The PDX Bicycle Show is casting The Portland Bicycle Fashion Show. The PDX Bicycle Show is a consumer expo with the largest display of bicycles, gear and apparel under one roof. In addition to the Portland Bicycle Fashion Show there will be other featured events such a Pump Jam with Free Ride sensation Andrew Taylor, Ryan Leech will exhibit focus and concentration as he demonstrates amazing trials riding stunts and a Bicycle Safety Rodeo for the kids. There is something for the whole family to enjoy at the PDX Bicycle Show.

Models will need to be available Friday, March 23rd for fittings and dress rehearsal. The fashion show will take place on Saturday, March 24th at 3pm and Sunday, March 25th at 3pm.

SEEKING- Male and Female Cyclist who aren’t afraid to interact with a crowd and show off the latest styles for commuting cyclist, racing cyclist and every day bike riding.

Email: Resume’ and Pictures (if available) no later than February 10 to andrea{at}pedalnationevents{dot}com. This is a volunteer position, every model will receive a letter of reference and free entry to the show for themselves and one other person.

Mark your calendars for March 13th and plan to attend the 6th annual Transportation Safety Summit. Mayor Sam Adams posted details on the event today:

SAVE THE DATE MARCH 13 for the SIXTH TRANSPORTATION SAFETY SUMMIT

WHEN: Tuesday, March 13, 2012
5:30–9:00 PM

WHERE: Jefferson High School,
5210 N Kerby Portland, OR 97217

The Sixth Transportation Safety Summit kicks off with a Community Initiatives Poster Session from 5:30–6:15 PM. This is a great opportunity to showcase your work before local transportation and community leaders.

Please contact Sharon White at sharon.white@portlandoregon.gov to reserve exhibit space.

For more on this event, see our coverage from 2011 and previous years here.

I've been following updates from the event via Twitter and two quotes have been shared hundreds of times. Here's the first one:

On 350 calories, a bicyclist can go 10 miles, a pedestrian 3.5 miles, and a car 100 feet.

That was tweeted by @AurashKhawarzad and I'm not sure who the original source was. I'm also not sure how you convert car movement into calories, but it's a fun way to look at the numbers.

And then there's this quote (paraphrased by tweeters) from famed transportation researcher Todd Litman:

"Best urban sustainability measure: "whether or not you are able to walk home from a bar drunk.""

One more quick note about TRB. With the transportation funding debate heating up, a Streetsblog DC reporter attended a session on the topic. Check out what he found out in this story, Is Doing Nothing a Politically Acceptable Way to Pay For Transportation?

If YOU haven't been Zoobombing in months or EVER (repent!), tonight just might be your night!

Here are a few reasons why you should Zoobomb tonight:

1) It's Sunday and Zoobombing only happens on Sunday.
2) Maybe you don't have to work tomorrow thanks to MLK Jr.?
3) It might snow and that would be AWESOME!

I've invited some friends who've never Zoobombed before and here is the plan if you'd like to join us:
8pm -- Pregame at the NEW Sizzle Pie (formerly Rocco's) at 10th and SW Oak
9pm -- Meetup (and get a "pyle bike" if you want one) at The Pyle, SW 13th and Burnside
10pm -- If you don't want to meet at the Pyle, make sure you're getting off MAX at Washington Park by 10. Follow the people with bikes.

Things to keep in mind: You don't have to go fast. You can ride your own bike (but a little one's WAY more fun). It's safe. You can be home before midnight.

Suggested packing list: Warm clothes (prepare for standing around), shareable snacks or drinks, good lights, styrofoam hat, open mind, $2.10.

Chariot Carriers Recalls Child Bicycle Trailers and Conversion Kits Due to Injury Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Chariot bicycle trailers and bicycle trailer conversion kits

Units: About 44,000 bicycle trailers and 70,000 bicycle trailer conversion kits

Manufacturer: Thule Child Transport Systems Ltd., d/b/a Chariot Carriers, of Calgary, Canada

Hazard: The bicycle trailer’s hitch mechanisms can crack and break, causing the trailer to detach from the bicycle. This poses an injury hazard to children in the bicycle trailer.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 24 incident reports worldwide, three of which occurred in the United States, involving the bicycle trailers and the conversion kits. No injuries have been reported.

Description: Chariot Carriers convert to strollers, jogging strollers and bike, hike or ski trailers. This recall involves Chariot bicycle trailers and bicycle trailer conversion kits. Recalled trailers have serial numbers from 1205-xxxx to 0710-xxxx (representing manufacture dates December 2005 through July 2010) located the left side on the frame. Recalled conversion kits have hitch arms that attach the carrier to the bicycle with model number “20100503” printed on a label attached to the aluminum tube next to the warning label. Older conversion kits without a label, but with a release push button located where the hitch arm inserts into the carrier, are also being recalled.

Sold at: Specialty bicycle stores nationwide and on various websites from December 2005 through August 2010 for between $400 and $925 for Chariot bicycle trailers and from October 2002 through August 2011 for between $40 and $70 for bicycle trailer conversion kits.

Manufactured in: Canada

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bicycle trailers and bicycle trailer conversion kits and contact Chariot Carriers for a free repair kit which the consumer can install.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Chariot Carriers at (800) 262-8651 between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.chariotcarriers.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2012
Release #12-082 Firm's Recall Hotline: (888) 548-8518
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Bicycle Helmets Recalled by Triple Eight Distribution Due to Risk of Head Injury

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Bicycle helmets for children and youth

Units: About 30,400

Importer: Triple Eight Distribution, Inc., of Port Washington, N.Y.

Hazard: Product testing demonstrated that these helmets do not comply with CPSC safety standards for impact resistance. Consumers could suffer impact head injuries in a fall.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Description: The recalled items are multi-purpose helmets also sold for use as bicycle helmets. Little Tricky helmets are marketed for children and youth, and feature a large Little Tricky logo on both sides of the helmet. They come in one size and in black, white, pink and green. Triple Eight S/M EPS Liner helmets feature a hard black inner EPS foam liner and come in black, white, bone, blue and army green. Sector 9 S/M EPS Liner helmets feature the same EPS liner and come in gray, white, black, blue and green. Both the Triple Eight and Sector 9 helmets have an interior label indicating the size “S/M” for small/medium and a manufacture date indicated as month/year (ex. APR/2011). Only Triple Eight and Sector 9 size “S/M” EPS Liner helmets are affected.

Sold at: Bicycle and sports stores and other retailers nationwide and online from August 2006 through November 2011 for about $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the product immediately and contact Triple Eight for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Triple Eight toll free at (888) 548-8518 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.triple8.com

Jan. 9, 2011

Overnight Steel Bridge closures start tonight
Drivers can use Burnside or Broadway bridges

Oregon Department of Transportation maintenance crews will close the traffic lanes of the upper deck of the Steel Bridge for two nights this week, beginning at 10 p.m. Monday Jan. 9 and Tuesday Jan. 10 and ending at 6 a.m. each following morning.

During the closures, crews will perform maintenance on the bridge drainage system. The maintenance equipment is large enough that crews will need both traffic lanes to safely complete the work.

Drivers can use the Burnside or Broadway bridges while the Steel Bridge upper deck is closed. The sidewalks and the lower esplanade will remain open during the work. Five TriMet bus lines will be rerouted during the work: 4, 8, 35 and 44 will be rerouted over the Burnside Bridge and line 77 will travel over the Broadway Bridge.

No Old Town bus stops will be served by these lines. There will be no impact on MAX service.

For more information, visit trimet.org/alerts.

##ODOT##

Save the date! February 6th, from 7pm-8:30pm at Portland State University, we're co-sponsoring Local Motion: Portland Mayoral Candidates Discuss Active Transportation with Willamette Pedestrian Coalition, OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, The Bicycle Transportation Alliance, 1000 Friends of Oregon, Coalition for a Livable Future, and the PSU Planning and Environmental Clubs. More details to come!

Peterson is the former Chair of Clackamas County who was picked for her post by Kitzhaber back in February of last year. The talk is being hosted by the Oregon chapter of the international Women's Transportation Seminar.

See the full event notice below:

Final Reminder: Register by Friday at 5 PM for the WTS Luncheon on Tuesday, January 10th

Featured Speaker: Lynn Peterson, Sustainable Communities and Transportation Policy Advisor to Governor Kitzhaber

Please join us at the January 10th luncheon to hear from Lynn Peterson regarding Governor Kitzhaber's agenda for transportation.

Lynn will discuss the following:
Transportation in America has reached a great period of transition. As we chart a course for the Governor's administration and for Oregon's future, we find ourselves with significant opportunities to make Oregon more efficient, more connected and more prosperous. The Governor is very committed to creating family-wage jobs across Oregon to get our economy back on track, and transportation will be a key element of our economic recovery. From changing the ways we build and repair roads and bridges, to investing in new inter-city rail links and electric vehicle infrastructure, we are pioneering a 21st Century transportation system to help create a 21st Century clean economy in Oregon.

The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. and will be held at the Governor Hotel in downtown Portland at 614 SW 11th. Luncheons are $25 for members, $35 for non-members, $10 for students, and $5 for coffee/tea only. We offer a $10 discount to public agency employees (discount will be provided at the door). Please click the link on the left hand side of this email to register. Cancellations must be received by Friday, January 6th at 5 PM or attendees will be charged full price for the meal. Contact Kate Lyman, WTS Luncheons Co-Chair, at kate.lyman@ch2m.com with any questions about this event.

ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION RENEWS FUNDING FOR
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP
Project Will Help Create Thousands of Miles of Sidewalks and Bike Paths

Boulder, CO (January 5, 2012)– The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has provided a three-year renewal grant of $2,999,725 to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, a diverse, nationwide coalition of more than 550 organizations. The grant will support the National Partnership’s efforts to advance Safe Routes to School, a federal program that creates safe, convenient and fun opportunities for U.S. children to walk and bicycle to and from school.

“This program will help a generation of children to become more active and healthy through the construction of lasting street-scale improvements that will result in more walking and bicycling,” said Deb Hubsmith, director of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. “We are grateful for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s generous support, and look forward to working with many partners to help reverse the childhood obesity epidemic in the next three years.”

The grant will build on policy wins from recent years, and advance built environment improvements in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This project will result in thousands of more miles of sidewalks and bike paths, traffic-calming projects and safer street crossings, and will enable many more students to benefit from Safe Routes to School. The project will focus on supporting communities with high rates of childhood obesity.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is leading national efforts to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015. This grant contributes toward that goal, and has four main elements:

1) Helping all states to increase the award and obligation of federal Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancements funds, resulting in the construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities nationwide, particularly in lower-income communities;

2) Developing a national learning network to share best practices among advocates for advancing street-scale improvements, such as sidewalks and pathways and joint-use agreements that develop opportunities for cities and schools to collaborate on creating safe places for kids to play and engage in healthy physical activity;

3) Advancing state-level policy reform in seven states (Calif., Fla., Miss., N.C., N.J., Ohio, and Tenn.) which will result in the award and obligation of federal transportation funds, street-scale improvements and joint-use agreements. The seven states were selected based on need and their capacity to succeed with the program goals; and

4) Publication of two policy reports highlighting the importance of the built environment in relation to improving health.

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership was founded in 2005 and is leading a national movement designed to make it safe, fun and convenient to walk and bicycle to and from school and in daily life. In 1969, approximately half of all school-age children walked or bicycled to school. Today, only about 13 percent of children in America walk or bicycle to school. Since 2005, Congress has dedicated funding for state departments of transportation to provide grants to schools and communities to build pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and run educational programs to support more walking and bicycling. A growing body of evidence confirms that community and street-scale improvements to the built environment play an important role in increasing physical activity for children and adults...