December 2008 Archives

PDOT employee gets a scare during crosswalk safety event

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

PDOT’s Sharon White, shown here
at a Share the Road rally in 2006.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Sharon White is PDOT’s pedestrian safety chief. One of the many programs she oversees is an ongoing “crosswalk enforcement action” campaign. Working with the Portland Police Bureau, White and staff at PDOT identify high-risk intersections and then employ decoys to walk across them while officers stand by.

White is so committed to her work that often, she herself takes on the role of crosswalk guinea pig. A few weeks ago, during one of the enforcement actions, she got more than she bargained for.

Now that UPS has hired bike delivery staff for the holiday shipping season, they need some help getting their new recruits up to speed on the rules of the road. Enter the BTA.

The BTA has announced that they’ve partnered up with the shipping giant to help the new hires brush up on the latest bike-specific traffic laws, teach them safe handling skills, and so on.

Here’s a snip from the BTA Blog:

UPS already has a comprehensive space and visibility training that their employees go through, and the BTA was there to add information about bike-specific laws and safe practices, and to teach bike handling skills…

Read the full story here.

The Portland Cup (USGP of Cyclocross)

Cross Crusade Prom and Awards Party

Cross Crusade participation up 25% in 2008

A bit of “lunacy” and big crowds
were the norm on the ‘cross
circuit this year.
(Photo © J. Maus)

It was a banner year for cyclocross in Portland.

According to official statistics compiled by the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association (OBRA), the Portland-based River City Bicycles Cross Crusade series grew an average of 25% each event compared to last year (from 836 participants per race in 2007, to 1045 in 2008). The numbers solidify the Crusade’s place as the largest cyclocross race series of its kind in the world (based on participation).

Riding on MLK Jr. Blvd. in the Central
Eastside — one of life’s finer pleasures.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The City of Portland Office of Transportation wants to hear from anyone who works and/or lives on the Central Eastside.

They’ve launched the Central Eastside Transportation Survey (take it here) to learn more about how Portlanders “use the transportation system today and what your expectations are for the future.”

According to Dan Bower with PDOT, the survey is similar to others being undertaken throughout the city and they’re all meant to aid in a major effort to update the Central Portland Plan.

Elly and I just finished taking the survey (BikePortland.org headquarters are in the CEID) and here are a few of the questions they’re asking:

How do you normally travel to and from your work site or school?
If you drive to work, which statement best describes the parking situation at your work site or school?
In your opinion, what is the biggest transportation concern for Central Eastside employees or students today?
Please indicate which, if any of the services or amenities would help you reduce car travel if they were provided to Central Eastside residents or employees?

Joseph Rose

The Oregonian (and many other newspapers) might be in the midst of major newsroom shrinkage and other changes to its print edition, but that hasn’t stopped them from launching a new blog about “the culture of the commute”.

The “Hard Drive” blog officially launched today and will be written by Oregonian staff reporter Joseph Rose. Rose told me he’ll cover everything from TriMet to bike lanes. “Slap a “Share the Road” sticker on my forehead,” he wrote in an email about his new endeavor, “I want to be at the center of the whole bike-car-bus-walk-light rail continuum.”

Take a seat and join me on a tour of interesting stories from around the Web. Here’s your Monday Roundup…

In the world of bikes:

As the rest of the economy falls, bicycle retail is doing just fine, reports an Atlanta newspaper. Stay tuned here at BikePortland for more coverage of the bike economy in the coming weeks.

Private investigators give chase to bike thief
(screen grab from KPTV video report).

KPTV (FOX in Portland) staged a bike theft sting as part of their “Fox 12 Investigators” series.

The video report includes footage of a bike thief in action on SE Powell Blvd and has an interview with a Portlander (Emily O’Connor) who recently lost her beloved steed.

Their are some classic moments from the thief, who was easily chased down after private investigators (hired by FOX) flattened the tires on the bait bike. At first, he tries to tell a lie about why he hopped on the unlocked bike. Then, after investigators found he was carrying a hatchet (yes, a hatchet), he admitted he stole it.

KBOO FM’s (90.7 in Portland) monthly Bike Show is gearing up for a special holiday edition.

This Wednesday’s show will welcome a representative from the Community Cycling Center to talk about their annual mega-event, the Holiday Bike Drive; our very own Elly Blue will chat up the upcoming BikeCraft holiday bazaar, and Janis McDonald from the City of Portland will offer up her best bike-themed gift ideas.

Here are the details so you can tune in and call in with your questions and feedback:

KBOO Bike Show
9-10AM, Wednesday, December 3rd
KBOO FM 90.7
Streamed live at KBOO.fm
Podcast of show posted at BikeShow.PortlandTransport.com

PDOT employee gets a scare during crosswalk safety event

BTA will help UPS train new bike delivery staff

The Portland Cup (USGP of Cyclocross)

Cross Crusade Prom and Awards Party

Cross Crusade participation up 25% in 2008

PDOT probes for transportation issues with Central Eastside survey

Oregonian launches new commuting blog

The Monday Roundup

In the world of bikes:

Fox TV catches bike thief in the act

Coming up on KBOO Bike Show: BikeCraft, Bike Drive and bike gifts

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From the Archives

How a young urbanist turned a slip lane into Portland’s newest plaza