December 2010 Archives

dull grey KHS Urban X 1997

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 1997
Brand: KHS
Model: Urban X
Color:dull grey
Size:XLarge
Serial: U70362126
Photo: http://www.khsbicycles.com/06_urban_x_11.htm
Stolen in Porland, OR 97218
Stolen:2010-12-17
Stolen From: HOME! NE 64 / Killingsworth
Neighborhood: Cully
Owner: Annette Pronk
OwnerEmail: awpronk@gmail.com
Reward: Good Karma
Description: It has fenders, back rack, krpto lock on frame.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T10008644
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Oregon City Bridge closure looms: Shuttles in place for bikers, walkers

As seen from the Oregon City side.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is set to close the Oregon City-West Linn Arch Bridge for two years starting next month. The project will renovate the 90-year old bridge but it will also cut off a key (especially for non-motorized traffic) Willamette River crossing.

ODOT has a detour in place for motor vehicles that will take them about one mile north to the I-205 Abernethy bridge. Since non-motorized traffic is illegal on I-205 (it’s a freeway) the closest, bike accessible crossings are the Sellwood Bridge eight miles north or the Canby Ferry, which is about nine miles south.

If you’re running around looking for a nice little gift for the bike lover on your list, below are a few things to keep in mind. To make this a bit more fun, how about you chime in with what’s on your wish list in the comments?

I’ve kept my suggestions to things that are inexpensive and available in Portland (it’s the 20th already!).

B-Shares from B-Line PDX – $20
I’m so proud of our local, pedal-powered delivery company B-Line PDX. They’ve really nailed their business model and they’ve gotten a lot of positive attention that’s very much deserved. One of the coolest things they do is a new program called B-Shares. Available for purchase online, B-Shares is a crowd-funded program that gets surplus food to people who need it most; and it’s all done with human power. Enough said.

A truck turns right over a bikeway on NE Couch.
(Photo © J. Maus)

On Friday, the US Department of Transportation proposed a new safety regulation that would ban hand-held cell phone use for commercial truck and bus drivers.

If the rule goes into effect (after a 60-day comment period), drivers in violation could be fined up to $2,750 and repeat offenders could lose their commercial driver’s license. Companies that allow drivers to use cell phones while driving could face a maximum fine of $11,000.

“… a far more common sight than a chassis shattered in an explosion is now one destroyed in a nasty crash.”
— The Economist

The Economist, one of the world’s leading news magazines, has an article in this week’s issue that really caught my attention (it actually had several, but this one is relevant to BikePortland).

Turns out that that car crashes (unfortunately referred to as “accidents” by The Economist), are now more dangerous than war in Baghdad. According to their story, “the health ministry estimates that six times as many people now die in car accidents as fall victim to political violence.”

Apparently in Baghdad, “reckless driving is the norm.” What’s worse, is that it appears Americans are exporting their disregard for road safety to countries we invade/occupy/are at war in. The Economist reports that one major problem that is leaded to deadly car wrecks is “A tendency to beat the traffic by driving up the wrong side of the road—learnt from American security contractors…”

Angela Burke
(Photo courtesy Athena Burke)

Tonight, people from throughout the Portland region will gather in a gravel turnout adjacent to SW Barbur Blvd to remember Angela Burke (full details below). The 26-year old woman was hit and killed on Wednesday night by a man driving a car who has been charged for DUII and criminally negligent homicide (due to driving at “a high rate of speed,” police say).

Burke was walking her bike in the bike lane attempting to cross Barbur about three tenths of a mile south of SW Hamilton Blvd when she was hit. Police are continuing their investigation of the crash and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office is preparing the case for the grand jury.

For when you want to cry foul.

Here’s the news that caught our eye this week:

– Sometimes a news story comes along that just sums everything up: In Utah, a mother has been cited for criminal neglect for allowing her son to walk to kindergarten after his school bus route was canceled.

– A new academic research study has found that people who live in walkable neighborhoods are “more socially engaged and trusting” than those who don’t.

– In the department of high profile anti-bicycle grumbling: The SF Chronicle proposes greater enforcement targeting people on bicycles. The Wall Street Journal is vexed by all things bike related, but does manage a moment of admiration for the independent spirit of the urban rider. And the New York Times casts all sorts of cantankerous aspersions (accompanied by an equally querulous cartoon). Streetsblog, as always, comes through with a gallant response.

Year: 1994
Brand: Cannondale
Model: M700
Color:Dark Blue
Size:20″ ?
Photo: http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/9338/stolencannondale.png
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2010-12-18
Stolen From: St. David’s Church
2800 SE Harrison
Neighborhood: Richmond
Owner: Simon Walter-Hansen
OwnerEmail: trisimon@gmail.com
Description: Saddleco Flow Saddle (mesh top, very rare)
Trekking “butterfly” handlebars (semi-rare)
Zoom stem (Evolution 1-1/4″ rare)
Front rack (right stanchion repaired w/cable clamp)
Rear rack
Double kickstand
Model name/number absent from frame
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Red / White Specialized CX 2002

Year: 2002
Brand: Specialized
Model: CX
Color:Red / White
Size:55cm
Serial: 2KSL001080
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2010-12-17
Stolen From: In front of the Doug Fir, 840 E. Burnside
Neighborhood: n/a
Owner: Kirk Slack
OwnerEmail: kirkslack@yahoo.com
Description: Red and White cyclo cross bike with road tires, fenders and red grip tape. There is a river city bicycles sticker on the bottom of the seat tube. Full Ultegra components, saddle bag, trek computer.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-103669
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

62/63 cm Brown Schwinn Varsity 1972

Year: 1972
Brand: Schwinn
Model: Varsity
Color:62/63 cm Brown
Photo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtBEnOAY7ag
Stolen in 97233, OR
Stolen:2010-12-16
Stolen From: From garaged, 143rd and Morrison SE Portland
Owner: Dave Wingard
OwnerEmail: wingmah@earthlink.net
Reward: Sending another scumbag to jail
Description: Nearly perfect cond. brown Schwinn Varsity, has a cable actuated speedometer on right handlebar. All original so derailleurs would all say Schwinn or Schwinnn approved. I didn’t write down the serial # but the second letter located on the lower part of the steerer tube should be an ‘F,G,H, or J’. These letter represent the year of manufature. I’m not certain what year it was made but if the desc. matches one of these letters, it’s probably a hot bike
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T10008654
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Woman riding bike struck by MAX train in Gresham

At about 2:20 this afternoon, a woman attempting to cross E Burnside on SE 181st Avenue was hit by a MAX train. The woman remained conscious at the scene and sustained non life-threatening injuries (a possible broken leg).

According TriMet spokesperson Bekki Witt, they believe the woman on the bicycle was heading southbound when she heard the audible warnings going off and saw a westbound Blue Line MAX train pulling into its station to her right. When she proceeded forward through the intersection, she was struck by the eastbound train. “She thought it was the westbound train, but didn’t see the eastbound train coming,” said Witt, basing her information on witnesses and police interviews taken at the scene.

Angela Burke
(Photo courtesy Athena Burke)

Piecing together a picture of who 26-year old Angela Burke was has been difficult. Now I know why.

Today I got a call from her mom, Athena Burke. Ms. Burke, fighting back tears throughout our conversation, said her daughter had just moved to Portland a month or so ago and that she “was lonely and hadn’t found her people yet.” Given what I know about Angela now, I feel like it would have been just a matter of time until some of us would have eventually become her “people.”

Angela was from Albany, NY. Ms. Burke said Angela packed up and moved here after finishing college. “She just did this huge trip and moved out there, she was so brave. She knows a million people out here, but we have no one out there.”

dull grey KHS Urban X 1997

Oregon City Bridge closure looms: Shuttles in place for bikers, walkers

Last Minute Gift Ideas and Open Thread: What’s on your list?

US DOT moves to ban cell phones for commercial truck, bus drivers

In Baghdad, car crashes now claim more lives than war

Details on tonight’s vigil for Angela Burke

The Monday Roundup

Dark Blue Cannondale M700 1994

Red / White Specialized CX 2002

62/63 cm Brown Schwinn Varsity 1972

Woman riding bike struck by MAX train in Gresham

Who was Angela Burke?

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From the Archives

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