🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏
TriMet has just released the results of their Bikes on MAX survey that they launched in August of last year.
In the Executive Summary of the survey, TriMet points to the trends of growth in both MAX and bike ridership in Portland. They say those trends have, “resulted in an increasing number of bike-on-light rail trips” (I previously covered that issue in my story, TriMet grapples with bike capacity issues, from May 29th).
“Everything riders do to be safe makes it easier for attorneys to protect their rights against insurance companies and in court.”
–Lawyer Scott Kocher
As part of their Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program, the Oregon State Bar is offering a seminar titled, Bicycle Law and Injury Prevention for Advocates and Riders.
The seminar will be offered at their Tigard headquarters tomorrow and will be presented by lawyers Richard Vangelisti, Scott Kocher and Mark Ginsberg. According to Kocher, Oregon attorneys are required to complete a certain number of hours of CLE programs to maintain their bar licenses.
Chris King Precision Components is a company that has built its reputation on going above and beyond.
From the first headset he made back in 1976, Chris King has proven that he sets his own standards and then keeps pushing them higher. But what many people don’t know about this privately held company is that King’s high standards go far beyond his products.
Their holistic approach to sustainability touches every aspect of their business — from their products to their people.
Take for instance the company’s approach to encouraging bike commuting. Chris King Precision Components has what might be the most comprehensive and aggressive encouragement program in the country.
This guided bike ride will depart Metro Regional Center at 600 NE Grand Ave at 4:30pm.
Route maps and brochures will be provided. We will loosely follow the future trail route down the river to Swan Island and on to Metro’s property at Willamette Cove. This ride is part of Metro Parks & Greenspaces Connecting Green 2008 Summer (walking and bicycle) Trail Tours.
To register – or for more information – contact Robert Spurlock at robert.spurlock [at] oregonmetro.gov or (503) 757-1083.
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) has just issued a press release stating their latest position on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) of the Columbia River Crossing project.
In the statement, the BTA says that “after extensive internal discussions and conversations with supporters and opponents” of the project, they feel that a new bridge is needed but that their support, “has essential conditions.”
In a respectful and poignant outdoor ceremony, St. Mary’s Cathedral in Northwest Portland held their first-ever Blessing of the Bikes on Sunday.
The service opened with a hymn and continued with a series of prayers and intercessions meant to recognize and celebrate the contribution of cyclists to the community.
A large wooden cross was carried out into the courtyard and a bicycle was placed atop a table at the base of the cross. A small, yet sincere crowd of about 40 or so people had gathered under blue skies to hear the rites and take heed of the blessing.
At a press conference this morning held at a law firm in downtown Portland, Mary O’Donnell — whose husband Tim was killed while riding his bike — told reporters and news cameras that her push for a vehicular homicide law is “definitely what he would have wanted.”
Facing a packed room full of reporters and television cameras, O’Donnell seemed pensive as she marked the one-year anniversary of her husband’s death. “He said that if he did ever get hit, at least he would die doing something he loved.”
An effort to form a new bicycle advocacy group in Vancouver will take another step tonight.
Todd Boulanger, a transportation planner and active participant in the bike scene on both sides of the river, says he hopes to bring concerned residents together to focus on urban transportation issues.
At the end of April, Boulanger says over 50 people showed up with enthusiasm for improving bike conditions in Vancouver (some present at the initial meeting in April were spurred into action by Vancouver City Council’s passage of an all-ages, mandatory helmet law back in February).
RESS RELEASE: Organizing Bicyclists in Vancouver for Urban Transportation
EVENT DATE: 9 June
TIME: 5PM to 7PM
ADDRESS: 215 West 4th St., Ste 200, (City Center Vancouver – near the Columbia Bike Lane/ I-5 Bridge Path)
Our action item is to discuss what form a Vancouver utility transportation/ mobility group should take in these times of high fuel prices. Our first meeting had over 55 participants (April 08) – see comments.
We have two special guests to talk to us about the opportunities in joining their bicycle advocacy groups:
– Gordon Black of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington (Seattle) and
– Scott Bricker of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (Portland).
They are the executive director for each group.
Agenda: < <0804 Bike Meeting comments by Gill - April 23.doc>>
5.00-5.25 Social time
5.30-5.35 Introductions & ground rules
5.35-5.50 Presentation by Gordon about the Bicycle Alliance of Washington
5.50-6.10 Presentation by Scott about the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (Updated)
6.10-6.15 Independent Option (what it would take) – Todd Boulanger
6.15-6.50 Q&A for panelists
6.50-7.00 Next steps for our group (electronic voting)/ meeting wrap up
Please email RSVP to me. And do share this email with your friends and follow bike and pedestrian advocates.
Thanks!
Meeting again this Monday after work – 09 June from 5PM to 7PM at
MEETING LOCATION:
Wallis Engineering Offices
215 West 4th St., Ste 200
Vancouver, WA 98660
(same location as our last meeting)
Todd Boulanger
In response to feedback and negative publicity last year, organizers of Bridge Pedal have announced that they’ll make a few changes for the 2008 edition.
In an email sent out this morning, they said the 20,000 or so Bridge Pedalers who will take part in the ride will have “more room on the road.” Unlike in years past this year participants will get two full lanes on the Ross Island Bridge and organizers say the course will require “less merging of large group of riders”.
Also, in order to accomodate MAX light rail construction, the traditional ten-bridge ride will cross just eight bridges and will make two crossings each of the Marquam and Broadway spans. Check out more on the routes here.
What are your plans for the weekend? Do you have some bike adventures planned?
The Maus Family plans on riding down to the Rose Parade this morning and tomorrow we’ll be checking out the Walk + Bike Challenge Month Celebration at the PSU Park Blocks. From there, I hope to stop by the Blessing of the Bikes.
Does anyone plan on going to Bike to the Ballet today? If you go, we’d love to hear who wins the Best Legs Contest!
Whatever you’re doing this weekend, share the fun by leaving a comment…and don’t forget to include links to your photos.