Guadalajara’s first cycle track runs for 5km on each side of Avenida Federalismo.
(Photos © J. Maus)
(Photos © J. Maus)
Month: February 2009
Crucial bike funding pot makes out well in stimulus bill
“The bike community is very happy with the result.”
— James Koski, Deputy Chief of Staff for Earl Blumenauer
The Transportation Enhancements (TE) program is an important pot of cash doled out by the Federal Highway Administration that states can put toward bicycle and pedestrian projects. In Portland, TE funds have helped us create such popular bikeways as the Eastbank Esplanade, parts of the Springwater Corridor Trail, and the Fanno Creek Trail (in Tigard).
During negotiations on the recently passed federal economic stimulus, many national bike advocacy groups were very concerned that TE funding would not be part of the package. The League of American Bicyclists sent out a national action alert urging members to notify their representative in the U.S. Senate to make sure the program made it through.
Weekend Guide: Chariot wars and rainy family fun
Friday (2/13)
The Zoobomb Badass Challenge
A signature event of Mini Bike Winter
A weekend-long festival of mini bike fun and carnage. You zoobomb until you can’t any more.
6pm at the Zoobomb Pile, SW 10th and Oak
Free Commuting Workshop at the Bike Farm
A one hour workshop to learn the rules of the road, traffic dynamics and essential bike handling techniques. A great first step towards bike commuting, as well as a way for intermediate commuters to learn more and share what they know. Led by Evan Ross, of Portland Bicycle Tours. Hosted by the Bike Farm, a local non-profit, bicycle tool library and learning resource. Free.
6:00pm Bike Farm, 305 NE Wygant St
TriMet asks for support to secure stimulus cash for bike stations, lockers
With more cash, maybe TriMet will
card-activated bike lockers
similar to this one in
downtown Vancouver, WA.
(Photo © J. Maus)
card-activated bike lockers
similar to this one in
downtown Vancouver, WA.
(Photo © J. Maus)
TriMet is counting on about $60 million in federal cash as part of the stimulus bill. That slice of money cannot go to operations and must be spent on transit infrastructure and preventative maintenance projects.
TriMet’s list of projects under consideration for that funding currently totals about $127 million. To help Uncle Sam make up his mind about where to put the money, TriMet is encouraging folks to make public comments in support of projects they care about.
On that list is a project titled, Bike Parking Improvements. According to TriMet, the money would go toward:
“Vélib is here to stay,” say officials
A Vélib bicycle
(Photo: austinevan on Flickr)
(Photo: austinevan on Flickr)
We reported yesterday on a BBC article predicting the demise of Paris’s Vélib bicycle sharing program due to theft, vandalism, and increased costs.
Streetsblog has done some research of their own and discovered that the threat may not be so great as the BBC article makes it seem.
Rapha collaborates on $3,500 three-piece cycling suit
The suit is a collaboration between Rapha and famous London tailor Timothy Everest.
(Photo: Rapha)
(Photo: Rapha)
Paris’ bike-sharing system “unsustainable” says operator
[NOTE: Streetsblog has a different perspective on this story. They say Velib corporate sponsor JCDecaux is manipulating this story in the media to their benefit. Read more here.]
Over half the original fleet of 15,000 specially made bicycles have disappeared, presumed stolen…vandalism and theft are taking their toll…The company which runs the scheme, JCDecaux, says it can no longer afford to operate the city-wide network.
— The BBC
Paris’ “Velib” bike-sharing system has been heralded as the most successful implementation of its kind in the world. Cities around the globe have pointed to success in Paris in order to justify their own bike-sharing systems. However, an article published Tuesday by the BBC reports that 18 months after its launch, Velib has hit a rough patch:
From the BBC:
“Over half the original fleet of 15,000 specially made bicycles have disappeared, presumed stolen. They have been used 42 million times since their introduction but vandalism and theft are taking their toll.”
Phil Sano found not guilty in bike light taser trial
Phil Sano
(Photo © J. Maus)
(Photo © J. Maus)
The word is in — Phil Sano was found not guilty of resisting arrest on the night of June 10, 2008.
I got a voicemail from Phil at 2:18 saying “I’m free!” and that Phil plans to celebrate Mini Bike Winter with extra style this weekend.
We’ll keep you posted on Phil’s further exploits, and his planned civil suit.
For background on the incident and the trial:
Product review: Keen’s new “Springwater” bike shoe aims for Portland’s utility style
The Keen Springwater
(Photos: Ellee Thalheimer)
(Photos: Ellee Thalheimer)
[Editor’s note: This product review is by BikePortland contributor Ellee Thalheimer. We asked Ellee to review Portland-based Keen Footwear’s new cycling shoe, named after a Portland cycling landmark. For those unfamiliar with cycling shoe technology, there isn’t much out there on the web, but here’s a basic explanation. ]
Portland’s love affair with Keen shoes just went to the next level.
Guest Article: Have More Bike (Tango) Fun!
Jim Labbe
[Editor’s note: This article was written by guest contributor Jim Labbe, bike tango enthusiast and an urban conservationist with the Audobon Society of Portland. The Valentango festival begins today and runs through February 16th.]
Portland’s international reputation for bicycling is no news. Bikes, like beer, volunteerism, and strip-clubs, are part of the local culture. That (and a lot of hard work) has helped make Portland a fabulous city for bicycling.
Phil Sano taser trial: Day three
Phil Sano outside the courtroom
(Photo: Elly Blue)
(Photo: Elly Blue)
It’s the third and final day of Phil Sano’s trial for resisting arrest. I’ve been in court all morning, taking notes — which are below — and now the jury is deliberating. There’s no telling when the decision will come.
Some background:
– Our coverage of the initial event
– Our “Phil Sano tasering incident” tag
– Reports from day one of the trial
– Reports from day two of the trial
I’ll post the updates as I edit them, and let you all know as soon as we find out the verdict.
9:01
Waiting to begin. Sergeant Smith comes and sits in the gallery. Gutbezahl [Sano’s lawyer] asks him “Have you seen any police officers around? Oh wait!” ha ha, they both laugh.