June 2009 Archives

Jousting, donuts, kid fair, beer: Something for everyone at this year’s Multnomah County Bike Fair

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

On the midway at MCBF in 2008.
(Photo © J. Maus)

“It’s the bike-gasm!”

That’s how the Multnomah County Bike Fair was explained to me on my first time around back in 2005.

The description holds true. After 17 exhausting, exuberant days of Pedalpalooza, fatigue is setting in (and there were even rumors on Twitter of a pedalfluenza outbreak). A gentle but seriously fun sort of decompression is needed after spending over two weeks on such a cloud. Enter MCBF, the closing event of Pedalpalooza, a culmination of all the creativity, energy, and socializing of the last two and a half weeks.

New bike corrals have replaced car parking spaces in front of two businesses on N. Williams Ave. (note the one across the street too).
–More images–
(Photos © J. Maus)

Year: 2005 (?)
Brand: Trek
Model: Mountain Train 201
Color:Silver
Size:Blue
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2009-06-25
Stolen From: Driveway
Owner: Rich Connor
OwnerEmail: rconnor@pmsimarketing.com
Reward: $25
Description: Silver/Blue kids tag-a-long was connected to Blue Cannondale H400 when stolen.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Blue Cannondale H400 2000 (?)

Year: 2000 (?)
Brand: Cannondale
Model: H400
Color:Blue
Stolen in 97214, OR
Stolen:2009-06-25
Stolen From: Driveway
Neighborhood: Richmond
Owner: Rich Connor
OwnerEmail: rconnor@pmsimarketing.com
Reward: $50.
Description: Blue with silver and blue and silver kids TREK bike trailer (tag a long) attached
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

BikeSnobNYC on our MJ memorial ride: “Enough already!”

Yesterday was quite a day.

In the span of about two hours, we learned of Michael Jackson’s death, planned a ride (and had a blast), did three TV interviews, got mentioned in The Oregonian, and even got noticed by the New York Times.

And this morning, the famous bike-blogger/comedian BikeSnobNYC came across that mention of our ride in the New York Times and couldn’t take it any longer. Disgusted by Portland’s biking spirit, he wrote (emphasis mine):

A bike only lane, compliments of
Hoffman Construction Corp.
–More images–
(Photos © J. Maus)

A few months ago, I shared a story of bike lane disrespect about how construction crews often have no regard for bikeways during their projects.

Today, we have the complete opposite; a construction detour that goes above and beyond anything I’ve seen.

Hoffman Construction is building a new parking structure for Legacy Emanuel Hospital in North Portland and today they are repaving the curbside lane adjacent to the project. In order to handle the reams of bike traffic that comes down N. Vancouver — it is, after all ranked as Portland’s best bike lane — they have constructed a temporary, bike-only lane out of traffic cones.

Ron Buel
(Photos © J. Maus)

[The following editorial was written by Ron Buel. Buel is a long time Portland transportation activist through his work with Riverfront for People. Back in November 2006, BikePortland covered his initiative to bury the I-5 freeway through Portland’s eastside.

In this editorial, Mr. Buel shares his concerns that, despite intentions, the City of Portland’s Climate Action Plan lacks the teeth it needs to really take a bite out of climate change.]

The City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) and the Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) have put out a Climate Action Plan that, when it comes to transportation, is as phony as a three dollar bill. It’s the latest version of political greenwashing, led by Mayor Sam Adams, who, like our Governor, talks the talk of climate change, but doesn’t walk the talk.

The Bike Kiss-In is becoming a time-honored tradition here in Portland. Every Pedalpalooza, couples gather in a high-traffic spot to show their passion for bikes and each other, holding up signs with slogans like “Liplock, not gridlock” and “If you were biking, you’d be making out by now.”

Check out our photos from tonight’s event on Flickr, or in the slideshow below:

*Scroll down for ride report, photos and video

Michael Jackson Memorial Ride - Pedalpalooza-12

Nice moonwalk Curt!
-More images Video below-
(Photos © J. Maus)

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is dead.

This very sad news has led to respond with a bike ride, full of Michael Jackson music and memories.

Meet at 6:30 at the Peace Garden above the Eastbank Esplanade at east end of the Steel Bridge.
We’ll hope to have a sound system with Michael Jackson music for sing-alongs and hopefully a microphone set up for karaoke opportunities. If you have gloves, please wear only one in honor of this great artist who had such a profound impact on many of our lives.

Enemies turned allies;
Rep. McHenry (L) and Shane Cooper.
(Photo: DeFeet)

Remember Rep. Patrick McHenry?

McHenry is a Republican member of Congress from North Carolina who, back in August of 2007, sharply ridiculed and mocked the bike commuter tax benefit when it came up in Congress as part of an energy bill.

During a floor speech, McHenry said (in part, see full excerpt/video here):

“They want to tell the American people, stop driving, ride a bike…

Apparently, the Democrats believe that the miracle on two wheels that we know as a bicycle will end our dependence on foreign oil. I cannot make this stuff up. It is absolutely amazing.”

Steph Routh, executive director of the
Willamette Pedestrian Coalition, speaks at the
event this morning.
– More images –
(Photos © J. Maus)

With the summer cycling season in full swing, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) and a host of partners kicked of another year of their Eye to Eye safety campaign at a press conference near the Eastbank Esplanade this morning.

The BTA first launched the Eye to Eye effort last August after a string of road rage incidents involving bicycles back in July put Portland traffic relations in a very bad light.

To accomodate what is probably Portland’s busiest bikeway through a commercial district (outside of downtown), the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation is set to install two more of their on-street bike corrals on N.Williams.

According to Sarah Figliozzi with PBOT, the new corrals will be on both sides of Williams at N. Failing Street. One of them will go in front of Pix Patisserie and the other will be right across the street in front of Lincoln Restaurant.

The new corrals are funded by the Portland Development Commission through their Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area.

N. Williams, which has seen a boom in development for several blocks near N. Failing Street, is a very busy bike traffic corridor. What makes it different than other popular commercial areas — like SE Hawthorne, N. Mississipi, SE Belmont, and NE Alberta — is that N. Williams has a bike lane (which, unfortunately, is not as wide as the one on N. Vancouver).

Story continues below

Back in January, even Sunset Magazine noticed Williams’ bike traffic. Lincoln Restaurant, whose roll-up windows will put customers just a few feet from the new bike corral, has started offering a “Commuter Corridor” happy hour.

Bikes on N. Williams made an
impression on Sunset Magazine
back in January.

Restaurant owner David Welch is thrilled about the new bike parking. He told me this morning that the happy hour is an acknowledgment of the large amount of bike traffic. “We realized that, here we are, on this major artery for bike riders,” he said, “and we’re just trying to encourage folks to take a break and stop off on their ride home for a glass of wine, a beer, or something to eat.”

Figliozzi says they are putting two corrals in such close proximity because they’ve noted high demand at both locations; “We want to put the parking as close as possible to those demands.” It’s also likely the City did not want to put people in the position of having to cross the busy N. Williams Ave. just to find a bike parking space.

The new corrals will likely be installed over the weekend. Another corral is set to go up in front of Pambiche on NE Glisan at 28th. The means that by Monday, Portland will have a total of 18 on-street bike corrals with many more in the queue.

Check out a Google Map of all bike corral locations over at PDXStump.

Jousting, donuts, kid fair, beer: Something for everyone at this year’s Multnomah County Bike Fair

First look at new on-street bike parking in North Portland

Silver Trek Mountain Train 201 2005 (?)

Blue Cannondale H400 2000 (?)

BikeSnobNYC on our MJ memorial ride: “Enough already!”

Construction company creates bike-only traffic lane around project

Editorial: When it comes to transportation, the ‘Climate Action Plan’ is just more greenwashing

Report (with slideshow): Bike Kiss-In

Tonight we ride, sing, and dance for Michael Jackson (Updated with photos/video)

How one advocate turned hate into love

BTA, partners re-launch ‘Eye-to-Eye’ safety campaign

N. Williams, Portland’s ‘Bike Commuter Corridor’, will get two on-street bike corrals

Latest Headlines

Local shop launches mutual aid program to help keep riders on the road

City will build new paved path into Kelley Point Park

Weekend Event Guide: Larch Mountain, path cleanup, Zoobomb, and more

Councilor Mitch Green is Portland’s socialist transportation champion

From the Archives

Opinion: If we’re serious about cycling, let’s get serious about cycling infrastructure