Month: January 2011

Greenlick child biking bill reaction roundup

Tour of Tomorrow

Oregon House Rep. Ben Cannon
has weighed in, urging people to
keep reactions civil.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Oregon House Representative Mitch Greenlick’s idea to start a discussion about child bike safety by proposing a new law (HB 2228) that would make transporting kids six and younger by bike illegal has resulted in a massive response. The media and hundreds of people in our community have weighed in. I want to share some of that reaction…

The Executive Director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance Rob Sadowsky responded short and sweet via Twitter by saying, “We’ll fight it. It won’t pass.” BTA Advocacy Manager Gerik Kransky has posted an official response on their blog.

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red Kona Dew 2005

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2005
Brand: Kona
Model: Dew
Color:red
Stolen in Portland, OR 97217
Stolen:2010-12-30
Stolen From: Albina Ave. @ Albina Press
Neighborhood: Mississippi
Owner: Erin Danowski
OwnerEmail: erindanowski@hotmail.com
Reward: 50
Description: Red Kona cross bike with paneer rack in the back.
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Portlander takes unlikely road to new bike business

Eric McGraw can work on them,
but a medical condition prevents
him from driving.
(Photos: Eric McGraw)

Eric McGraw loves cars. In fact, the 28-year old Southeast Portland resident has built and restored almost 25 of them. But two years ago he was diagnosed with a rare (and only recently known) medical condition called Vertical Heterophoria Syndrome. The condition caused Eric to get dizzy spells and blurred vision while driving, so doctors told him he could no longer do it. So, he started biking instead and has been hooked ever since.

Now, he’s transferred the skills he perfected on cars and is putting them to use on bikes. Eric has just launched a new business, Portland Bike Refinishing, based out of his shop near SE Foster and Gladstone.

“I had all this body work and painting skill, then I started riding bikes around more… And the more I looked at it, I realized there wasn’t anywhere to get this type of work done affordably. There weren’t a lot of options for the bike community. ”

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Metro gets funding to do Latino-focused bike/walk map project

Tour de Parks - Hillsboro-6.jpg

Biking in downtown Hillsboro.
(Photo © J. Maus

Metro has been awarded a $75,000 grant from health care company Kaiser Permanente for a biking and walking map project in Cornelius, Forest Grove and Hillsboro.

The goal of the project, which Metro staffer Katie Edlin says is currently called, “Vámanos! Let’s explore Cornelius, Forest Grove and Hillsboro by bike and foot,” is to promote existing biking and walking routes to those communities. The project would also have a specific focus on connecting with Latino families.

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Oregon House bills would prohibit wearing headphones, carrying kids under six while biking – Updated

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Bike to Blazers

House Bill 2228 would prohibit
towing kids under six in
a bike trailer.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The 2011 session of the Oregon State Legislature officially kicked off in Salem yesterday. While it’s too early for any significant action to have taken place, there are already some interesting bills that have emerged. Today, I’ll share two that have come to my attention..

House Bill 2228 — which I first heard about from the BTA advocacy manager Gerik Kransky — would prohibit anyone from carrying a child under six years of age on their bicycle or in a bicycle trailer. The infraction would come with a maximum fine of $90. The legislation was introduced by Mitch Greenlick, a Portland Democratic who represents District 33 (Northwest Portland/Forest Park).

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Portland puts bike-sharing system back into play

City of Portland bike sharing demonstration-26

Portland is once again rolling
forward on bike-share plans.
(Photo © J. Maus)

After being mum on bike-sharing for about 18 months, the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation has now taken the idea back off the shelf.

At a meeting of the City’s Bicycle Advisory Committee last night, PBOT shared plans for a bike-sharing system that would blanket the Central City with 74 kiosks and 750 bikes.

The plan came up during a discussion of which projects the City of Portland will look to fund with their allocation — expected to be anywhere from 3 to 5 million — from about $18 million in federal Regional Flexible Funds (RFF) that Metro will hand out specifically to “Active Transportation” projects (I’ll share more about the other projects in a separate post).

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TriMet announces “A Bridge Conversation”

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

With just five months until start of construction on their Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Bridge, TriMet has announced a public event to “re-engage the community.” Check the details below:

A Bridge Conversation
Tuesday, January 18, 2011, 3–5 p.m.
2100 SW River Parkway
(DEA offices, Willamette Room, 1st floor)

In July 2011, construction will begin on the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Bridge, the largest span in the country dedicated to transit, bikes and pedestrians. As the first Portland bridge built across the Willamette River in more than 35 years, this structure is an important and visible project for our region.

We recognize that bridge construction will engage a complex community of existing river and waterfront stakeholders over the next four years. Let’s explore potential opportunities for coordination and synergy in our relationship to the river during this project.

Please join us to:
– Learn more about construction
– Meet the bridge contractor
– Look ahead to bridge milestones
– Brainstorm partnership opportunities

With your assistance, we can make the construction of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Bridge a rousing and interactive success in terms of public awareness, education and involvement.

R.S.V.P. to Gwen Snyder at snyderg@trimet.org or 503-962-2150.

Latest Headlines

Freeway expansions value-engineered out of Interstate Bridge Replacement project, for now

New working group appointed by Governor Kotek will address road funding needs

Oregon Bicycle Racing Association leader Chuck Kenlan on the health of competitive cycling

PBOT staff will join us at Bike Happy Hour this week

From the Archives

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