This new cargo bike from Madsen Cycles, will be available in Portland soon. Retail price is $1,299.
Month: September 2008
Bike-to-work pants: Khakis that keep you safe
The new Bike to Work Pants.
Via BoingBoing.net, here’s a cool new product from San Francisco that was unveiled at Interbike this week — the Bike to Work Pants by Cordarounds.
They’re just a regular pair of khakis, but with hidden, reflective powers.
From their website:
With new markings, PDOT hopes ‘Bikes stop’
New markings in the bike lane on N. Flint at Broadway.
(Photos © J. Maus)
(Photos © J. Maus)
Oregonian reporter conquers commuting fears
“Not knowing what I was in for created a lot of mental room for scenarios of death and disfigurement. So far, the worst thing that’s happened is when my chain popped off on Interstate Avenue.”
— Shelby Wood
Remember Shelby Wood, the Oregonian columnist who was “too scared to saddle up” and ride her bike in Portland?
Wood, who writes the PDXGreen column, said her fears about biking were representative of many Portlanders in the “thick, nervous mainstream”. When I shared her story back in May it sparked over 140 comments, including one from Ms. Green.
She wrote,
First look at another new on-street bike parking design from PDOT
New design utilizes metal
posts (instead of flexible plastic
bollards).
(Photos © J. Maus)
posts (instead of flexible plastic
bollards).
(Photos © J. Maus)
Continuing on their program to create more on-street bike parking facilities, the Maintenance Division of the City of Portland Office of Transportation began work today installing a new bike corral in North Portland.
The location is the southwest corner of the intersection of N. Killingsworth and N. Williams. This is the same location that I reported about a few weeks ago where the adjacent business owner, Ethos Music (the non-profit founded by City Council candidate Charles Lewis), was told the project was held up by design issues.
CCC’s damaged mural good as new
Repairs to the mural on the west side of the Community Cycling Center (NE Alberta and 17th) have been completed.
Back in December, a pickup truck accidentally backed into the mural on the wall, damaging the painting as well as the CCC’s offices on the other side (which have also been repaired).
BTA, Police Bureau launch latest incarnation of bike light education program
A Portland police officer gives
out a free set of bike lights
back in August 2006.
(Photos © J. Maus)
out a free set of bike lights
back in August 2006.
(Photos © J. Maus)
As part of their ongoing Eye to Eye campaign, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) and the Traffic Division of the Portland Police Bureau have partnered up on an effort to increase awareness of using bike lights and being more visible while riding. Their efforts build on a history of bike light advocacy here in Portland that started over three years ago.
According to a press release issued this morning, the BTA will kick off the project tomorrow with an event at the “Seven Corners” intersection (SE Division, SE Ladd, and SE 20th). They’ll be serving “mocktails” (non-alcoholic beverages) and giving cyclists information about lights and visibility.
That event will be followed by a series of “targeted bike light education and enforcement actions” by the Police Bureau. The actions are slated to begin next week and the plan is for police officers to educate non-lit cyclists about light laws, pass out safety information, and install free lights (thanks to an ODOT grant) when necessary.
An update on Rose Quarter Transit Center bike access
Old lane markings have been
ground away and the new, bi-directional bike
lane is being mapped out.
(Photo © J. Maus)
ground away and the new, bi-directional bike
lane is being mapped out.
(Photo © J. Maus)
The Rose Quarter Transit Center, long a thorn in the side of bike advocates who want more efficient north-south access, is slated for a host of bike access improvements.
Those improvements — which include bus line re-routes and several new bits of bike-specific markings and lanes — where initially set for completion on August 31st. But now, the latest word from TriMet planner and bike specialist Colin Maher is that the new bike lanes, bike box, and signage, is “expected early next month.”
Editorial: U.S. automakers get their bailout
A massive lobbying effort spearheaded by General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler has resulted in passage of a $25 billion package of low-cost loans to help them re-tool for the “next generation of fuel-efficient motor vehicles”.
Automakers originally wanted $50 billion (twice what they got last go-round), and even then the plan was supported by both Barack Obama and John McCain. Lobbyists also said they needed the money because U.S. government policies that have hurt their bottom lines.
League names Bike Friendly Businesses; Two from Portland area
The League of American Bicyclists announced the first-ever winners of its new Bicycle Friendly Business designation at the Interbike trade show this morning.
Among the 13 companies recognized, two were from the Portland Area.
Alta Planning + Design was given the “Gold” rating and EasyStreet Online Services (from Beaverton) was given “Bronze”.
Check out more on this story at the League’s website.
‘Hunger Squad’ brings bike delivery concept to downtown Portland
The Hunger Squad logo.
Hunger Squad is a new company (official launch is Friday) that will deliver food, drinks and other goods (condoms, cigs, etc…) to downtown Portland exclusively by bicycle.
The company is a family operation spearheaded by 29-year-old Dustin Taylor and staffed by his wife and two brothers.
The idea is simple. Go online to HungerSquad.com, place your order ($10 minimum), and wait for the knock on your door.
‘Rubber to the Road’ headed to the web
Cover of Rubber to
the Road, Volume 1.
the Road, Volume 1.
Rubber To The Road is a two-volume set of guide books (first published in 1998 by David Guettler and compiled by Peter Marsh) that detail some of the Portland area’s very best road rides. It was one of the first books on biking I picked up when I moved to town.
Now, the books are set to go digital with a new website (RubberToTheRoad.com of course), new rides, and new features.
According to a mention in the River City Bicycles newsletter, the shop is collaborating on the project with pro cyclist and writer Jacob Erker.