Interbike report: Mad scientists and independent inventors

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[BikePortland managing editor Elly Blue is back from Interbike, but she’s still going through mountains of notes and photos. Below is a report about some of the smaller fry she came across on the show floor — quirky inventions and scrappy startups. See the rest of our Interbike coverage here.]

SEE ME

The “SEE ME” light-up belt.
(Photos © Elly Blue)

At Interbike, big bike companies rule the day with huge booths in the center of the giant convention floor. As you approach the outskirts, the companies become smaller and funkier — until finally, on the outer edges and tucked into odd corners, the lone, independent creative souls have set up small booths with their life savings on display in the form of the big idea they’re working to bring into fruition.

These small set-ups were some of my favorite booths.

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Vancouver looks to improve I-5 bridge crossing for bikes

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One of two new stencils coming
to the Interstate Bridge.

With no guarantee that a new bridge over I-5 between Vancouver and Portland will ever be built, transportation planners from the City of Vancouver are working on several projects they hope will improve bicycle and pedestrian travel across the existing span.

According to Senior Planner Jennifer Campos, Vancouver won a grant from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) to carry out a host of capital improvement projects on and around the bridge.

Campos said the new markings and signage coming to the bridge — which will cost $20,000 out of the $353,000 total funds available for the projects — is the result of increased bicycle and pedestrian traffic over the bridge her department first noticed in 2006. Along with that traffic, she says, they also noticed more calls about near misses, conflicts and collisions.

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US DOT kicks off Distracted Driving Summit: Tune in live

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As promised back in August, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood kicked off the Distracted Driving Summit this morning in Washington D.C.

The event, which a DOT press release says is, “Leading the call for a cultural shift in how Americans view safe driving” is being webcast live from the DOT website today and tomorrow.

The focus on of the summit will be on the use of mobile devices and texting while driving. Back in July, the NY Times published a series of articles made possible by a whistle-blower from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration who admitted that the agency withheld warnings about the dangers of distracted driving for political reasons.

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Red/Silver Gary Fisher Nirvana 2004

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Year: 2004
Brand: Gary Fisher
Model: Nirvana
Color:Red/Silver
Size:22.5″/57cm
Photo: http://images.craigslist.org/3mb3p33o25T05P75R399u4709e0fa68cf1eb9.jpg
Stolen in Inner NE Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2009-09-28
Stolen From: 20th and NE Davis
Neighborhood: Kerns
Owner: Cedric Justice
OwnerEmail: cedric.justice@gmail.com
Reward: 50$
Description: My bike was stolen on Sunday or Monday night from my back yard. Here are the details:

57cm frame/22.5″
Red/silver frame with Greenpeace, Secret Machines, Atari stickers
Back black rack
Black Kryptonite lock (some good it did)
Seat cable (that’s a unique feature, I’d say)
Padded saddle
24-speed bike (8×3)

I was going to sell it with all the accessories, the helmet, the lights, and everything. So if you see an ad out like that, it is probably suspicious.

I bought it from the Bike Gallery in 2004. It has a BG sticker on the frame.
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Black Schwinn World 70’s

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Year: 70’s
Brand: Schwinn
Model: World
Color:Black
Size:64cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2009-09-29
Stolen From: Alberta ave
Neighborhood: Alberta
Owner: Gram Shipley
OwnerEmail: gram@shipley.pro
Reward: $100
Description: Large 25″ frame Schwinn world, chrome nervex lugs, lots of black on bikebut cable housings are white, bar-end shifters, triple crank, concor saddle.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

A few peeks at Manifest Design Challenge entries

Sean Chaney of Vertigo Cycles
posted this sneak peek of
his Design Challenge entry.

The Constructor’s Design Challenge (part of Oregon Manifest) is coming this Friday. The event is an unprecedented opportunity to have the brightest minds in bike building put their skills and experience into building the Ultimate Transportation Bike. Each entry will be judged and then ridden to see which one comes out on top. It’s a bike geek’s dream come true.

We’ll have three people covering the event (I’ll be in California visiting family) and we’ll bring you the full lowdown. But since I tend to get impatient about big events like this and I love to get sneak peeks of upcoming action, I thought I’d share some photos of some of the bikes that will be entered into the competition.

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prpl/blk speckled Giant Iguana 1993

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Year: 1993
Brand: Giant
Model: Iguana
Color:prpl/blk speckled
Size:19″
Serial: ?
Photo: ?
Stolen in 97212, OR
Stolen:2009-09-28
Stolen From: Back patio of our home. NE 11th between Stanton and Siskiyou.
Neighborhood: Irvington
Owner: Eric Heinrich
OwnerEmail: eheinr@comcast.net
Description: Purple/Black speckle paint. XT brakes. Singulator. “I hate cars” sticker on down tube. “Arnet” sticker on front (emblem), Arnet sticker on down tube. Rack, racing seat, fenders, light blue water bottle cage and straight handle bars.
Police record with: Portland Police
Police reference#: 0987682
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

metallic orange Kona mtn bike 1994-2000

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Year: 1994-2000
Brand: Kona
Model: mtn bike
Color:metallic orange
Size:? I’m 5’6″
Stolen in Portland, OR 97225
Stolen:2009-09-29
Stolen From: It was taken out of my truck. It was parked in from of my house (750 SW 83rd. Ave. Portland. Cross street is SW Leahy
Neighborhood: Near St. Vincent Hospital
Owner: Heather Baldwin
OwnerEmail: hmcleanbaldwin@gmail.com
Reward: $50
Description: It’s pretty old but, recently I had a used Rock Shock but on the front. The shock is red. The seat is worn on one side down to the foam. It has a water bottle case and there is an old mount for a handle bar light. There is also a rear light mounted under the seat. I has its knobby tires on it
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Black Bianchi Axis 1991

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Year: 1991
Brand: Bianchi
Model: Axis
Color:Black
Size:60cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2009-09-24
Stolen From: My garage, at 11th and Sumner St.
Neighborhood: Alberta
Owner: Dan Blaker
OwnerEmail: blakerspam@gmail.com
Reward: $300
Description: Unusual large paddle shifters mounted on the top of the handlebar. Black back rack w/ orange strips and an Amnesty International sticker. “Campus” pedals (step-in clips on one side, flat on the other). Black handlebar wrap. Suntour gears.

This was my father’s bike before he died 13 years ago. REALLY hope I can get it back.
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Cemetery will form committee to address bike access issue

“We are formulating a strong core of people who are in leadership positions in the bicycle community… to discuss how our concerns can be mitigated without simply closing the cemetery to bicycle traffic.”
— David Noble, Executive Director of River View Cemetery

David Noble, the executive director of River View Cemetery in Southwest Portland, has planned a meeting with representatives from the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance next week. The meeting will revolve around how to manage bicycle traffic through cemetery grounds.

The cemetery — which is on private property that provides a popular alternate route for bike traffic — is concerned with unsafe riding and disrespectful behavior by some riders. The issue has been simmering for years, but came to a head last week after we reported on the installation of three sets of new speed bumps.

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Interbike report: Utility and style amidst the madness

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[BikePortland managing editor Elly Blue is back from Interbike, but she’s still going through mountains of notes and photos. Below is a report of city/cargo/utility bikes she came across on the show floor. See the rest of our Interbike coverage here.]

interbike 2009

Raleigh’s new commuter bike.
(Photos © Elly Blue)

For an Interbike rookie, the main floor of the show is quite overwhelming. But after the safe confines of the Advocacy Zone, I decided to delve out into the mayhem in search of the latest city bike offerings.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a fairly widespread interest in commute and utility biking. In fact, the very first booth I saw was Topeak’s, and the first thing I saw in the booth was a bike geared up for touring next to an ultra light tent, backed by a display of racks and baskets.

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