than a sign.]
As part of an ongoing protest against how cyclists got shafted on the St. Johns Bridge last year, a group of “ciclonudistas” is rallying the troops for their second annual naked protest ride (here’s a report from last year).
A little background:
Last year, the Oregon Department of Transportation completed a major renovation of the St. Johns Bridge, the northernmost Willamette River crossing in the city and a key connection for thousands of North Portland residents to popular recreational bike routes and Highway 30.
There was an opportunity to make the bridge safe and accessible for bicycles. Unfortunately ODOT completely ignored City of Portland transportation officials, the bike community, and a third party study and instead caved into special interests (truck drivers).
We are left with a bridge that is very unsafe for bicyclists (and not that great to walk on either) and so far nothing has changed (I’ve heard sharrows might be a possibility).
Tempted by expected 106 degree temperatures and to let the community know they haven’t forgotten, the Ciclonudistas will ride, en masse and sans clothing across the bridge tomorrow. Here are the details:
1) Meet Saturday 2:00 at Peninsula Park Gazebo (700 N. Portland Blvd.
2) Ride to St. John’s Bridge, dis-robing at some discrete location en-route
3) Keep the fun rolling with a nekkid NW mass
4) Free home-made ice cream following the bike riding fun to be served
at an undisclosed location
5) PK is not invited