The Year in Pictures 2011

Participants in the World Naked Bike Ride eagerly await the start of the ride.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Yes I realize it’s February, but I thought some of you still might appreciate a look back at some of the memorable images of 2011. So, without further ado…

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Metro seeking public input on SW Corridor Plan tonight

Map of the SW Corridor.
(Full map in a PDF)

Metro is holding a public forum tonight at the Tigard Public Library to collect input on the Southwest Corridor Plan.

The plan incorporates local and regional land use planning efforts along Barbur Boulevard and Highway 99 between downtown Portland and Sherwood. It includes improvements to walking, transit, and bicycle access in and around SW Portland, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin, Beaverton, Durham, King City, and Lake Oswego.

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Lewis & Clark students prep for ‘Bike to Eugene Challenge’ – UPDATED

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Last year we shared the story of a group of Environmental Law students at Lewis & Clark College and their ‘Bike to Eugene Challenge.’ The annual event takes a group of 20-30 law students on a ride from Portland to the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC) in Eugene.

The 140-mile ride by ‘Team Eugene’, as the students call themselves, reduces the group’s carbon footprint and helps illustrate the benefits of bicycling for long-distance transportation.

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Cycle Oregon preps for first online-only registration

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Cycle Oregon 08 Kickoff Party

Cycle Oregon fans swarm the
sign-up table at the 2008
route announcement party.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

One week from today Cycle Oregon will kick off 2012 by unveiling the routes for their week and weekend rides with a big event out at the Nike headquarters in Beaverton.

In the past, the route announcement was followed by a crush of eager Cycle Oregon fans signing up at the event. But this year, organizers won’t allow those sign-ups. Instead they’ve opted for an online-only system to make grabbing a slot on the legendary event a bit more fair.

Last year’s week-long ride sold out just two days after the kick-off party, and with this year being the 25th annual edition, organizers anticipate record interest. To help level the sign-up playing field, registration for this year’s ride will begin on the Cycle Oregon website at 9:00 pm (PST) on February 7th.

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Advocates gird for battle to save biking in federal transpo bill

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Cover of the bill (because
transportation is all about
big pipes and ugly freeway
overpasses right?!).

Once again, national advocacy groups are prepping the cannons for an all out assault on Congress as word spreads that the U.S. House of Representatives is will unveil a new surface transportation bill — dubbed the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act — today.

What do national advocacy groups and other advocates think about it?

“This Is Not a Drill: Highway Lobby Trying to Push Transpo Bill Thru Congress,” reads a headline from Streetsblog DC.

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Photos from ‘The 2012 Bicycle Experience’ art show

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Scroll down for photos of the show.

A handful of lucky Portlanders were treated to quite a show on Friday night at the closing reception of The 2012 Bicycle Experience: Prototypes, Visions & Dreams.

In his first installation/show, Johnnie Olivan impressed everyone with his sculptures and other creations (there were also some excellent paintings by other artists). From the mini-bike ‘Teeter-Totter’ to the many-armed ‘Bicycle Ninja,’ the pieces all came together in very convincing way. We were also treated to a performance by the Sprockettes. More images from the event below…

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ODOT employee dies after being hit while riding on rural Salem road

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Streetview near location of collision.

57-year old Dave Apperson, an employee at ODOT since 2006, was struck and killed by someone driving a car while he pedaled his recumbent on a rural road near Salem Friday morning.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s office the collision took place around 10:30 am on Hopewell Rode near Spring Valley Lane about 10 miles north of downtown Salem. Apperson was struck from behind by 26-year old nearby resident John Taylor, who was driving a Dodge Ram pickup.

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Mayor announces date for annual Transportation Safety Summit

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Mark your calendars for March 13th and plan to attend the 6th annual Transportation Safety Summit. Mayor Sam Adams posted details on the event today:

SAVE THE DATE MARCH 13 for the SIXTH TRANSPORTATION SAFETY SUMMIT

WHEN: Tuesday, March 13, 2012
5:30–9:00 PM

WHERE: Jefferson High School,
5210 N Kerby Portland, OR 97217

The Sixth Transportation Safety Summit kicks off with a Community Initiatives Poster Session from 5:30–6:15 PM. This is a great opportunity to showcase your work before local transportation and community leaders.

Please contact Sharon White at sharon.white@portlandoregon.gov to reserve exhibit space.

For more on this event, see our coverage from 2011 and previous years here.

Activists to Mayor Adams: Free the Disco Trike or face bike swarm – UPDATED

(Graphic: PDX Bike Swarm)

After Dan Kaufman’s Disco Trike was confiscated by Portland police during protests last Wednesday, activists are now increasing pressure on City Hall to release it.

In a blog post this morning, PDX Bike Swarm claimed that, “the police had no reason to confiscate it and we want it back.” In addition to impounding his trike, Kaufman says police ripped his video camera out of his hand and handcuffed him.

Now PDX Bike Swarm has issued a threat to Mayor Sam Adams:

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