Month: February 2008

Oregon Senators question CRC project bike and ped funding

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

“My view of this bridge is that we’ve got to move freight…isn’t it conceivable they [bikes and peds] would ride across the bridge on whatever kind of transit option is offered, rather than building separate accommodation that just drives the cost of this already unbelievably expensive structure up?”
–Sen. Betsy Johnson

On Tuesday of this week, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) representatives made a trip to Salem to present the latest developments on the Columbia River Crossing project to the Senate Transportation Committee. The presentation was given by ODOT’s project director John Osborn and he was accompanied by the Deputy Director of ODOT, Doug Tindall.

After Osborne’s presentation, Committee member Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) called into question the amount of money ($30 million) to be spent on bike and pedestrian facilities.

Senator Johnson asked Osborn why people on bikes and foot don’t just, “ride across the bridge on whatever kind of transit option is offered, rather than building separate accommodation that just drives the cost of this already unbelievably expensive structure up.”

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Raunchy Ride (21+)

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RAUNCHY RIDE 21+
Lucky Labrador Brew Pub, 915 SE Hawthorne Blvd
7:30pm
Valentine’s Day got ya down? Had enough of cupids and hearts and sweetness and light? Needin some naughty? Well, I’ve got just the remedy for ya….

The Get Yer Raunch on Ride: a Strip Club Crawl!

When? Next Saturday the 23rd
Where? Meet at 7:30 (or earlier for drinks) at SE Lucky Lab (we’ll leave at 8), the ride will cover Inner SE and Downtown

Other Details: There are four planned raunchy stops (exact locations to remain top secret until the night of the crawl), most of which do not require a cover charge, but bring lots of tipping cash for the ladies…and men…
Heather “The Peach Tarte” Williams

Drink, Ride, Dance

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DRINK RIDE DANCE – MYSTERY HOUSE PARTY 21+

Lucky Lab, 915 SE Hawthorne
7:00pm

This ride will be headed to house party at a mystery location to “dance the F outta’ Ebruary”
Daniel Patrick Johnson (teknotus), teknotus at gmail daht comm

PDOT seeks bike delivery staffers

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Here’s a great opportunity to ride your bike and get paid ($15.12) for it.

Transportation Options SmartTrips Bicycle Delivery Staffers
Options is looking for three hearty bike riding individuals for 12 week positions to help us process and deliver hundreds of packages to southwest Portland homes. Yes, that is hilly southwest. Job duties include data entry, computer mapping and bike delivery. Must be motivated, able to work independently, work well in a team environment, and be good with the public. Knowledge of Portland’s bikeway network and transportation alternatives a plus. We supply the bike trailer; you provide the bike. 32 hours per week, $15.12 per hour. April 7 through July 2, 2008. To see more about Transportation Options go to GettingAroundPortland.org Apply by March 14 with cover letter and resume to Linda Ginenthal, Transportation Options, 1120 SW 5th Ave. Suite 800, Portland, OR 97215 or email at Linda.Ginenthal [at] pdxtrans.org.

Slideshow: The faces of Mini Bike Winter

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Mini Bike Winter - Brunch and random shots-55.jpg

Slideshow below
(Photos © J. Maus)

For some reason, I just can’t get last weekend’s Mini Bike Winter event out of my mind. By all accounts, it was just a massively fun and amazing weekend.

I took somewhere in the realm of 2,000+ images in two days and I’m still having fun looking through them. I especially like looking at photos of all the interesting people that were involved with the event. On that note, I’ve put together a little slideshow with some of the portraits I snapped.

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Chris Smith officially certified for public campaign financing

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chris_Smith.jpg

Chris Smith.
(Photo © J. Maus)

City Auditor Gary Blackmer has just issued the official notice (full text below) that Chris “Citizen” Smith has gathered the requisite signatures and donations in order to qualify for public funding of his campaign to grab a seat on Portland’s City Council.

By March 6th, Smith will be awarded $140,150 in public funds to run his campaign.

Smith hopes to fill position #1 which is being vacated by Commissioner Sam Adams (he’s running for mayor). Smith has been an ardent supporter of bicycle-friendly policies and he has a deep expertise in the field of transportation.

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Help the BTA craft their legislative package

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My day in Salem

Those doors (to the Capitol
in Salem) lead to better biking.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Each legislative session the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) puts together a package of bike bills that they take to Salem and try and make into new laws. To help them create this package and establish their priorities, they rely not only on their own legislative committee, but on feedback from members and from the public.

The BTA’s new point man for pushing these bike bills is Government Relations Director Karl Rohde. This morning, Rohde posted a call for ideas on the BTA blog.

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Memorial sign bill fails; Senator Metsger responds

“The cascading effect of others with equally well intentioned objectives to use the right of way for their expressions is something that we must be mindful of.”
–Oregon state Senator Rick Metsger

For the second time in a row, the roadside memorial sign bill (HB 3623) has failed reach passage by the Oregon legislature.

After it passed the House, the BTA worked hard in recent days to move it through the Senate Transportation Committee where it had stalled due to a lack of support by committee Chair Senator Rick Metsger (D – Mt. Hood).

In a comment left on BikePortland.org a few minutes ago, Senator Metsger explained why he did not move the bill forward (emphasis mine),

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Banished bollards mean better biking on Bryant Bridge

ODOT crew member Heath Hansen
removes a bollard on the Bryant Bridge.
(Photos © J. Maus)

This morning ODOT maintenance crews removed the bollards at the entrance to the Bryant Street Pedestrian Overpass.

This little known bridge is a key link between the Piedmont and Arbor Lodge neighborhoods in North Portland and it provides a safe crossing of I-5. However, in recent years it had become neglected and almost forgotten until a group of nearby residents received a $50,000 grant to improve the bridge through funds made available by the I-5 Delta Park freeway widening project.

As part of the Bryant Bridge improvement effort, the community has been working with ODOT to develop a master plan to identify specific improvements intended to make the bridge safer, more appealing, and easier to access.

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Latest Headlines

State lawmakers ponder $27 million cut from Safe Routes to School, mass layoffs, and more

PBOT staffer brought to tears after questioning from city councilors

Feds pitch in $250,000 for Cesar Chavez road diet

Oregon House Rep Travis Nelson airs concerns about North Willamette Blvd project

From the Archives

With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike