Month: January 2007
Fixie ticket deja-vu in Germany
A reader recently sent me a a German news story about police and fixed-gear bicycles. Judging by the photos accompanying the story (below), he suspected (hoped) it was about how some German cops were riding fixed-gear bicycles on their bike patrols. This would be in direct contrast to Portland cops who issue citations to cyclists riding fixed-geared bicycles without a separate hand brake.
pose with suspect’s bike.]
Little bikes, big fun planned for Mini Bike Winter IV
Portland’s mini-bike enthusiasts (a.k.a. the Zoobombers) are busy planning their biggest and baddest ever Mini Bike Winter. The event, a “bike-centric series of events celebrating human powered culture,” will take place February 17-19th.
I attended a recent planning meeting to get the lowdown and now I understand what one Zoobomber meant when he said they are, “practically vibrating with excitement” over this event.
Stolen Novara XR
Had Adams Folding Trail-a-Bike attached (Adams Color: White). Taken with Novara XR 14″ – 2 Novara’s; 2 Adams Trail-A-Bike stolen.
More Info on Finetoothcog
33rd Avenue bridge re-opens
North towards Marine Drive.]
Photo: PDOT
Easy access to the Marine Drive bike path has been restored with the completion of the refurbished 33rd Avenue bridge over NE Lombard Street.
This means cyclists no longer have to take the tricky detour that I wrote about when the bridge was demolished back in March.
Andy Clarke to speak at Oregon Bike Tourism Summit
rides with BTA Director Evan
Manvel in Vancouver, WA last year.]
League of American Bicyclists Executive Director Andy Clarke will attend the upcoming Oregon Bicycle Tourism Summit planned for April 13-14th in Sisters, Oregon.
Summit organizer Jerry Norquist — who confirmed Clarke’s attendance — said Clarke will share insights and inspirations from the National Bike Summit, which happens a month earlier in Washington D.C.
Last year’s Oregon Bike Tourism Summit took place in Eugene and brought together advocates, manufacturers, elected officials and interested cititzens to exchange ideas on how to make Oregon the #1 state for bicycle tourism.
Community remembers Ali Al-Salman
The Portland bike community has lost a special character. Ali Al-Salman — who shared his love of bicycles and music with many — passed away at 7:30 AM on New Year’s Day while visiting family in Los Angeles.
Although I didn’t get to know him well, I remember Ali’s smile and guitar from several bike events over the past few years.
Ayleen Crotty has written a nice remembrance of Ali on the Midnight Mystery Ride website and on her ORBike Blog. Ali was a regular on the Midnight Mystery Rides and had attended more of them than anyone else. He even wrote a song about them — which you can hear on his MySpace page.
For more remembrances of Ali, see this message on the Shift email list.
Rest in peace Ali.
ODOT picks new bike/ped program manager
Michael Ronkin at an OPBAC
meeting.]
ODOT has picked Sheila Lyons to manage their bicycle and pedestrian program. Lyons takes over for Michael Ronkin who held this important post for 22 years before officially retiring back in October.
Lyons previously worked alongside Ronkin as ODOT’s bicycle and pedestrian facilities specialist and served two years on the BTA Board of Directors (more on her hiring on the BTA Blog). In addition to overseeing ODOT’s bike and ped programs, Sheila will also head the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (OBPAC), an eight-member committee who acts as a liaison between the public and ODOT.