2010 Archives

Commissioner Fritz in full support of $20 million kickstart

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Commissioner Fritz
(Photo © J. Maus)

Commissioner Amanda Fritz, known as a watchdog of the City’s coffers, especially when proposals have potential to impact citizen’s pocketbooks, has published a blog post stating her support for Mayor Adams’ $20 million plan to fund bike-boulevard specific components of green streets.

Fritz points out that the average residential sewer ratepayer in Portland would save just 7.5 cents per month, or 90 cents per year if the $20 million was given back to them instead of being used for this purpose. “The alternative of returning about one dollar to each ratepayer does not seem wise to me.”

Green street at SE 12th and Clay.
(Photo: PBOT)

Today, Mayor Sam Adams and his colleagues on City Council will vote on whether or not to allow $20 million from the Bureau of Environmental Services budget to be funneled into the City’s Green Streets program and be specifically tagged for use on bike boulevard projects.

The money would bolster a program that has been a part of the City’s planning goals since 2004 and it would be a shot in the arm to the Bureau of Transportation’s efforts to create a citywide network of safe streets. The proposal is expected to pass, but the road to the vote has been anything but speed-bump free.

Brand: NIshiki
Color:maroon
Size:womens medium
Stolen in portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2010-03-15
Stolen From: Front porch of my house on 19th ave
Neighborhood: Irvington
Owner: jennifer mercede
OwnerEmail: sure1979@hotmail.com
Description: maroon nishiki. fair condition. share the road sticker. bike rack with a painting of a house on it, and neon pink cord attached. front white wire basket. stop watch on handlebars. two tires 🙂 black handlebars.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Bike bash will raise funds for Rex Burkholder’s Metro campaign

Mr. Burkholder.
(Photo © J. Maus)

This Thursday night a fundraising party organized “by and for cyclists” will look to boost Rex Burkholder’s campaign for Metro president.

From the event description:

“Put together by and for cyclists, it’s a great way to help one of Oregon’s cycling pioneers, Rex Burkholder. Enjoy excellent wine and delicious food, try your luck in a grand raffle, and hear Rex talk about his vision for the future of our region — especially where and how bikes fit in!”

Year: 1977
Brand: Schwinn
Model: Varsity
Color:Red
Size:not sure, but it’s tall.
Serial: ?
Photo: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=15805654&albumID=361521&imageID=10051743
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2010-03-14
Stolen From: Stolen from my garage at 4812 se 39th ave
Neighborhood: by Trader Joes on 39th
Owner: Andrew Pendleton
OwnerEmail: arosspen@gmail.com
Description: Ripped yellow cork handlebar tape. Howie and the Hotknives sticker and Mean Jeans sticker on bar.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

silver Treck 7300 FX 2005

Year: 2005
Brand: Treck
Model: 7300 FX
Color:silver
Size:20
Serial: C84CQ561
Stolen in Portland, OR 97215
Stolen:2010-03-13
Stolen From: basement of Mt Tabor Apartments, 911 SE 60th, corner of 60th and Belmont
Neighborhood: SE
Owner: Megan Joy
OwnerEmail: meganrosejoy@gmail.com
Description: black rear fender, black rear rack, small s-ish shaped black sticker (“sameunderneath logo)
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Activists in new CRC video: “We’ve been rolled… It’s time to push back”

A new video (watch it below) created by David Osborn from the Stop the CRC Coalition in collaboration with Coalition for Livable Future says that it’s time to “push back” on the Columbia River Crossing project.

The video tells their version of the recent history of the project. It features a July 2008 Portland City Council exchange between Oregon Department of Transporation (ODOT) Director Matt Garrett and Portland Mayor Sam Adams where Garrett promises that the DOTs would not move forward without consensus.

[Note: I’m going to try and start doing more product reviews. I’ll post quick “On Test” updates as I get interesting things to try out. Then, depending on your interest and the quality/relevance of the product itself, I’ll follow-up with a more thorough review. To keep this going, I’m looking for a product review intern. Get in touch if you’re interested.]

Urbana, a new bike (and company) from Montreal.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The Urbana, which debuted at the Interbike trade show last fall, is an interesting bike. With its design roots in downhill mountain biking, it aims to be a fun, versatile, one-size-fits-all urban commuter.

The bike’s creator, Jerome Roy of Balfa Bikes fame, puts it this way, “The Urbana was conceived the same way [as his full-suspension mtbs]; utilitarian and always ready for fun, it can go through potholes or jump over them!”

Year: 2009
Brand: Specialized
Model: Sirrus
Color:Royal Blue
Size:XL
Serial: P8GI700587
Photo: http://www.jacksbikes.com/contents/media/specialized_sirrus_2009_blue.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97203
Stolen:2010-03-14
Stolen From: Stolen from the University of Portland, between the Pilot House and the Library on the night of March 14, 2010.
Neighborhood: North Portland, University of Portland
Owner: Trevor Jennings
OwnerEmail: jennings10@up.edu
Reward: $100
Description: Specialized Sirrus, Royal Blue, size XL, “planet bike” fenders on front and rear tires, “planet bike” back light, front light (don’t remember the brand), tire liners inside the tires, – here’s a link that shows the specs, mine is just the regular “sirrus” in “gloss blue” – http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=38462&menuItemId=0
Police record with: T10001469 (Temporary Report Number)
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

On N Williams, free bike help and advice

Free bike help and advice on N. Williams-2

Bike-oriented development on N. Williams Avenue isn’t reserved for bricks and mortar businesses. Yesterday while biking home I met Dan Sloan, a man who is offering free bike repairs and advice to anyone that stops by. His business consists of a hand-painted sandwich board sign, a bike repair stand, and some tools.

This week’s questions comes from reader Joe W.

Joe has a problem. His friend is a “car addict” and Joe wants to help him quit, but it’s a sensitive subject. Can you help? Here’s Joe’s question:

Mark your calendars and buy your tickets, because Bike to Blazers is going to be awesome this year. On April 14th, the bike and basketball worlds will collide, resulting in a fun community event that will (hopefully) become an annual Portland tradition.

Why bikes and Blazers? Why not? Both are a major force for good in our city and by tying them together, great things can happen. The Blazers want to be the “greenest” team in the NBA and a big part of their effort is to encourage more biking to games. From an advocacy perspective, putting bikes front and center at the Rose Garden, and tying biking more closely to the Blazers organization, is a great way to reach a lot of folks who don’t usually hear about how fun and useful bikes can be.

Commissioner Fritz in full support of $20 million kickstart

$20 million bike plan “kickstart” on the table at City Council today

maroon NIshiki

Bike bash will raise funds for Rex Burkholder’s Metro campaign

Red Schwinn Varsity 1977

silver Treck 7300 FX 2005

Activists in new CRC video: “We’ve been rolled… It’s time to push back”

On Test: An Urbana bike from Montreal

Royal Blue Specialized Sirrus 2009

On N Williams, free bike help and advice

Ask BikePortland: How can I help a car-addicted friend?

Bike to Blazers is set: Rally, ride, and more!

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