Month: February 2009

It’s not about bikes: BTA testimony on the CRC (updated)

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Rose Quarter opening celebration-13

Michelle Poyourow of the BTA.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Advocate Michelle Poyourow of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) was one of over 70 people that testified in front of City Council at last week’s public hearing on the Columbia River Crossing project (CRC).

After the hearing, several people mentioned her testimony to me and I also noticed it referenced in a recap of the hearing in the Daily Journal of Commerce*. In the interest of sharing the perspective of the BTA on this massive project (both in size and importance to our region), I asked if we could reprint her testimony.

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Reed College to host “Sustainable Transportation Solutions” summit

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Our very own Elly Blue will be part of a panel discussion at the Sustainable Transportation Solutions Summit happening this Thursday at Reed College.

Here’s the description/blurb on the panel from Reed:

With global warming and gas prices grabbing headlines, we need to rethink how we get around, and Oregonians are leading the way forward. Experts on bicycling, public transit, carsharing, and much more will discuss recent turns in our transportation system and share insight on possible routes to a sustainable future.

The panel will feature:

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Support grows for cycle track on Capitol Highway

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
PDOT Transportation Safety Summit

Hillsdale n’hood association
president and trails
advocate Don Baack.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Local newspaper, The Southwest Community Connection reports that the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association is in unanimous support of building a cycle track on Capitol Highway.

In their “Government Beat” column published Sunday, the paper wrote:

Don Baack, president of the Neighborhood Association, said the project is a long way off from reality but that it was important for the neighborhood to throw its hat in the ring early.

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An update on the Gateway Green project

A tour of East Portland-1.jpg

A view of proposed Gateway Green
property looking south on
the I-205 bike path toward
NE Halsey.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The effort to build turn 35 acres of vacant land in east Portland into an off-road trails park and bike recreation to be called “Gateway Green” is moving forward nicely.

Last week I bumped into parks and neighborhood advocate extraordinaire Linda Robinson at the Metro quarterly trails meeting. Robinson, along with developer Ted Gilbert, is spearheading the Gateway Green project.

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Limited edition Cinelli art bike on display at N. Vancouver gallery

An art gallery on N. Vancouver Avenue currently has a very special Cinelli bicycle frame on display.

Photos by Sally Murdoch/Artery PDX
(More photos below)

Sally Murdoch of Artery PDX (4114 North Vancouver Ave.) sent us over a few photos and info about the frame. She says it was painted by Barry McGee and that it’s one of 50 produced as part of a collaboration between Cinelli and fashion label RVCA. Here is more about the bike:

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The Monday Roundup

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

The BikePortland office was broken into this weekend and Jonathan and I have spent the morning figuring out what’s missing (and sighing a lot). The damage so far; our backup SLR camera, four Nikon lenses (ouch!), both of our digital audio recorders we use for events and interviews…

What did we get in exchange? A crowbar. Nice. We’re figuring out a plan of action and will keep you posted about a possible fundraiser.

In the meantime, the show goes on — here’s the news that caught my eye last week:

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Guest Editorial: Speaking up on the CRC

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

[Editor’s note: This guest editorial was written by first-time BikePortland contributor Spencer Boomhower. Spencer testified in front of City Council during a hearing on the Columbia River Crossing held last Thursday.]

Spencer Boomhower

I’m sitting at a table with a microphone sticking in my face, and a little digital counter telling me how much time I have to talk. Or rather, telling the guy to my right how long he has to talk; I’m up next, after him. I recline in the polished wooden chair, cast my eyes down, and try to relax.

I look up and I’m faced with a who’s-who of local-politics luminaries straight out of my voting guide: Randy Leonard, Amanda Fritz, Sam Adams, Dan Saltzman, and Nick Fish. This doesn’t help.

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Latest Headlines

Walking school buses poised for growth thanks to PCEF grant

Oregonians struggle to comment on Interstate Bridge project due to ‘make believe’ traffic data

Weekend Event Guide: Springwater clean-up, rain celebration, and more

Fatal crash site visit: NE Glisan & 130th

From the Archives

Truck driver does ‘rolling coal’ on riders, and one of them is a bike cop