NY Times shares Pearl District “bike style” with the world

Still from NY Times video.

The venerable New York Times turned their video lens to Portland’s Pearl District and is currently sharing the results on their home page for all the world to see. In Intersection: Bicycle Style in the Pearl they capture the personal style perspectives of four Portlanders who bike.

Depending on your feelings about bikes, fashion, the Pearl District, or any combination of the three, the video (below) will likely either amuse, inspire, or annoy. What’s interesting to us is that northwest Portland (which includes the Pearl) was one of only two places in the city to record a decrease in ridership according to the City’s 2012 counts (a 5.7% decline from 2011 numbers). It’s also worth noting that the video was shot on NW 13th, which we hope will someday become Portland’s first shopping street/promenade where parking and through access for drivers is prohibited. The video also shows just the latest recognition of bicycle fashion among the major media — a sign that bicycling is becoming more mainstream in America.

Check out the video below for the latest in “bike style in the Pearl”…

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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captainkarma
captainkarma
10 years ago

Gag. Getting attention from NYT = time to move.

Matt
Matt
10 years ago
Reply to  captainkarma

The NYT has always loved PDX

q`Tzal
q`Tzal
10 years ago
Reply to  captainkarma

We need the perspective of Bike Snob NYC.

JAT in Seattle
JAT in Seattle
10 years ago
Reply to  q`Tzal

http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2013/07/hurry-up-and-wednesday-already.html

key quotation: “(I’ll bet you $18 this guy doesn’t own a bike.)”

Kiel Johnson / Go By Bike
10 years ago

did she buy the bike to be in the video? i don’t get the “30 minute ago” reference

Yuri Nashun
Yuri Nashun
10 years ago
Reply to  Kiel Johnson

Yuck…nothing but a fashion video.

Hart Noecker
10 years ago
Reply to  Kiel Johnson

What an embarrassment. How much more shallow and superficial could they have made this? Honestly, I thought this was parody when I first viewed it. Portlandia could never make something this funny.

Todd Hudson
Todd Hudson
10 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

I know! People not like me, how dare they. Must be witches, burn them!

Hart Noecker
10 years ago
Reply to  Todd Hudson

Naw, you miss the point. The “fashion” is irrelevant. What matters is that this has nothing to do with bikes other than to have them serve as a prop. She doesn’t care about that bike, and she’ll likely never ride it. If this is how we want urban cycling promoted, we’re doomed.

Chris Anderson
10 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

Funny my reaction was the opposite: the more jejune, shallow, or unthinking the reasons for cycling become, the more mainstream it is. How many people who drive care about the difference between fuel injection and a carburetor?

lazyofay
lazyofay
10 years ago
Reply to  Chris Anderson

I am with you here Chris…. Bicycles are a tool and a tool only. Their perceived value on a personal level matters little to me when I see others on them, I do not care what they wear,what they ride, or how.. I am just simply happy to see it being done.
I can stare lovingly however, all day long at my Vintage Rene Herse, or the 1967 PX-10 I saved out from a trash pile at a Southern Baptist church yard sale… These bikes may not mean much but to a few others on the planet, as they may only see “bicycle”.
Diversity…diversity…diversity.
Ride yer friggin’ bike, y’all.

A.K.
A.K.
10 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

“other than to have them serve as a prop”

*cough*Veloprovo*cough*

A.K.
A.K.
10 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

Who cares? It’s people on bikes. I don’t care for fashion and this doesn’t impact anyone one bit, except that more and more people like bikes every year, which is a “good thing” last time I checked.

And this is just as valid as you using them for propaganda/political purposes. Frankly I’d put your cohort and the NYT piece at about the same level of generating respect for cycling.

pdxpaul
pdxpaul
10 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

Aren’t you the guy who turned in the “narc” on your “rebels ride” because he wasn’t dressed to your standards? Aren’t you also constantly deriding as “uncool” commuters who dress for function with helmets and high-quality, not fashionable wearther-resistant outerwear? Curiouser and curiouser. Impossible to pleeze sum foalk.

Todd Hudson
Todd Hudson
10 years ago
Reply to  pdxpaul

Yep, that’s him!

was carless
was carless
10 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

Pot, meet kettle.

BikerinNE
BikerinNE
10 years ago

In my, not so humble of opinion, none of the interviewees qualifies as “bikers.” Them folks are just casual part-time bike riders who just happened to have bicycles. The first gal said she just bought her bike 30 minutes ago. That whole thing was lame. I want my three minutes back.

David
David
10 years ago
Reply to  BikerinNE

What’s wrong with casual part-time riders? What’s the cutoff point at which you become, in your opinion, a “real” cyclist?

Don’t we just want more people riding bikes, more often?

anon1q2w3e4r5t
anon1q2w3e4r5t
10 years ago
Reply to  David

Hey now! I own all rights to the term “real bicyclist” here on BP, I object to you using my term!

pixelgate
pixelgate
10 years ago
Reply to  BikerinNE

Oh noes. Not casual, part-time riders. Get over it.

Dave Trausneck
Dave Trausneck
10 years ago
Reply to  BikerinNE

So riding 50 miles in the Columbia River Gorge for Jackson’s Ride the Gorge the past 3 years doesn’t qualify me as a cyclist. Cool. I also live on the east side and rode down to Barista because I like the coffee shop, the owner is my friend, he sponsors my local men’s league soccer team and I was tired at 4pm after working overnight Thursday night into Friday. Oh, I also ride my bike to work almost every day.

I wore my helmet down there on the ride, my bike was locked up with a u-lock kitty-korner from that intersection, I’m a member of the Bicycle Transit Alliance and anything else you feel like saying about me, you go right ahead.

I just happened to be wearing really colorful socks that all the money goes toward the Children’s Healing Art Project in Portland, which is why they wanted to talk to me. You have a problem with me wearing socks for charity so little kids can feel better with degenerative conditions, you go right ahead. I’ll still sleep at night.

John R.
John R.
10 years ago
Reply to  Dave Trausneck

Right on. Thank you.

Paul in the 'couve
Paul in the 'couve
10 years ago
Reply to  Dave Trausneck

helmet tip

LL
LL
10 years ago
Reply to  Dave Trausneck

BEST.SOCKS.EVER!

Adams Carroll (News Intern)
Reply to  Dave Trausneck

Thanks for the comment Dave. You looked great in the video. Congrats! See you out in the streets.

rob
rob
10 years ago
Reply to  Dave Trausneck

No, apparently you’ll be working overnight, but what’s the difference? don’t let erudite cyclists getcha down, Brother!

pdxpaul
pdxpaul
10 years ago
Reply to  Dave Trausneck

Because they h8, u kno u kewl.

Steve B
Steve B
10 years ago
Reply to  Dave Trausneck

Dave, you are awesome.

Adams Carroll (News Intern)

Man, you guys are harsh. I think the lady who just bought her bike was sweet. She just sees “being a cyclist” as something that requires actually having a bike and riding it… which is something she just did that same day. Nothing wrong with that. More people riding the better.

And I don’t get the annoyance with the NY Times covering something. They document culture all around the country and they happen to think Portland has a distinct culture that’s worth sharing and newsworthy. Great!

And I understand that not everyone is into fashion or thinks it’s important. I happen to think it’s interesting. And although I am fashion-challenged, I respect people that take time to dress themselves well and use their clothes as a form of expression.

David
David
10 years ago

Agreed. But as they say: “Haters gonna hate.”

This isn’t like indie music or PBR or something. Riding a bike doesn’t suddenly become less cool (and who even cares about that) if more newbies start riding. Riding a bike becomes *more safe* if more people ride.

Who the hell cares if NYT (or whoever else) covers biking, as long as it inspires more people to ride.

Josh G
Josh G
10 years ago
Reply to  David

David’s got it. Fashion comes and goes but 2 wheels good, 4 wheels bad is forever.

Paul Cone
They could have saved a word and done a video about Alberta, since it’s only “hipster” and not “hipster-chic”.
Recommended 0

David
Agreed. But as they say: “Haters gonna hate.”
This isn’t like indie music or PBR or something. Riding a bike doesn’t suddenly become less cool (and who even cares about that) if more newbies start riding. Riding a bike becomes *more safe* if more people ride.
Who the hell cares if NYT (or whoever else) covers biking, as long as it inspires more people to ride.
Recommended 8

q`Tzal
q`Tzal
10 years ago
Reply to  David

In your best/worst British punk rocker voice just yell
“POSERS!!!” at the next cyclist you see that isn’t as hardcore fixie punk as you.
At least that is what the current lynching attitude here seems like to me.

Kiel Johnson / Go By Bike
10 years ago

I would like to see a NYTimes “Portland Fashioned Challenged Bike Style” especially if it was narrated by who everyone wishes their grandpa was and lifelong bicycle rider, Bill Cunningham

JRB
JRB
10 years ago
Reply to  Kiel Johnson

Yes. This piece could have just as easily been that and it would have been very funny, but I would vote for Tim Gunn of “Project Runway” as the narrator

Hart Noecker
10 years ago

NYT’s blog editor: “Um, kids are riding bikes these days, but I have no idea how to cover it in any meaningful way, so…uh…let’s throw it down to fashion and see what they think.”

Fashion blog editor: “Um, I don’t know the first thing about bikes, um, let’s buy a bike for a cute girl and do close-ups of her necklace. Ooh! There’s a guy in a Tiger’s hat, let’s shoot him, too!”

Bike Portland readers: “You’ve gotta’ be kidding me.”

[end scene]

Esther
Esther
10 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

Really Hart? The woman (not “girl” as you said) must have had the bike bought for her?

Hart Noecker
10 years ago
Reply to  Esther

30 minutes prior to her interview? Yeah, she didn’t buy that thing. Don’t kid me.

Bjorn
Bjorn
10 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

Wow one thing about you, you are always ready to double down, even when your comment is probably one of the most sexist I’ve ever seen on the blog. Normally I think there is a lot of overreaction to this kind of thing, but there is always an exception that proves the rule.

Paul Cone
Paul Cone
10 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

Esther and Bjorn, I get what you’re trying to say, but I’m not sure there’s any sexism here. It could have just as easily been a dude with a brand new bike. And the woman herself did say she was flirty girly. That’s not sexist — it’s just trying to be sexy.

Esther
Esther
10 years ago
Reply to  Paul Cone

Paul, we already have a problem with disproportionate ridership here in Portland and worse everywhere else. People insisting loudly (on blogs, much less in person) that a woman who has a bike will “likely never ride it” and must have had the bike bought for her (when she’s already said otherwise) does not help the problem.

Paul Cone
Paul Cone
10 years ago
Reply to  Esther

Esther, I agree we have a problem, but I don’t think Hart’s comment was because she was a woman — I think it was because she’s hipster-chic. A guy could have just as easily said that and Hart would have likely said the same thing.

Jessica Heath
Jessica Heath
10 years ago
Reply to  Paul Cone

Take off your helmet and listen to the video. I was asked “How would I describe the fashion of Portland?” to which I replied “Hipster chic”. I did NOT say I was a hipster. If you need further guidance as to what I mean by “hipster chic” please refer to my post below.

Paul Cone
Paul Cone
10 years ago
Reply to  Paul Cone

Hey Jessica — no need to be rude and assume I can’t hear. I don’t wear my helmet while I’m in front of the computer. So you’re self-described as flirty-girly. If you were a dude you would have said bro-manly or something. My point is I do not believe anyone is picking on you because you are a woman. If anything, you’re the one who pointed out your gender first.

PC
PC
10 years ago
Reply to  Paul Cone

Would Hart have called him a “boy?” That’s what puts it over the line for me. The combination of a totally undeserved assumption about how she acquired the bike along with the choice of rhetoric convey an attitude that’s dismissive and rude in a very patriarchal way. Do I think it’s deeply, horribly sexist? Or that Hart himself is? No, not at all. I don’t think that would be fair. But it’s an insensitive comment.

lazyofay
lazyofay
10 years ago
Reply to  Esther

I don’t give two Herseys squirts about Hart, his constant drivel or his perceived lack of sensitivity and gender awareness.
All of you are a bunch of loons…
BTW …. In my life during many moments of misdirected passion and love for bicycling AND it disproportionate female balance, I have gifted nearly 25-30 bicycles to “girls” “girlfriends” “lovers” “tramps” “coke whores” “strippers” “fiances” “wives” “women” “dykes” “sister” “tranny” “mother” and a female cousin, whatever that would be called..”Julie” is her name.
Oh how I love Portland!

PC
PC
10 years ago
Reply to  Hart Noecker

Hart, I think you’ve vastly overestimated the size of the expense accounts of the New York Times’ multimedia fashion journalists.

jacque
jacque
10 years ago
Reply to  Esther

Esther… That wasn’t Hart’s own thought… his comment is the art editor’s imagined thoughts. It seems you missed that he was imagining, with some sarcasm, what the art dude was saying. Using “girl” and saying “let’s buy her a bike” drives home Harts opinion that the NYT piece was junk. Maybe you just have a neg attitude toward Hart too, and you missed the context of his comment? And now, the thread’s gone off into this bickering… maybe that was mistaken as trolling by Phil, and thus his comment?

jacque
jacque
10 years ago
Reply to  jacque

Also, Jessica refers to herself as “Girl in the video that rides a cool bike and cares about fashion” in her excellent comment below. So, probably not something to make such a big deal out of.

JRB
JRB
10 years ago

I find it both funny and sad that people have to take such offense at a puff piece in the NYT. New York is hands down the most fashion conscious city in the country, and the New York Times reflects that so why should this video surprise anyone? What harm has been done?

The people profiled are Portlanders living or working in a Portland neighborhood. Just because some commenters do not so themselves represented does not make these folks any less legitimate Portland. The outrage expressed is classic Portlandia.

I generally am the first to push back when the argument is made that the growth of cycling in Portland is hampered by a segment of folks who think of themselves as some sort of in crowd who disdain those who don’t conform to their image of Portland cyclist, but some of these comments make me question that just a little bit.

dan
dan
10 years ago

Different strokes for different folks and all that, but to me, someone who can talk at length about the deep inner meaning of their jeans and t-shirt has their priorities misplaced.

Besides, everyone knows the Pearl district is for tourists and transplants – how many of those people are really from here?

David
David
10 years ago
Reply to  dan

Why does it matter where people are from? I might remind you that you’re commenting on a bicycle blog. Written by a transplant. From California.

Reza
Reza
10 years ago
Reply to  dan

What an ignorant comment….par for the course when the Pearl District is mentioned on this blog.

Christina
Christina
10 years ago

I just think the NYT missed an opportunity to *really* cover bicycle style. There are those of us who aspire to be fashionable bike commuters. Hate us if you want to.

spare_wheel
spare_wheel
10 years ago
Reply to  Christina

I’m a big fan of bicycle style too! In fact, the other day I almost fainted while ogling a black domane 5.9 with zipp 303s. So fracking hawt!

Lorelei
Lorelei
10 years ago
Reply to  Christina

I totally agree here. I think cycling + clothing choices is incredibly interesting in a function v. fashion sort of way. It’s a very hard balance to strike and has nothing to do with accessories that don’t change movement like bracelets or colorful socks. It has to do with pants that are flattering but where the ass doesn’t blow out in one month, skirts that are cute but doesn’t show your crotch as you stand up to pedal, tops that are form fitting but allow for good reach to your handlebars, hair styles that can still look good after taking off your helmet, etc. etc. etc. Show me people that ride to work in the fashionable Pearl every day that look as good as if they drove there.

Also want to add that the Pearl is incredibly scary to ride through and I get almost right-hooked in the bike lane on NW 14th nearly every week.

gl.
gl.
10 years ago
Reply to  Lorelei

yes, it doesn’t surprise me ridership in NW has gone down. it’s a scary place to ride.

Paul in the 'couve
Paul in the 'couve
10 years ago

Wow… Just wow! – regarding the comments…

It was a Fashion video, about Fashion. On the New York Times FASHION page. It Happened to be about Portland and being about PDX from a New York Times perspective, it had to include bicycles. And of course if the NYTimes is going to do a fashion video on PDX they are going to do it in The Pearl. Yes, it is irrelevant and about a 5% slice of PDX and a 5% slice of America that is really interested in “fashion.”

The interesting points that are relevant to BikePortland.org readers are that the NYTimes Fashion page recognizing anything even remotely interesting in PDX and that the NYTimes Fashion page is covering bicycles as part of style and accessories.

Amy
Amy
10 years ago

+1

q`Tzal
q`Tzal
10 years ago

Guess BikePortland.org is getting big enough to have a Fashion section.
Maybe post titles could have a general subject heading like “fashion”, “bike fun”, “road closures” and so on so that we know before reading whether to be offended before we start reading or not.

was carless
was carless
10 years ago

Portlandia “real” hipsters demand that FASHION pieces contain more substantive material!

Oh, wait… that makes no sense!

Case
Case
10 years ago

David
Why does it matter where people are from? I might remind you that you’re commenting on a bicycle blog. Written by a transplant. From California.
Recommended 3

Ca-Lee-Forn-Ya?!?

Patrick
Patrick
10 years ago

The first lady interviewed violated the hipster prime directive by admitting she is a hipster.

Patrick
Patrick
10 years ago
Reply to  Patrick

BSNYC is going to have fun with this story!

Last of the Mohicans
Last of the Mohicans
10 years ago
Reply to  Patrick

First rule of Hipster club, don’t talk about Hipster club…..

Spiffy
10 years ago

technically the zoobomb mini-bike pile is across the street from the Pearl and not actually in the pearl…

AndyC of Linnton
AndyC of Linnton
10 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

…for now. Until a developer tears them out and erects “The Zoobomb Pile Condos.”

Jeff
10 years ago

Ahahahaha. This is deeply bizarre. It’s like another language.

I like to dress in themes, too! Like, today is my “it’s totally freaking pouring” theme, characterized by a lot of waterproof fabric, some large, expressive, sweaty rain pants that just scream “Fun!” and a really stylish plastic shower cap over my helmet.

My bike is tricked out in “Please don’t kill me” orange, with really powerful brakes that really bring the whole outfit together in a fun, spontaneous way when some guy pulls out in front of me.

HTOK
HTOK
10 years ago
Reply to  Jeff

…or doors you, as i nearly was the last time i tried to ride down a (quiet, underused) street in the pearl. when i yelped in fear, he offered a half-hearted “sorry.” i replied, “you should be!”

he then went on to dress me down in colorful language (not unlike the colorful splash our friend in the video likes to wear each day!) about how *if i was wearing a helmet*, his dooring me wouldn’t be that big of a deal.

screw the pearl.

was carless
was carless
10 years ago
Reply to  Jeff

…why anyone would wear unbreathable plastic rain gear in the middle of summer when its what, 80F outside, is beyond me.

josie
josie
10 years ago

I love how we all spent 3 minutes watching the video and 5 minutes reading the commentary on bikeportland.org about the people they chose for the video… a Portlandia episode in the making 🙂

Matt
Matt
10 years ago
Reply to  josie

Guilty as charged.

Kristen
10 years ago
Reply to  Matt

Heck, I didn’t even watch the video. I just wanted to pop in and see the dialogue (read: snark) that it inspired.

Paul Cone
Paul Cone
10 years ago

They could have saved a word and done a video about Alberta, since it’s only “hipster” and not “hipster-chic”.

JNE
JNE
10 years ago

PDX Bike-nuttzees: Get over it.

Mickey
Mickey
10 years ago

This is B.S. Where’s the chubby person decked out in REI gear with the Surly?

Cota
Cota
10 years ago
Reply to  Mickey

I’m here. But I was out of town that day. And, well, I don’t really know exactly where The Pearl is. Is it near the REI in NW Portland?

-Cota

was carless
was carless
10 years ago
Reply to  Cota

You must be new here. REI is in fact in the Pearl District.

Chris Sanderson
10 years ago

Would like to see them do that here in Sunnyside. I’d wear my usual torn REI cargo hiking shorts, t-shirt, and blown out trail shoes.

Charlie
Charlie
10 years ago

I find the crush the NYT has on Portland somewhat endearing. Same with BSNYC. His takes on Portland are priceless.

q`Tzal
q`Tzal
10 years ago

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)
And I don’t get the annoyance with the NY Times covering something. They document culture all around the country and they happen to think Portland has a distinct culture that’s worth sharing and newsworthy. Great!

It seems that the NY Times has developed a bit of a reputation of being out of touch with current culture (stodgy²) and simultaneously attempting to overhype stories that broke months ago.
One need only read some of the posts to the satirical Twitter feed @NYTOnIt or the The Times Is On Ittumblr to get a feel for the general disdain for the NYT.

pixelgate
pixelgate
10 years ago

Jonathan,

Interesting you mention ridership in this neighborhood is down. I actually quit riding last year as well.. with how close everything is to walk to, plus the benefit of the streetcar (which now goes to the east side as well), combined with all the stresses of riding a bike (even in this town), I just lost interest in riding personally. Still love this site, but it doesn’t surprise me ridership is down in this area. Last time I rode I saw 2 guys in a jeep jump out and attack a cyclist right over the railroad tracks on NW 9th and Overton. It’s just not a very bike friendly area.

gl.
gl.
10 years ago
Reply to  pixelgate

i agree. lack of bike lanes and streetcar tracks makes this an unpleasant place to bike. plus, the drivers seem faster and more impatient than in SW. but i’m surprised and horrified you saw that cyclist assault. yikes!

pixelgate
pixelgate
10 years ago
Reply to  gl.

Yes. Another car cut the cyclist off so the cyclist shouted “HEY WATCH OUT”, then as the jeep (not to be confused with the first asshole car who cut the cyclist off) drove past words the passenger yelled something at the bicyclist. Words were exchanged as the jeep rode slowly next to the cyclist, then they pulled over, hopped out and a scuffle ensued. They looked like your average Pearl district “bros”.

To be honest, this whole neighborhood feels like a dorm with money.

Todd Hudson
Todd Hudson
10 years ago

Things I learn from the Portland Purist Brigade: Pearl District, bad. Anything east of 39th Ave, bad. I have determined that the only “real” Portland is a few blocks of Hosford-Abernethy and Buckman.

dan
dan
10 years ago
Reply to  Todd Hudson

Slight misunderstanding there – I’m pretty sure anything up to Mt. Tabor is all good, but east of Mt. Tabor is bad. You’re right about the Pearl District though.

Paul Cone
Paul Cone
10 years ago
Reply to  dan

Maybe that will keep the hipsters out of Montavilla.

Todd Hudson
Todd Hudson
10 years ago
Reply to  Paul Cone

If Roscoe’s is any indicator, it’s much too late for that.

RJ
RJ
10 years ago
Reply to  Todd Hudson
dan
dan
10 years ago
Reply to  RJ

hahaha, that is awesome! Looks like Montavilla is still safe from the dreaded hipster scourge.

Paul Cone
Paul Cone
10 years ago
Reply to  dan

I dunno — cheap, dive, and yuppie are sort of related to that.

Todd Hudson
Todd Hudson
10 years ago
Reply to  dan

I live on the slopes of Mt. Tabor. Does that put me in the good or bad part?

dan
dan
10 years ago
Reply to  Todd Hudson

Lucky you! I think it has to be good, hundreds of roadies can’t be wrong, right?

wade
wade
10 years ago

Children under the age of 17 certainly should not be permitted to view this video unaccompanied by a parent or an adult guardian.

Paul in the 'couve
Paul in the 'couve
10 years ago
Reply to  PDXLibrarian

Very first thing at top of the page 😛

Todd Hudson
Todd Hudson
10 years ago
Reply to  PDXLibrarian

“I have no doubt the Portland bike culture will accept her with open arms, because they’re very inclusive–just as long as you’re not Asian.”

LMAO

RJ
RJ
10 years ago
Reply to  Todd Hudson

I love BikePortland, but man, the veloprovo/”undercover cop” fiasco is never going to stop being funny.

A.K.
A.K.
10 years ago
Reply to  RJ

Thanks Hart!

pixelgate
pixelgate
10 years ago
Reply to  PDXLibrarian

I love bikesnob!

lazyofay
lazyofay
10 years ago
Reply to  pixelgate

…with a grain of salt, sure… bikesnob is just as misdirected and biased at times in an east coast way, as BP.org is with the left coast slant.

Doug G.
10 years ago

Start with the fact that the Times is not hip and you’ll enjoy this feature for what it is. Having the Times take a look at bicycling in this way is a good thing, like your parents finally accepting something they’ve previously dismissed as just your “weird hobby.”

For some perspective on the Times’ take on Portland, it’s just as bad here. Every week it seems as if the paper is discovering Brooklyn for the first time.

Johnny
Johnny
10 years ago

I stopped at “hipster-chic”. *barf*

Jessica Heath
Jessica Heath
10 years ago

“What an embarrassment. How much more shallow and superficial could they have made this?” News flash – this was an article about fashion, nothing more. In no way was this intended to be an embarrassment, parody or poor reflection on anyone in the city that happens to ride a bike. Am I an avid biker? Absolutely not, never claimed to be and clearly stated that in the video. I bought a bike because I love that Portland is extremely bike friendly and I thought that it would be great to have one less vehicle on the road, not sure how or why that has now turned into me being a “poser.”
I’m not trying to be anyone but myself and the questions that were asked were about MY particular style. I didn’t talk negatively about anyone else’s style or pose with a fake bike. I simply answered a few questions about my outfit and my bike which I coincidentally purchased 30 minutes before I was stopped. The fact that we were on bikes just happened to be a nice way to incorporate something unique about Portland.
I don’t claim to be a hipster, I was asked in my opinion what I thought the fashion in Portland was – which I very clearly replied “Hipster chic”. Just in case you aren’t aware of what that means, let me break it down for you. A “hipster” is someone that is a trendsetter, has an original style and is an individual – much like many of you are with your colorful opinions. “Chic” refers to someone that is fashion forward, put together and genuinely cares about the way they look. If you put those together, it’s a trendsetting, fashion forward, individual. I struggle to see the negative in that. Would you have preferred that I run to REI and put on sandals with wool socks, tear away cargo shorts and a dry fit? As for calling my style “girly”, it is just that – bright, colorful and feminine. Would it have been better if I said my style was “slutty and goth”? The point of the piece was to explain your individual style. Nothing about that is offensive, misleading or degrading to Portland. Maybe if you spent a little more time on your look and less time on this blog, someone might stop you and say “Hey, you look great today – can I interview you about your outfit!”

XOXO – Girl in the video that rides a cool bike and cares about fashion. Deal with it. Get a job.

JRB
JRB
10 years ago
Reply to  Jessica Heath

Congratulations Jessica on getting a bike, I hope you get as much pleasure out of riding it as I do mine. I’m glad your are not taking the negativity to heart. People who ride bikes in this town are just a cross section of the community as a whole, no better or worse. Some are saints, some are jerks and there’s a whole bunch of us in between. Happy pedaling!

RJ
RJ
10 years ago
Reply to  Jessica Heath

This has become possibly the greatest BP comment thread ever.

Todd Hudson
Todd Hudson
10 years ago
Reply to  Jessica Heath

The person you quoted is known to be an **deleted by moderator**. It’s better to pay no mind.

Also, I like the color of your bike!

Todd, Please don’t insult other commenters. Thanks. – Jonathan

PC
PC
10 years ago
Reply to  Jessica Heath

This is just a spectacular reply. Thank you, Jessica. Please be aware that not every Portland cyclist is a tedious windbag who moved here to be lecture the city while being casually sexist and/or racist. Keep riding, wearing what you want, and enjoying both.

Paul in the 'couve
Paul in the 'couve
10 years ago
Reply to  Jessica Heath

I’m not into fashion, but I thought you did a good interview. I’m glad you are trying a bicycle.

Enjoy yourself!! Ride – it’s fun. Ignore some people.

Dave
10 years ago
Reply to  Jessica Heath

Preach.

Dave
10 years ago
Reply to  Jessica Heath

(…and I mean that in a good way, which I realized may not come through if you can’t hear my tone of voice) 😀

jacque
jacque
10 years ago
Reply to  Jessica Heath

Thank you! Your reply was needed… everything you said is so true. I hope to run into you (not literally!) on bikes some time.

Reza
Reza
10 years ago

I really get sick of the constant anti-Pearl sentiment thrown around on this blog, so allow me a short rebuttal. First, let’s be clear, there are asshole drivers everywhere all over this city; this is not a Pearl-exclusive phenomenon. Many of those drivers are visitors to the neighborhood who are not used to encountering cyclists, and wrongly take out their frustrations as a result. That sucks and I wish it would stop.

Personally, I have little reason to bike within the neighborhood, since everything is so close together unlike the suburban, low-density, single family home-dominated Eastside. I mostly use my bike to commute to the PSU area or cross the river and I see plenty of cyclists during my commute along NW Overton, most of them probably commuting from the Eastside via the Broadway Bridge or Naito Pkwy/Steel Bridge.

I think the Pearl is inherently less suited for cycling because it is a much more urban and dense area than the Eastside, and there aren’t as many quiet neighborhood streets available. Streets are also narrower than in other parts of the city so there isn’t always room for bike lanes. Nevertheless, the Pearl District is missing a few key links that would bicycling a lot easier. Some of them have been on area plans for a while but have no funding, like constructing an I-405 overpass along Flanders Street. We also need traffic lights on every block on the Everett/Glisan and 10th/11th couplets to meter traffic speeds and obviate the need for bike lanes. There are also plans for a bikeway along the North Park Blocks couplet for more “stress-free” riding.

There are also huge barriers that aren’t going away. West Burnside, the UPRR tracks (including the Naito Gap), the aforementioned I-405, and even the streetcar tracks. While I don’t usually complain about them, there are some dicey intersections on NW Lovejoy where the tracks go in several directions at once, which doesn’t make for the most comfortable riding, even for an experienced cyclist like myself.

The neighborhood association is trying to make improvements where we can. The chair, Patty Gardner, is about an ardent a bicycling supporter as you will find in this city. It would really help if PBOT would invest in just ONE neighborhood greenway (with full traffic calming, diverters, etc.) instead of putting them all on the Eastside. I guarantee if NW Johnson or NW Flanders got such a treatment, it would improve the cycling experience in NW and Pearl so much. I commend Mauricio LeClerc at PBOT for getting the “diverter” (really just paint) installed on Marshall at NW 10th, which has already brought a huge improvement for pedestrian and bicyclist safety in my neighborhood. But we can do a lot better.

Thanks for reading.

Paul in the 'couve
Paul in the 'couve
10 years ago
Reply to  Reza

I ride through The Pearl regularly. The number of issues i have with cars there corresponds roughly relative to the number of cars on the street anywhere I ride. Other than Lovejoy I don’ thave a problem riding any street in the area. (I will ride Lovejoy too, but it is challenging with the tracks and traffic and usually I don’t feel like it’s worth the effort).

This is what city riding looks like. Some really good bike lane would be helpful for many riders. It isn’t terrible as it is.

Dave
10 years ago
Reply to  Reza

Living in NW Alphabet District, I would LOVE it if there were a freeway crossing on Flanders, and I think that would make great sense for an auto-discouraged street as well, since Glisan and Everett are basically treated like mini-highways through NW (not to mention the I-405 on/off-ramps), and Flanders also runs right through the heart of both the Alphabet District and the Pearl.

I think ALL of NW Portland is actually ideally suited for cycling (maybe minus the streetcar track mess on Lovejoy and 10th), if it weren’t for the traffic. I do, however, think that cycling levels in NW are lower than much of the rest of the city because they 1) face the same traffic and poor infrastructure combination as the rest of the city (see short, disappearing bike lanes on Everett and Glisan, for example), but 2) everything is much closer and more easily walkable than the rest of the city. So people just walk instead of ride their bikes. When the stuff you need is within 5 blocks, it almost takes more time to unlock your bike and then ride there than it would to just walk out the door and walk there. Add in being intimidated on the road, and it’s a no-brainer.

I tend to, myself, run into more impatience and aggressive behavior from people driving in the Pearl than I do in the Alphabet District. I’m not really sure why that is specifically, but I usually breathe a sigh of relief every day once I cross 405. Part of that also comes from the extremely awkward 405 crossings that are the only options south of Johnson.

I do agree that many of the impatient and aggressive drivers in both the Pearl and Alphabet district are not people who live there. Timbers game days are the worst.

Anyway… I think the problem with NW is not really an inherent problem with the neighborhoods themselves, it’s more that 85% of people in the Portland area choose to use cars for many/most of their trips, and there’s just not that much extra space in NW like there is in most of the East side to accommodate that. And not much is being done to discourage driving into those areas, so a lot of people still do it, get stuck, and get really frustrated. When frustrated, of course, you take it out on the person in front of you, which is again much easier if the person is exposed to the open air.

gl.
gl.
10 years ago
Reply to  Reza

FLANDERS! yes, please. on both sides of the 405. i’m still sad the Flanders pedestrian overpass never came to be, the one that was going to recycle the Sauvie Island bridge.

John Liu
John Liu
10 years ago

After resisting for a day, I finally watched the video. Yes, the alleged cyclists interviewed are silly, vapid and pretentious. But, frankly, almost any video, interview, or article on “fashion” is likely to strike most people as silly, whether it be haute couture or street fashion. Most people are not fashionistas. This video wasn’t any worse than most.

Brad
Brad
10 years ago

Since “Portlandia” was brought up earlier, this video will make the guy from the sketch “Hipster Cycle” loudly declare, “This chick rides?! Dude with the rainbow socks and the brand new adidas bag, too?! CYCLING IS OVER!!!”.

mikeybikey
mikeybikey
10 years ago

I enjoyed the video. It was cute and fun and puts a positive spin on both bicycling and fashion in PDX. What is the problem? Hopefully the people in the video won’t take too much from the comments here to heart. If they are regular readers then they know nothing gins up more controversy and disdain on BP than daring to *GASP* align bikes and fashion.

deborah schultz
deborah schultz
10 years ago

You know – i was actually kind of excited about watching this video – until i actually did. NYTimes has some of the best style writers and street style observers around. I was hoping some of that incredible ‘Bill Cunningham’ street spotting talent might bleed into this piece. Though besides Eric I didn’t see anyone that actually looked like they rode much at all.

Don’t get me wrong – their styles were great. I feel like they were just recruited by certain marketing agencies that were contacted about doing a piece for NYT and didn’t actually take much time or energy other than a couple minutes walking up and down their office street over lunch (if that?).

I think we have fabulously stylish bike riding bad asses in Portland, and Manhattan knows it. But this piece is limp in comparison with what it could have been…

Paul Cone
Paul Cone
10 years ago

They didn’t even walk (or ride) anywhere — all the interviews are in the exact same spot. Lame, agreed.

jacque
jacque
10 years ago

Exactly! (except I didn’t really dig their “style”. All of them seemed very unoriginal… pretty pedestrian actually. pun intended.

jacque
jacque
10 years ago

That piece seems like a fashion piece, not a piece about bikes… And what’s wrong with that????? Yeah fashion! (Even tho I don’t relate to anyone in that video… and I don’t like any of their outfits…)

pdxpaul
pdxpaul
10 years ago

Thank you for representing and being yourself. We got your back out there – my bell’s a flirt, too.

pdxpaul
pdxpaul
10 years ago
Reply to  pdxpaul

That was supposed to be a reply to Jessica above…

Ted Buehler
10 years ago

Quite the set of comments!

For context, here’s a few other NYT “Intersection” style videos — you’ll note that the content and context of the Pearl Style video fits right in with the others. It’s a style video that includes a couple folks that have bikes, not a video about bicyclist style. Pretty off the cuff, just about what you’re wearing and why.

* Santa Monica — “The jacket I cut up myself — I rip up all of my clothes just because…” http://www.nytimes.com/video/2013/07/01/fashion/100000002313526/intersection-santa-monica-breezy-style.html

* Wall Street — “Since there’s not a lot of women on the floor, there really aren’t a lot of rules…” http://www.nytimes.com/video/2013/07/23/fashion/100000002351150/intersection-keeping-cool-on-wall-st.html

* Bejing — Li Xuan, Bicycle Shop Owner, “I bought this yesterday in my friends’ shop”
http://www.nytimes.com/video/2013/07/15/fashion/100000002338274/intersection-new-style-in-old-beijing.html

More here. http://www.nytimes.com/video/landing/fashion/1194811622325/index.html

So, for all the comments dissing the format of the video — shot in the same location, different people, all people saying fairly simplistic-sounding statements about their clothing, why they’re wearing it, and where it came from — that’s the name of the game, apparently. I don’t think I’ve ever watched a fashion video before in my life, don’t know if I ever will again, but at least I know what they’re about now.

FWIW,
Ted Buehler

Ted Buehler
10 years ago

BTW, Li Xuan would fit right in in Portland. 1940s German glasses, clothing that matches the brick walls of the alley, bicycle shop owner…

Ted Buehler
10 years ago

For anyone that thinks the NYT is dodging the “real” bike stuff that happens in Portland, this was on the cover of the Business section of the Sunday printed edition a couple weeks ago.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/business/in-cargo-delivery-the-three-wheelers-that-could.html?_r=0