Month: November 2006
Decision reached in Albright vs. TriMet
Gregory Zeuthen, the arbitrator brought in to decide the case between Randy Albright and TriMet has come to a decision.
He finds both parties negligent in the infamous events that transpired on January 22, 2004.
Here are key excerpts from the official memo Zeuthen just faxed to the attorneys in the case (hat tip to the Mercury, here’s a PDF of the memo):
Bikes poised for big political push
with some random guy
at the 2005 National Bike
Summit in Washington DC]
According to the League of American Bicyclists, the composition of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is set to take a decidedly bike-friendly turn after Tuesday’s elections.
Likely to be chairman of this committee is the current ranking Democrat, Congressman Jim Oberstar from Minnesota. Oberstar is considered by many to be Washington’s #1 man for bikes.
At last year’s National Bike Summit in Washington DC, he shared a rousing and inspiring speech about the importance of encouraging more kids to drive bikes to school. He told a packed room of bike advocates from across the country that we,
Pacenti Cycle Design moving to Portland
Photo: Pacenti Cycle Design
Portland just scored another bike industry coup.
Kirk Pacenti of Pacenti Cycle Design — a well-known designer and supplier of bicycle lugs and frame tubing — has announced that he will move his business to Portland by the end of next year.
Pacenti supplies artisan bicycle builders with everything needed to build a frame and provides expertise in designing, engineering and sourcing lugs, dropouts and other frame components.
It’s official: Portland gets Dutch bike distributor
Cycles demonstrates
his bakfiets.]
I have just confirmed that the Dutch Bicycle Company — a Florida-based importer of bakfiets and Dutch city bikes — has named a Portland distributor.
According to Dutch Bicycle Company owner Dan Sorger, Northeast Portland resident Dean Mullin will represent the complete range of Dutch city bikes offered by his company through his newly established business, Clever Cycles.
On a side note, I can’t help but notice that Clever Cycles is similar to Cleverchimp, the local business of Todd Fahrner and his Stokemonkey electric assist product.
Todd and Dean recently collaborated on an Stokemonkey-equipped bakfiets and I have a feeling that we’ll be hearing more out of their partnership soon.
Bicycle industry association moves forward
led the meeting.]
At a meeting in City Hall last night, bicycle industry leaders met with PDC liaison Jennifer Nolfi to discuss the formation of a new bicycle industry association.
At the meeting were local bicycle and parts manufacturers, apparel designers, an event promoter, and representatives from Commissioner Sam’s office and PDOT.
The meeting was held to discuss the scope of the new organization, establish its primary objectives, create a mission statement, and to come up with a name.
A bakfiets unlike any other
Todd Fahrner, the man behind Southeast Portland-based Cleverchimp, has just published photos and video of his latest creation. He has outfitted a Dutch “bakfiets” bike with his superlative Stokemonkey Human Electric Hybrid Drive device. Check it out:
New bike event coming to Mississippi Street
Bike event goddess Ayleen Crotty just let me in on a big secret. She and her other bike fun operatives at Good Sport Promotion — the folks behind the Hottest Day of the Year Ride, the Twilight Criterium and others — have just unveiled details about their big new event for Summer ’07.
The Cirque du Cycling will happen on June 16th in and around Mississippi Street in North Portland.
More education needed to preserve cyclist’s rights
[Editor’s note: Please read this follow-up comment made by the author.]
Like any emerging issue, bicycling occupies an uncertain and even an unknown territory. In the courtroom yesterday it was clear that the judge, the DA, and most of the police officers present have not been on a bicycle in their adult lives. In fact, everything about the day’s proceedings can be read in light of participants’ understanding, or lack thereof, of the mechanics and practicalities of bicycling.
My 10,000th comment!
A few minutes ago I passed a pretty neat milestone. I received the 10,000th comment since my very first post on BikePortland.org back on July 29, 2005.
This is a perfect opportunity to say how grateful I am for all the intelligent and insightful comments all of you have shared.
I often tell people that comments are the most interesting part of my site and as the tone of my writing becomes increasingly objective and news-oriented (I hope), I rely on your voices to add perspectives to the stories.
Zoobombers meet with PDOT about new art rack
Zoobomb bike rack]
The iconic Zoobomb Pile (a.k.a. the “Holy Rack” or the “People’s Bike Library of Greater Portland”) is in for a major change.
Tuesday night, in a rare showing of cohesion, 20 Zoobombers met in a downtown restaurant to discuss potential new locations for the pile and share design ideas and sketches for a new rack to hold their mini-bikes.
Also in attendance was PDOT employee Linda Ginenthal. One of Ginenthal’s roles in the Transportation Options division is to review art racks and make sure they pass city guidelines.
OBRA announces Clydesdale Class cross race
This just in from Candi Murray of the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association:
The Cross Crusade is proud to host the first ever Clydesdale race at this weekend’s State Cyclocross Championships at Estacada Timber Park.
Who: Those who weigh 200+ lbs (in the buff). We will be doing a weigh-in, so don’t even try entering if you’re not a plus size athlete
When: The Clydesdale Open category will run with the Masters B’s/ Jr race @ 11:00am