2008 Archives

A bike box renaissance in America?

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Freshly installed bike lanes
and bike boxes in New York City.
(Photo by Clarence Eckerson)

For years, several U.S. cities have dabbled in an intersection treatment that is ubiquitous in many European cities: the bike box. Unfortunately, most of these boxes, including the one in Southeast Portland, have been more of a forgotten experiment than a clear sign of a new paradigm in how traffic engineers and road users treat bikes at intersections.

(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

A month ago, I shared the Portland Water Bureau’s proactive plan to reduce the risk of collisions between their vehicles and bikes around their Interstate Avenue facility.

The policy was made official on Tuesday when Water Bureau administrator David Shaff sent the following email to all employees:

As a result of several recent vehicle/bicycle collisions throughout the City, and near-misses at one of the area’s most dangerous intersections at Broadway and Wheeler, the Interstate Safety Committee has worked with the neighboring business, members of the bicycle community, PDOT, and Portland Police to identify potential solutions.

Read more

Council hears Safe and Sound Streets proposal

Portland City Council hears from a packed house.
(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

Custom bike and parts manufacturing, like these
freshly brazed forks by Joseph Ahearne,
are just one part of Portland’s emerging
bike economy.
(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Portland’s National Public Radio affiliate, OPB, has a story today on the connections between Portland’s bike culture and our fledgling bike economy.

The piece is titled, Portland’s Bike Culture Creates Market.

The story, likely spurred by a similar article in the New York Times back in November, starts out with an obligatory mention of Zoobomb (they should get royalties every time a media outlet drops their name) and includes a brief interview with a local bike news publisher, and an employee from Beaverton-based rack manufacturer, Yakima.

10 speed road bike with reynolds 531 steel frame shamano 105 breaks cranks and derailers Custom saddle wheels and pedals Tool bag with spare tire and bike tools

More Info on Finetoothcog

Captain and Kruger will leave Traffic Division

Lt. Mark Kruger will no longer
work in the Traffic Division.
(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Some major personnel changes have been made at the Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Division.

Speaking from her cell phone a few minutes ago, Assistant Chief of Police Lynnae Berg confirmed that Captain Vince Jarmer and Lieutenant Mark Kruger will soon be leaving the Traffic Division (this division is the most important part of the Bureau for bikes because they write 80% of traffic tickets, they conduct crash investigations, and they work parades).

Berg says that Jarmer is transferring to become commander of the Transit Police Division. Lieutenant Larry O’Dea will be promoted to captain to take Jarmer’s place.

City Commissioner Sam Adams addresses the media at a press event for the
Safe, Sound, and Green Streets proposal.
(From L to R: Susan Kubota, aunt of the late Tracey Sparling; Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler; Oregon State Senator Rick Metsger; Commissioner Adams).
(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

Schwinn Men’s Red & Black Mesa Mountain bike with front shocks and street slicks. Body has and red reflective tape, BTA stickers and “If your were biking…” BikePortland sticker.

More Info on Finetoothcog

With Finn in the race, Council remains on bike-friendly course

More bike parking might be
needed at City Hall in 2008.
(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

Signs of a bike-friendly future in Portland can be found all over City Hall these days. For example…

Commissioner Sam Adams is going to bat for bike infrastructure improvements and he’s making a serious run for mayor. Adams’ vacated Council seat could go to Amanda Fritz or Chris Smith, both of whom understand the vital role bikes should play in our city’s future.

Sho Dozono
(Photo: ShoForMayor.com)

By now, you’ve probably heard that City Commissioner Sam Adams’ previously smooth road to the mayor’s office has taken a major turn.

Sho Dozono, a well-known and successful businessman, former head of the Portland Business Alliance, and community leader, officially filed his candidacy yesterday.

Many say he poses the first real threat to an Adams victory.

Dozono is already positioning himself as the “citizen’s candidate” and his campaign will likely attempt to paint Adams as a City Hall insider who is beholden to special interests (one of which is of course the all-powerful “bike lobby”).

If you ride your bike across the I-5 bridge between Portland and Vancouver you now have more than just a narrow and sketchy pathway to deal with.

The Columbian reported Friday that ODOT is using cannon fire to scare off flocks of birds that congregate on the bridge.

Here’s a snip from the article:

Late Sunday night a man was assaulted while riding his bike along the bike/ped path on the west side of the river, just north of the Morrison Bridge. The rider, who goes by the name of Felix, reports that he was returning to his home in Southeast Portland after a Zoobomb run when he was “pushed to the ground” by a group of unknown assailants.

Here’s more from Felix:

A bike box renaissance in America?

Water Bureau makes Wheeler Ave. closure official

Council hears Safe and Sound Streets proposal

Portland’s bike economy in the news again

Stolen Nishiki unknown

Captain and Kruger will leave Traffic Division

Sparling’s Aunt joins Adams at Safe and Sound Streets event

Stolen Schwinn Mesa

With Finn in the race, Council remains on bike-friendly course

Bikes and the new race for mayor

Don’t be alarmed by cannon fire on the I-5 bridge

Man gets mugged while riding on the waterfront

Latest Headlines

Councilor Koyama Lane’s ‘Vision Zero Week’ aims to up urgency for road safety

Portland Trophy Cup cyclocross race kicks off with huge turnout

Opinion: 90-day license suspension is light consequence for repeated, shameless, reckless driving

BikeTiresDirect parent company sold to Backcountry.com

From the Archives

Portlanders show solidarity with Palestinians at ride for para-cycling team