Month: October 2009

Trail backers want more respect in Bicycle Plan

“If we had $50 million in hand, would we spend it developing one corridor or do we want to spread the love around the city?”
— Roger Geller, City of Portland bike coordinator

Trail advocates are polishing up their comments on the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030.

Backers of the Sullivan’s Gulch Trail — a path still in planning stages that would run from I-205 to the Willamette River along I-84 — say they’re concerned that the new plan does not give off-street paths the respect they deserve.

The Sullivan’s Gulch is now just a line on a map.
(Graphic: Sullivan’s Gulch Trail Committee)

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Bike Master Plan set for hearing tomorrow

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Just a reminder:

The Portland Planning Commission will take public testimony regarding the draft Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 at a hearing on Tuesday, October 27, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The hearing will be held in Room 2500A at 1900 SW 4th Avenue in Portland. Members of the public may sign up to testify for three minutes at the hearing by filling out a testimony card. Written testimony can be submitted to the address below, whether or not you plan to testify in person:

    Planning Commission
    c/o Bureau of Planning
    1900 SW 4th Ave., Suite 7100
    Portland, OR 97201-5380
    503-823-7700
    Fax: 503-823-7800
    Email: planningcommission@ci.portland.or.us
    The public comment draft of the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 is available for download online

(If anyone visited the site and had trouble with large file sizes, please check the site again as we’ve been able to reduce some file sizes and provide more options for downloading portions of the plan.)

If you received a print copy of the plan or downloaded the plan documents before October 19, please be aware that we have corrected two substantive errors that made it past our proofreaders! Corrected pages 53 and A-34 can be downloaded from the errata page linked to the above URL.

We will be accepting public comments on the plan through November 8. You may submit comments by e-mail to bicyclemasterplan@pdxtrans.org, or in writing to the address below. We also have now added an online comment form for your convenience. You will find a link to the form on the download page.

Thoughts and images from the 350 Climate Action Rally

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Climate Rally - 350 Day-1

Slideshow below/Gallery
(Photos © J. Maus)

On Saturday, about 1,000 Portlanders joined rallies around the globe to raise awareness of climate change. The 350 Climate Action Rally was part of the 350 campaign, which bills itself as a “global grassroots campaign to stop the climate crisis.”

Not surprisingly, many people came to the rally at Pioneer Courthouse Square by bike. About 40-50 of them met beforehand and rode over en masse to show their support for the cause.

Portland resident Simon Walter-Hansen joined a few others in quiet meditation in Waterfront Park, flanked by 350 banners before riding coming to the rally. He said it was a sign of solidarity for the cause and that it made people stop and think about why they were doing it.

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The Monday Roundup

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Streetcar funding, ciclovias, contraflow cycle tracks, carrots and sticks, cycle speed bumps, pro-bike Republicans, anti-bike bloggers, a bike hearse, and rude drivers

– The National Resource Council has released results from a study conducted in 2005 on costs stemming from health effects of manufacturing cars and burning fuel. The result: $56 billion.

– The NY Times auto section has a long article on a growing trend in the U.S. — cutting back on car ownership, or going carfree entirely. Explanation of this trend is followed by an interesting look at how automakers are looking to cater to the carfree-minded.

– The US Senate is poised to pass a Climate Bill that includes 3% for clean transportation — a threefold increase over the version passed by the House.

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Book Review: How to Live Well Without Owning a Car

Publisher’s note: Despite a recent BTA survey showing that 90% of respondents own a car, many people are finding that living without one (or several) is not only possible but enjoyable. Even the New York Times has noticed that in America, people are falling out of love with cars.

On that note, here’s a review of a very highly recommended book about how to take the carfree (or just car-light) plunge. It was originally published by Elisa Munoz on her Birmingham, Alabama-based blog Bike Skirt, and has been republished here with her permission. We’re looking forward to publishing more reviews from Munoz in the future.

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black/gold bianchi 928 carbon/centaur 2005

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Year: 2005
Brand: bianchi
Model: 928 carbon/centaur
Color:black/gold
Size:51cm
Serial: tfc3925wrk4439
Photo: https://www.bianchiusa.com/05-bicycles/05-reparto-corse/05-928-centaur.html
Stolen in portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2009-10-25
Stolen From: downtown portland, sw 4th and morrison.
Neighborhood: downtown
Owner: kasey wagoner
OwnerEmail: kasey.wagoner@gmail.com
Description: 503-505-1312. it is a carbon frame 928 black and gold bianchi. it has a blue water bottle holder.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Bike thief “exposed” on Craigslist

Note: At 7:29pm this evening I published a story based on a Craigslist post (it has since been flagged and is no longer visible) that contained photos and serious allegations about a bike thief working in Southeast Portland. In the past hour I have heard from several personal friends of the alleged thief and they vouch that he is nothing of the sort (and I believe them because they are also friends of mine).

I have removed the story and I apologize for any confusion it might have caused. I also regret helping to perpetuate — if even for just a few hours — something that was simply not true.

B,K,G,W,O,R Windsor Clockwork Orange 2009

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Year: 2009
Brand: Windsor
Model: Clockwork Orange
Color:B,K,G,W,O,R
Size:61CM
Photo: http://i36.tinypic.com/33z8t3m.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97239
Stolen:2009-10-23
Stolen From: It was locked by the Enterprise rent-a-car on Barbur BLVD.
Neighborhood: SW Portland
Owner: John Jones
OwnerEmail: type3john@gmail.com
Description: My Bike was:
2009 Windsor Clockwork Orange
It was a 20+ hour paint-job, with Orange, Blue, Green, Black, & White. It had a Skull & Crossed Bones on the drive side chainstay, and a Fire decal on the non-drive side seat tube. This bike is very unique and easy to spot.
It had White Grip tape on the bars, too.
It had:
White painted Carbon 1-1/8″ fork
Deep-V to Miche on back
Alex R-500 to Formula on front
FSA Crankset (46t)
DuraAce 16t
Richey Stem, seat post, and ergo bars
Tec-Tro Cross brake lever
Dia-Compe NJS front brake
Fizik white saddle
and a FSA headset.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

burnished copper redline d440 2per d440 2009

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Year: 2009
Brand: redline d440 2per
Model: d440
Color:burnished copper
Size:29er
Serial: hr119970
Stolen in eugene, OR 97401
Stolen:2009-10-24
Stolen From: LOCKED STORAGE FACILITY IN THE AROURA APTS.
Neighborhood: 100 E 11 AVE AREA
Owner: john trigg
OwnerEmail: trigg6060@inbox.com
Reward: 100
Description: BRAND NEW 8 SPEED LARGE NEW SEAT EUGENE POLICE BIKE REGISATION ON IT.
Police record with: TOO BE
Police reference#: NOT YET
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

black frame surly cross check 2009

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2009
Brand: surly
Model: cross check
Color:black frame
Size:red fork
Stolen in portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2009-10-22
Stolen From: house in southeast portland (north sellwood)
Neighborhood: technically sellwood
Owner: julie farris
OwnerEmail: indescys@gmail.com
Reward: $150
Description: black frame, red fork. had gel and super soft handlebar tape. the left crank arm was coming loose (just about to fix it) and creeks. black pedals, no cages
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

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From the Archives

Protestor blocks bus and bike lanes on Division with his car