What Portland needs is a road that connects a close-in neighborhood to downtown that's designed in such a way that people who choose to ride a bicycle on it can enjoy the same level of comfort, efficiency, and safety that people who choose to drive or take transit currently experience.

Contrary to the vision of bike utopia many have formed in their head about Portland, the reality is that we lack this type of road. Yes, we have some innovative and exciting bike-specific infrastructure; but none of it provides the Dutch-style, door-to-door connectivity that we all know is absolutely crucial to handling our current traffic demands and to entice the "interested but concerned" to give biking a try.

Creating this type of roadway is the challenge I proposed when I was invited by GOOD to be a part of their GOOD Ideas for Cities event that's coming to Portland on February 16th.

The event teams "urban leaders" with creative pros and designers to come up with solutions to challenges many cities face. I'm honored to be a part of one of six teams that will tackle everything from access to local food, re-thinking public space to combat obesity, how to attract more businesses downtown, funding the arts, and more.

I've been paired with three very smart and engaged urban thinkers from the non-profit Think.Urban; Jason King, Allison Duncan, and Katrina Johnston. We're meeting weekly in preparation for the big event on February 16th where we'll share a six-minute presentation about our solution to this challenge. At the event we'll be joined by other teams with members from Wieden + Kennedy, Ziba, the Office of Mayor Sam Adams, the Portland Development Commission, and others.

The event is free but the folks from GOOD tell me that tickets are going very quickly! You can RSVP online if you'd like to join us. I can guarantee the presentations will be inspiring. Our team has already met once and many sparks of ideas were flying!

For more information, check out this GOOD Cities blog post.

UPDATED: Tickets are sold out, but you can still try to attend. Here's what Alissa from GOOD says:

 Tickets are sold out for this event. If you'd still like to attend, there will be a line forming outside the venue starting at at 6:00 p.m. and we'll be releasing all unclaimed tickets at 6:45 p.m. Thanks for your support!

Winter weather got you down? Then perhaps "Cross Up," an indoor cyclocross race being put together by Amanda Sundvor of Backyard Blam, will deliver you from the doldrums.

Cross Up will be tournament style races with two riders going shoulder-to-shoulder in each heat. Racers will ride customized Raleigh Furley singlespeed cyclocross bikes with flat bars, big tires and platform pedals. Amanda and her Backyard Blam crew have devised a course that will include some jumps, rollers, berms and barriers. Whether you like catching air or if you prefer to stay earth-bound, Amanda says the course will be a ton of fun for novice and experienced riders alike.

Or, as Amanda put it, "The course will be manageable for the novice... It won't be too intimidating... But for people that can get rad on their bikes they'll have the opportunity to do so."

As if that wasn't exciting enough, this event will be held at The Lumberyard. The indoor bike park (we shared the full scoop back in November) on NE 82nd Avenue is still a few months from its official opening, but the owners have agreed to host this event.

Amanda is like the Willy Wonka of bike events and Backyard Blam is her factory. A bike mechanic by day (at 21st Avenue Bicycles) and a super-fun DJ by night (she's a regular at local bike events), her energy and enthusiasm for bikes is infectious.

Amanda at the Circulus race.

Backyard Blam has built a reputation for awesome events like the "Hole Shot," where competitors dueled on no-brake coaster bikes on a tiny, flat oval concrete track (check the video).

Adding to the fun of Cross Up will be free beer, great prizes (men's and women's winners will win a Raleigh Roper) and plenty of good stuff in the raffle (including a frame).

Cross Up is February 4th. Registration opens at 5:00 pm and racing starts sometime thereafter. Race entry is $10 but it's free to get in, drink beer, and heckle/cheer your favorite riders. The Lumberyard is at 2700 NE 82nd Ave. More info at the Backyard Blam blog.

If you want to join the state's leading active transportation advocates, policymakers, and citizen activists at the 2nd annual Oregon Active Transportation Summit, mark your calendar for April 16-17th. Cycle Oregon (yes, they put on that big, great ride, but they also do a lot of behind-the-scenes, statewide bike advocacy work) announced information about the upcoming event today.

The event began as the Oregon Bicycle Tourism Summit and was first held in Eugene back in 2006. Last year, it changed gears with an expanded mission to coalesce forces with walking and public transit advocates in an effort to garner more resources and have a more powerful collective voice.

Continuing on that same note, event organizers (which includes staff from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and other organizations) say this year the topical scope will expand even more.

This year's two-day summit will include "points of emphasis" that fall into five main categories:

• Economic Benefits
• Advocacy
• Planning, Technology and Tools
• Funding
• Equity and Social Justice

One of the most inspiring and informative aspects of the event are the speakers. The BTA has launched the official request for presentations to find the best and brightest active transportation minds from around the country.

The event will take place in the Salem Conference Center and costs $50 per person. Stay tuned to the official website for registration information.

For background, read our coverage from last year's event.

The Community Cycling Center held their 16th annual Holiday Bike Drive yesterday. The event connected over 400 kids from low-income families with a newly refurbished bike, a helmet, basic safety education and most importantly, the freedom and sheer joy that comes with having your own two wheels.

We weren't at the event this year, but the CCC shared a few photos of the happy kids (taken by Britt Appleton):

The impact these bikes are likely to have on these kids — and on our community — is exciting to consider. Thanks to the CCC and all the volunteers and sponsors that make it happen. Learn more about the Holiday Bike Drive on their website.

With the popularity of cyclocross stoking the fire and the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association (OBRA) tending the flames, Oregon's racing scene has flourished in the last few years. A key to that success is the involvement of young "junior" racers aged between 10-18 years old. Tonight in Portland, Bike N' Hike will host a benefit event to support junior racing. The guest of honor will be Jacob Rathe, a former junior who has signed a major pro contract for the 2012 season and who serves as testimony to Oregon's success.

We first noticed Rathe when he represented the Team USA at the UCI Junior World Championships back in 2008. Since then he has continued to excel and he took a big career step when he signed with the Garmin-Cervelo professional team back in April.

Flyer for tonight's event.
-More info here-

Junior racing is surging in Oregon, but it wasn't always that way. In 2008, junior category (ages 10-18) participation in the Cross Crusade cyclocross series lagged — even though that series boasted the largest number of participants of any cyclocross series in the world. In Washington, where they have one-third the total race participants, they had twice the junior participation.

John Wilson, who directs the Oregon Junior and High School Cyclocross Race Series, says that's because Washington let young racers have their own time slot at local races — instead of throwing them in with adults.

In 2009, Wilson launched a seven race junior cyclocross series. The goal, says Wilson, was to use cyclocross to
grow junior participation in all cycling disciplines, and, "hopefully start the process of generating world class cyclocross talent from the Pacific Northwest."

To further nudge junior racing along, OBRA gave juniors free cyclocross licenses, and gave promoters a break on rider processing fees and officiating fees. In return, promoters agreed to cap race registration fees to just $5 for juniors (that's compared to fees up to $30 for adult racers).

The result?

In 2008 there were no 10 and 11 year olds racing cyclocross in Oregon and the average number of juniors at per cyclocross race in Oregon was 17 (and just 10 at non-'cross events).

Now, after three years of Wilson's series, there are an average of 75 junior racers at cyclocross events and 35 juniors per race at non cyclocross events. And the pipeline remains strong. OBRA stats how that the 10-12 age category grew 55% from 2010 to 2011.

"All of a sudden," says Wilson, "Oregon not only had the most successful adult cyclocross series, but it had one of the most successful junior cyclocross series." According to Crossresults.com of the top five junior events recorded in 2010 (in terms of participation), three were from Oregon.

OBRA Director Kenji Sugahara, who is also a board member with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, doesn't need any convincing that junior racing is worth the investment — even for results beyond the race track. "If we get good exposure in the high schools it really helps legitimize biking not only as a sport but for cycling as transportation. It makes cycling more mainstream."

For Wilson, the formula works. He feels that cyclocross is the perfect "entry point" into the sport for young kids. He credits a very supportive race community (the cheering for juniors is very loud at races), the access to training facilities (any local park will do), and the simple fact that riding bikes in the dirt, on gravel, and over grass is a lot of fun.

Once kids see their skills improve it only increases their motivation to get better. "Then you have a kid hooked on cycling," says Wilson, "who perhaps branches out to Road/MTB/Track."

Exactly. And I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more riders like Jacob Rathe go from local races to the world stage.

Stop by Bike N' Hike (400 SE Grand Ave) at 7:00 pm tonight for the "Wrath of Rathe" benefit featuring a Q & A with Rathe and benefitting OBRA's Junior Development Program. A $5 door donation gets you food, beer and other drinks, and entry into a big prize raffle. More event info here.

The 'bike swarm' is at it again. Organizers behind the growing movement to use masses of people on bicycles to support the Occupy Portland protests, are planning several "feeder" rides that will end at an action to shut down the Port of Portland.

The "Bike to Blockade" event is part of the local Shutdown the Port action, which is Portland's involvement in a coordinated attempt to shut down trading ports along the entire west coast.

The goal of the shutdown is to support longshoremen and port workers "in their struggle against the 1%!" (according to the website).

"U.S. ports have thus become economic engines for the elite;" reads the organizer's website, "the 1% these trade hubs serve are free to rip the shirts off the backs of the 99% who turn their profits."

Swarm organizer Katherine Ball says riders will run "scout missions" between terminals and circle in front of the entrances. "We will be biking legally but we hope there will be enough of us that it will create a traffic jam of sorts — or at least a lot of confusion."

"One of the main missions of a swarm for this action," Ball adds, "is just to get people up there! I think what happens when we get there will be somewhat improved based on what is necessary."

'Bike to Blockade' will support the event by leading feeder rides from all five quadrants of the city. The groups will meet up at Peninsula Park in North Portland, then ride together for a 4:00 pm rally at Kelley Point Park (which is smack dab in the middle of port terminals on the Columbia River).

Check the event flyer below or visit PDXBikeSwarm.com for more info.
—
(NOTE: The quotes from organizer Katherine Ball were added after this post was first published. - JM)

This guest post is by Michael Andersen of Portland Afoot, PDX's 10-minute newsmagazine and wiki for transit commuters.

About 100 Portlanders, nearly all of them under 40, met a who’s who of local politicians in a bike shop on SE Ash Street on Sunday night to rub elbows, talk politics and raise $1,000 to $2,000 more than $3,000 (revised Monday morning estimate!) in political donations.

The cause: Rebooting a political action committee, Bike Walk Vote, that’ll back elected officials who understand and support low-car life. The result: the group raised more in one night than it has in all previous election cycles combined. (Read more about the group's relaunch here.)

By political standards, the haul was still tiny. But politicians present said that in Portland, being perceived as friendly to biking, walking and riding transit is a gift money can’t buy.

"Most people aren’t [politically] active," said Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen, one of 12 candidates Bike Walk Vote successfully endorsed since 2004. "But people in this community share these values. So when I hand someone a flyer that says that ‘Bike Walk Vote endorsed me,’ it says something about me."

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (L)
and Multnomah County Chair Jeff
Cogen on stage.

Since 2004, only four of Bike Walk Vote's 19 endorsed candidates lost. After that election, the PAC slowed down; in 2010, they didn’t endorse candidates at all.

Also present Sunday: mayoral candidates Charlie Hales and Jefferson Smith; Metro council candidate Bob Stacey; Portland city council candidate Steve Novick; and U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer.

Blumenauer’s political advice to the crowd, delivered in blue jeans and turtleneck: "Have more parties. You guys know how to have fun."

You’ll find more info about Bike Walk Vote on our new wiki page about the group, but I’ll leave you with a few more photos.

Bike Walk Vote organizer Peter Welte, left, takes a donation from Metro candidate Bob Stacey, center (the stickers on their foreheads were prizes for folks who donated):

Partygoers enjoyed pizza donated from Hot Lips, other snacks from Crema bakery and Whole Foods, wine from Vino, beer from Coalition Brewing, and bike parking from Shift. The host was Crank, the bike shop at 2725 SE Ash:

Conversation roared on for more than two hours, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Southwest Portland pedestrian advocate Roger Averbeck spoke to BWV steering committee member Beth Flanagan beside the Christmas tree:

Evan Manvel, a founder of Bike Walk Vote in 2004 and a returning co-chair, went over the transit cuts, unfunded bike plans and what he described as 164 pedestrians killed on local roads in the last 15 years.

One wall was lined with questions to be asked on BWV’s questionnaire for mayoral candidates. Attendees used stickers to vote on their favorite questions:

And one subject emerged as the clear favorite:

And I thought folks who were there might appreciate this short film about Steph Routh, the remarkable activist who had the task of collecting money from donors. Though most of Portland Afoot’s work is licensed Creative Commons, I’m happy to release this one into the public domain:

(Merry Christmas, Steph.)

Finally, a serious observation…

One more thing.

Of the more than 100 politically involved Portlanders there, about half of whom I’d previously met as a reporter, I saw one person who is primarily a public transit advocate: TriMet lobbyist Aaron Deas.

The event’s organizers gamely included public transit commuters, who outnumber bicycle commuters two to one, in their literature. Manvel went out of his way to mention public transit before he mentioned bicycles.

But in a room that held one politician for every 17 voters, nearly no one whose main interest was mass transportation showed up. Maybe they hadn’t heard. Maybe they didn’t feel welcome; the nearest frequent service line was seven blocks away. As at most bicycling events I attend, just about everyone was white and U.S.-born.

In any case, Portland’s transit riders lack political organization, social capital and, I think, anything approaching Portland cyclists’ will to win. Thanks in part to 20 years of work by bicycle activists, dozens of friendly politicians are yearning to hear from us – eager to get our views on things like transit passes for high schoolers, rail lines to Sherwood and three-hour transfers.

But until we figure out how to speak for ourselves, transit riders will be no politician’s first priority.

Below is your menu for bike fun this weekend (starting this afternoon!). For being winter, it's pretty impressive just how much is going on. Bundle up and get there.

See the weekend guide below the jump...

Friday, December 2nd

2:00 pm: Swarm the Banks
The PDX Bike Swarm is at it again. The swarm will gather at 1:30 pm at Woodstock Park (SE 47t and Steele) and ride at 2:00. More info at PDXBikeSwarm.org.

7 - 10:00 pm: DinoBike! Art Show at Bikeasaurus
Roll over to Bikeasaurus for a look at the latest work of local artist and bike fun provocateur Carye Bye. More info.

6:30 - 8:30 pm: DimWits with Bright Lights Night Ride
Itching for a real mountain bike ride? Join the NW Trail Alliance out in Cascade Locks (in the Gorge) for a group night ride on the CLIMB Trail. Bring a chair to sit around the post-ride bonfire. More info.

Saturday, December 3rd

BikeCraft; makin' people
happy since 2005. (Nice belts!)
(Photo © J. Maus)

8:45 am: Plant By Bike
Local non-profit Friends of Trees is hosting the first bike planting event of the season. No, you don't plant your bike; you use your bike to haul trees and equipment. They say biking and planting a tree is a "carbon negative" activity. Meet at 3880 SE Brooklyn St and bring a cargo trailer if you've got one and please sign up here.

9:00 am - 3:00 pm: Sandy Ridge Trail Maintenance Day
Just what it sounds like. Join NW Trail Alliance to dig, chop, pull and clean up the MTB trails out at Sandy Ridge. More info.

11:00 am - 6:00 pm: BikeCraft (Sunday too)
This is it folks. It's finally here. The big bike event of the winter... A bike-inspired holiday gift fair featuring all handmade goods and most of them made right here in Portland. 60 different vendors, lots of great food, drinks, and other fun activities and surprises. Sandbox Studios, 420 NE 9th Ave (just south of I-84 and north of Burnside). More at BikeCraftPDX.com.

Sunday, December 4th

All day: Grand Prix Molly Cameron - Winter Cross
If you haven't gotten 'cross racing out of your system, there's still more semi-local racing to be had. The final Grand Prix Molly Cameron series race takes place up in Washougal, WA at Washougal Motorcross Park. Sounds like fun! Download the race flyer here (PDF).
9 - 10:30 am: Video Shoot for the Portland Loo
The City needs extras for a Portland Loo (24HR public restroom) promotion video. A cool thing about the loos is that they're big enough to easily bring your bicycle inside. This could be your 15 minutes of fame! Meet at Salmon Springs Fountain.

11:00 am - 6:00 pm: BikeCraft
You know the drill. More at BikeCraftPDX.com.

7:00 pm: Bike. Walk. Vote. Launch Party
It's time for some political action for bikes in Portland and this group is going to make to make it happen. An official political action committee (PAC), Bike. Walk. Vote. is looking to make an impact on the 2012 elections. Event is at Crank Bicycles (SE 28th and Ash). More info (FB).

Did we miss anything? Don't forget about Bike the Lights at PIR on Monday night.

Feel free to promote your events in the comments below or drop us a line if you have something we should add.

This coming Monday (12/5) is the third annual "Bike the Lights" event out at Portland International Raceway (just north of Kenton, west of I-5). The event is made possible by Bike Gallery and it's part of the Jubitz Winter Wonderland, which is "recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as the 'Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi'".

Bike night at Winter Wonderland is completely carfree, which means you can see the fun light displays in peace and quiet. It's a great family event and a perfect excuse to get out on the bikes for a night ride in this crisp and clear weather we've been having (hopefully it holds up!).

Last year over 800 people showed up on bike night and helped raise over $1,000 for the BTA. In 2009, my family and I rolled out with some families in sub-freezing temps and we still had a great time (thankfully there was hot cocoa and tea and we had the support of a fun crowd).

Bike Gallery owner Jay Graves (R) at the 2009 event.

Bike the Lights is this Monday, December 5th from 5 - 9:00 pm. Entry is $6 per person and kids under 13 are free. If you can't make it out all the way on your bike, you can drive to the track, park, and then pedal around to see the "wonder of Winter Wonderland" by bike. If you ride out, be aware that they south gate of PIR (near Columbia Slough Trail) will be open for easy bike access.

For more info, see the official event website.

If you haven't figured it out by now, BikeCraft isn't just a holiday gift bazaar: It's a place where folks come out of the winter cold, catch up with friends, and enjoy that special, bike-infused flavor of Portland holiday cheer.

And to make it even better this year, the folks putting on the event have lined up some splendid diversions that will make for a perfect break from all the shopping.

Here's a full rundown of the live music and other attractions coming to BikeCraft this weekend:

— On Saturday (12/3), Dezy "The Pianobike Kid" Walls (remember him?!) will delight you with his infectious mix of singing and playing. He'll be pedaling and playing from 2 to 3:00 pm.

The BTA Carolers at last year's event.

— On Sunday (12/4), local ukelele band Honky Tonk Prison (led by BikeCraft co-owner Amos Hunter himself) will play at 3:30. Come hear their hits like, "Tonight the Bottle", "I See the Want to in Your Eyes," and "To Heck with Ole Santa Claus."

— Also on Sunday will be a special appearance by the BTA Carolers at 2:00 pm. This wonderful group is made up of staffers and volunteers from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Their bikey versions of classic Christmas carols — like Climate Change is Coming to Town and Deck the Roads with Tons of Cyclists — are sure to warm your heart (get to lyrics so you can sing along here!)

Ace instructor Tori Bortman will
share winter maintenance tips.

— Tori Bortman of Gracie's Wrench will offer bike maintenance demos. Tori will share some nifty two-minute tricks that will have your bike singing like a Christmas caroler all winter long.

— The Filmed by Bike Lounge will be open all weekend. Inside the lounge, you can watch films from Filmed by Bike, grab previous event DVDs for cheap, or just hang out with friends and have a beer. A Bike Concierge from PDX By Bike will be on hand to answer all your questions about getting around Portland on two wheels or to help with gift ideas for that bike lover on your list that's hard to shop for (starting with a copy of their excellent zine).

But wait, there's more!

While you watch and listen, you'll be able to enjoy a variety of food and drinks including;

• Kettle corn from Pedal Kettle
• Mexican food from Taco Pedaler
• Yummy falafel from the one and only Fat Kitty Falafel
• Coffee from Ristretto Coffee Roasters
• Free, make-your-own trail mix from Whole Foods Laurelhurst
• And of course beer from the Metrofiets Beer Bike, which will be serving up Hopworks Survival Stout and Amnesia Desolation IPA

BikeCraft is open from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm both days this weekend (12/3 - 12/4) at the gorgeous Sandbox Studios (420 NE 9th Ave).

Check out BikeCraftPDX.com for the latest details, vendor list, and more. And remember, it's free to get in, but bring cash for food, drinks, and other purchases (some vendors won't take credit).

(Note: BikePortland is the presenting sponsor of BikeCraft 2011. Yeah!)