December 2008 Archives

Press Release: First Annual Portland Veloswap

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

A new event was just announced today. I might have something on the Front Page about it. But for now, here’s the press release from organizer Jim Anderson:

Portland Veloswap
January 10th – 9am-5pm
http://www.portlandveloswap.com

Welcome to the 1st annual Portland Veloswap. It’s a bike bargain hunter’s paradise with up to 100 vendors under one roof!

Expect great deals on all things bicycling, new and used. As if that weren’t enough, come socialize with like-minded bicycle enthusiasts and enjoy food & drinks at Roots Organic Brewing (1520 SE 7th Ave, just south of Hawthorne St) in Portland, Oregon. Stop on by on your way to the annual Oregon Bicycle Racing Association (OBRA) Awards, Banquet and Meeting. This is an all ages event. Bike parking available provided by BikeRacker.com.

Admission:
$3 (includes $1 off any drink at Roots!). Kids under 16 are FREE.

Interested in selling something(s)?
EASY! The Portland Veloswap is running a unique way to sell your gear. You can reserve 2-hour time slots between 9:00AM and 5:00PM (9AM-11AM, 11AM-1PM, 1PM-3PM, 3PM-5PM). Also, floating 1-hour slots can be reserved as time and space permits. RESERVE SPACE NOW! http://portlandveloswap.com/reserve_space.html

What can you sell? You ask!
If you can pedal it or use it while pedaling, it’s fair game. Complete bikes, parts, accessories, and apparel just to name a few.

How?
RESERVE SPACE NOW!
http://portlandveloswap.com/reserve_space.html

Costs:
Before January 9, $20 for a the premium 2-hour slots (11am-1pm or 1pm-3pm) selected through online registration. The morning and afternoon 2-hour slots (9am-11am or 3pm-5pm) are available for $15. There will be a limited number of 1-hour time slots available throughout the day as time permits.

RESERVE SPACE NOW! http://portlandveloswap.com/reserve_space.html

Day of event registration is available, but highly suggested to purchase prior.

Space Includes: 3×8 ft table with black tablecloth. 2 admission passes.

Note: Bike shops and brands please contact us for sponsorship and/or premium vendor space.

Need more info:
info@portlandveloswap.com or 503-975-8229
http://www.portlandveloswap.com

About that gravel; City says we just have to wait

The gravel-strewn bike lane
on SE Madison.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Here in Portland, after the novelty of riding in the snow wears off and the fear of icy roads subsides, people that bike are faced with an unfortunate byproduct of severe weather — gravel.

The gravel is a more eco-friendly way to deal with slippery streets (Portland doesn’t use salt because of concerns over runoff into rivers), but it makes for an annoying ride.

Remember the big TriMet lawsuit saga back in January of 2006? That entire incident, according to the guy on the bike, was caused when he was forced to ride outside of the bike lane due to gravel accumulation.

Adams, shown here riding on a cycle-
track in Stockholm, wants Portland to
compare itself to Europe’s best
biking cities.
(Photo: Tom Miller)

At a press conference today, Mayor-Elect Sam Adams announced major changes to how Portland will do business under his administration.

Along with new budget guidelines and new bureau assignments for City Commissioners, he also unveiled structural reforms — like a consolidation of the Bureau of Planning and the Office of Sustainable Development into the Bureau of Sustainable Planning & Development.

The plan was detailed in an eight-page memo to “All Portlanders” that was titled, “Improving ‘The City that Works'”. (You can read the full text here.)

Below is the full text of the document that Mayor-Elect Adams issued today as part of a slew of changes City Council will enact as when he becomes Mayor in January. Along with new bureau assignments for each Commissioner (see end), it includes several other important changes to how the City will be run.

Watch the Front Page for a story about this soon…

—–

December 16, 2008

TO: Portlanders

FROM: Mayor-Elect Sam Adams
City Commissioner Nick Fish
City Commissioner-Elect Amanda Fritz
City Commissioner Randy Leonard
City Commissioner Dan Saltzman
Auditor Gary Blackmer

RE: Improving “The City that Works”

As cities across the nation struggle in times of economic hardship, we are blessed here at home in Portland to be in comparatively strong financial shape. You, the citizenry, have a history of ensuring your council makes prudent decisions.

We, however, are not without significant challenges that demand our attention right now. We must invoke the pride we rightly feel in our accomplishments to ensure we act with the foresight and fortitude necessary to address these challenges.

Within every challenge lies opportunity. Now is our time to build upon the City of Portland’s successes with an intensified focus in key areas through strategic planning, structural reform, and establishment of clear roles for each elected leader. The purpose of this memo is to outline the changes we will make as your city council in 2009.

STRATEGIC PLAN

(Photos © J. Maus)

Last Friday, I had the pleasure to host Rex Burkholder here at BikePortland.org Headquarters. We often cross paths at events and parties, and I work with him as a source on stories now and again, but it’s rare that we get the chance to talk uninterrupted for over an hour.

Oregon Bike Summit afternoon sessions-25.jpg

Travel Oregon’s Kristin Dahl
is leading an effort to create a
new bike tourism website.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Travel Oregon knows a good thing when they see it — that’s why they’ve decided to invest in a major new website that will be devoted to biking in Oregon.

A committee to help map out the objectives and oversee design of the site met at the offices of Cycle Oregon in North Portland last week. The meeting was led by Kristin Dahl, Travel Oregon’s sustainable tourism specialist.

In addition to Travel Oregon staffers Dahl and their Community Relations Director Vernoica Rinard, the committee includes a who’s-who of Oregon bike advocates including; newly hired State of Oregon Bicycle Recreation Coordinator Alexandra Phillips, Oregon Bicycle Racing Association Executive Director Kenji Sugahara, Jill Van Winkle with the International Mountain Bicycling Association, PDOT veteran and bike touring specialist Jeff Smith, Cycle Oregon ride director Jerry Norquist, BTA Executive Director Scott Bricker, Bike Gallery owner Jay Graves, and others.

This man didn’t let a bit of snow and ice keep him from his commute this morning.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Michael Hall oversaw memorials
for two PNCA students last fall.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Michael Hall, Dean of Student Services at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, has received a community award from the NW Examiner for his role in creating awareness and promoting bike safety in the wake of two tragic deaths last year.

The death of 19 year-old PNCA art student Tracey Sparling, followed by the death of PNCA alum Brett Jarolimek in a span of less than two weeks last October sent shockwaves through the close-knit school.

According to the NW Examiner, Hall reacted by going above and beyond his duties to not only support the student community, but to help them cope and become more aware of bike safety.

PDOT just sent out a lengthy press release that gives an overview of their status and strategy in tackling the ongoing issues created by this week’s severe weather. The full press release is below (scroll to the bottom for some biking and walking tips):

City Crews Working to Clear Main Streets of Ice

Neighborhood Streets Still Very Icy

Read more

Press Release: BTA’s New Year’s Day Ride

This just in from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA):

Bicycle Transportation Alliance Starts the New Year Off Right with a Local Bike Ride

It’s a 50-year tradition – the BTA and Portland bicyclists get off to a good start with the New Year’s Day Ride! This is a free, easy, family-friendly way to spend the first afternoon of 2009.

It is also a benefit for the Brett Jarolimek Memorial Fund. The Brett J. Fund supports bike safety projects and bike safety awareness.

Whether they go to bed at 8:00 pm New Year’s Eve or 3:00 am New Year’s Day, attendees can handle a 12 noon start time at the Battleship Oregon Memorial in Portland’s Waterfront Park and an easy 3-mile ride to the eastside and back.

At the end of the ride, everyone will enjoy free warm drinks and snacks at McCall’s Restaurant next to the Salmon St. Springs in Tom McCall Waterfront Park, as a reward for sticking to their New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, or get fit, or save money, or help the environment – or all of the above! And with a more bike-friendly US Congress and Oregon legislature recently elected, Oregon cyclists are optimistic about the future.

And I’m off! At the end of the era of slow trains

The first leg of my journey begins this afternoon, barring any delays on Amtrak (that’s been known to happen before).

I’ll be on the Empire Builder to Chicago for two nights, and then spend a third night on a less cushy train to DC. It will be nice to have a break from email, phone calls, the internet, and just about everything for a few days — though it would be nicer if it weren’t quite that long.

And who knows, maybe a few years from now it won’t be. There is plenty of speculation about an Obama administration’s support for a national high speed rail network, perhaps as part of the forthcoming economic stimulus package.

Taking the Brompton to brunch at the Tin Shed.
(Photo: Amy Subach)

When I posted on Thursday that I’m headed out today for an east coast train and bike tour, Todd at Clever Cycles got in touch over Twitter right away with the offer of a bike loan.

That’s how I came to spend the weekend riding around town in sun, rain, snow, and ice on a bright green, lovingly built-up Brompton folding bike and with a big smile on my face.

I’ll be writing more about the Brompton as I travel (including photos) but after riding around all weekend, I have two things to say:

Press Release: First Annual Portland Veloswap

About that gravel; City says we just have to wait

Adams ties Portland closer to world-class biking cities

Full text of Mayor-Elect Adams’ City bureau/admin shuffling memo

A conversation with Rex Burkholder: Part One; the CRC

Travel Oregon gets behind new bike tourism website

Intrepid Portlanders bike through snow, ice, cold (with a smile)

PNCA staffer who rallied after tragedies receives award

PDOT issues statement on icy streets; shares tips for bikers

Press Release: BTA’s New Year’s Day Ride

And I’m off! At the end of the era of slow trains

Instant celebrity and lock-free life with the Brompton

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From the Archives

With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike