Heading to the 'Couve? Remember your helmet.(Photos © J. Maus)

Back in 2008, Vancouver (WA) passed an all-ages, mandatory helmet law. While enforcement has been nearly nonexistent since then, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) says that's about to change.
Hoping to increase compliance with the law, VPD spokesperson Kim Kapp tells us new police patrols, will [...]

Len Rubin has a dream to mass produce these trailers in Portland, and he's asking the community to help him make it happen.(Photo: Tamara Rubin)

Remember Len Rubin? He's the Sellwood resident whose one-of-a-kind, custom folding bike was stolen and then recovered a few weeks later.
Now Rubin is asking the community to help him take one [...]

The Dekum Building could become Portland's first major public bike parking facility.(Photo: Naito Properties)

The Dekum Building on SW 3rd and Washington in downtown Portland was built in 1892. It's the oldest office building in the city and the former home of famed global ad agency Wieden + Kennedy. Now, building owner and manager Naito Properties [...]

Brand: jamisModel: satellite sportColor:48cmSize:black and whiteSerial: u98u13605Photo: http://www.citybikes.coop/bikes/jamis-satellite-sport/Stolen in Portland, OR 97206Stolen:2011-05-24Stolen From: 70TH AND SE BOISENeighborhood: FOSTER POWELL NEIGHBORHOODOwner: Vanessa GonzalezOwnerEmail: talktovanessa@gmail.comReward: $100Description: 48 cm
STILL HAS BLACK AND YELLOW KRYPTONITE LOCK LOCKED ON THE FRAME
"PUT THE FUN BETWEEN YOUR LEGS" STICKER ON FRAMEThis registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

I've gotten a few readers photos lately that are worth sharing.
The first comes from reader Jeff Bernards, who noticed a peculiar traffic safety display at SE 76th and Stark the other day...

Sing, play guitar, speak Spanish: PBOT employee Timo Forsberg goes the extra mile.(Photo © J. Maus)

The Transportation Options Division within the City of Portland's Bureau of Transportation has published it's biking and walking maps in Spanish for years (and they recently added five new languages to the mix).
It's one thing to print resources in [...]

New storefront for Western Bike Worksat NW Lovejoy and 17th.(Photos © J. Maus)

Even in a down economy, Portland's bike business boom shows no signs of letting up, especially when it comes to bike shops. Throughout the city — from Northwest to East Portland — shops large and small are expanding or opening their doors [...]

[Publisher's note: As anyone who follows me on Twitter or who has read the comments and stories on this site closely over the years knows, I have a thing for language. In my opinion, the words we use have a very powerful role in shaping the narrative around transportation issues. I see examples of this [...]

Oregon State Parks' Scenic Bikeway Program wasn't considered in the rankings.(Photo © J. Maus)

New 'Bicycle Friendly State' rankings by the League of American Bicyclists put Oregon in 8th place, a loss of three places since last year and the first time since the rankings began in 2008 that Oregon has not made the top five.
Washington [...]

Event Name: 2011 Human Power Challenge
Event Start Date: 28 May 2011
Start Time: 8:00:00 AM
Web Site: http://www.ohpv.org/HPC/index.html
Event Description: Oregon Human Powered Vehicles Presents: The 12th Annual Human Power Challenge (HPC)
The event will be held on Memorial Day Weekend, May 28 & 29, 2011 at Portland International Raceway (PIR) in Portland, Oregon. This unique event [...]

"Officers attempted to educate the riders by issuing traffic tickets since all other attempts to educate the riders have failed... It is unfortunate that such a great event and fundraiser should be tainted by such a widespread disregard for the laws."— Dan Brown, City of Amity Chief of Police

This past Saturday during Reach the Beach, [...]

Concept drawing of proposed new Portland Center for Performing Arts building on SW Main Street at Broadway. (View looking west on SW Main St)

The email below came from a participant in Reach the Beach, a large charity event ride that took place throughout Oregon on Saturday. I'm looking into the story now.
"There was a police operation in Amity during Reach The Beach where a cop was attempting to ticket hundreds of us for running a stop sign. [...]

A woman enjoys the newly designated bike-onlyspace on E Burnside over I-205.(Photo © J. Maus)

The City of Portland has installed new bike lanes on the East Burnside overpass of I-205. The bike lanes had previously dropped on either side of the overpass (at NE 94th and 97th).
The new lanes take advantage of a wide shoulder [...]

Bench at NE Prescott and 68th.(Photo © J. Maus)

The Community Cycling Center is taking their "I ride" campaign to new places. The non-profit that sees bicycles as "vehicles for social change" announced today they have purchased bus bench advertisements at 15 locations in north and northeast Portland.
I spotted one of the ads yesterday on NE [...]

J.C. on the Cully cycle track.(Photo © J. Maus)

Join us this Wednesday (5/25) for a social meet-up in the Cully Neighborhood. If you live or ride in this area of Northeast Portland, roll over to The Spare Room (NE 42nd and Alberta Ct.) for some great conversation, a raffle, and a chance to make connections [...]

In Seattle, bicycle politics are getting a little heated, though many aren't sure why.

Here's the bike and transportation news that caught my eye last week:
- Bike to Work Week led to a lot of positive press about bicycling last week. Here's one woman's story about overcoming her fear of bicycling. And there was plenty of [...]

Sunday Parkways got off to a solid start in outer East Portland yesterday.(Photos © J. Maus)

Year: 2005Brand: GTModel: Mountain Bike - 7 SpeedColor:MaroonSize:KidsStolen in Portland, OR 97213Stolen:2011-05-20Stolen From: Front porch - NE 45th Ave - 97213Neighborhood: HollywoodOwner: Beverly PiesOwnerEmail: rpies7777@yahoo.comReward: Yes $50Description: Nice kids mountain bike maroon - 7 speed girl style good condition.Police record with: PDXThis registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Year: 2007Brand: SpecializedModel: Sequoia EliteColor:Blue/SilverSize:49Serial:P6DT10016Stolen in Portland, OR 97216Stolen:2011-05-22Stolen From: My driveway.Neighborhood: Montavilla, SE PortlandOwner: Amy LongOwnerEmail: amy@thelongs.wsDescription: Dent in top tube and a little scraped up from 3 years of commuting.Police record with: PortlandPolice reference#: 11-152603This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike