August 2010 Archives

New book, ‘Brew to Bikes’ examines Portland’s artisan culture

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Cover of new book, Brew to Bikes.

A new book by an urban studies professor at Portland State University takes in-depth approach to examining Portland’s burgeoning DIY, ‘artisan economy.’

Charles Heying is the author of Brews to Bikes (Ooligan Press), a book due out in October that “explains how post-industrial economic transformations have created a space for artisan enterprises to flourish.” Along with food, fashion, and beer, the book features handmade bicycles as one of Portland’s signature sectors of the artisan economy.

Year: 2010
Brand: Electra
Model: Ticino
Color:Pearl
Size:medium
Serial: eltt0006330
Photo: http://clevercycles.com/products/bicycles/city-bikes/electra/#2010-Electra-Ticino-16D-Women
Stolen in Portland, OR 97215
Stolen:2010-08-11
Stolen From: South Tabor, Hawthorne Blvd 70s
Neighborhood: Mt. Tabor
Owner: Cindy Louis
OwnerEmail: lipringhead@yahoo.com
Reward: $100
Description: Stolen after 10 pm on August 10th, before 6:30 am on August 11th. Pearl/white bike. Shimano 16 spd, Aluminum frameset. 42t Chainring. Hammered alloy fenders on the front and back.
Police record with: PPD
Police reference#: 10-153728
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

A tour of the city with PBOT’s bike advisory committee

The new bike-only signal at NE
Alameda and Sandy was
one of several highlights
of the ride.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Instead of their usual monthly meeting at City Hall, the City of Portland’s Bicycle Advisory Committee took to the streets for their annual bike ride last night.

The idea of the ride was to share some of PBOT’s recently completed and upcoming bikeway projects with committee members and other interested citizens and advocates. Notable faces on the ride included author and reporter for The Oregonian Jeff Mapes, Portland Police Officer (and BAC Vice-Chair) Robert Pickett, Mayor Adams’ Chief of Staff Tom Miller (riding his daughter in a bakfiets). Also joining us were several of bike planning professionals from around the region and the state including the biking and walking program coordinator from the City of Wilsonville Jeff Owen and City of Eugene planner David Roth.

Below is a detail of the ride map followed by a few highlights.

A Portland resident and self-described web developer, musician and bike geek, has a track on his new album about the Idaho Stop law. The rapper (whose name we’ve removed from the text of this article) describes his music as “white-boy electro rap” and the “Idaho Stop” track appears on his album “I Sold Out But No One Bought Me.”

Before sharing some of the song’s lyrics, here’s some background on the Idaho Stop for all of you who are not familiar…

Mr. Twain in 1871.
(Photo: Wikipedia)

Just came across (via @cascadebicycle on Twitter) an amazing bit of Portland bike history via the Seattle-based Crosscut blog.

115 years ago today, America’s beloved nomad, author and commentator Mark Twain visited our little logging town and had some pretty big ideas about biking. Crosscut’s Knute Berger was researching Twain’s trip to the Northwest when he came across an article in The Oregonian from August 11th, 1895. In that article, Berger reports that “Twain expounded on his idea of how to turn Portland into a European-style bike town” and Twain suggested it happen through “public investment in bike transport.”

Here’s an excerpt from the 1895 article in The Oregonian (emphasis mine):

Charlie Wicker pilots his new
“cafe bike,” one of many signs that
Portland’s coffee and bike connections
are as strong as ever.
(Photos © J. Maus)

In Portland, bikes go with just about everything. Whether it’s beer, food, religion, fashion, business, or even opera – the ties that bind biking to this city run deep. High atop that list is the connection between bikes and coffee. Portland’s reputation for coffee is well known, so it’s no surprise that the two would come together. What is surprising, is how the relationship has blossomed over the years.

Last week I caught up with three bike-centric local coffee purveyors. I wanted to see how their connection to bicycles had changed as their businesses have grown. In all three cases, I was pleasantly surprised.

The 2007 car-for-bike trader.
(You’d be happy too if you just gave
up your car for a sweet new bike.)
(Photo © J. Maus)

New Belgium Brewing’s big bike circus, parade and celebration, the Tour de Fat rolls into Portland this weekend. It’s one of the best bike events of the year, and the entire day is capped with an elaborate ceremony where one smart citizen hands over their car keys and becomes the owner of a brand new, custom urban riding rig.

But according to New Belgium’s Michael Craft, Portland might be the first city in the three-year history of the bike-car trade to have no one step up to the opportunity. Craft says the person they had lined up has just backed out. “I cannot imagine Portland wants to be the first city in three years to not have someone who is willing to trade their car for this unbelievable bicycle.”

Blumenauer unveils Gas Price Relief Act-4.jpg

Bragdon was an active supporter of
active transportation projects and
initiatives.
(Photos © J. Maus)

[via The Oregonian]

Metro announced this morning that Council President David Bragdon has been hired as Sustainability Director for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Here’s a snip from a statement just released by Metro:

“Beginning in mid-September, Bragdon will serve as director of long-term planning and sustainability for the nation’s largest metropolis. He will lead the mayor’s PlaNYC initiative to create a “greener, greater” city.

Read more

Weekend Event Guide

Another packed calender and a sunny forecast means plenty of bike fun options for everyone. Head downtown to watch some sunset racing, enjoy some good, old-fashioned, biking circus merriment on the waterfront, and have a ball with the whole family at Sunday Parkways.

Friday, August 13th

4:00pm-9:00pm: Portland Twilight Criterium
This exciting evening race through the streets of downtown Portland draws in teams from all over the country to compete. Featuring a handbuilt bike show, food carts, and beer gardens. Free to attend, bike parking at NW Park and Flanders.

Year: 2006
Brand: Trek
Model: 1000TWSD
Color:Blue
Serial: WTU345C2381A
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2010-08-5
Stolen From: The bike was stolen from outside of my office on Stark and 10th in SW Portland.
Neighborhood: SW Portland
Owner: Olivia Halfen
OwnerEmail: oliviahalfen@yahoo.com
Description: There is a Cat Eye on the front, and two water bottle cages, and it has Shimano pedals.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Gold Kona Hoo ha 2000

Year: 2000
Brand: Kona
Model: Hoo ha
Color:Gold
Size:17″
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2010-08-11
Stolen From: My garage
near SE 20th and Belmont, 2 blocks away from Colonel Summers Park
Neighborhood: Inner SE Portland/ Buckman
Owner: Sara Jones
OwnerEmail: saurentz@yahoo.com
Reward: $100
Description: 17″ hybrid Kona Hoo ha, 700 cc wheels, gold. It does not have the original handlebar stem – I had it raised so that I could attach a front mounted baby seat.
Unfortunately, I have no photos or proof of ownership.
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Momentum grows for federal policy breakthrough that would fast-track bikeway innovations

According to Mike Wetter, the Senior Advisor to Metro Council President David Bragdon, the U.S. Department of Transportation is on the verge of a decision that could rapidly speed up the use of innovative bikeway treatments across America. Among supporters of a change to the policy is a national association of city transportation planners and U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer.

Currently, due to outdated federal standards, many bikeway designs that are common in Europe and Canada — like bike boxes, colored pavement markings, bike-only signals, and buffered bike lanes — are still considered “experimental” in the U.S.. This lack of official endorsement by the FHWA means city planners cannot use federal funds to install them and they encounter a host of significant barriers when trying to implement them. Wetter, along with transportation planners at PBOT and cities across the country, think current policies are unfair to urban jurisdictions and they might finally be close to changing them.

New book, ‘Brew to Bikes’ examines Portland’s artisan culture

Pearl Electra Ticino 2010

A tour of the city with PBOT’s bike advisory committee

A ‘white-boy electro-rap’ ode to the Idaho Stop

Mark Twain’s 1895 master plan for biking in Portland

Portland’s strong coffee and bike connection matures

Want to trade your car for a custom bike? Tour de Fat needs you!

Metro’s Bragdon to take job in New York City

Weekend Event Guide

Friday, August 13th

Blue Trek 1000TWSD 2006

Gold Kona Hoo ha 2000

Momentum grows for federal policy breakthrough that would fast-track bikeway innovations

Latest Headlines

Police have made 85 traffic arrests in our region since Friday night

Get ready for the revolution at Bike Happy Hour this week

Portlander creates AI-powered device to monitor street health

Iconic shop Fat Tire Farm announces closure after 40 years

From the Archives

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