Month: June 2008

Widow pushes vehicular homicide law: “It’s what he would have wanted”

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Vehicular homicide law press conference-2.jpg

Mary O’Donnell at this morning’s
press conference.
(Photos © J. Maus)

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.”

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Effort for new advocacy group in Vancouver takes another step

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Tour of Tomorrow

Riding in downtown Vancouver.
(Photo © J. Maus)

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).

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Vancouver Bike Advocacy Meeting

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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

Bridge Pedalers will get more room, fewer bridges

Bridge Pedal 2007-37

Several bottlenecks last year resulted
in waiting and walking.
(Photo © 2007/J. Maus)

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.

Weekend open thread: Share your bike fun

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John Beaston and Susan Hayden
know that bikes are the best way
to get to the Rose Festival Parade.
(Photo © 2006/J. Maus)

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.

TriMet will test bike access options in Rose Quarter Transit Center

Sign at entrance to Rose Quarter
Transit Center.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Rose Quarter Transit Center has long been a barrier to bikes. But now TriMet, the City of Portland and the BTA are teaming up to test new options intended to “find a safe and reliable” way for bikes to get through the transit center.

According to TriMet’s communications manager Mary Fetsch, on June 11, TriMet will conduct two tests that will involve new bike lanes, a bike box, temporary bus stop locations in addition to cones and lane striping on the street.

The first test will be carried out from 7:00 – 9:00am and the second will happen from 3:00 – 5:00pm. The BTA has rounded up 25 cyclists to help with the test.

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Pink Martini rocks for the BTA

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Join Pink Martini and support the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) on Friday, June 6th!

The BTA has been chosen as a beneficiary of Pink Martini’s FundFest 2008 concert series, being held June 3-6 at Portland’s Crystal Ballroom.

Each night of FundFest will be attended by one of the four beneficiaries: Friends of Trees (Tuesday, June 3), KBOO Community Radio (Wednesday, June 4), Outside In (Thursday, June 5), and the BTA (Friday, June 6). The goal of Fundfest 2008 is to raise a total of $80,000, or $20,000 for each of the four non-profit organizations.

Tickets are on sale now at $20 in advance, or $25 the day of show. Tickets can be purchased through the Crystal Ballroom box office or through Ticketmaster.

In addition to the concert each of these four nights, there will be a special patron reception before the show on Friday, June 6th from 6-8pm. At this patron event, Thomas Lauderdale will be performing George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” Other Pink Martini band members will be in attendance as well, and admission to that evening’s concert is included. Tickets for the patron event are $100 and can be purchased through the BTA by contacting Heather at heather@bta4bikes.org.

Fundfest is generously supported by McMenamins, Willamette Week, and The Portland Mercury.

Download a press release here.

Bike industry leaders will hold Obama fundraiser — and he’ll take a bike ride

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“It’s really an opportunity to talk about bikes with Barack.”
— SRAM CEO Stan Day in Bicycle Retailer magazine

BicycleRetailer.com reports that the president and CEO of component manufacturer SRAM will hold a fundraiser for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

According to the story, “the event’s goal is to introduce Obama to industry leaders and to discuss cycling’s positive impact on health, energy policy, transportation issues and the environment,” and the event is limited to 100 attendees who will pay $2,300 each for the opportunity.

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Stores hope discounts lure bike-riding customers

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This sign welcomes customers at ReStore
on SE Morrison Street.
(Photo © J. Maus)

With public consciousness of high gas prices at all-time high and with a noticeable rise in bike traffic on Portland streets, some local businesses are flying their bike-friendly flags by offering special discounts to lure human-powered customers.

There are many businesses throughout Portland that offer special perks for their bike-riding clientele (who can forget the bike-thru window?). Here are two I’ve come across recently.

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Latest Headlines

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Broadway bike lane to get aesthetic, protective face lift

Buoyed by public support, Olivia Clark moves forward with transportation funding proposal

Monday Roundup: Tyrannical bike laws, mechanic school, streetcar skepticism, and more

From the Archives

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