Last month I cleaned out the bikes from my basement. As I took them down from their hooks and carried them to their new home (a shed in the backyard), I heard voices in my head recounting the memories and stories behind each one.
Month: December 2008
On the train: Checking the bike, making friends
Boxing up the Brompton was a team effort
(Photos by Elly Blue)
(Photos by Elly Blue)
I’m beginning to realize a few things about traveling with a folding bike.
First of all, it’s definitely a passport to general goodwill and friendliness. I had a great time chatting with a homeless guy and a college student on the L’s blue line last night at 1am. It’s hard to imagine the three of us in that circumstance getting into a friendly conversation without the Brompton.
It’s also because of the Brompton that I met Marc and Sheri, Portlanders headed out on a month and a half long east coast train trip of their own. We soon found we had friends in common (Sheri worked with Sara Stout on the Share the Road mural that Jonathan covered back in 2006). They were excellent train companions.
From Chicago: Crashing with the 4 Star Courier Collective
[Publisher’s note: Elly Blue is on a trip through the East Coast. She’s got a Brompton folder, a backpack, and one of my old cameras around her neck. She’ll be posting dispatches and photos from the road. I’ve created a special section for all the articles and I’ll share some of them here on the Front Page. You can also follow Elly’s adventures on Twitter.]
Chicago messenger (and my host), Josh Korby.
(Photo © Elly Blue)
(Photo © Elly Blue)
Courtesy of the weather, mechanical delays, a freight derailment in Minnesota, one medical emergency, and the priority of freight over passenger trains, I’m unexpectedly in Chicago for the day.
So here I am sitting in a coffeeshop in Wicker Park, enjoying excellent espresso and fast WiFi. It’s sunny out and “above zero” as my host optimistically put it. Sleet is expected after 5, just when it’s time to head back to the station.
Vanderslice chosen to help lead Bike Master Plan Update effort
Ellen Vanderslice is the new
Project Manager for the
Bike Master Plan Update.
Project Manager for the
Bike Master Plan Update.
The City of Portland’s languishing effort to update its Bicycle Master Plan just got a shoot in the arm. Ellen Vanderslice, an effective bureaucrat and well-known activist for people-friendly cities, has been selected as Project Manager for the Bicycle Master Plan Update process.
PDOT staffers have been working on an update to the all-important plan for nearly three years now. Our current plan was adopted by City Council in 1995 and it was intended to be updated in 2005.
Open Thread for riding conditions (12/18)
A snowy bike lane on
N. Rosa Parks Way.
(Photo © J. Maus)
N. Rosa Parks Way.
(Photo © J. Maus)
Snow has just begun to fall across the Portland Metro area. But luckily, so far, the big freeze that was predicted for last night/this morning hasn’t happened.
Like we’ve done for the past few days, please use the comments below to share details about the riding conditions where you live.
How will you get to work today?
Thanks for your feedback.
Obama makes pick for Transpo. Secretary (it’s not who you think it is)
Introducing Ray LaHood, your
next Transportation Secretary.
next Transportation Secretary.
On Friday, President Elect Obama is expected to make the formal announcement that Ray LaHood, a retiring seven-term Republican congressman from Peoria Illinois, will be his Transportation Secretary.
LaHood is a long-time friend of Obama and has worked closely in the past with Obama’s Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.
Back in May, we (and others) speculated that maybe former Portland City Commissioner and now Congressman Earl Blumenauer would get the nod. That rumor evaporated pretty quickly, but then New York City’s shining transportation star Janette Sadik-Khan became the hot rumor. Other names on the short list included biking’s political founding father, Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar.
Macaframa Alleycat report and slideshow
Apparently it takes much more than a freak snowstorm to prevent Portlanders for participating an alleycat race.
Last Sunday, local fixed-gear aficionado Jennifer Carroll organized an alleycat to coincide with the Portland premiere of the urban biking/stunt film Macaframa.
A new plan for MTB access in Forest Park
A rider enjoys the rare piece
of singletrack in Forest Park.
(Photo © J. Maus)
of singletrack in Forest Park.
(Photo © J. Maus)
Frank Selker is like many people in Portland who wish there was more opportunity for mountain biking on singletrack trails in Forest Park.
The issue has been batted around by a number of individuals and groups over the past two decades. But so far, not much has improved for those who crave the experience of riding narrow trails.
Currently, the all-powerful Forest Park Natural Resources Management Plan (adopted by city council in 1995) states that mountain bikes are only allowed on “trails” (roads really) that are at least eight feet wide.
PDOT: Commuters should take transit on Thursday
Here’s the latest press release about the storm from PDOT (also available online):
City Encourages Commuters to Take Transit Thursday
Expect variable conditionsThe City of Portland advises commuters to expect variable road conditions throughout the day Thursday and therefore to take transit. If you have to drive, pre-fit and carry chains in your vehicle. According to the National Weather Service, the system that arrived today may bring more precipitation and freezing temperatures through tonight, the Thursday morning commute, and the evening commute. Portlanders could wake to freezing rain or snow, with snow showers expected throughout the day.
Time to get the studs out, and keep on riding
“The probability is that you will get your money’s worth over the life of the tire. Probably in less than three seasons. Maybe even less than this season.”
– Portlander Daniel Johnson on whether or not you should buy studded tires
With snow and ice a reality for at least a few more days, and with many Portlanders still choosing to go by bike, it’s time to give studded tires a closer look. They require a bit of investment (about $50 a piece for the good ones, or you can make them yourself), but as we’ll find out, one local bike expert says they’re well worth it over the long haul.
Back in January 2007, we took a look at using zipties around your rim/tire for better traction. It’s cheap and simple, but it only works for fixed-gear bikes doesn’t work if you have rim brakes and plastic zipties don’t evoke the same level of confidence over ice as sharp, spikey things like studs (nor do they sound as good in a Blade Runner sort of way).
Open thread for snow/ice riding conditions
Riding on SE Main just before 8th.
(Photo © J. Maus)
(Photo © J. Maus)
I thought it would be helpful to refresh my call for feedback on what the riding conditions are like throughout the Portland metro area this morning.
I’m still undecided if I’ll ride down to the Central Eastside today (from North Portland) because I don’t want to get caught if/when things ice over.
To kick things off, here’s a comment from “shawn” that came in a few minutes ago:
Portlander creates iPhone app for logging rides
Screenshot of Cychosis iPhone app.
42-year old Kenton resident Ron Forrester has created a new iPhone application (“app”) that lets you record and keep an ongoing statistical journal of your routes, mileage, and more.
The app is called Cychosis and Forrester says he’s already had sales from all over the world (interest has been especially high from the UK, Australia, and Germany).
Forrester — who only started biking everyday about three years ago and now logs about 8,000 km a year — is a software developer at a startup in downtown Portland by day and has spent several months “working late into the night” on this project.