🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏
2010 is set to be another banner year for the Portland State University Cycling Club.
In 2008, team member Anita Dilles represented PSU at the Collegiate Track Nationals and in 2009, Amelia Bjesse-Puffin made two appearances on the podium. These successes on the track, along with their involvement off the race course, has earned them “Collegiate Cycling Club of the Month” honors this month from USA Cycling.
A new paper to be published later this year by a team of doctors and nurses from Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) has found that roadway conditions and “the commuting environment” play an important factor in the incidence rate of injuries sustained while riding.
The paper, Bike commuter injury prevention: it’s time to focus on the environment, is the result of a study launched back in September 2007. It tracked 962 people who ride their bikes to work and it monitored them through monthly surveys.
This week’s “Ask BikePortland” comes from Daniel Knutson. Mr. Knutson, 52, wrote in to express his frustrations at getting a ticket from a Portland Police Officer a few months ago for doing a “track stand” at a stop light.
On September 19th, Knutson says was riding home from work on East Burnside when he came to the intersection of 82nd. Like he always does, he balanced on his bike instead of putting his foot down. When the light changed, he rolled through the intersection and was pulled over by Officer Royce Curtiss.
Job Title
Staff mechanic
This position has been filled.
Company/Organization
Joe Bike
Job Description
Unique, thriving SE bike shop with an international reputation for innovation is looking for a seasoned mechanic with high integrity who enjoys working with people as well as machines. Special interests should include utility and “transportation” bikes, complete custom builds, internal gearing, steel, and possible involvement with our design/prototype/framebuilding team. All of our mechanics handle sales too when necessary. Part time at first with a possibility for full time in the fairly near future. This is a newly created position.
Joe Bike is not an ordinary bike shop–we’re building our own road–so please research us first at joe-bike.com.
How to Apply
Stop by with a resume and ask for Tess, Morgan, or Joe. For more information see joe-bike.com.
Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman made a rare appearance at the City’s Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting tonight in order to present his idea to raise up to $1 million per year to help pay for projects in the 2030 bicycle plan.
When the plan comes up for adoption by City Council this Thursday, Saltzman said he’ll propose an amendment to use revenue from the City’s Utility License Fee to pay for bike projects. The Utility License Fee is paid to the City by companies and agencies (like PGE, Comcast, Northwest Natural, and so on) that use the City’s public right of way to perform a variety of services — from telecommunications to natural gas and sewer line maintenance.
The City of Portland has released a new iPhone app that allows citizens (who own iPhones) to document and submit reports on a number of issues. Dubbed the “Citizen Reporter,” the new app is available free in the iTunes App Store.
In a press release issued today, the Mayor’s office said the app is a new way, “… to report and request service calls to City assets and publicly maintained infrastructure, including parks, traffic signs, parking, potholes, street lights, sewer catch basins and graffiti.”
Brand: Trek
Model: FX
Color:Gold
Size:20
Serial: WTU110C1909P
Photo: http://www.jacksbikes.com/contents/media/l_trek_72_fx_2009_gold.jpg
Stolen in 66502, OR
Stolen:2009-01-25
Stolen From: Bicycle Pedaler in Wichita Kansas
Neighborhood: Manhattan Ks. Laramie street.
Owner: Benjamin Clinkscales
OwnerEmail: bencli@ksu.edu
Reward: $50
Description: Gold in Color. Got it from Bicycle Pedaler in Wichita Kansas.
Police record with: Riley County Police Department
Police reference#: 10-000444
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Last night, at a community meeting to hear feedback on the Last Thursday on Alberta event (read my analysis here), Commissioner Amanda Fritz and Mayor Sam Adams heard loud and clear that many people love the event just the way it is.
According to sources at the meeting and reports in the local media, upwards of 400 people crammed into the Acadian Ballroom on Alberta last night. There were many opinions expressed, but it seems the dominant opinion was that despite the growing pains, expense, and crowd control issues, the carfree environment of Last Thursday is something people feel is worth supporting.
The City of Portland has sent out a “Bicycle Advisory” notice for several bikeway detours and closures in the coming weeks due to streetcar track construction (and related sewer work) on Broadway and Weidler.
Here are the latest details (emphasis mine):
Starting the week of February 8, 2010 and lasting until approximately Mar 5, 2010 — Westbound bike lane will be closed at times both during the day and night. Westbound bikes will be detoured at Wheeler, one block north to Dixon and back to Broadway at Benton. Eastbound bike traffic on N Broadway/Weidler, from Benton to Williams, will be re-routed onto the sidewalk from 7AM to 4 PM. Bikes must yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk.
Broadway/Victoria – N Williams (Water work)
For two days, likely Wed (2/17) and Thurs (2/18) — The bike lane and two travel lanes will be closed at night on Broadway between Victoria and Williams. Lanes will be closed starting at 8PM and continue into the morning commute. All lanes will be open by 8AM. Bikes must ride in the vehicle travel lane.
NE 7th – Weidler – NE Oregon (Sewer work)
Starting the week of February 24, 2010 and lasting until June 25, 2010 – Sewer work will alternate from the east and west sides of the street. A flagger may be present or the work may require closing parts of the street. More details related to bike impacts will be provided as they are known.
If you’ve ridden on Broadway recently, you’ve no doubt come face-to-face with these construction zones. One of our forum members, bobcycle, noted last month that the bikeway re-routes are sometimes a bit sketchy. If you have concerns about these construction zones, call 823-SAFE (7233) and let the City know about it.
To stay abreast of Eastside Streetcar Loop project construction, check out PortlandStreetcar.org.
UPDATE – 2/20, 8:50 am: KPTV/FOX picked up this story and did a piece about it on their newscast last night. Check out the video here.
Since Oregon enacted their new cell phone law on January 1st, many people have asked me if it applies to people riding bicycles. My previous opinion was that it doesn’t, but a closer look at the law now has me less certain — and more confused.
The new law applies to people, “operating a motor vehicle while using a mobile communication device.” Since bicycles are not “motor vehicles,” I initially assumed this meant that bicycles would be exempt. But I don’t like to operate on assumptions, especially when it comes to bike laws, so I asked the office of State Representative Carolyn Tomei — the legislator who pushed the cell phone bill — for a clarification.
As a reaction to the high price of tickets for the BTA’s Alice Awards & Auction fundraising gala, a group of well-meaning Portland bike activists have announced their own version — the “Too Po’ Fo’ Alice Potluck.”
On the event’s Facebook page, organizer of the potluck, Matt Picio writes,
“Do you have $100+ to go to the BTA’s Alice Awards this year? I don’t. Whatever you think of the BTA, that night is when the BTA recognizes that there are other people (gasp! who might not even be MEMBERS!) who also contribute to the bicycle community in Portland – and we also think they should be honored. So we’re going to an AFFORDABLE awards dinner that same night, and give our own awards to the Alice nominees who we feel have contributed most to Portland’s bike community.”
“The combined estimated direct and indirect costs of losses attributable to cell phone use while driving on City business = $283,554 to $1,039,698 annually.”
— From a City risk assessment report on the use of cell phones while driving
The City of Portland is taking Oregon’s new cell phone law one step further when it comes to their own employees.
A new state law prohibits the use of hand-held “mobile communication devices” while driving, but it makes two major exceptions: hands-free use is still allowed and so is using a cell phone “in the scope of the person’s employment.”
While the law gives specific exceptions for emergency responders and CB radio operators, it left the door wide open to others who drive on the job. The City of Portland has now closed that door for their employees.