Reed College students photographed for the BikeSexy project.
(Photos by Norah Hoover)
(Photos by Norah Hoover)
Month: April 2009
Copenhagenize: Hugging cops vid is “helmet propaganda”
“It’s the latest fake viral film from our car-centric Danish Road Safety Council. Slowing chipping away at Danish bike culture without worrying about facts and science.”
— Mikael Colville-Andersen, publisher of Copenhagenize.com
Mikael Colville-Andersen, proprietor of the globally renown blog Copenhagenize, says a video of Danish cops handing out hugs and helmets to bike riders is nothing but the “latest fake viral film from our car-centric Danish Road Safety Council”.
In a post on his blog this morning, Colville-Andersen calls the film “helmet propaganda” and says the motivation behind it is to sell more cars by placing a focus helmets and the dangers of cycling.
Beware of test-riding crook on Craiglist
Stolen.
My friend Felix got his bike stolen last night and his experience might be a lesson for others.
Felix posted a listing to sell his bike on Craigslist. A man responded with interest (Felix says the phone number displayed as “unknown”) and then showed up at Felix’s house at about 9:00 pm last night to take it for a test ride.
Felix says the thief left his backpack as collateral and then left for a test ride. After about 10 minutes, Felix checked the backpack and found nothing but a blanket stuffed inside.
Pull over! I’d like to give you a hug
This video (below) from Denmark is all over the web today. It shows two cops standing on the side of a bike lane, offering hugs and helmets to passing bicycle riders.
PDC says BMX facility near Burnside Bridge is a no go
The vacant lot at E Burnside
and 2nd that is slated
for an “interim site use” by
the PDC.
(Photo © J. Maus)
and 2nd that is slated
for an “interim site use” by
the PDC.
(Photo © J. Maus)
Advocates for a pump track and bike riding facility on a vacant lot adjacent to the Burnside Bridge are a bit miffed now that their idea has been scuttled by the Portland Development Commission (PDC).
There are several vacant parcels of land north of the bridge that are in line to be developed as part of the PDC’s Burnside Bridgehead project. While the project itself languishes for various reasons, there is an opportunity for a host of “interim site uses”. One of the interim uses under consideration was a bicycle pump track and skills area.
Back in February, the Portland Business Journal made it seem like a done deal when they reported that, “In the short-term, the site will be put to temporary use as a parking lot and bicycle motocross park.”
Laurelwood Brewery Block Party for LAF
What: Laurelwood Brewery Block Party to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Portland-based Land Rover-Orbea Professional Cycling Team is partnering with Laurelwood Brewery to present a fun afternoon of bikes, BBQ and award-winning beer all while raising funds to help the Lance Armstrong Foundation fight cancer.
All 10 members of the UCI Continental Men’s Cycling Team will be on hand to participate in the ride, meet everyone, shake hands, sign autographs, flex their quads and enjoy the festivities. Team Manager Norrene Godfrey said this will be the first time all the team’s riders — who hail from New Zealand, Canada, Oregon, Florida, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Colorado and California — will be in Oregon.
The day kicks off with a scenic 20-mile ride that will offer a bit of challenging terrain but reward participants with some of the best viewpoints of the city. Stick around after the ride for BBQ, beer, live music, a bike expo and more in the Laurelwood Brewery parking lot. All proceeds will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation to support cancer prevention and survivorship.
John Ohnstad, LIVESTRONG Challenge Region 8 Mentor, will be on hand to answer any questions about the Lance Armstrong Foundation and how people can get involved with the Seattle LIVESTRONG Challenge.
When: Sunday, May 24th at noon
Where: Laurelwood Brewery & Public House, 5115 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR 97213
More Info: Entry Fee: $20.00
All proceeds will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation
Register Online:
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=8470
Yoga For Cyclists
What: Yoga for Cyclists – A Special Workshop
Yes — yoga can complement your cycling! In this special workshop we’ll:
• Discuss the key muscle groups affected by bicycling, and how they are impacted during your ride. (30 minutes)
• Learn a sequence of simple yoga poses that can help stretch and warm your body in preparation for cycling. You’ll receive a hand-out of the sequence that you can use on your own next time you’re ready to get outside. (15 minutes).
• Move through a 1-hour (mixed-level) yoga class specifically geared to strengthening and stretching primary areas of the body relevant to cycling.
• Experience some ways to cool-down after your activity through yoga poses. You’ll receive a hand-out of the sequence that you can use after your next big ride. (15 minutes)
Come to yoga and get ready for your summer riding!
When: Thursday, May 21 6:30 – 8:30pm
Where: Yoga Shala – 3808 N Williams Ave., Portland
More Info: Instructor: Jennifer Hanson
RSVP: 503-963-YOGA (9642)
($20 in advance)
Town Hall Meeting On Two Wheels
What: Town Hall Meeting On Two Wheels. Rep. Dembrow, Sen. Dingfelder and You
A Bike Ride in Cully Neighborhood
When: Saturday, May 9th, 9:30am
Where: Wilshire Park (NE 33rd and Skidmore)
More Info: Anyone interested in joining the ride should RSVP to Rep. Dembrow’s office via email to rep.michaeldembrow(at)state.or.us or by calling (503) 986-1445.
Bicycle and Streetcar Open Houses Throughout May
What: Bicycle and Streetcar Master Plan Open Houses.
The public is invited to help shape this transportation transformation at a series of six May open houses around the city to showcase the two long-range plans. Visit the open house event in your community to learn more about the City’s strategic investment in green transportation:
Where: See schedule for nearest location.
When: 4pm-7pm. At each event, you may drop in anytime between four and seven, and there will be brief remarks by a member of Mayor Adams’s staff at 6:00 p.m. There will be bicycle parking, light refreshments, and certified childcare in English and Spanish.
More Info: http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=39132&a=239173
For more information on the Bicycle Master Plan update, visit http://portlandonline.com/transportation/BicycleMasterPlan, e-mail bicyclemasterplan(at)pdxtrans.org, or call 503-823-4638.
For more information on the Streetcar System Plan, visit http://portlandonline.com/transportation/StreetcarSystemPlan, e-mail portlandstreetcarplan(at)pdxtrans.org, or call 503-823-5611.
New friends and perspectives at the Outer East Get Together
I think it’s safe to say this
is the most bikes ever parked
in front of the Rumpus Room.
(Photos © J. Maus)
is the most bikes ever parked
in front of the Rumpus Room.
(Photos © J. Maus)
Last week we held our third monthly Get Together event. In previous months we’ve held them in North (St. Johns) and Southwest Portland (Multnomah Village) and this time we rolled to the Rumpus Room in Outer East.
The Rumpus Room is an old roadhouse bar on SE Division at about 105th (a few blocks east of I-205). Just getting there was an adventure for Elly and I. We rode out via the Clinton Street bike boulevard and it was interesting how the nature of the streets changed the further east we pedaled. Close in, I couldn’t help but smile as bikes were clearly the dominant mode. Several times, we were part of two-way, side-by-side bike traffic on quiet, tree-lined streets.
Fatal crash in Northeast Portland
NE 106th and Weidler
This evening at about 5:30 pm, 49-year old Cary Bernick of Southeast Portland was killed while riding his bike on NE Weidler near the intersection with NE 106th in East Portland (map link).
The Portland Police Bureau say Bernick was riding against traffic on Weidler (which is one-way westbound at that location) and was “in a lane of traffic and not using the bicycle lane” when he was hit. It also appears from their statement that the man was riding on the south side of the street, opposite from the side with the bike lane. The PPB has also confirmed that the man was not wearing a helmet.
Vehicular Homicide bill dies in committee
Mary O’Donnell, shown here
at a press conference for
the bill last June, lost her husband
due to a careless driver.
(Photos © J. Maus)
at a press conference for
the bill last June, lost her husband
due to a careless driver.
(Photos © J. Maus)
At a work session of the House Judiciary Committee in Salem today, the BTA’s Vehicular Homicide Bill (HB 3399) was withdrawn from the agenda, thereby terminating its chances to become law this session.
According to BTA Legislative Committee Chair Doug Parrow, the bill was pulled because it has a fiscal impact (not good when the the state is facing a $4 billion budget gap) and there were “complications with the legal approach”.
House Judiciary Committee Chair, Rep. Jeff Barker (D-Aloha), made the decision, but not without first acknowledging the work of the BTA and Mary O’Donnell.