The Monday Roundup

Oh good, I was beginning to worry.

Here are all the best bike news stories and other tidbits we came across last week…

— How committed is the NYC DOT to safe streets? They recently placed “Street Safety Managers” at intersections of high-volume bikeways.

— Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer was hospitalized after taking a fall while riding his bicycle. The 74-year old also managed to break ribs and puncture his lung while biking back in 1993 says the Washington Post.

— Venerable London-based news magazine The Economist had a Special Report last week on the future of the car. Their cover story, Clean, safe and it drives itself hints at the very rosy picture they paint. It’s almost as if the entire report was written by automakers.

— Yes, those sinister automakers are very sly… Everyone’s heard the startling stats about how expensive car ownership has become (over $9,000 a year says the AAA). Well, Toyota has wasted no time in trying to reverse that narrative with their new marketing campaign that focuses on the exact opposite idea — that you’ll actually save money by buying one.

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Gray Gary Fisher Hybrid 2000

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Year: 2000
Brand: Gary Fisher
Model: Hybrid
Color:Gray
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2013-04-29
Stolen From: 1221 SW Washington – in front of the Washington St entrance to the Indigo and Racione.
Neighborhood: West End
Owner: Ruby Gates
OwnerEmail: rubygates( atsign )encapsysinc.com
Reward: $100
Description: Gray Gary Fisher bike with black rack on the back. Bell ringer on the front has a unique sticker with PDX Lounge on it.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T13003664
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Obama picks Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx for USDOT Secretary – UPDATED

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Anthony Foxx could be
our next DOT Secretary.
(Photo: Anthony Foxx Facebook Page)

News has broken this evening that President Obama will pick Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx as the next US Department of Transportation Secretary. Foxx, 41, would replace Ray LaHood, who Obama appointed in December 2008.

Foxx has been mayor of Charlotte for almost four years and just recently announced he would not seek re-election. He’s a former lawyer who has spent most of his professional life in politics. From what I’ve seen reported so far, it appears Foxx does not have much transportation experience. He’s pushed for highway widening projects, he’s started a streetcar revival in Charlotte and he’s a big proponent of rail transit in general.

Here’s more on the selection of Foxx from Slate’s Matthew Yglesias:

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silver/Black Viscount 1979

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Year: 1979
Brand: Viscount
Color:silver/Black
Size:Large
Photo: http://bike-boom.blogspot.com/2013/01/silver-viscount-road-bike.html
Stolen in 97214, OR
Stolen:2013-04-17
Stolen From: Apartment on SE 30th and SE Harrison
Neighborhood: Richmond
Owner: Sean Worl
OwnerEmail: seanworl(at sign)gmail.com
Description: Black and grey Viscount road bike with black handlebar wrap and brand new black break levers. The frame is quite large (I’m 6’3″). The bike has all new cables and cable housing, it was tuned up right before it was stolen. The gear shifters are on the ends of the drop down handlebars. It has a white seat, which is a little torn up and worn. The picture above is a similar bike, and is not the bike that was stolen. The paint is the same.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-152412
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

pewter specialized expedition 1985

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Year: 1985
Brand: specialized
Model: expedition
Color:pewter
Size:60 cm?
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/uVoSOMK.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2013-04-27
Stolen From: 5th ave, between Couch and Davis, east side of street, opposite backspace coffee shop
Neighborhood: Old Town
Owner: Craig Farrell
OwnerEmail: pedrosbus@yahoo.com
Description: cheap but nice brown leather seat, blue handlebar wrap and bottle cage super champion 700c rims, all original specialized labeling removed, old oregon bike license from 1980’s on frame, dinosaur bike bell schwalbe marathon tires
Police record with: Portland Police Bureau
Police reference#: 13-152555
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Red Nishiki

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Brand: Nishiki
Color:Red
Size:45″
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2013-04-28
Stolen From: From behind the Watershed, 5040 SE Milwaukie, across the street from Oak’s Bottom Wildlife Refuge.
Neighborhood: Sellwood
Owner: Maralena Murphy
OwnerEmail: maralena.murphy(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Reward: The best massage you have ever had
Description: It’s a red Nishiki, 45″ men’s frame. It’s got Y shaped handlebars that curve back ever so slightly and have black hand grips. When it was stolen, it had black front & rear fenders and a black rack on the back with a fancy, usb-charging red blinker on it. Three front gears, five or six back gears. Probably its most noticeable feature is that there’s a cut-off old derailleur, which serves to hold the cable tension, on the center pole just beneath the (new!) front derailleur. Also when it was stolen one of the spokes on the rear wheel was broken and was being held in place with a black zip tie. The front shifter cable has a pink cable cap.

You can call me at 617.406.8299
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T13003618
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

black/white/blue Kona Jake the Snake 2011

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Year: 2011
Brand: Kona
Model: Jake the Snake
Color:black/white/blue
Size:53cm
Serial:H1BZ38668
Photo: http://behind-bars.com/blog/did-someone-say-cross-season/
Stolen in Portland, OR 97203
Stolen:2013-04-27
Stolen From: My car that was parked in the driveway at 6510 N Amherst Portland, OR 97203
Neighborhood: University Park
Owner: Marenda Chamberlin
OwnerEmail: marenda.chamberlin@gmail.com
Reward: 50.00
Description: The picture is not actually my bike but a picture of my bike but the exact make and model. Mine has lime green bar tape, planet bike speedez fenders and front and rear light, a black water bottle holder, an extra set of granny brakes, the drop handle bar narrower than the stock model of the bike. There’s a hitch on the rear axel for a trailer. Would really love to find this bike!
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: 13-152544
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

silver Trek ? road bike 1980s

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Year: 1980s
Brand: Trek
Model: ? road bike
Color:silver
Size:52 I think
Photo: http://wizmosis.com/Bein-bike.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2013-04-25
Stolen From: NE 26th & Everett, from my Living room!
Neighborhood: Kerns
Owner: susan bein
OwnerEmail: wizmosis(A T)gmail.com
Reward: yes
Description: single gear freewheel, one brake. Small, fits woman 5’3″. Very stripped down, no toe clips or fenders. Straight-ish handlebars with black cloth tape. Black worn seat with a patch on the back corner about to come off. Just powdercoated 2 weeks ago. Slight dent in top tube.
Police record with: Portland police
Police reference#: 13-32805
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Brown Specialized Sirrus

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Brand: Specialized
Model: Sirrus
Color:Brown
Size:22 inches
Serial:p7DA01385
Stolen in PORTLAND, OR 97217
Stolen:2012-10-01
Stolen From: N Terry and Belknap
Owner: Jesse King
OwnerEmail: jesse.king175@gmail.com
Description: Handle bar grips, platform/clip in pedals, Fenders, rack.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Weekend Guide

Ride w Danica to Smith and Bybee lakes-5-5

Get out and explore Smith and Bybee Lakes
with expert guides.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

If you’re just waking up on Saturday morning and wondering what to do on your bike on this fine sunny weekend; check out a few of our suggestions below…

Saturday

North Portland Sharrows to Sparrows Ride – 9:00 am
Join expert guide Mike Houck from the Urban Greenspaces Institute and PBOT’s Greg Raisman for this ride that starts at Pier Park (in St. Johns) and goes to beautiful natural areas at Smith and Bybee Lakes. There will be guest speakers including neighbors, BES, PBOT, Friends of Trees, and Audubon staff along the way. In addition, Mike is an amazing bird and natural area expert that is always great to learn from. Bring binoculars, a camera, and water. (Meet at Pier Park parking lot, N Bruce Ave and James St)

East Portland Transportation Town Hall – 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

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City will move forward with road diet, bike lanes on SE Division

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Bike lanes coming soon.

The Bureau of Transportation has announced their intention to move forward on the re-striping of SE Division between SE 60th and 80th. The decision comes after a public meeting held Tuesday where neighborhood residents and other stakeholders expressed strong support for the “road diet” and addition of bike lanes as a way to improve safety on the street.

PBOT reports that 50 people came to the meeting and a “large majority” supported the Phase 1 improvements which include:

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NYC advocates get political with launch of ‘StreetsPAC’

StreetsPAC launch event yesterday.
(Photo: Dmitry Gudkov)

The latest enviable livable streets advancement in New York City isn’t another excellent bikeway or public plaza project: It’s StreetsPAC, a lobbying arm for activists aimed at flexing political muscle for the cause. Launched with a press conference yesterday, StreetsPAC feels like a natural development for a city that has the most mature livable streets advocacy ecosystem in the country.

Here’s how they define their mission:

StreetsPAC is a political action committee dedicated to improving the safety, mobility and livability of one of New York City’s greatest assets: its streets. The space between buildings, including sidewalks, roads and plazas, account for the majority of all public space in the five boroughs, and are a precious resource to be used and enjoyed by all.

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