s “Juicy Suits” column reports a lawsuit filed by a woman who crashed into a car door while riding her bike in Southeast Portland.

According to the WWeek, Kristin Ragnarsson alleges in the lawsuit that she was riding eastbound on SE Stark just past the intersection of SE 28th when a woman in a car opened a door in her path. Ragnarsson seeks over $12,000 in medical bills and up to $100,000 for pain and suffering.

A new warning sign (similar to
this one, although it’s not finalized)
on downhill side of N. Mississippi Ave.
is among several bikeway
improvements planned.
(Graphics: PBOT)

The City of Portland’s Bureau of Transportation is set to install new signage, pavement markings and a new travel lane for bicycles on N. Mississippi Avenue.

It’s been over a year since Bureau of Transportation staffers painted temporary bike lane symbols on the uphill portion of N. Mississippi Avenue from N. Graham to Cook streets.

Their plan was to put that stretch of road on a diet, removing the existing center turn lane to make a new 6-7 foot wide traffic lane for bicycles in the uphill direction.

Local racer Jacob Rathe has his
eyes on a top finish in
Moscow next month.

18-year old Portland resident Jacob Rathe has been selected by USA Cycling to be of four junior road racers that will represent the United States at the upcoming Junior World Championships in Moscow, Russia.

For Rathe, a recent graduate of Lincoln High School in downtown Portland, this is the second year in a row he’ll don the stars and stripes jersey. Last year, he traveled to Cape Town, South Africa (we caught up with him right before he left) where he finished mid-pack among the world’s top junior racers.

Rathe is a member of the Hammer/CMG Racing Team which is managed and coached by two-time Olympian Oliver “Butch” Martin (member of track team in 1964 and 1968).

The Night Ride, STP, Food Cart Ride, and more: Weekend Open Thread

White w/Lime Green Schwin Women’s Hybrid 2009

ODOT: I-5 closed to bikes over Boone Bridge for six weeks

Special screening of ‘Bike Porn’ for lycra-clad STP riders

Willamette Week: Woman sues for over $100,000 after dooring incident

Bikeway improvements finally set for Mississippi Ave.

Portland teen headed to Russia for Junior World Championships

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