2010 Archives

Events explore link between transportation, health, and equity

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Mel Rader of Upstream Public
Health speaks at PSU today.
(Photo © J. Maus)

A quick note about a few events on the horizon that explore how transportation policy impacts the environment, public health and social equity.

Today at noon (sorry for late notice), Mel Rader of Portland-based health advocacy organization Upstream Public Health will speak at Portland State University as part of their ongoing Transportation Seminar Series. Rader’s talk will examine the health benefits that come with reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our transportation system. Rader spearheaded a Health Impact Assessment on a climate change policy that studied how a reduction in driving led to significant changes in air pollution, physical activity and collision rates.

This week’s job opportunity is for somebody with accounting and human resources skills in the retail field.

Controller — SRG

Year: 2009
Brand: Mongoose
Model: 26″ Mongoose XR-75 Mountain Bike
Color:Black/Red
Photo: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/detail.gsp?image=http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/03/86/75/45/0003867545981_500X500.jpg&product_id=10660674&iIndex=1&isVariant=false&corpCard=false&type=-9223372036854775808
Stolen in Beaverton, OR 97005
Stolen:2010-01-21
Stolen From: Beaverton Round, in front of the Coldwell Banker
Owner: Ben Metts
OwnerEmail: metts1@msn.com
Description: I had taken off all of the stickers, so it was black and red/oragne.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Turquoise Schwinn Crossfit

Brand: Schwinn
Model: Crossfit
Color:Turquoise
Size:48cm?
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2010-01-21
Stolen From: Mlk and Sumner
Neighborhood: Alberta Arts
Owner: Sara Murphy
OwnerEmail: email.sara.murphy@gmail.com
Reward: Satisfaction of helping a full time commuter
Description: Pink handlebar tape, Black Mt. Rack, Teal Frame/ Schwinn Crossfit 80’s model. Has bar end shifters in silver and black brake handles on the horns and the stem. Silver pedal baskets. The back wheel is different than the front, is all black and has more spokes. The tires are Continental Gator skins. Its likely that the front brake will be disengaged as I messed with it a while back and have yet to get it fixed.

Public hearing set in Vancouver hit and run fatality – Updated

Gordon Patterson
(Photo: Vancouver Public Schools)

The man who hit and killed Vancouver high school teacher Gordon Patterson as he rode his bicycle in a bike lane along St. Johns Boulevard will face sentencing tomorrow (1/22) at the Clark County Courthouse. Antonio Cellestine, 18, has entered a plea bargain in the case.

The City of Vancouver Police Department has announced a hearing for Cellestine’s sentencing that will be open to the public.

A fund to help pay for more
bike boulevards will be
doubled in the coming year.
(Photo © J. Maus)

With budget season heating up it’s time to delve into what the Bureau of Transportation has in mind for bikes in the coming fiscal year.

Last year the budget was created in what Mayor Adams referred to as a “very difficult environment.” One proposal (that thankfully did not come to pass) was to trim the city’s spending on Safe Routes to School by 40%.

Things are much different this year.

Here’s the scoop on weekend events. Feel free to add your own and discuss your plans in the comments.

Thursday, January 21

5:00pm – 7:00pm: Portland Car-Free Happy Hour
Car-free by chance or choice? Professionally involved in transportation and livability? Just want to meet people? All are welcome to meet up at this monthly informal social gathering. Floyd’s Coffeeshop, 118 NW Couch.

6:30pm – 8:30pm: East Portland Action Plan Bike Subcommittee Meeting
East Portlanders, time to get your activism on. Meets at Muchas Gracias,1307 NE 102nd.

BTA Advocacy Director
Michelle Poyouorow at the
campaign launch.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) has launched a new campaign to hasten progress on the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030. The campaign is called “Build It,” and with an emphasis on social media and a new blog at PortlandBikeNetwork.org, the BTA hopes it will put pressure on city leaders to build out the bike plan once it’s adopted on February 4th.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, BTA Advocacy Director Michelle Poyourow said,

“This plan can make Portland America’s most healthy city, but only if it is adopted and built… Most plans sit on a shelf… But this plan will be different; it will be built and it will be built quickly. This plan will not sit on the shelf…

So today, the BTA is calling on the City of Portland to take the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 and build it!”

[Publisher’s note: This op-ed was written the staff and board of directors of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance to kick off their new “Build It” campaign that was launched this morning in downtown Portland (stay tuned for more coverage).]

Official campaign logo

For years the momentum has been growing. There have been more bikes  on the road, more representation at city hall and in Salem. And from  all walks of life, there has been a growing movement of cyclists.   Or more specifically, people who ride bikes.   For the last two years, the City of Portland has been crafting their  Bike Master Plan, which would point the way to increased facilities  and funding for cycling. We came together once as a community when  the plan itself was at risk. But now, the plan is up for a vote, and  we are poised for a major victory in the national cycling movement. 

That’s right. A national victory.  

“The biking community is so strong that motorists sometimes feel discriminated against in Portland.”
— Finding from a report authored by White Horse Consulting

“Bikers are the single most active online group discussing Portland city government” — That’s one of the findings by White Horse Consulting, a company the City of Portland hired to analyze online conversations about City services. The “Social Media Conversation Audit” was done as part of an effort to update the City’s official website, PortlandOnline.com.

As reported in today’s Portland Mercury, the audit found that “blogs” are where all the action is when it comes to discussing city government.

Fourth Annual Walking and Biking Summit Slated for January 23
The 4th Annual Walking and Biking Summit will be held Saturday, January 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sheldon Community Center, 2445 Willakenzie Road. Doors will be open at 8:30 a.m. for registration.

This year the summit will help kick off Eugene’s new pedestrian and bicycle master planning process. Families are encouraged to come and give input on ways to make safer routes to and from school a priority in our cities infrastructure.

Speakers for the event include Mayor Piercy, pedestrian expert Ellen Vanderslice with Willamette Pedestrian Coalition, and Bill Nesper of the League of American Bicyclists. Nesper also will present Mayor Piercy and the city with the Bicycle Friendly Community – Gold Level Award.

A fun fashion show will highlight family friendly walking, biking and skating gear and clothing. Many area organizations and businesses will be on hand to showcase their goods and information. Free childcare will be provided for children over 2 ½ years old (please RSVP with Tracy at 541-682-5291). Free valet bike parking will be provided on site along with breakfast and light refreshments for all participants. For more information please see www.eugene-or.gov/walkbike or contact Safe Routes to School Program Manager, Shane Rhodes at rhodes_sh@4j.lane.edu or 541-556-3553.

Join us for an evening with Adventure Cycling’s Ginny Sullivan

Poster Sessions at Pro Walk-Pro Bike-29.jpg

We’re excited to announce the latest event in our “An Evening With…” series of live interviews. On Wednesday, February 3rd, I’ll sit down for an in-depth conversation with Ginny Sullivan from the Adventure Cycling Association.

Ms. Sullivan is the coordinator of Adventure Cycling’s ambitious effort to create the United Bicycle Route System, a national network of bicycle routes they describe as “the largest official cycling network in the world.”

Events explore link between transportation, health, and equity

Job of the Week

Black/Red Mongoose 26″ Mongoose XR-75 Mountain Bike 2009

Turquoise Schwinn Crossfit

Public hearing set in Vancouver hit and run fatality – Updated

Delving into PBOT’s 2010-2011 budget

Weekend Event Guide

Thursday, January 21

BTA launches “Build It” social media campaign

Guest Editorial from the BTA: Together, we can get this thing built

City-funded audit: Blogs and “bikers” rule the web

Newswire: Walking and Biking Summit in Eugene this Saturday

Join us for an evening with Adventure Cycling’s Ginny Sullivan

Latest Headlines

Reminder: No riding through River View Cemetery during Memorial Day Weekend

Guest Article: Demand a pause on PBOT’s SW Alder decision

Guest Opinion: The bike beat lives on in all of us

Our 20th Anniversary Party is this Wednesday

From the Archives

The 10 busiest bicycling spots in Portland