Michael Hall oversaw memorials for two PNCA students last fall.(Photo © J. Maus)

Michael Hall, Dean of Student Services at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, has received a community award from the NW Examiner for his role in creating awareness and promoting bike safety in the wake of two tragic deaths last year.
The death of [...]

This is a draft design concept created by Matt Cardinal for a permanent memorial to honor Brett Jarolimek at N. Interstate and Greeley Ave. The image is taken from a photograph by Bob Libby of Creative Dog Photography.

At a meeting this morning in downtown Portland, plans for a permanent memorial to be erected at [...]

The ghost bike for Tracey Sparling (at the corner of W. Burnside and 14th in downtown Portland) with fresh flowers placed by family members on the one-year anniversary of her death.(Photos � J. Maus)

A memorial sculpture and stencil (since removed) for Brett Jarolimek at the intersection of N. Interstate and Greeley.

One a year ago today, [...]

The new bike box at W. Burnside and 14th.Video below(Photos © J. Maus)

On Monday, the city of Portland installed a bike box in the SE corner of W. Burnside and 14th streets in downtown Portland — the same intersection where Tracey Sparling was killed nine months ago.
This is the eighth bike box the City has [...]

Jan Verrinder at the bike safety press conference in City Hall a week after her husband Bob was nearly killed in a collision with a car on Marine Drive.(Photo © J. Maus)

During last year’s Sad October, our community endured several tragedies.
The two young lives we lost grabbed most of the headlines, but sandwiched between both [...]

(Photo © J. Maus)

The Oregonian is reporting that the family of Brett Jarolimek has filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against the driver of the garbage truck in the fatal collision back in October.
According to reporter Joseph Rose, the family is, “claiming 40-year-old Bryan Lowes of Oregon City was negligent and should have never been behind [...]

Daniel McGinnis, BTA Board member and president of Bike Gallery.(Photos © J. Maus)

At the Brett Jarolimek Memorial Fund benefit last night, Bike Gallery President Daniel McGinnis implored the hundreds of people who showed up to “roll up your sleeves”, and reminded us that our recent Platinum accolade is, “a platform and nothing else.”
McGinnis issued an [...]

The bike is back, with a letter from the thief.(Photo © J. Maus)

Yesterday’s case of the mysterious disappearance of Brett Jarolimek’s ghost bike at N. Interstate and Greeley has come to an unexpected close.
Just a few hours after my story, I got an email and a phone call from local TV news crews who had [...]

*Read this story for the update.*
_____

Only flowers and mementos remain.(Photo © J. Maus)

The ghost bike for Brett Jarolimek has gone missing, and the disappearance is most likely the work of pranksters or thieves who want to sell it for scrap.
The memorial, which was chained to a traffic pole on N. Interstate Ave. just north of [...]

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) has made its decision on whether or not to issue traffic citations in the October fatalities of Tracey Sparling and Brett Jarolimek.
Rinker Cement Company truck driver Timothy Wiles has been issued a citation for violation of ORS 811.050, “Failure to yield to rider on bicycle lane,” in the October 11th [...]

Deputy DA Chuck Sparks speaking with a reporter at the Courthouse this morning.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

This morning, Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Chuck Sparks (in photo) released his report on the case of Brett Jarolimek, who died on October 22 after colliding with a garbage truck on Interstate and Greeley.
After an in-depth investigation [...]

Download the DA’s memo. (PDF, 520K)

I just spoke with Multnomah County District Attorney Chuck Sparks. Sparks has completed his investigation into the collision that took the life of Tracey Sparling at W. Burnside and 14th in downtown Portland on October 11.
Sparks said he will not file any criminal charges in the case.
Here [...]

An image of Brett Jarolimek may soon replace the silhouette on the left and become part of the official logo for the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association.

Last Thursday, maintenance crews painted over a memorial stencil that had been created by friends of Brett Jarolimek. While the stencil’s creators (who went to art school with Jarolimek) [...]

Stencil of Brett Jarolimek thatwas painted on a bridgesupport in North Portland.

This morning I got a call from Mike Mason who works in the community and public affairs office at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
Mike (who happens to be a daily reader of this site) wanted to give me some background on [...]

[Updated: 12/7, 10:15am]

This painting of the late Brett Jarolimek has been covered over by maintenance crews.

I just heard from a reader that maintenance crews (from ODOT) have painted over the stencil of Brett Jarolimek that was on the underpass at the intersection of N. Interstate and Greeley.
This doesn’t come as a complete surprise (after all, [...]

A Chris King wheelset (Mr. King is in the green shirt).(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Last week, the Bike Gallery announced the formation of a bike safety fund as a memorial to Brett Jarolimek.
Barb Grover, who’s managing the fund, says donations from the community have already begun to roll in. She was particularly excited about a [...]

Today’s press conference at City Hall.(Photo: Dat Nguyen)

Don’t forget to join us for the “We Are ALL Traffic” rally tomorrow (11/17).
Waterfront Park - Below Hawthorne Bridge
12 Noon
There are rides being led to the rally from various locations throughout the city. Here is the list:

Downtown:

*SW 14th and Burnside — In memory of Tracey Sparling
Gather at [...]

Please consider gathering before Saturday’s rally at one of the all-too-many sites around town where people have been killed while bicycling or walking, and then riding or walking with the group to Waterfront Park. All processions will be timed to arrive at Salmon Street Springs by 11:45am.
The list below also includes sites that haven’t yet [...]

At the intersection of N. Interstate and Greeley.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Nearly a month passed since we lost Brett Jarolimek, but signs of his life and actions spurred by his passing continue.
The Bike Gallery (where Brett worked) has established a memorial fund in his honor. The fund will,
“support the cause of bicycle safety through [...]

Signs like this have been placed on the hill approaching the intersection.(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

The closure consists of these two barricades.

Calling the intersection, “inherently dangerous” City Commissioner of Transportation Sam Adams had PDOT crews close the right-turn section of N. Greeley Avenue that has claimed two victims in as many weeks.

Adams with a PDOT employee.

Adams [...]

[*Updated 3:17pm]

Bob Verrinder remains in serious condition.(Photo courtesy of Bob’s friends)

On Thursday, October 18, Bob Verrinder was seriously injured when he and a motor vehicle collided on NE Marine Drive.
Unfortunately, because a separate tragic event occurred the following Monday, I have been unable to follow-up on this story.
First, I want to share an [...]

We wore race number 800 in honor of Brett Jarolimek.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Wearing white t-shirts emblazoned with the words “No Blind Spots”, Cross Crusade founder Rick Potestio and race director Brad Ross said losing Brett Jarolimek was like losing “a member of the Cross Crusade family.”
Also speaking before a memorial lap was Bike Gallery’s Kris [...]

Doug Ollerenshaw as Pac-Manat last year’s Halloween race.View slideshow below(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Traditionally, the Halloween edition of the Cross Crusade is two days of fun and partying. Last year’s race, full of costumes and silliness, was one of my favorite events of the year.
But this year, in light of recent events, things might [...]

As detailed yesterday by the Oregonian (and later discussed on this site), the driver of the AGG Enterprises garbage truck that killed Brett Jarolimek last week had a slew of speeding infractions on his record.
Now, I’ve learned that speeding was the least of his problems.
According to my research and to sources who have requested to [...]

*[Updated 10/24, 2:34pm]

(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

A service to pay tribute to the life of Brett Jarolimek has been scheduled for Monday (10/29).
The event is open to the public and will be held at 6:30 pm in the commons area of Pacific Northwest College of Art (1241 NW Johnson), where Jarolimek graduated in 2003.
Organizers [...]

One of the major questions the community is grappling with after the deaths of both Tracey Sparling and Brett Jarolimek is; why were the truck drivers not given a citation for failure to yield to a bicycle in a bike lane?
The law (ORS 811.050) seems clear:
“A person commits the offense of failure of a motor [...]

*[Updated 10/24, 5:11pm]

(Photo: Bob Mionske)

Today’s edition of the Oregonian has more coverage of the collision that claimed the life of Brett Jarolimek.
One of their stories, Truck driver has checkered record, reports that the driver of the garbage truck has had, “…a string of run-ins with police, including 25 convictions for speeding, driving without a [...]

[*Updated: 8:45pm]

(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

City Commissioner of Transportation Sam Adams is convening an “emergency meeting” to discuss what the city can do to prevent bicycle fatalities in light of, “a recent string of tragedies”.
An email invitation sent from his office says,
“The conversation will focus on potential policy measures that could be instituted both in [...]

Late Monday night, a ghost bike was placed at the scene of yesterday’s fatal collision…

(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Read remembrances of Brett Jarolimek.

*[Updated: 10/24, 12:39pm]
The victim of today’s fatal collision in North Portland was Brett Jarolimek. Brett was an employee of the Bike Gallery and his death has hit many in our tight-knit community very hard.

Brett Jarolimek racing at Alpenrose a few weeks ago.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

“Artist, craftsman, son, brother, cyclist, friend… I miss you [...]