"It shows our support for getting going with a bang." -- Mayor Adams on his $20 million commitment

The Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 passed with unanimous support by City Council this afternoon and the vote came with a $20 million commitment from Mayor Adams.
Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who created quite a dust storm with a funding [...]

Many local bike folks (myself included) have been trying to think of ways to talk about the 2030 Bike Plan that clearly explain why it's so important, without getting into all the wonky details. On that note, I came up with an analogy today (just before going on camera with a local TV [...]

What a lovely group.(Photo © J. Maus)

Rejoice in tons of great bike stuff to do this weekend! The 7th annual Mini Bike Winter starts tonight and goes through Sunday. If you've never checked it out before, this would be an excellent year to do so.
Check out the listings below:
Thursday, February 11th
8:30 pm: [...]

Screen grab from new Streetfilm showing Seattle's track treatment.

Streetfilms' latest video comes from our neighbors to the north in Seattle. The film takes a closer look at how the Seattle DOT is helping people who ride bicycles avoid a common problem -- falling on streetcar and rail tracks.
The film features John Mauro from Seattle's [...]

Download BAC letter (PDF)

The City of Portland's Bicycle Advisory Committee -- a 13 member group that advises the City on "bicycle-related matters" -- has released their letter in response to Commissioner Dan Saltzman's Bike Plan funding proposal.
The BAC initially intended to draft a letter in support of Saltzman's idea (after he pitched it to them [...]

"... While we support the objectives of the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 that goes before the City Council today, adopting such a plan is far from enough." -- Opinion from Portland Tribune

With the 2030 Bike Plan up for adoption at City Council this afternoon, there is a fresh crop of stories about it in [...]

"We're certainly looking at it and we're looking at some other options too." -- Catherine Ciarlo, Transportation Policy Advisor for Mayor Adams

As City Council gets set to pass the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 tomorrow, there will be a buzz in the air about whether or not Commissioner Saltzman's bike plan funding proposal will pass [...]

The PSU Cycling Team.(Photo: PSU Cycling

2010 is set to be another banner year for the Portland State University Cycling Club.
In 2008, team member Anita Dilles represented PSU at the Collegiate Track Nationals and in 2009, Amelia Bjesse-Puffin made two appearances on the podium. These successes on the track, along with their involvement off the [...]

New study implies that bikeway conditions play a key role in injury rates.(Photo © J. Maus)

A new paper to be published later this year by a team of doctors and nurses from Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) has found that roadway conditions and "the commuting environment" play an important factor in the incidence rate of [...]

Do you have to put your foot down?(Photo © J. Maus)

This week's "Ask BikePortland" comes from Daniel Knutson. Mr. Knutson, 52, wrote in to express his frustrations at getting a ticket from a Portland Police Officer a few months ago for doing a "track stand" at a stop light.
On September 19th, Knutson says was [...]

Job Title
Staff mechanic
This position has been filled.

Company/Organization
Joe Bike
Job Description
Unique, thriving SE bike shop with an international reputation for innovation is looking for a seasoned mechanic with high integrity who enjoys working with people as well as machines. Special interests should include utility and "transportation" bikes, complete custom builds, internal gearing, steel, and possible involvement with [...]

Commissioner Saltzman and his chief of staff Brendan Finn at tonight's BAC meeting.(Photo © J. Maus)

Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman made a rare appearance at the City's Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting tonight in order to present his idea to raise up to $1 million per year to help pay for projects in the 2030 bicycle [...]

Screenshot from City's new iPhone app.

The City of Portland has released a new iPhone app that allows citizens (who own iPhones) to document and submit reports on a number of issues. Dubbed the "Citizen Reporter," the new app is available free in the iTunes App Store.
In a press release issued today, the Mayor's office [...]

Brand: TrekModel: FXColor:GoldSize:20Serial: WTU110C1909PPhoto: http://www.jacksbikes.com/contents/media/l_trek_72_fx_2009_gold.jpgStolen in 66502, OR Stolen:2009-01-25Stolen From: Bicycle Pedaler in Wichita KansasNeighborhood: Manhattan Ks. Laramie street.Owner: Benjamin ClinkscalesOwnerEmail: bencli@ksu.eduReward: $50Description: Gold in Color. Got it from Bicycle Pedaler in Wichita Kansas.Police record with: Riley County Police DepartmentPolice reference#: 10-000444This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Positives outweigh negatives.(Photo © J. Maus)

Last night, at a community meeting to hear feedback on the Last Thursday on Alberta event (read my analysis here), Commissioner Amanda Fritz and Mayor Sam Adams heard loud and clear that many people love the event just the way it is.
According to sources at the meeting and reports in [...]

Construction zone bike lane on Broadway west of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.(Photo © J. Maus)

The City of Portland has sent out a "Bicycle Advisory" notice for several bikeway detours and closures in the coming weeks due to streetcar track construction (and related sewer work) on Broadway and Weidler.
Here are the latest details (emphasis mine):

Detail [...]

Cell phones and bikes -- like riding blind!(Photo © J. Maus)

Since Oregon enacted their new cell phone law on January 1st, many people have asked me if it applies to people riding bicycles. My previous opinion was that it doesn't, but a closer look at the law now has me less certain -- and [...]

Graphic from the Too Po' Fo' Alice event website.

As a reaction to the high price of tickets for the BTA's Alice Awards & Auction fundraising gala, a group of well-meaning Portland bike activists have announced their own version -- the "Too Po' Fo' Alice Potluck."
On the event's Facebook page, organizer of the potluck, Matt Picio [...]

"The combined estimated direct and indirect costs of losses attributable to cell phone use while driving on City business = $283,554 to $1,039,698 annually." -- From a City risk assessment report on the use of cell phones while driving

The City of Portland is taking Oregon's new cell phone law one step further when it comes [...]

Here's the news that caught our eye this week:
- The ballooning recall of Toyota models with sticky accellerators has cast light on the reluctance with which the auto industry responds to safety issues.
- While many of our Portland readers were at City Hall to rally and attend the new bicycle plan hearing, the federal [...]