Month: May 2009

PSU students vote this week on Green Fund referendum

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

“[The Green Fund] is a pool of money that works again and again as PSU takes loans from this pool and saves money by replacing utilities with sustainable ones, to pay back to the loan.” –Brendan Castricano, PSU Student Senate

Starting yesterday, Portland State University students are voting on a proposed $5 per term student fee that would generate $500,000 for the university’s student body to reduce its carbon footprint.

This “Green Fund” would include money for several sustainability initiatives, including some bike stuff. From the initiative’s website, here’s one of the programs it will establish:

Special Sustainability Projects Fund: Establish a student-governed grant making committee for small scale sustainable capital projects, such as bike parking stations, bikes for the new bike loan program, water bottle refilling stations, etc.

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Mayor Adams pledges to go carfree for a month, ride a bike instead

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Bike Master Plan open house - SE-12

Sam Adams speaking at last
night’s BMP Open House
(Photo © J. Maus)

It’s a classic story in Portland by now — you total your car, assess your options, and decide the time is right to go carfree.

It looks like the latest person to play out this story will be our mayor.

Mayor Adams walked away from a car crash without any injuries last weekend, but his truck wasn’t in such good shape. Oregonian reporter Joseph Rose caught up with the mayor at last night’s Bike Master Plan Open House and asked him about his plans for replacing the truck.

But don’t expect to see the mayor shopping local car lots anytime soon. Following in the smaller carbon footprints of Berkeley, Calif., Mayor Tom Bates, Adams says he’s giving up driving for at least a month. “I’m going to try it,” he said.

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Southeast residents take bike plan for a test ride

Bike Master Plan open house - SE-9

Gather ’round folks.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Last night at Franklin High School, Portlanders got their first chance to kick the tires and test ride the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s update to the Bicycle Master Plan.

This plan, last updated in 1996, is important to Portland’s bike future for many reasons: it will set and inform policies related to how the City plans its transportation network, it will create points of leverage for advocates and citizens to hold the City accountable for their progress (or lack of it), it will identify and classify recommended bikeways, and it will encapsulate the City’s latest thinking on a variety of issues relating to bicycling (from enforcement to the economy).

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Local high school does bike parking right

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Bike parking at Franklin High School-3

Good spacing, a high visibility
location, and cobblestones!
(Photos © J. Maus)

When students and staff arrive at the campus of Benjamin Franklin High School in Southeast Portland (5405 SE Woodward), they’re greeted with an important message: Bikes are respected, encouraged, and accommodated for.

The message isn’t something you read on a poster. It’s implied — by rows of perfectly spaced staple racks installed on concrete slabs surrounded by attractive cobblestones and located smack dab near the main entrance of the school. (A roof would make this parking perfect, and sources say that’s in the works).

There are 18 staple racks, room for 36 bikes. With the generous spacing between them, cargo bikes, bikes with trailers, recumbents and even freak bikes have plenty of breathing room (for themselves and their owners).

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Kidical Mass – Fun Family Biking

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

What: All are welcome on this short, easy-going, legal family ride.

Where: This month there are two ride locations:

– Sunnyside Env School, meet at 5:30, ride at 6

– Downtown, North Park Blocks playground, meet at 5:30, ride at 6.

When: May 15th, 5:30pm

More Info: bta4bikes.org Email angela(at)bta4bikes(dot)org

Bike Commuting 101 – For Women Only

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

What: Bike Commuting 101. Focuses on the nuances of commuting for women. All levels of cyclists welcome.

Where: PSU Women’s Resource Center, 1802 SW 10th Ave.

When: May 7th, 1pm-2pm

Latest Headlines

Hang with the Nomad Cycles crew at Bike Happy Hour this week

Here’s the latest on the City’s attempt to remove diverters in northwest Portland

Portland will look for new Adaptive Biketown operator next year

City of Portland opens door to Frog Ferry use of two public docks

From the Archives

What five people say about living outside along the Springwater path