Day: November 29, 2007

UPDATE: Portland will pick bike-sharing vendor next week

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

[Update: 12/6, 9:47pm (see below)]

Commissioner Sam Adams’ office has put together a panel to review the proposals of the three companies who responded to their request to implement a bike-sharing system in Portland.

The request called for a company that could manage the “delivery and operation of a bicycle fleet [numbering 500 bikes] for rent to the general public and stationed in the public right of way to further promote the City’s use of a multi-modal public transportation system with a focus on the City’s core area.”

According to the official document from the the City’s Bureau of Purchases, the three companies are:

Read more

Finalists chosen for Zoobomb Pyle rack project

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

The Pyle, at its current
location on SW 9th.
(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

Even though it’s been over a year since Zoobombers first met with PDOT about it, the process to integrate the iconic mound of mini-bikes known as the Zoobomb Pyle into a piece of official public art is now moving along quickly.

After the announcement of the project in October, the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) received 14 applications from local artists hoping to build a new rack for the beloved cluster of mini-bikes.

The bikes are maintained by a group of Portlanders who like to take them on the MAX train to Washington Park and then “Zoobomb” down the steep and windy streets of the West Hills every Sunday night.

Read more

Going deep in a quest for The Grail

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Steven Hunter dove deep in the
Willamette to uncover his piece
of The Grail.
(Photos courtesy Brian Ellin)

So much of what makes the Cross Crusade a success has little to do with racing bikes. Take for example the Quest for The Grail.

The Quest is a contest dreamed up by Crusade director Brad Ross, and event founder Rick Potestio. The stakes? Prizes, bragging rights, and one lucky winner will get a round-trip ticket to the Cyclocross World Championships in Treviso, Italy.

The rules are simple: follow the trail on the map (below), when you see the orange “X” you begin searching nearby for “a fragment of an ancient bike or even The Grail itself.” Each participant can only collect one fragment and then they must bring it to the Cross Crusade Awards Party (this Sunday) to find out if their fragment is in fact The Grail.

Read more

Lake Oswego Holiday Bike Drive

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Official Event Website

Community Cycling Center & Exchange Cycle Tours Holiday Bike Drive

DATE: Dec. 1st, 2007
Time: 11 AM – 4 PM (12:30 PM – 4PM at Athey Creek)

Locations:
Lake Grove Albertson’s Grocery Store
16199 Boones Ferry Rd, Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Athey Creek Middle School (at the Girl Scouts’ Trefoil Bazaar Event)
2900 SW Borland Rd, West Linn, OR 97068

Development Charges approved; bike improvements get funding boost

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Three months ago, I reported that PDOT had finalized their list of projects to be funded through the Transportation System Development Charges (TSDC) program.

This program assesses one-time fees to new development and redevelopment to help pay for transportation improvements.

Now that the list has been approved by City Council, the following projects will receive about one quarter of their funding from TSDCs.

(These are only the projects that have a bike infrastructure component, for more details and the full list of 43 projects click here.)

Read more

Latest Headlines

Opinion: Mapps needs new approach if he wants to change traffic culture

PBOT reveals potential bike parking code changes amid pressure to ease housing delays, costs

Bend lawmaker considers e-bike law changes in response to tragic teen death

Weekend Event Guide: Bridges, nakedness, cider, and more

Featured Story

Chris Billman is the only Oregonian with a disabled parking decal for his bicycle