March 2008 Archives

Council approves funding boost for parks, trails

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

The Springwater Corridor Trail
is a Portland Parks facility.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Yesterday, the Portland City Council voted unanimously to adopt a new “system development charge” (SDC) package that will raise roughly $240 million for parks, bike/ped trails, and natural areas over the next 12 years.

SDCs are one-time fees assessed on new development (commercial and residential) to cover a portion of the cost required to build specific types of public infrastructure required as a result of the development.

Local parks advocates laud the support for this financing package and say the money is needed to help implement their Parks 2020 Vision.

Neal Peirce

Author and Washington Post columnist
Thursday, March 13

Location: The Governor Hotel, 614 SW 11th Ave, Heritage Ballroom. Doors open at 6:30 PM. Dinner at 7:15 PM; presentation at 8:00 PM.

Neal Peirce is a foremost writer, among American journalists, on metropolitan regions – their political and economic dynamics, their emerging national and global roles. Known widely as a lecturer on regional, urban, federal system and community development issues, Peirce has been a familiar figure before civic, business, academic, and professional groups nationally. He has appeared on Meet the Press, The Today Show, National Public Radio, and local media across the country.

In 1975, Peirce began – and continues today – the United States’ first national column focused on state and local government themes, syndicated by the Washington Post Writers Group. His 10-book series on America’s states and regions culminated in The Book of America: Inside 50 States Today (W.W. Norton, 1983). His more recent books were Citistates: How Urban America Can Prosper in a Competitive World and Breakthroughs: Recreating The American City.

Ticket pricing for the Neal Peirce Dinner Lecture

On-line registration for Neal Peirce lecture is now closed.

Tickets for this lecture may be
purchased at the door on a

space available basis for $25.

Doors open at 6:30 PM.

Biking for Jesus (and helping curb climate change)

(Photo sent in by a reader.)

According to an article published last Sunday by the Associated Press, a group of Southern Baptist leaders have signed a declaration stating that, “current evidence of global warming is “substantial,” and that the threat is too grave to wait for perfect knowledge about whether, or how much, people contribute to the trend.”

The group represents 16.3 million members and is the largest Protestant group in the U.S. That’s a pretty big constituency — imagine if just a fraction of them started riding a bike to church…

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 1st @ 6pm
Start Location: Col. Summers Park, SE 20th and Belmont
Ride Distance: 12 miles through inner southeast on low-traffic streets, the Springwater on Willamette, and the Eastbank Esplanade. Ride map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1693771

Details: In the goofy, wonderful spirit of Sheldon Brown, we ask that you bring your craziest bike and a helmet. The first 30 people will get an Igor the Eagle to tape to their helmet! This is a family friendly ride, and kids are welcome.

April Fools Day Ride will honor Sheldon Brown

Sheldon Brown

When respected bike information guru and global Internet ambassador Sheldon Brown passed away back on February 3rd, the cycling world lost one of its most cherished assets.

In addition to the invaluable resource his website was for thousands (if not millions) of people, many also remembered him as a brilliant humorist who had a tradition of publishing hilarious April Fools Day spoofs.

“Needs a little cosmetic work” is an understatement.
(Photos © J. Maus)

This is a regular feature intended to remind you that when you buy a used bike from the Community Cycling Center’s retail shop (1700 NE Alberta) you are not just getting a cool bike, you’re also helping fund their amazing education programs for low-income youth and adults.

One of Portland’s most popular bikeways has been selected by the Portland Office of Transportation to become the city’s model bike boulevard.

Already a magnet for bikes, SE
Clinton Street is poised for a
major makeover by PDOT.
(Photo © J. Maus)

As part of an ongoing effort to expand and improve Portland’s network of bike boulevards, Transportation Commissioner Sam Adams and the City of Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) have launched the Clinton Street Bike Boulevard Enhancement Project.

Still from “Do the Test”.
Watch video below

There’s an interesting PSA spreading around the web like wildfire.

The “Awareness Test” was created by Transport of London as part of their cycle safety campaign.

Check it out at DoTheTest.co.uk (you can skip the intro), or watch the YouTube version below (thanks DanK!). I failed the test, but the message came through crystal clear.

Cash prizes will be awarded for Most Artistic and Most Sustainably Innovative entries.

Contest poster

The Greener Homes and Gardens Expo, put on by the publishers of The ReDirect Guide, will give creative bike builders a chance to shine (and win some cash) with their “Creative and Custom” bike competition.

Bikes that pass an initial screening by a jury (made up of the event organizers) will be displayed in the front lobby of the Portland Expo Center during the show.

[NOTE: *I have updated this post at 12:30pm on 3/12 to correct my errors in the funding numbers and sources for the project.]

The effort to re-use the old Sauvie Island bridge span for a bike and pedestrian-only bridge over the 405 freeway at NW Flanders has been renewed and backers of the project say they’ve got the green light to raise the remaining $500,000 it will take to make their dream a reality.

Artists rendition of Sauvie span on NW Flanders over the 405 Freeway.
(Graphic origin unknown)

Come join fellow readers for drinks and conversation on Friday night (3/14) from 6-7pm.

Location: Roots Brewing just south of Hawthorne on SE 7th. I will post on the Front Page on Thursday with confirmed location.

This month we’ll have a special guest: City Council candidate, long-time daily bike commuter and environmental advocate Jim Middaugh.

Everyone is welcome!

Council approves funding boost for parks, trails

Lecture: Author, Columnist Neal Peirce

Biking for Jesus (and helping curb climate change)

April Fools Ride for Sheldon Brown

April Fools Day Ride will honor Sheldon Brown

Seen on the street: A rusty bike, an optimistic seller

CCC Bike of the Month – March

Clinton Street will get extreme bike boulevard makeover

The Test: You can’t see what you’re not looking for

Home and garden show will include art bike competition

Updated: Backers begin effort to re-use Sauvie span in the Pearl

BikePortland Social Hour

Latest Headlines

Oregon Bicycle Racing Association leader Chuck Kenlan on the health of competitive cycling

PBOT staff will join us at Bike Happy Hour this week

Monday Roundup: Paris won the war, rails-to-trails, clean air, and more

Why did Oregon lower the legal age for e-bike riding?

From the Archives

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