Bike Share Series, Part Five: Questions to answer if we want to “get it right”

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Tom Miller
(Photo © J. Maus)

Welcome to Part Five of our six-part, guest article series on bike sharing in Portland.

The series is written by Tom Miller, chief of staff for Portland City Commissioner and Mayor-elect Sam Adams. Yesterday, Tom laid out what’s at stake for Portland in choosing a bike share vendor.

In today’s article, Tom examines some of the key questions that must be answered before PDOT moves forward with this idea.


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“Bike In” planned for Black Friday

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

A group of Portlanders plan to honor Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving that is the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season) by taking over several parking spaces downtown.

According to a post on Portland Indymedia, the plan is to lock bikes together in prime parking spaces and have a picnic on the sidewalk adjacent to Pioneer Place Mall.

Here are more details from the Indymedia posting:

Join us at 6 am on Friday, November 28th outside Voodoo Doughnuts (the downtown location). Or 6:30 at Pioneer Place.

We will be locking our bikes together and to the meters to take over the parking places around the Pioneer Place Blocks.

Following the daisy chaining of bikes will be a sidewalk picnic and walking loops around the blocks.

Costumes, old bikes and extra locks are encouraged, as well as any picnic provisions you would like such as blankets, tea, turkey etc. We are arranging some food and drinks for participates, but bring what you can.

To honor buy nothing day and for the love of bikes be there!

PDOT releases details on Sunday Parkways 2009

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People of all ages enjoyed
Sunday Parkways last June.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Details of Sunday Parkways 2009 are slowly leaking out of the Transportation Options division at PDOT.

Last year’s event — which opened up a six-mile loop of North Portland streets to people and prohibited cars — was a ground-breaking success. In 2009, PDOT says they’ll expand the event to three separate days in three different parts of the city.

According to Janis McDonald, one of the lead staffers on the project, the upcoming Sunday Parkways will consist of a North Portland route in June, a Northeast route in July and a Southeast route in August.

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The Monday Roundup

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Here’s the news, folks!

Governor Kulongoski
(Photo © J. Maus)

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Bike Share Series; Part Four: What’s at Stake for Portland?

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Tom Miller
(Photo © J. Maus)

Welcome to Part Four of our six-part, guest article series on bike sharing in Portland.

The series is written by Tom Miller, chief of staff for Portland City Commissioner and Mayor-elect Sam Adams. On Friday, Tom shared experiences from the bike share system in Stockholm, Sweden, which is operated by Clear Channel (Clear Channel also had a bid in to manage Portland’s system).

In today’s article, Tom reflects on their trip to Scandinavia and ponders on what’s at stake for Portland.


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Weekend Open Thread: Getting muddy and giving back

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Kruger's Crossing Cyclocross Race

Cross racing heads out to Sauvie
Island this weekend.
More photos
(Photo © J. Maus)

It might be cold and rainy, but that won’t stop ‘cross fanatics from enjoying another good romp in the mud.

Sunday will see the return of Kruger’s Crossing, a cyclocross race out on Sauvie Island. I was there for the inaugural event back in 2006 and I remember lots of broken derailleurs and some very thick and straw-filled mud. But I also remember a raging bonfire, hay rides for the kids, and plenty of good times.

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