April 2009 Archives

Spring SE Peeps Ride

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

What: Interested in going for a safe, mellow, family-friendly ride through a few (mostly) S.E. Portland neighborhoods on Friday, April 24th, and (hopefully) spreading a little joy and bikey good will along the way? Bubble machines and kidlets are *very* welcome!!! If you want to wear something fun, bright, and/or outlandish, just go for it – whatever makes you happy!!! Come on out and celebrate Spring! :o)

Where: Meet up outside of Palio on the big circle in Ladd’s Addition. 1996 SE Ladd.

When: Friday, April 24, 5:45pm. Leaving at 6:15pm

No Idaho Stops in Oregon: Bill fails to win necessary support

“…they [legislators] had heard from a number of constituents who were very concerned and opposed to giving cyclists what they viewed as special rights.”
–Doug Parrow, Chair of the BTA’s Legislative Committee

An effort to pass the “Idaho Stop Law” in Oregon has officially ceased all forward motion.

I confirmed this morning from Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) legislative committee chair Doug Parrow that they were not able to convince a key legislator to schedule a work session on HB 2690. As a consequence, the BTA will move onto other bills and shelve the Idaho Stop idea for now.

This is the basic idea behind
our Get Together events.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Do you live, work, commute through, or have an interest in outer Southeast Portland?

Join us tonight for this month’s BikePortland Get Together in Powellhurst (details below) to meet up with other folks and talk about bike issues specific to the area.

“We know you don’t often receive requests like this from your City agencies. But Sunday Parkways isn’t business as usual.”
— From an email sent out to rally financial support for Sunday Parkways.

The City of Portland is looking to follow up the smashing success of their 2008 Sunday Parkways event — but they’re still about $27,000 short.

Looking to bridge that funding gap, the Transportation Options division (within the Bureau of Transportation) sent out an email last week asking for individuals to help them reach their $200,000 budget goal.

Big crowds inside and out at opening
night of Filmed by Bike.
–Photo Gallery–
(Photos © J. Maus)

Filmed by Bike‘s Opening Night Throwdown street party was the perfect way to kick of Portland’s bike season. On Friday night, nearly 1,000 people flocked to SE Clinton street to revel in the scene both inside and outside the theater.

Whether you were there as a film buff, a bike lover, as an excuse to party, or all of the above — chances are you weren’t disappointed. After six years of putting on this event (and countless others), bike event mastermind Ayleen Crotty put all the right ingredients together for another memorable opening night.

Ribbon cuttings, close calls with fame, Idaho Stops go viral, the importance of litter, Manifest Destiny, the bikestache

Your weekly news roundup, celebrity edition:

– Obama has announced a plan to invest billions of dollars into high speed passenger rail. The Oregonian’s editorial board, among others, wants more and faster.

– Last week, Obama also chose a ribbon cutting for a new highway expansion project to grace with his presence.

– The EPA has opened the door on regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

– So has Washington State, in a bill that also calls for transportation planning to reduce vehicle miles traveled.

Join the crowds at
Filmed by Bike
(Photo © J. Maus)

It’s going to be sunny and in the 70s, folks. Here’s a sampling of what you can do about it:

– Tonight is Filmed by Bike’s opening night! Party in the street, drink beer, win prizes, and watch bike movies with a raucous, costumed crowd. The party goes from 6pm to 1am, the show times are 7, 9, and 11. SE 26th and Clinton.

– For a mellower but no less fun evening out riding with the kids, tonight is also the monthly Kidical Mass. Join a friendly group of preschoolers as they take to the streets at a mellow pace. They aren’t blocking traffic, they ARE traffic.

[This article was written by Erin Greeson. You might remember her in-depth examination of the bike messenger industry.]

“Century” Steve Nelson
(1960 ~ 2009)

On the evening of Tuesday, April 14, Team Beer lost a beloved teammate, “Century” Steve Nelson after a battle with illness and a stream of hospital visits from friends and teammates.

Steve succumbed precisely in time to join his beloved Team Beer in spirit. As the call came and news was shared, heads bowed in quiet grief and meditation, and glasses were raised to quietly salute a teammate whose smile, wisdom and support would be sorely missed but never forgotten.

New surreys for rent in Waterfront park-102

Traffic on the busy riverfront path in Waterfront Park will soon feature several new types of pedal-powered vehicles.

Yesterday I learned more about a new bike rental business that will be based inside the former McCall’s Restaurant building just south of the Salmon Street Fountain.

Time to rise up, Oregon cyclists!

Next week’s Oregon Bike Summit (4/21-4/22) in Salem could be the most important advocacy event of the year.

In previous years, the summit has been held in Eugene, Sisters, and Portland, but this year organizers are taking the bike movement straight to the lawmakers and pursestring holders in Salem.

The man behind the summit, Jerry Norquist, is the ride director of Cycle Oregon, Chair of the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and one of the state’s pre-eminent bike advocates. He’s decided to model the event on the National Bike Summit, held each year in Washington D.C..

“We as a society need to address and reinforce that driving and bicycling requires full concentration on the road, unfettered awareness of roadway conditions and instant attention to non-motorized roadway users.”
–Jerry Norquist, in a letter to ODOT

The Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (OBPAC) has sent a formal letter to the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC, a Governor-appointed body that advises the Oregon Department of Transportation) urging them to step up their efforts to educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving and to support a ban on the use of cell phones while driving and bicycling.

In the letter, dated March 16 and signed by committee Chair Jerry Norquist, the OBPAC “urges” the ODOT to support the agenda of the National Safety Council, a group calling for governors and legislators in all 50 states to ban cell phone use while driving. The OBPAC also wants ODOT to add information about the dangers of distracted driving to the DMV manual for both commercial and non-commercial road users.

Volunteers delivering meals on two wheels.
(Photo: Loaves & Fishes Center)

Loaves & Fishes Centers, “The Meals on Wheels People”, have launched a new “Meals on Two Wheels” program and they’re looking for volunteers in the Portland-Vancouver area.

Julie Piper Finley, the organization’s communications director, got in touch today to tell us about the new program. She said they’ve been delivering meals to homebound seniors throughout Multnomah, Washington and Clark counties for over 40 years using “conventional automobiles”, but beginning this month, the agency will be rounding up volunteers to deliver meals by bike.

Spring SE Peeps Ride

No Idaho Stops in Oregon: Bill fails to win necessary support

Tonight: Join us for a Get Together in Powellhurst

City asks for help to fund Sunday Parkways

Filmed by Bike rocks Clinton Street, and it’s not over yet

The Monday Roundup

Weekend Guide and Open Thread

Guest Article: In memory of teammate and friend, Steve Nelson

Say hello to surreys and a new traffic mix in Waterfront Park

Have your say in Salem at the Oregon Bike Summit

Oregon bike/ped committee urges state to ban cell phones while driving and bicycling

Homebound seniors can now get meals on two wheels

Latest Headlines

Council hears pitch for ‘Bikeable Portland’ plan as other ideas emerge

City puts price tag on transportation revenue ideas

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

From the Archives

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