Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

PNCA set to unveil ‘Tracey Sparling Memorial Pedal Garden’

When 19-year old Tracey Sparling was killed while riding her bike in downtown Porltand on October 11th, 2007, it shook our city to the core. When, just 11 days later, Brett Jarolimek suffered a similar fate in a collision in north Portland, we experienced a unprecedented, citywide outpouring of grief and activism. For the community … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

TriMet tragedy, like Sparling case, shows gap in Oregon law

“This is precisely why the BTA, WPC [Willamette Pedestrian Coalition] and I are calling for a vehicular homicide law. There ought to be some higher level of consequence when you use a deadly weapon to kill someone, even if you didn’t do it on purpose. — Ray Thomas, lawyer Yesterday, Multnomah County Senior Deputy District … Read more


Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

PNCA staffer who rallied after tragedies receives award

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 … Read more


Bells ring in Portland’s first Blessing of the Bikes

Deacon Thomas Gornick led the ceremony.Photo Gallery here(Photos © J. Maus) In a respectful and poignant outdoor ceremony, St. Mary’s Cathedral in Northwest Portland held their first-ever Blessing of the Bikes on Sunday. The service opened with a hymn and continued with a series of prayers and intercessions meant to recognize and celebrate the contribution … Read more


Tracey Sparling’s family joins in the Ride of Silence

Unlike most group rides, last night’s Ride of Silence was a solemn affair.Full gallery here(All photos © J. Maus) About 70 Portlanders took part in the Ride of Silence last night. After a brief speech by BTA executive director Scott Bricker, the crowd rode from the North Park Blocks, made a loop through downtown, went … Read more


Magazine editor blames bike lanes for Portland fatalities

Download article here (115 kb PDF)Copyright 2008 by John Schubert and reprinted with permission from Adventure Cyclist magazine In the April issue of Adventure Cyclist magazine, technical editor John Schubert writes that “poorly designed” bike lanes were to blame for the recent deaths of Tracey Sparling and Brett Jarolimek. In, Portland’s Agony: Two cyclists died … Read more