PDW kicks off year with donations to BTA and Northwest Trail Alliance

Portland, OR- Portland Design Works (PDW) is proud to announce it is kicking off 2011 by making matching donations of $2,400 to its local advocacy groups; the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, and the Northwest Trail Alliance. The $4,800 total donation represents is PDWs 1% for the Planet donation for 2010.

“We see the value of what these outstanding grass roots organizations are doing for cyclists in our region,” said Daniel Powell of PDW about the BTA and the Northwest Trail Alliance. “We’re lucky to be able to take advantage of the work they do a daily basis, and we’re happy to support them”

As life-long mountain bikers, Powell and business partner Erik Olson have been blown away by the quality of the work that the Northwest Trail Alliance has done in recent projects at Sandy Ridge and Stub Steward State Park.

“We’re stoked by the announcement and the generous commitment from PD,” said Tom Archer, President of the Northwest Trail Alliance.  “We have a number of projects and initiatives on the board for 2011 and this work would not be possible without the support of a growing number local businesses like PDW who share our vision.”

As daily commuters, Olson and Powell regularly see the benefits of the initiatives the BTA works towards. Last fall, PDW also partnered with the BTA, donating $9,000 worth of tail lights to be used as membership premiums and to reinforce the message of the importance of staying visible on the roadway.

"PDW embodies Portland's bicycle culture in both their prodcuts, and through their commitment to local nonprofits like the BTA through 1% for the Planet, “ said the BTA’s Tom Rousculp, Membership Development Manager. “We’re proud to be a partner of Portland Design Works."

PDW is a cycling accessory company based in Portland, Oregon. The company is a member of 1% For the Planet, a global group of over one thousand companies that donate 1% of their sales to nearly two thousand environmental and advocacy organizations.

Routine repairs to Eastbank Esplanade floating dock throughout November

(Portland, OR) – Repairs to the side planks on the gangway leading down to the floating dock of the Eastbank Esplanade will begin Monday, November 1 and are expected to last between three to four weeks. During that period, contractors will be using welding equipment behind tenting, designed to both catch debris and to protect the public from the eye-damaging flames from welding equipment.

During this project, all trail users will be asked to use caution as they pass through the work zone. For the safety of both trail users and work crews, all trail users, including those on bikes, skateboards, or other transportation modes, will be asked to walk through the work zone. The work zone will be pinched, but a six- foot wide stretch of ramp will remain open throughout the project to allow trail users through access. The project equipment will be set up and taken down daily, to allow for unimpeded after-hours trail use.

These repairs will be conducted weekdays throughout the month of November, until completed. The hours of work will be roughly 7 a.m. through 5 p.m.

There will also be intermittent closures, up to five minutes at a time, for safety reasons as equipment and materials are moved in, out, and around the work site. These temporary closures will be kept to a minimum to limit impact on trail users.

This project will be making repairs to the ramps that lead up and down each side of the floating dock portion of the Eastbank Esplanade. Portland Parks & Recreation will also be installing and testing a new material being considered to replace the rubber lips at the end of the sliding plates that make up the ramps.

2010 BTA’s Bike Commute Challenge: More than 1 Million Miles and 2,500 New Bike Commuters!

October 8, 2010 – Every September since 1995, workers in Oregon and SW Washington have
competed to see who can bike to work more in the BTA’s Bike Commute Challenge
(www.bikecommutechallenge.com). Individuals register on their workplace’s team, log their
bike commutes online, and at the end of the month the BTA does the math and honors the
winning companies.

This year’s winners in each category were announced at an awards party at Rotture, Thursday,
October 7, 2010. Many Portland area teams biked together from work to arrive at the 5:30 pm
party to enjoy bike parking by Bike Racker, pizza from Hot Lips and Hopworks beer.

The 2010 winners are:

Business or nonprofit organizations with 1 employee reporting a 100% commute rate:
Dr. Jeffrey D Sher- Jeffrey Sher
Willamette Pedestrian Coalition- Steph Routh
The Copy Center at Camera Graphics- Peggy Pfenninger
HoltzReport- Andrew Holtz
Portland Physical Therapy- Kathleen Hahn

Businesses and nonprofit organizations with 2-4 employees reporting 100% commute rates:
Grapheon Design, Portland
New Outlook Financial, LLC, Portland
Organic Haus, Eugene

Businesses and nonprofits with 5-24 employees:
Sam Six of Portland with a 99.1% commute rate

Businesses and non-profits with 25-99 employees:
Alta Planning and Design of Portland with a 70.1% commute rate

Businesses and non-profits with more than 100-499 employees
First Alternative Co-op of Corvallis with a 43.4% commute rate

Businesses and non-profits with more than 500 employees
Reed College of Portland with a 10.9% commute rate

Public agencies with less than 25 employees:
City of Portland- Commissioner Leonard’s Office with a 56.1% commute rate

Public agencies with 25-99 employees:
PSU Campus Recreation Department with a 40% commute rate

Public agencies with 100-499 employees:
City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability with a 30.8 % commute rate.

Public agencies with more than 500 employees:
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality with a 9.9% commute rate

Bike Shops less than 8 employees:
Ashland Cycle Sport with a 98.8% commute rate

Bike shop with 9-15 employees:
Bike Gallery- Downtown with a 100% commute rate

Bike shop with 16 or more employees:
Citybikes of Portland with a 55.6% commute rate

Brian Reynolds distance award to commute with highest mileage:
Chris Bell of ODOT- Salem with 1881 miles in 24 days of commuting
(Chris Bell commutes daily from Portland to Salem.)

Brad Buchanan Team Captain Award presented by Emerita
Darren Pennington of Providence Portland Medical Center

In the first year of this new award, Darren is recognized for authoring a monthly bikers’
newsletter, organizing quarterly rides with the CEO, maintaining records of regular bike counts,
and providing much expertise and encouragement to new bike commuters on his team.

The BTA’s 2010 Bike Commute Challenge saw participation from almost 1300 workplaces and
11,000 individual riders. Together participants logged well over 1 million miles of bike
commutes or the equivalent of circling the Earth 40 times. Almost 2,500 participants identified
themselves as new bike commuters.

More and more people in the Portland metro area, and around Oregon and SW Washington, are
finding that biking to work is a practical and enjoyable choice. The BTA’s Bike Commute
Challenge helps support new bike commuters as they try out a new way of getting to work and
recognizes bike friendly workplaces for their efforts.

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) is a statewide non-profit organization with a mission
to create healthy and sustainable communities by making bicycling safe, convenient, and
accessible.

Metro seeks applicants for four citizen seats on influential transportation committee

Metro’s Transportation Policy Alternatives Committee (TPAC) is seeking citizens interested in transportation issues to serve on the panel starting January 2011. There are four citizen positions up for appointment: Three are two-year terms and one is a one-year position intended to fill an upcoming vacancy.

TPAC is an advisory committee that reviews regional plans and federally funded transportation projects across the three-county Portland area. It advises regional leaders on transportation spending priorities as well as policies related to transportation, such as efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions. It also recommends needs and opportunities for involving citizens in transportation matters.

An essential responsibility of TPAC is to advise the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT), a panel of elected officials and transportation agency executives that controls federal transportation spending in the Portland area. TPAC also advises the Metro Council, which reviews and must approve all major JPACT actions.

TPAC is comprised of 15 professional transportation staff appointed by area cities, counties and government agencies, and six at-large citizen members. Citizen member John Reinhold plans to vacate his position for personal reasons, so a new member will be appointed to serve the remaining year of his term, from January to December 2011.

Citizen members of TPAC are selected through an application, interview and appointment process. Metro council members who serve on JPACT and Metro staff will conduct interviews and recommend candidates for the Metro council president to nominate. Candidates nominated by the council president must be confirmed by the Metro council.

All applicants should be able to attend regular meetings that take place on weekdays during normal working hours. Metro seeks diverse representation on all its advisory committees. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Visit www.oregonmetro.gov">www.oregonmetro.gov to submit your application online, or download the form and mail it completed to Metro Council Office, Attn. Kelsey Newell, 600 NE Grand Ave., Portland, OR 97232. Applications are due at Metro by 5 p.m. on Oct. 15, 2010.

For more information on the application process, call Kelsey Newell, 503-797-1916. For more information on TPAC roles and responsibilities, call Dylan Rivera, 503-797-1551. Hearing impaired may call TDD 503-797-1804.

For more information on TPAC, including bylaws, a member roster and meeting agendas, see:
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=419

To apply online see:
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=28550

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 29, 2010
Contact: Joseph Santos-Lyons (503) 512-0490
OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon
joseph@opalpdx.org / www.opalpdx.org

Bus Riders Call on TriMet Directors to Restore Bus Service, Repeal Fare Increase

Portland, OR. Bus Riders call upon TriMet Directors to develop a plan to restore bus service and find alternatives to fare increases. Facing the 11th TriMet fare increase in 10 years, and the elimination of another 70,000 hours of basic bus service, Bus Riders organized by OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon will march and rally at Portland City Hall on Wednesday September 1st, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Bus Riders Unite, a new OPAL leadership group, has called the demonstration to draw attention to the impact on transit dependent riders from low-income communities and communities of color, and to call for an affordable, reliable and accessible public transportation system for all in the Metro Portland region.

WHO: Bus Riders Unite! A project of OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon.
WHAT: Rally for the Bus
WHEN: Wednesday September 1st, 4:00-6:00 PM
WHERE: Portland City Hall 1221 SW 4th Ave (between Jefferson & Madison)
WHY: Bus Riders call upon TriMet Directors to develop a plan to restore bus service and find alternatives to fare increases. For affordable, reliable bus service and a public transportation that meets our economic, environmental, livability and health goals.

Bus riders and community allies are increasingly concerned with the decay of TriMet’s bus service, and the fare increase of 70% over the last 10 years. Transit dependent riders seek a respected voice in TriMet decision-making, and call upon TriMet to show leadership in preserving basic bus service for Metro Portland’s most vulnerable communities. Bus Riders Unite is also advocating at the state and federal level for change in transportation revenue for transit operations.

“I’m a home nurse and depend on TriMet to get to work, no matter the time of day or night, no matter the weather. With the service cuts, I have to leave 2 hours or more before my night shift starts” says Nancy Edmison, OPAL Bus Riders Unite Leader and Gresham neighborhood leader.

“TriMet fare increases push people off the bus and MAX, forcing poor people to purchase old polluting clunkers and worsening Portland’s public health crisis and indiscriminate emission of greenhouse gases. More pollutants means more childhood asthma, emphysema, cancer and long-term exacerbation of diabetes. More greenhouse gases means more global warming and catastrophic climate change” says Charles McGee II, Executive Director of Josiah Hill Clinic.

“Continuing to cut basic bus service hurts the most vulnerable in our community,” shares Monica Beemer, Executive Director of Sisters of the Road, “people who depend on transit including people experiencing homelessness, poor mental health, people with disabilities, and people living in extreme poverty.”

“To raise fares and to eliminate bus service doesn’t serve the needs of bus riders and our great city in the long run. We must address the possibility of making TriMet the best mass transit system in the country, one in which we can take pride” remarks Teresa Soto de Roman, OPAL Bus Riders Unite Leader and Powellhurst-Gilbert resident.

“Service cuts not only reduce the ability of transit dependent people to reliably get to work, but also reduces jobs as drivers and mechanics are laid-off. We have divested in transit, which is the most cost effective transportation investment in job creation,” said Jonathan Hunt, President of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 referencing the More Transit = More Jobs a report on transit and jobs that the Transportation Equity Network will release on September 2.

OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon is a community based organization working to engage, educate, and empower low-income communities and communities of color through direct action and grassroots organizing. OPAL co-chairs the Transportation Health Equity Network with the Coalition for a Livable Future, and is engaged in leadership development of communities most impacted by environmental, economic and health disparities.

Endorsed by Active Right of Way, Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates, ATU Local 757, Center for Intercultural Organizing, Community Alliance of Tenants, Josiah Hill Clinic, Portland Jobs with Justice, Upstream Public Health, Oregon Tradeswomen, PCASC, Sisters of the Road, Urban League of Portland, VOZ Workers Rights

Metro grants available to improve air quality, address community health issues

Wondering how to install bike lockers in your community? Interested in creating activities that encourage people to get out of their cars and walk, ride or take transit? If so, your city, public agency or nonprofit organization may be eligible for a Regional Travel Options grant.

Metro will fund projects that improve air quality, address community health issues, reduce auto traffic and create more opportunities for walking and bicycling. Federal transportation funds are used for the grants. The grant application process begins this month to fund projects beginning July 2011. A total of $533,000 is available.

Previous projects funded by these grants include: the City of Portland’s Sunday Parkways, the Carefree Commuter Challenge and the Bike Commute Challenge. The grants also support projects such as the installation of bike lockers at the Beaverton Transit Center, bike racks for businesses in Tigard and TriMet’s Open Trip Planner, which will allow users to plan trips that combine biking, walking and transit.

Grant applicants can learn more at an informational meeting on Monday, August 16 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Metro Regional Center, 600 NE Grand Avenue in Portland. For more information, visit www.oregonmetro.gov/rtogrants.

The Regional Travel Options program carries out strategies that encourage and support alternatives to driving alone, such as the Drive Less/Save More awareness campaign, the Walk There! and Bike There! programs, MetroVanpool and CarpoolMatchNW.org. Reducing the number of vehicles on the road cuts emissions, decreases congestion, extends the life cycle of existing roadways and promotes a healthier community.

Metro, the regional government that serves 1.5 million people who live in the 25 cities and three counties of the Portland metropolitan area, provides planning and other services that protect the nature and livability of our region.

# # #

Contact:
Tara Corbin
Cycle Oregon
503-880-2912
tara@cycleoregon.com

Cycle Oregon Kickoff Party: New Routes, New Territory

2010 registration will begin immediately after announcement of all-new routes – and a venture into new places

PORTLAND, Ore. – Cycle Oregon, riding a wave of momentum after record-breaking sellouts for both its events in 2009, will reveal new routes for the Week and Weekend rides at its annual Kickoff Party, Feb. 4 at the Tiger Woods Center on the Nike campus outside Portland. And, as with 2009, the Week Ride will venture into places it has never been.

The yearly Kickoff Party has become the traditional method of announcing the Cycle Oregon routes, which change each year. This year the event will unveil the routes of both the Week Ride (Sept. 11-18) and the Weekend Ride (July 16-18). The choice of routes is a major point of speculation among the cycling community and is a closely held secret until the official announcement.

The party’s doors will open at 6 p.m., with the route announcements at 7 and registration available at 7:45 both in person and at www.cycleoregon.com. In 2009 the Week Ride, typically limited to between 2,000 and 2,300 riders based on route logistics, sold out in the first 12 days, and the Weekend Ride sold out as well, with more than 1,900 registrations received.

Jonathan Nicholas, one of the event’s founders, will reveal the course routes in a multimedia presentation in front of an anticipated crowd of more than 1,000 people.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of Cycle Oregon is the chance to take our riders to places they may never have been, to enjoy experiences that capture the essence of the people, places and cultures we treasure here,” Nicholas said. “This year we can promise riders they’ll see towns, and have experiences, that Cycle Oregon has never included before. And, of course, we’ll still have all the amenities that make Cycle Oregon the Best Bike Ride in America.”

The freshly updated Cycle Oregon Web site will go live at 7:45 p.m., the same time in-person registration opens. Because the events draw riders from across the U.S. and abroad – in 2009, 39 states and 10 foreign countries were represented at the Week Ride – simultaneous online registration gives everyone a chance to sign up before the events sell out.

Cycle Oregon’s 2009 events were among the most successful ever. The Week Ride, covering “The State of Jefferson,” crossed into California for the first time, starting in Medford and stopping in Yreka and Happy Camp, Calif., then returning to Oregon for stops in Lake Selmac, Glendale and Grants Pass before looping back to Medford. The Weekend Ride, dubbed “Cycle Oregon University,” was based in Monmouth on the campus of Western Oregon University.

Cycle Oregon was founded in 1987 to boost bicycle tourism and provide financial support for Oregon’s small rural communities. Each year the Cycle Oregon Fund supplies grants to support bicycling in Oregon as well as the communities through which it rides. The fund, which totals more than $1 million, typically donates $100,000 or more per year to projects around the state.

-End-

- PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT -

Repairs to Eastbank Esplanade to begin Tuesday, February 9

Construction vehicles will require intermittent, but brief, closures to trail

(Portland, OR) – Repairs to a sagging section of the Eastbank Esplanade will begin next Tuesday, February 9, and are expected to last a minimum of two weeks, pending any additional emergency repairs that might be discovered during the project. During that period, the trail may be closed periodically for approximately 15 minutes at a time for safety issues as construction vehicles move in and out of the repair area.

Construction will be done weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., but any temporary closures will be restricted to between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to limit the impact on pedestrians and cyclists who use the Eastbank Esplanade as a commuter route to and from downtown Portland. Work will discontinue on the weekends and will not affect special events such as the Worst Day of the Year ride on February 14.

On November 6, Portland Parks & Recreation closed a small portion of the Eastbank Esplanade to bicycles and pedestrians for safety purposes after a 400' section of the paved portion of the trail experienced some sagging. The location of the repairs is roughly 500 feet north of the Morrison Bridge. SE Stark Street is an east/west directional indicator of the location of the closed section.

ODOT repairs to affect trail
Later this winter, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) crews will perform concrete repairs on the Morrison Bridge pedestrian undercrossing that crosses under the Interstate 5 Morrison Bridge off-ramp. The undercrossing work will also require closing the pedestrian undercrossing and intermittently closing the Eastbank Esplanade for up to 15 minutes as crews perform overhead work and move equipment. ODOT will distribute more information about the pedestrian undercrossing project before work begins.

# # #

News Release from: Portland Police Bureau
HIT AND RUN SUSPECT ARRESTED
Posted: January 26th, 2010 12:00 PM

On January 25th, 2010 at approximatley 8:40 P.M. Portland Police Officers arrested Patrick Wayne Livingston, a 44 year old male. Livingston was wanted in association with the hit and run of two high school students.

On January 22nd, 2010 at approximately 12:00 P.M., Livingston and a passenger were driving in the area of SE 52nd avenue and SE Woodward street. Livingston approached the intersection at and drove around several vehicles which had stopped to let two students cross. Livingston struck both students. One student sustain multiple broken bones and required hospitalization. The second student had minor injuries.

Livingston is being arraigned today, on charges of Hit and Run and Assault in the Second Degree. A photograph will be sent to all media.

This just in from the PPB:

PEDESTRIAN HIT AND KILLED BY VEHICLE

Posted: January 23rd, 2010 8:53 PM

Tonight at 7:20 p.m., Portland Police Officers responded to the area of 122nd and Foster on a call that a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle. When the officers arrived, they found a deceased a 44-year-old man at the scene. The driver of the vehicle that hit the pedestrian remained at the scene and cooperated with police.

The Major Crash Team responded and are investigating this incident. Investigators have determined that the pedestrian was crossing south to north and the driver was traveling westbound on 122nd when the accident occurred. Witnesses reported that the pedestrian was not in a crosswalk and walked in front of one car before walking in front of the vehicle that hit him. Investigators do not believe speed or alcohol was a factor in this incident and the driver is not being cited.

The name of the deceased man is not being released at this time.

Contact Info: PIO Contact Name: Detective Mary Wheat
Email Address: mwheat@portlandpolice.org