Month: December 2008

Lawyer in Ainsworth Incident pressures leaders to seek dismissal of citations

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

“This will adequately address the inequity of this situation and show the community that bicyclists will not be punished for riding legally on the streets of Portland.”
— Lawyer Christopher Heaps

The lawyer for two men who were ticketed for riding their bikes on NE Ainsworth last month is imploring city leaders and the police chief to recognize the error made by the officer and have him dismiss the citations.

The request by Christopher Heaps, a lawyer with downtown Portland firm Stoel Rives who is representing the riders, comes in a nine-page letter sent yesterday to Mayor Potter and all four City Commissioners (download PDF, 1.0MB). According to the letter, Reuben Vyn and Peter Welte were “wrongfully issued traffic violation citations by Portland Police Bureau Officer Jimmy Pryce,” and Officer Pryce’s actions were “vindictive and violate Portland Police Bureau Policies”.

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Latest storm update from PBOT: “Avoid unnecessary travel”

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

I’m a bit late in posting this, but here’s the Bureau of Transportation’s storm update for Monday, 12/22 (read it online here):

Released: December 22, 2008

Contact: Cheryl Kuck, 503-823-5909

PUBLIC URGED TO AVOID UNNECESSARY TRAVEL
Icy roads and continuing inclement weather present challenges to road crews, transit providers, and travelers

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Storm strains Transportation Bureau’s budget

scenes from Sunday (12-21)-4

One of the worst storms in Portland
history is yet another strain on
the City budget.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Already on a downward slope due to a dwindling gas tax and lower parking revenues, and facing millions in necessary cutbacks, the Portland Bureau of Transportation is now feeling the hurt due to the severe storm that refuses to relinquish its grip.

In their daily storm conditions and report update published this morning, PBOT wrote that their annual budget includes one million dollars in “contingency for any type of emergency response”. The statement goes on to say,

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Multnomah County declares state of emergency

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
snow scenes from Monday (12-22)-7

SE Main Street on my ride
into work this morning.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Just how bad have things gotten in the Portland region?

I just got this email from Michael Pullen, the Public Information Officer with Multnomah County:

Multnomah County has issued a declaration of emergency to the state of Oregon requesting resources to assist with the response to this week’s winter storm. The declaration was approved by County Chair Ted Wheeler and signed by Sheriff Bob Skipper in his absence.

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City seeks sponsorship for Sunday Parkways

Sunday Parkways-67.jpg

A scene from Sunday Parkways last year.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The City of Portland is working hard to secure funding for their 2009 Sunday Parkways events.

Last year, the city estimates that 15,000 people came out to experience their community on a six-mile loop of carfree streets in North Portland. This year, the city’s Transportation Options division of the Bureau of Transportation wants to expand the program. They plan to have three Sunday Parkways events; one on an expanded North Portland route, another through Northeast Portland, and another through Southeast.

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Open Thread for riding conditions (Monday, 12/22)

scenes from Sunday (12-21)-1

Enjoying the carfree streets yesterday.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The snow is coming down as I write this, falling onto the existing snow and ice from yesterday.

I’m about to head out into it, from our home in North Portland to the office in the Central Eastside.

What are conditions like where you are?

Please use this post to share riding conditions in your neck of the woods…

— Browse all of our Storm of 2008 coverage. See latest photos here.

The Monday Roundup

Cascade Bicycle Club’s Advocacy
Director David Hiller penned an
eloquent rebuttal to the age-old
“bikes don’t pay their way” rant.
(Photo © J. Maus)

From a distant and equally snowy land (Washington, DC New Haven, Connecticut), here’s your Monday news roundup.

A week of snow in Portland has created an unofficial carfree week. I’m not there (I’m on an East Coast Tour), but I’ve been following the action thanks to the Open Threads and friends via Twitter. My favorite comment so far is from Portlander Heather Andrews, aka wildsheepchase: “I took the lane on 82nd! As a pedestrian! It really is the Snowpocalypse!”

Now, onto news from around globe:

— The Cascade Bicycle Club‘s David Hiller, responds compellingly in the Seattle Times to the idea that cyclists don’t pay for roads.

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Weekend Open Thread: Let it snow!

Snow scenes-3

Bike lane snow angel.
(Photo © J. Maus

Wow.

Lots of fresh and fluffy snow out there this morning.

Please use this post to report what your plans are and what the riding conditions are like in your neck of the woods.

Here at the Maus House we’re bundling up for some sledding and snowman making. I hope the snow keeps up so I can get up to the hill for some SnowBombing Sunday night.

Enjoy the weekend and stay warm.

Press Release: City Crews Gear Up for Next Storm

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Here’s the latest from PBOT:

City and State Crews Gear Up for Next Storm System (12/19)
Contact: Cheryl Kuck, 503-823-5909

(PORTLAND, OR) – The National Weather Service is predicting another severe winter weather event for the Portland metropolitan region this weekend. City and State crews are prepared to respond.

Read more

Latest Headlines

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From the Archives

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