ODOT takes stock of funding levels in new transportation bill

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A day in Salem-3

They’re already crunching numbers in Salem.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Congress officially passed a new, two-year transportation bill today. As I shared yesterday, it’s regarded by active transportation advocates as being downright bad. Even Portland Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who was on the conference committee that hashed out the final bill, calls its passage “strangely anti-climactic” (I spoke with Congressman Blumenauer today and will share his candid take on the bill in a separate story).

For their part, the Oregon Department of Transportation has wasted no time in parsing the numbers to see where their programs and funding levels stand with the new bill. ODOT’s role in doling out federal transportation funds has become heightened because a major theme of the new bill is that it gives more control of the pursestrings to states. For instance, a full one-half of the total amount of money in a new program dubbed “Transportation Alternatives” (about $307 million per year nationwide) will be doled out through a competitive grant program. (States can also decide to spend that chunk on other things, although given ODOT’s track record and trajectory of respect toward active transportation, it’s unlikely they would take part in that sneaky “opt-out” provision.)

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PBOT campaign encourages people to avoid Alberta Street

PBOT’s new campaign.
(Photo: Alberta Main Street/FB)

An interesting development in the main-street vs side-streets debate was brought to my attention by a reader this morning.

As part of a marketing campaign around their marquee bike boulevard, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has placed several signs on NE Alberta Street to encourage folks to ride on the Going Street neighborhood greenway.

The photo on the right was posted by Alberta Main Street on their Facebook page with the words: “Love this! Why risk riding your bike on Alberta Street when the low stress Going Street Neighborhood Greenway is just two blocks South of Alberta?”

The comments (and number of “Likes”) show that the campaign is a big hit. PBOT, through their Neighborhood Greenways Facebook page, left a comment too. Here’s what they said:

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Meet Bill Chin; Pedalpalooza’s iron man

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Bill Chin on the pizza ride-2

Bill Chin during a stop on the Epic Pizza Ride.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

For 52-year-old IT project manager Bill Chin, June is his biggest biking month of the year. Bill, a native Portlander who lives in John’s Landing, has ridden well over 400 miles since the month began. Interestingly, he’s done most of those miles pedaling to and from Pedalpalooza rides.

I bumped into him a few nights ago at the Epic Pizza Ride, his 19th ride of this year’s nearly month-long Pedalpalooza fest.

“I’m not a daily commuter, so this gets me out on my bike,” Bill shared as he scrolled through the list of rides he’s done. He’s got notes from several years of Pedalpaloozas on his phone (“Hey, I’m an IT guy, what can I say?”). He figures he’s taken part in almost every Pedalpalooza since it began as BikeSummer 10 years ago.

His favorites so far this year include the various naked rides, the Rocky Butte Sunset Ride, the downtown tour with famous drag queen Darcelle, and of course, the Pizza Ride.

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Job: SMART Transit Intern – City of Wilsonville

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Job Title
SMART Transit Intern

Company/Organization
City of Wilsonville

Job Description
The City of Wilsonville is seeking a highly motivated intern to assist with SMART Options transportation programs, including the August 19th Wilsonville Sunday Streets event. This position will be managed by the Smart Options division of South Metro Area Regional Transit, a department of the City of Wilsonville. This internship position will begin immediately and last approximately two months.

How to Apply
Please use the City of Wilsonville website

First look at ’75 Classic Rides: Oregon’ guidebook

Cover

Remember last July when I shared the news that four — yes four! — new bike guidebooks based on Portland and Oregon would be hitting the shelves this summer?

Back in March we were introduced to Ellee Thalheimer’s Cycling Sojourner, an excellent new guidebook for multi-day tours on Oregon’s backroads.

Today, I got a sneak peek at another one of the new books: 75 Classic Rides Oregon: The Best Road Biking Routes, published by The Mountaineers. This full-color, paperbound book is written by freelance writer and north Portland resident Jim Moore and is should be on store shelves now.

Jim has been riding Oregon’s most beautiful roads for years (I rode with him up to Timothy Lake back in 2005) and he’s poured a lot of insights and great writing into this project. He’s a talented wordsmith, so don’t expect the typical boring guidebook prose. “The descriptions are more experiential (and sometimes irreverent), to give people a personal feel for each route,” Jim recently shared.

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Black Azonic AZ-7 2008

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Year: 2008
Brand: Azonic
Model: AZ-7
Color:Black
Size:Medium
Photo: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/php2F1ExpHcC_ZMtPxBd4MOQwCWk-Q6DeVf8YHeDKNs?feat=directlink
Stolen in Portland, OR
Stolen:2012-06-28
Stolen From: Corner of NW 16th Ave / NW Johnson
Neighborhood: Pearl
Owner: David Saltzberg
OwnerEmail: davidsaltzberg@gmail.com
Description: This is a custom build: Azonic AZ-7 hardtail (M), SRAM X9 grupo, Stans ZTR Alpine wheels, RockShox SID Race fork.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-055986
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Black/Red Schwinn Cruiser 1 2011

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Year: 2011
Brand: Schwinn
Model: Cruiser 1
Color:Black/Red
Size:26″
Serial: fsd10eb4809
Photo: https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/u/0/?ui=2&ik=90336bf220&view=att&th=138263804483c476&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=1405795413826469888-1&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P_XdE5BYkpgmrfxK2Vu8PId&sadet=1340949133024&sads=WYq4xe8hHZGPDHF9TrF8g9utNgY&sadssc=1
Stolen in Gresham, OR 97233
Stolen:2012-06-25
Stolen From: My bike was stolen from Cansler Village Apartments. It is located at 768 SE 193rd Avenue. It is located on SE Burnside Street.
Neighborhood: Gresham-Rockwood
Owner: Michael Mulcock
OwnerEmail: hfteaser@gmail.com
Reward: 150
Description: It is cruiser bike with a black frame w/ red detail. The seat is black with a red on the area where you sit down. It has white-wall tires, a black chain-guard with the Schwinn in the color red, and a kickstand.
Police record with: Gresham PD
Police reference#: 12-0707174
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Bianchi Green/Blue Bianchi Axis 2001

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Year: 2001
Brand: Bianchi
Model: Axis
Color:Bianchi Green/Blue
Size:58cm
Photo: http://us.zilok.com/rental/60349-bike-for-rent-cyclo-cross-bianchi-axis.html?l=48286
Stolen in Beaverton, OR 97008
Stolen:2012-06-27
Stolen From: Denney/Scholls/217 neighborhood
Neighborhood: Beaverton
Owner: Ernie Conway
OwnerEmail: racing@consystency.net
Description: It is a Bianchi Axis cyclocross bike – Bianchi green with Blue detailing. Campy Daytona/Centaur 10speed drive train. 56cm. Bianchi green bar tape with in-line brake handles going to cross cantilever brakes that have big new brake pads on them. ATAC clipless pedals [maybe green/yellow]. It has a [maybe lakeside] black seat bag and a pump mount (there are no water bottle cages because it was almost too small for me to get my arm through on when lifting to jump a cross barrier. Black deep dish rims with chrome hubs. They look like Mavic, but are not. Black 700×35 road tires. Wide black bolt on rear planet bike fender – with no mud flap (none on the front).
Police record with: Beaverton PD
Police reference#: 12-4974
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Silver/Grey Trek

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Brand: Trek
Color:Silver/Grey
Size:Large
Stolen in Portland, OR 97236
Stolen:2012-06-28
Stolen From: Safeway on 181st and Powell in SE Portland.
Neighborhood: SE Portland
Owner: James Shaw
OwnerEmail: dhampircrimson@gmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: Black seat-cover. On the actual seat, the material is worn through to the foam on the back. “World of Bikes” sticker near gears, plastic RAGIBRAI bracelet held on by twist-tie at the connection of the handlebars. Cheap plastic red reflector directly beneath seat, white one on handlebars.
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike