Rocker/bike activist David Byrne announces Portland event

David Byrne, after his Portland
show last month.
(Photos © J. Maus)

David Byrne, the musician and artist who has also ridden a bike as his main form of transportation for decades, will kick off the promotion of his upcoming book, Bicycle Diaries, with an event in Portland on September 30th.

Byrne played a sold out show in Portland last month and he’ll hope for a similar showing for an event he’s partnered up with Powell’s Books on called, Where We’re Going and Where We’ve Been – Bicycles, Cities and Transportation in Portland.

The event will be held at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd) on September 30th at 7 pm. Here’s the blurb from Powell’s:

Byrne’s book is available for
pre-order from Powell’s.

From David Byrne, the renowned musician and visual artist, comes Bicycle Diaries —part travelogue, part journal, part photo album—a behind-the-handlebars celebration of seeing the world from the seat of a bike.

Byrne is fascinated by cities, especially as visited on a trusty fold-up bicycle. In Bicycle Diaries, musings from his years cycling through such places as Sydney, Australia; Manila, Philippines; San Francisco; or his home of New York, the former Talking Head offers his frank views on urban planning, art and postmodern civilization in general.

Joining Byrne for a conversation on Portland’s bicycle culture are Mia Birk (Alta Planning & Design), Jonathan Maus (BikePortland.org), and Timo Forsberg (City of Portland Transportation Options Division).

Each of the three speakers will have about 10 minutes on a different topic. Mia Birk will speak about the past/present/future of bike planning in Portland, Timo Forsberg will talk about Portland’s bike culture (he is a veteran of the scene), and I’ve been pegged to talk about “bicycle activism”.

Planning consultant Mia Birk

The one and only Timo Forsberg

It should be a very entertaining and enlightening evening. (If anyone has suggestions about what I should talk about, get in touch.)

Tickets for the event go on sale next Wednesday (7/29). The $26 price includes entry and a copy of Bicycle Diaries. Tickets will be available at the Bagdad or Crystal Ballroom (1332 W Burnside St) box offices or via Ticketmaster.