Year: 2008

Justa Phillips will return this year.
You’ll have to show up to see
if her classic cowboy design
will be there!

BikeCraft IV is just around the corner. We’ve gotten so much response from vendors that we’ve capped attendance and now have a full lineup of folks eager to sell their wares. Before we share more about who will be there, a quick reminder…

BikeCraft IV will be December 10, from 5:30pm to close at Roots Organic Brewing at 1520 SE 7th Ave (just south of Hawthorne) in Portland.

With that out of the way, here are the final fantastic additions to the list (Check out our other vendors here and here).

View of the new construction
as of 11/21/08.
(Photo: Clackamas County)

After an arson fire burned through several key support columns in August of 2006, the 82nd Drive/Park Place bike/ped bridge (map) over the Clackamas River (between Gladstone and Oregon City) is slated to officially re-open tomorrow.

In a newsletter from Clackamas County’s Water Environment Services division, county Board Chair Lynn Peterson said, “We know the public is eager for this work to be completed…and the public can once again enjoy this important pedestrian and bicycle access across the river.”

More info at RiverHealth.org

“Sam (Adams) has directed (City Traffic Engineer) Rob Burchfield to indentify opportunities for a “high visibility” cycle track to be rolled out in Sam’s first 100 days as mayor.”
— Sam Adams’ chief of staff Tom Miller, in an email to Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder

There’s no denying that 2009 is shaping up to be the Year of the Cycle Track in Portland.

PDOT already has one in the books for NE Cully Blvd., they’re working closely with streetcar planners to put one adjacent to the new line in the Lloyd District on NE 7th Ave., and planners, advocates, and other local bike insiders (including our next Mayor and his chief of staff) are all singing the cycle track’s praises after seeing them in action in cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

Tom Miller
(Photo © J. Maus)

Welcome to the final installment of our guest article series on bike sharing in Portland.

The series is written by Tom Miller, chief of staff for Portland City Commissioner and Mayor-elect Sam Adams. Yesterday, Tom laid out asked some of the questions that must be answered in order for Portland to make the right decision about a bike share system.

In today’s article, Tom surveys existing efforts in the U.S. and concludes the series with a quote from Portland’s future mayor.

The stop sign at SE Caruthers and
Water has been a source of
frustration for many.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Two stop signs at the intersection of SE Water Ave and SE Caruthers St. in Southeast Portland (map) will be removed by PDOT.

The news comes from an employee of the nearby Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). The employee sent BikePortland a letter received from City Traffic Engineer Rob Burchfield outlining the changes (download PDF of letter here). In the letter (dated today, 11/25), Burchfield writes that since the stop signs were installed in 2002 (under transportation commissioner Jim Francesconi), “PDOT has received numerous complaints from the public about this intersection.” He goes on to write:

Margi Lifsey is ODOT’s new
Sustainability Program Manager.
(Photo courtesy Margi Lifsey)

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has added a new position to their team; a Sustainability Program Manager.

The position will be filled by Portland-resident Marjorie (“Margi”) Lifsey. In a statement about the hire, ODOT Chief of Staff Joan Plank said Lifsey will be responsible for coordinating the agency’s sustainability programs, which “will become an increasingly important area of the agency’s work.”

I know Margi from her work as the environmental coordinator on the Columbia River Crossing project and from seeing her at local bike events (especially cyclocross, which she loves). I think this is another good sign that ODOT is moving toward greater recognition that Oregon needs a more balanced transportation system.

Veer will be shown at the
Victoria Film Fest in February.

At the premiere of Veer last week, producer/director Greg Fredette shared some good news with the sold-out crowd; the film has been accepted for screening at the Victoria International Film Festival.

Veer is a feature-length documentary that focuses on several aspects of Portland’s dynamic bike culture.

BTA director Scott Bricker at the Eye to
Eye campaign launch in August. Mayor-elect Adams
and PDOT director Sue Keil look on.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) is calling their three-month “Eye to Eye” campaign a success after a ride-along with the Portland Police Bureau in search of unlit bike riders turned up nearly empty.

One of the key goals of the campaign, which launched back in August, was to increase awareness for bike light usage. The BTA worked with the Police Bureau to re-instate a month-long, free bike light program (accompanied by warnings), that was followed up by citations given out to unlit riders.

Welcome to Part Five of our six-part, guest article series on bike sharing in Portland.

The series is written by Tom Miller, chief of staff for Portland City Commissioner and Mayor-elect Sam Adams. Yesterday, Tom laid out what’s at stake for Portland in choosing a bike share vendor.

In today’s article, Tom examines some of the key questions that must be answered before PDOT moves forward with this idea.

Graphic of potential new bike skills park at a defunct school on SE Stark and 14th.
(Graphic taken from forum post by Will Heiber)

A few more reasons you won’t want to miss BikeCraft

Clackamas River bike/ped bridge re-opens tomorrow after two year closure

Portland and the rise of the “American-style” cycle track

Appetite Enhancement Ride 2008

City will remove stop signs on SE Caruthers

New books on the BikePortland bookshelf

A Q & A with ODOT’s new Sustainability Program Manager

Veer documentary accepted to Victoria Film Fest

BTA: Eye to Eye campaign a success

SE Portland site eyed for future bike skills park

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