17 November 2009 Archives

Up close and personal on the re-born Morrison Bridge

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Bikes will soon have a lane of their own on the Morrison Bridge.
-Slideshow below-
(Photos: Adams Carroll for BikePortland)

The Morrison Bridge project is getting ever so close to completion. Once complete, it will have a separated lane for two-way bicycle traffic and a completely new ramp down to Water Avenue on the east side.

We noticed significant progress on the markings and the pathway construction so we sent out our new ace photographer/reporter/intern Adams Carroll out this morning to take a closer look.

Adams was able to get up onto the lift-span in the center of the bridge to bring you photos of the new material being used on the lift-span (concrete would be too heavy). Also in the slideshow below, you’ll get an excellent feeling for how it might feel to ride on the new pathway.

Show up to a workshop and let the
City know what you think is important.
If you don’t, they’ll listen to someone else.

65% of Portlanders drive alone to work.

We travel an average of 16 miles per day by car.

On average, we spend about 49% of our family income on housing and transportation, while families with lower incomes can spend as much as 79%.

41% of us live within a half mile of a neighborhood business district.

53% of Multnomah County adults are overweight or obese.

Only 31% of us feel safe walking alone downtown at night.

If these stats shock or surprise you, you should pay attention to the Portland Plan. Last adopted in 1980 (I was five!), the plan is a state-mandated update to our comprehensive plan that will define priorities and guide how to invest public funds for the next 25 years.

Screenshot of Cycle Tracks.
(See more below)

This morning I learned about a new iPhone app called Cycle Tracks. Created by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, the app uses GPS to record bicycle trips, display maps of rides, and most importantly, logs all the information with transportation planners for use in evaluating current and future routes.

The app looks really sharp and the best part is that it can be used in any locale. We’ve already starting getting in touch with its developers and hopefully we can make this thing work in Portland.

For more, here’s what the San Francisco Chronicle said about it this morning:

Year: 2003
Brand: Specialized
Model: Sequoia Expert
Color:Silver
Size:Med
Serial: P2JA80480
Stolen in Portland, OR
Stolen:2009-11-14
Stolen From: Locked on sidewalk bike rack. SW 10th & Morrison
Neighborhood: Downtown PDX.
Owner: John Zell
OwnerEmail: jzell@zephyr.net
Description: Road bike, silver with black logo. Aerobar (bull horns) handle bars with bar-end gear changers. Brand new Continental tires. Cat Eye cordless speedometer. Rack.
Police record with: PDX Police
Police reference#: 09-150231
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

What would you ask PBOT’s #1 bike guy?

Legislator bike ride at the Oregon Bike Summit-46

Whether he’s dancing in the streets, rallying troops for a ride, or looking for money on Capitol Hill, Roger Geller has been on the front lines of bicycle issues in Portland for 15 years.

Tomorrow night I’ll sit down for a one-on-one conversation with Mr. Geller and I’d like to hear what you want to know from the City of Portland’s top two-wheeled mastermind (a.k.a. Bicycle Coordinator in the Office of the Director).

Rapid flash beacons, which have been very effective in evaluations in Florida, will help Portlanders cross busy streets.
(Photos: Stop Experts, Inc.)

PBOT is looking into a new cycle
track on N. Williams as part of $7
million in bike projects next year.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation is fleshing out a list of bicycle projects worth an estimated $7 million they hope to roll out between July 2010 and June 2011 (FY 2011). That amount — a mix of local and federal sources — is a substantial increase compared to previous years.

The list (download PDF here) includes $2.5 million in revenue from state and local sources and $4.57 million from federal sources. PBOT’s Mark Lear had a draft of the list at the City’s Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting last week and he’s sent us an updated version.

Up close and personal on the re-born Morrison Bridge

Portland Plan public workshops begin tonight

The ‘Cycle Tracks’ iPhone app: Let’s bring it to Portland!

Silver Specialized Sequoia Expert 2003

What would you ask PBOT’s #1 bike guy?

‘Rapid flash beacons’ coming soon to a crossing near you

PBOT eyes over $7 million in bike projects for next year

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