April 2009 Archives

Clinton Street road rager found guilty except for insanity

Eschweiler in the courtroom today.
(Photos © Elly Blue)

At the Multnomah County Courthouse today, Johnny Eschweiler waived his right to a trial by jury and was found guilty except for insanity on two counts of assault for using his motor vehicle as a weapon in an August, 2007 road rage incident.

Eschweiler was committed to the jurisdiction of the Psychiatric Security Review Board for a maximum of fifteen years. He will be allowed to continue to live in the community under a strict set of conditions, including highly structured psychiatric care, a curfew, and the stipulation that he not in any circumstance operate a motor vehicle.

“A vehicle is a weapon. You are not to have control of a motor vehicle.”
–Judge Michael McShane, Multnomah County

Judge McShane outlined the conditions clearly, which also included having no contact with victims and at no time possessing any weapons, “including a vehicle. A vehicle is a weapon. You are not to have control of a motor vehicle.”

Ryan Hashagen, owner of
Portland Cascadia Pedicabs, is
concerned about new regulations.
(Photo © J. Maus)
-Video below-

The City of Portland is currently in the process of updating their “private for hire transportation” policies. As part of this update, and partially at the request of local pedicab operators, they will also be regulating pedicabs for the first time.

The growth of pedicabs has skyrocketed in Portland in recent years in large part due to new businesses like PDX Pedicabs and Portland Cascadia Pedicabs.

Ryan Hashagen, owner of Portland Cascadia Pedicabs, is all for new regulations. He wants pedicabs to be treated as legitimate businesses and he wants customers to know they’ll be assured a safe ride. Hashagen knows all to well about the importance of safety. In August of 2008 one of his Seattle-based pedicabs was involved in a crash that left a 60-year old man dead.

David Byrne (R), with transportation
advocate Noah Budnick.
(Photo: Streetfilms)

David Byrne, NYC resident, former Talking Heads front man and biking’s coolest celebrity endorser/advocate, will be in Portland this summer and he’s got a bike book set to be published in September.

Byrne — a daily bike commuter for 30 years — has made a big name for himself in biking circles for (among other things) his advocacy and involvement in the New York City bike scene. He collaborated with the NYC Dept. of Transportation to design a series of art racks, and in February 2007 Byrne joined carfree advocate Gil Penalosa and staffers from NYC’s Transportation Alternatives for a bike ride that was captured by Streetfilms.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Clarence and his camera.
(Photo © J. Maus)
-Watch video below-

We’ve featured many films from the crew at Streetfilms over the years. Their pioneering work — which has highlighted everything from ciclovias to separated bikeways — has had a major impact on the national and global livable streets movement.

Earlier this week, Streetfilms’ head provocateur, filmmaker Clarence Eckerson, sent word that they had published their 200th film. To celebrate this milestone, they put together a fun, 3-minute promo video that features highlights from their most memorable moments and a montage of the personalities that have graced their lens.

TriMet is using straps in the wheelchair
area to increase bike capacity.
(Photos: Jim “K’Tesh” Parsons)

When TriMet’s WES commuter rail line between Wilsonville and Beaverton opened back in January, many bike commuters were concerned about the lack of onboard bike capacity. WES had only two bike hooks per car, compared to four hooks on MAX trains.

One reason for this is because WES, unlike MAX, falls under the “commuter rail” category and as such, is regulated by the Federal Railway Administration (FRA). As TriMet GM Fred Hansen clarified in a TriMet Board meeting where the topic came up in February, “there’s a different set of requirements” for how objects must be secured on commuter rail trains.

What: Portland Transit Riders Union kickoff meeting

When: Saturday, April 11, 12:00noon

Where: SEIU Local 49, 3536 SE 26th Ave

Hundreds of Portlanders have turned out already at TriMet’s public hearings this week to defend our public transit against the proposed cuts to service! Join together in the new Portland Transit Riders Union to build strength in unity, strategize and take action together to make public transit work for working people in Portland!

Plus, visiting organizers from the L.A. Bus Riders Union will brief us on their great work and what they’ve been able to achieve (see http://www.thestrategycenter.org/project/bus-riders-union for inspiration!)

TriMet directions: Taking the 9-Powell or 10-Harold, get off at 26th and Powell, location of BurgerVille, Cleveland H.S., and Powell Park, and walk a few steps south on Powell; the building is on your left. Taking the 17-Holgate, get off at 26th & Holgate and walk a few blocks north.

Breakfast on the Bridges

What: Breakfast on the Bridges

When: Friday, April 23, 7am-9am (last friday of every month)

Where: Steel and Hawthorne Bridges, Willamette River (West-bound lanes, East end of the Steel, West end of the Hawthorne)

Breakfast on the Bridges reaches out to bicyclists during their morning commute once a month on Portland bridges. We give bicyclists (and pedestrians) free coffee and pastries as a way of saying thanks for not driving and keeping our morning commute enjoyable! Our corner of the sidewalk is also a place for cyclists to meet each other and is a major entry point into Portland’s thriving communities of bicycle activism, advocacy, and fun. BonB is powered solely by bicycle! Get involved or just show up!

Bike Back The Night

What: Bike Back The Night

When: Thursday, April 23, 4:30pm. Ride at 6pm

Where: Col. Summers Park, SE 20th and Belmont

The Portland Women’s Crisis Line has organized a community bike ride for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in collaboration with PSU’s Take Back the Night rally to increase awareness of sexual violence. Bring your wheels,bring a friend, and Bike Back the Night!
Light snacks will be provided. The ride will end at PSU. Riders can contribute to our hygiene drive by bringing donations of new hygiene items, new socks and underwear that will be distributed to survivors of sexual violence.
Check in and event begins at 4:30 PM. Ride is at 6 PM sharp.
RSVP at events(at)pwcl(dot)org

Kidical Mass

What: Kidical Mass

Streets are for kids, too! Kidical mass is a celebration of family bicycling. Training wheels, tagalongs, and trailers are all welcome on this easy-going, short, legal family ride. Front and rear lights are a must for all during the winter months.

Various times and locations, April 17 (third Friday of every month):

Meet at 5:30pm. Ride at 6:00pm.

More info: Angela Koch, angela(at)bta4bikes(dot)org

Bunny on a Bike

What: Bunny on a Bike

Dress up with an Easter theme and spread some Easter cheer en route to central Portland for a bunny-potluck (bring something to share!). All rides converge by Hawthorne bridge on the Eastbank Esplanade for a megabunnyparade at noon!

Meeting locations & times are as follows on Sunday April 12:

Vancouver
Esther Short Park gazebo , 10:30 AM North Portland
Peninsula Park gazebo , 11 AM

NE
Fernhill Park playground , 10:30 AM
Alberta Park , 10:45 AM

NW
Wallace Park basketball court , 10:30 AM
North Park Blocks elephant , 11 AM

SW
Lucky Lab Multnomah Village , 10:30 AM

SE
Sunnyside Park playground , SE 35th & Taylor , 11 AM

Dead Freeways Ride

What: Dead Freeways Ride

When: Saturday, April 11, 11am-2pm

Where: 1 SE Madison St. (on the Eastbank Esplanade by the Firehouse and Hawthorne Bridge)

What if…Portland built all the freeways it planned? This ride will follow the routes of several highways that never made it off the drawing board, such as the fabled Mt. Hood Freeway, some that did but were later removed, and also as a reference some freeways that currently exist. Approx 12 miles of riding through moderate traffic.

NOTE: This ride is “Part 2” to the ones led in 2008, as this time we’re staying on the eastside so we can cover areas missed on previous rides.

More info: urbanadventureleague.blogspot.com

Bike camping – Alder Flat

What: Bike camping – Alder Flat, Mt Hood National Forest

When: Saturday, April 11-Sunday, April 12

Where: Meet 9:00am at Cleveland Ave MAX Station, 1300 NE 8th Ave, Gresham (Gresham end-of-line). Ride promptly at 9:15am.

Alder Flat Campground in the Mt. Hood National Forest. No fees, bring your own food. Outhouse a mile from camp, but no water or facilities – bring 2L of water along with you.

River access, private, wild – likely to be no other people there. Expected temp 45 day, 34 night – dress accordingly.

Details at http://www.cyclewild.org

Clinton Street road rager found guilty except for insanity

Pedicab business owner concerned about proposed regulations

David Byrne: Coming to Portland, will release bike book this fall

An homage to Streetfilms: 200 films and countless inspirations

TriMet tests new bike straps on WES (updated)

Portland Transit Riders Union kickoff meeting

Breakfast on the Bridges

Bike Back The Night

Kidical Mass

Bunny on a Bike

Dead Freeways Ride

Bike camping – Alder Flat

Latest Headlines

Portlanders will join national day of rides for Alex Pretti on Saturday

‘Bikeable Portland’ is a novel plan to rekindle our city’s love of cycling

Mayor Wilson: ‘We have to be the biggest bike mode city in the nation’

Monday Roundup: Transit moonshot, bike share in Seattle, Alex Pretti, and more

From the Archives

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