April 2009 Archives

Guest article: The city bike, according to a vélocoutureist

Patrick Barber, vélocoutureist.

[Editor’s note: This article was originally published by Patrick Barber on his blog, Vélocouture, and has been re-published here with his permission.

On his blog, Barber writes about bike fashion with an urban flair. City bikes and fashion don’t even make news in Europe, but here in the states, they’re finally gaining serious steam (see our coverage of the Great Dutch Bike Invasion). Just yesterday, the New York Times published a piece about the popularity of high end Dutch bikes. But just what is a “city bike?” In the article below, Barber gives us his definition.]

See a Hufnagel (and meet
Mr. Hufnagel) at the City
Club’s Friday Forum on May 1.
(Photo © J. Maus)

As we reported a few weeks ago, the City Club of Portland’s Friday Forum event coming up on May 1st will be a bike lover’s bonanza. Today, the City Club announced the final list of 18 local handmade bike builders that will display at the event (see the list below).

The City Club of Portland is a local institution where usual guests include titans of industry, Governors past and present, and the like. But on May 1st, the local bike scene’s movers and shakers will take center stage.

In addition to a panel that will, “discuss bicycles and bicycling as an economic influence, an urban planning opportunity and a lifestyle” (and will include Cycle Oregon founder and former columnist at The Oregonian Jonathan Nicholas, bike planning superstar (and soon-to-be author) Mia Birk, and Bike Gallery owner Jay Graves) the May Friday Forum will include an exhibition of locally made bikes.

Filmed by Bike…the hottest ticket in town!
(Photos © J. Maus)

Filmed by Bike starts tomorrow with Clinton Street opened up for the Opening Night Throwdown.
Local bike event organizer/promoter extraordinaire Ayleen Crotty has clearly outdone herself this year. Crotty — whose Filmed by Bike event started in 2003 as a small, grassroots film fest — has blown-up into a major happening the likes of which have never been seen in the bike film world.

This year, Crotty has added tons of new features, screenings, and events into the mix. Tomorrow’s “Opening Night Throwdown” will close SE Clinton Street to cars for a street party that Crotty says will include the “largest bike parking setup Portland has ever seen.”

A community survey conducted by the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability as part of their Central Portland Plan update had good news for supporters of bikeways and carfree streets.

The survey was made available at more than 60 community events and locations throughout the city during a two-month period between August and October 2008 (it was also available online). 2,500 people responded to the survey and told the city how they currently use Central Portland and “what steps and activities they envisioned for its future.”

Bricker on the steps
of the Capitol in 2007.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) is working feverishly to garner more support for the Idaho Stop Law (HB 2690) with legislators in Salem.

According to BTA Executive Director and lobbyist Scott Bricker, the Chair of the House Transportation Committee has given him a significant hurdle — line up 31 “yes” votes from House members (the number it would need to pass) or the bill will die in committee.

Committee Chair Terry Beyer (D-Springfield) holds the future of the bill in her hands because she is the only one who can schedule the all-important work session the bill needs in order to be voted on by the committee and then forwarded to the full House. The deadline for her to schedule that work session is tomorrow.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Bike Loan Program staff: Dave Villalobos,
Briana Orr, and Price Armstrong.
(Photos courtesy U O)

Briana Orr, the University of Oregon student who founded the school’s bike loan program, will be honored with an Oregon Civic Engagement Award on Thursday, April 23, at The Cleaners at The Ace Hotel in Portland.

We profiled Orr’s program back in October. In a Q & A with Orr published in the Daily Emerald newspaper, Orr said her recognition is a sign of “shifting values in our culture” and that “I don’t think that 10 years ago even that a bicycling advocate would be on the list.”

Emily Hicks (L) from Commissioner
Fish’s office, Mayor Adams’ Chief
of Staff Tom Miller, and Steve Bryant
from Oregon Solutions.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Over 120 people packed into the Gateway Elks Lodge last night to learn about the Gateway Green project — and many of them were elected officials or high-level agency or city staffers.

The open house event was a bit short on substance (especially for anyone who’s been following our coverage here on BikePortland), but the big news of the night was how many notables lined up to throw their support behind the project.

What: Low-Car Diet Clinic. Sponsored by Joe Bike. Learn how to haul kids, cargo, kayaks, and other stuff by bike safely and securely.

Where: Sunnyside Environmental School & Park. 3421 SE Salmon St

When: Saturday May, 2 – 11am-12noon.

Breaking: Man hit by police car while riding downtown

At about 6:15 a.m. this morning, Portlander John Mayer was riding up on the intersection of SW 10th and Jefferson when he noticed a Portland Police Bureau patrol car parked in the bike lane.

When Mayer pulled around the patrol car, he says the officer driving the car pulled out into the lane and ran into him, “without signaling or looking”. The impact knocked Mayer down, but he did not sustain any serious injuries. Mayer posted a message to the Shift email list a few minutes ago seeking advice on how to handle the situation.

What: Yoga for Cyclists at Portland Yoga Arts
When: Every Sunday in April and May – 5-6:30 pm
Where: 4400 NE Glisan, Portland, OR
Cost: $16 drop-in, $140/10 week series (prorated for mid-term sign up)
More Info: robin(at)portlandyogaarts(dot)com or call: 503-544-3750

Notorious stop signs on SE Caruthers finally removed

City of Portland crews have removed two stop signs on SE Caruthers Street at the intersection with SE Water. Initially installed in 2002, the stop signs have been a thorn in the side of many people who ride through the intersection and a source of frustration and complaints by others who say no one obeyed them.

Back in November, when the Bureau of Transportation announced they would remove the signs, City Traffic Engineer Rob Burchfield said the stop signs had been the source of numerous complaints. Some people complained about poor compliance with the signs from both people on bikes and in cars, and others complained that the signs seemed unnecessary.

What: Free bike check & adjustment.

Bring your bike to Hinson Church on SE 20th and Salmon this Saturday for a free bike check. Two professional mechanics from the Community Cycling Center will join skilled volunteers from Hinson to provide bike checks and minor adjustment (brakes, shifting, steering, flats) for anyone who brings in a bike. They will supply housing, cables, brake pads, grease and other parts as needed. Bike donations also accepted.

When: Saturday, April 18, 10 am – 2 pm

Where: Hinson Memorial Baptist Church, SE 20th and Salmon.

Guest article: The city bike, according to a vélocoutureist

18 local builders will display at City Club Friday Forum in May

Starting tomorrow: Rock out and wonk out with Filmed by Bike

City survey says Portlanders want more bikeways, carfree streets

Time running out on BTA’s effort to pass Idaho Stop Law

U O bike loan program founder wins Civic Engagement award

Electeds line up to support Gateway Green concept

Low-Car Diet Clinic

Breaking: Man hit by police car while riding downtown

Yoga for Cyclists

Notorious stop signs on SE Caruthers finally removed

Free bike check & adjustment

Latest Headlines

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From the Archives

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