Month: April 2010

Kerr Bikes debuts a free, DIY fix-it station in Waterfront Park

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

At Kerr Bikes, you’re free to
use their bike stand and tools.
(Photo: Kerr Bikes)

Bike rental company Kerr Bikes in Waterfront Park (just north of Hawthorne Bridge) now offers a “U-Fix-It Bike Station.”

Director of the Kerr Bikes, Craig Rusch, says anyone who stops by during business hours will now have free access to a nice selection of bike tools, an air pump, a wheel-truing stand, and a work stand. The U-Fix-It Bike Station is just a few weeks old and is currently open seven days a week; 11am-7pm on weekdays and 9am-8pm on the weekends.

Kerr Bikes is a full-service bike rental business, offering everything from tandems to four-wheeled surreys. The company is owned and operated by the non-profit Albertina Kerr Centers, a Portland-based group that supports kids and families with mental health issues and developmental disabilities.

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Updated — Council candidate Cornett opposes Green Streets funding plan

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

“An avid cyclist, Jesse knows it’s wrong to take $20 million from sewer ratepayers already suffering from 95% increases this decade to pay for bike improvements.”
— From Cornett’s voter pamphlet statement

City Council candidate Jesse Cornett is in a race to unseat Commissioner Dan Saltzman. Not surprisingly, Mayor Sam Adams’ plan to divert $15 million in the Bureau of Environmental Services budget for construction of bike-friendly Green Streets is becoming a political football in that race.

It’s a challenging issue for Cornett. A regular bike rider himself, he’d like to be seen as the bike-friendly candidate. But, he is also is not immune from the tremendous amount of negative publicity Adams’ plan has gotten. Adams’ BES/PBOT/Green Streets plan has been widely criticized as a backroom deal that swapped “sewer money” for “bike lanes.” Portland Mercury news editor Matt Davis even called out the plan in a speech at City Club recently titled, “Blood in the Bike Lanes.”

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Red Cannondale 3 series

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Brand: Cannondale
Model: 3 series
Color:Red
Photo: /home/sbr/public_html/temp/7000.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2010-04-14
Stolen From: The bike was stolen outside the Woodstock Safeway, on camera.
Neighborhood: Woodstock
Owner: Christina Crow
OwnerEmail: lovemotionstory@gmail.com
Reward: 100
Description: The bike has Shimano clipless pedals, red handle bar tape, red striped tires, a black bike rack (with an old McGruff, safe biker sticker on the top, flat surface), drop handlebars, small lights in the handlebar stoppers (that flash red lights), and an easy-to-remove front fender.

I have had this bike for over 3 years and it’s my dream bicycle. I work part time as a nanny, and to volunteer work for zines and independent publishing, which means I really can’t afford another bike anytime soon. Please feel free to call me if you have any information on my bike at 503-453-5839.

The bike was stolen outside the Woodstock Safeway, on camera.

The suspect is a white male, wearing a black beanie, plaid shirt, jean shorts and black shoes. He watched the child I had with me and myself go into the store, went in to check if we were shopping, and nabbed it seconds before we exited (he left my helmet and it was still wobbling on the ground).
Police record with: Officer Teddy Wilson
Police reference#: 1029770

Silver Trek 3700 2009

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2009
Brand: Trek
Model: 3700
Color:Silver
Serial: WTU088CO471D
Stolen in 97202, OR
Stolen:2010-04-13
Stolen From: SE 41st near Woodstock, from our front driveway bike shed, behind a half-fence.
Neighborhood: Eastmoreland Heights
Owner: Lisa Hawking
OwnerEmail: hawkingl@wlwv.k12.or.us
Reward: $50
Description: Silver (Raw Aluminum), Men’s small, has a water bottle holder and bike light.
Police record with: 10-151524
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

LaHood gets heat for bike stance (but truckers still like him)

Headline on Huffington Post isn’t quite true.

An Associated Press story about US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood that’s making rounds on the Internet today (it’s running on Huffington Post and BusinessWeek.com just to name a few) says there’s “A backlash is brewing over his new bicycling policy.”

There might be a backlash from some who still don’t get it, but at least one voice of the trucking industry still thinks LaHood is great — bike policy and all.

The policy is question is LaHood’s recent proclamation that the Obama Administration will preside over the “end of favoring motorized transportation” over non-motorized modes.

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Updated — Thieves unbolt staple rack to take bike in Goose Hollow

Thieves simply unscrewed the
rack to get Bryan Thompson’s bike.
(Photo: Bryan Thompson)

Back in 2007, upon coming across a wobbly staple rack in Northwest Portland, I wondered if it was the work of thieves or just a natural occurrence. It seemed plausible that someone intent on stealing a bike could just loosen the bolts of a rack and walk away with the bike(s).

This morning I got a report from reader Bryan Thompson. He says that’s exactly how a thief took his 2009 Trek road bike from a parking garage in Goose Hollow. This is the first time in five years I’ve every heard of this actually happening. Here’s a snip from Bryan’s email:

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Red Marin Portofino 2010

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2010
Brand: Marin
Model: Portofino
Color:Red
Size:Medium
Serial: F909KS4014
Stolen in Portland, OR 97215
Stolen:2010-04-13
Stolen From: My bike was stolen from the NW corner of the Ondine building, corner of SW 6th and SW Hall St. in downtown Portland on the PSU campus.
Owner: Michael Cook
OwnerEmail: michaelcook18@yahoo.com
Description: My bike has a red frame, white lettering, says ‘Marin’ on the diagnal bar in white lettering and ‘Portofino’ on the horizontal bar also in white lettering. On the vertical frame-bar it reads, ‘Marin Natural Fit Road Bike.’ My bike has a black seat, black fenders, and black handlebars. It may have the light clips on the front and back, but no lights as I had them in my backpack when the bike was stolen.
Police record with: PSU Public Safety
Police reference#: 10-0185
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Bike polo grows up in Portland (and beyond)

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Bike polo at Peninsula Park-6

Bike polo at Peninsula Park
–Gallery/Slideshow below-
(Photos © J. Maus)

Hard court bike polo is surging in Portland and the sport is maturing well beyond its roots. Local veterans like Ben Miller (known as “Ringer” to friends), who have been playing for nearly a decade say they’ve never seen so many fresh faces showing up to weekly game nights.

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Green KHS Urban Xpress 2008

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Year: 2008
Brand: KHS
Model: Urban Xpress
Color:Green
Size:M, ladies
Serial: U80100150
Stolen in Portland, OR 97227
Stolen:2010-04-9
Stolen From: Emanuel Campus, corner of N. Gantenbien and Stanton
Neighborhood: Boise / Elliot
Owner: Angela Cacchioli
OwnerEmail: bluravioli@hotmail.com
Description: Metallic green, straight handlebar with rack and a cute bell
Police record with: 10-151453
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

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From the Archives

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