Portland first grader launches “Lids-4-Kids” fundraiser

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7-year old Dillon Mangus might be Portland’s youngest bike safety advocate. Dillon, a first-grader at Ainsworth Elementary in Southwest, has launched the “Lids-4-Kids” fundraiser to provide helmets for kids in need.

Students at Ainsworth are required to complete a community outreach project. When Dillon saw one of his classmates riding without a helmet, a light bulb went off and he knew he’d found his project. With the help of his family and friends, Dillon even came up with a tag line: “Keep the goo on the inside!”. He has also created a fundraising page at CrowdRise.com and hopes to raise $5,000 by June 1st.

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From the archives: Video from Portland’s first Sunday Parkways

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A scene from Portland’s first
Sunday Parkways in June 2008.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The other day, a friend of mine who works at PBOT emailed me a link to a video I made way back in June 2008. It was from Portland’s first-ever Sunday Parkways.

That first event will always hold a special place in my heart. Not only did it happen right in my North Portland neighborhood, but there was such a sense of pride and excitement that our City could pull it off.

With the hugely successful CicLAvia in Los Angeles and Sunday Streets in San Francisco last weekend, and with Portland’s first event of 2011 coming in less than seven weeks, it seemed like a good time to share the video again.

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PBOT releases one year progress report on Bike Plan

Cover of report.
– Download PDFs below –

It’s been over a year since the City of Portland unanimously adopted its Bike Plan for 2030. The plan was impressive for its depth and scope; calling for a city where, by 2030, bicycling is more attractive the driving for short trips and where 25% of all trips are made by bike.

So, just how well has PBOT done in implementing the plan so far?

Tomorrow at City Council, (outgoing) PBOT Director Sue Keil and Mayor (and Transportation Commissioner) Sam Adams will ask Council to accept their One Year Progress Report. The report — developed by PBOT Bicycle Coordinator Roger Geller and Planner Todd Borkowitz — details PBOT’s progress in six key areas (as identified in the Plan):

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Bike Law 101: Waiting (or not) for the school bus

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You’re freewheeling along on your bike. There’s been a change in the weather. The day is dry and it’s even warm enough to drop a layer. The ride just couldn’t be better. And then it happens. The approaching school bus has pulled to the curb just ahead.

Now, with lights ablaze and its stop sign thrust out tauntingly, almost a dare, do you obey or ignore?

Illustration by Dan Pegoda for BikePortland.org

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Black Felt SR-71 2005

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Year: 2005
Brand: Felt
Model: SR-71
Color:Black
Size:56 cm
Serial: A402290124
Stolen in Portland, OR 97213
Stolen:2011-04-10
Stolen From: Binford condominiums, NE 70th and Hancock.
Neighborhood: Rose City
Owner: Nora Robertson
OwnerEmail: nora.robertson@gmail.com
Reward: $200
Description: Black matte frame with black back rack. Motorcycle-style headlamp, super bright. Red blinking light attached to back of seat post.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 1128739
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Headed to L.A. to see how ‘Bikes Make Life Better’

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Rollin’ down Melrose Ave.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Last week I received (and accepted) an invite from Bikes Belong (a national bike advocacy non-profit) to watch first-hand as they take the next step in their People for Bikes campaign.

Tomorrow morning I’ll head down to Los Angeles to be present at the filming of a new video they’re working on. It’s called “Bikes Make Life Better” and it’ll be released at the beginning of May to coincide with National Bike Month.

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Bikes, cars, trains: What’s the best value for taxpayers?

This guest post is by Michael Andersen of Portland Afoot, a “10-minute newsmagazine” and wiki about low-car life in Portland.

How much do various types of transportation projects cost taxpayers? Here’s an imperfect, but startling, hint:

capital spending per new commuter (Portland metro area)

From 1995 to 2010, our state and federal government spent $5,538 per new bike or foot commuter in the Portland metro area; $18,072 per new auto commuter; and $84,790 per new transit commuter.

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PBOT announces three open houses for ‘High Crash Corridors’

High Crash Corridors campaign launch-5

ODOT Region 1 Director Jason Tell at the
High Crash Corridor program launch
on SE Foster Rd. in November 2010.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has announced three public open houses for their High Crash Corridor program. The first one, which will focus on SW Barbur Blvd, is set for this Wednesday, April 13th.

According to PBOT, the upcoming open houses will provide them with, “an opportunity to hear from community members about specific problem areas, discuss pedestrian, bicycle and transit deficiencies, and learn about existing transportation safety conditions.”

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BicyclingHub.com Grand Opening party this Friday

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Our friends at BicyclingHub.com have moved their retail store and they’re inviting everyone to a big party this Friday to help celebrate. See details below:

BicyclingHub.com’s Grand Opening Celebration of its new Portland retail space in Inner SE Portland on Friday, April 15th is planned with a decidedly bike-themed flavor in mind. With free beer from Hopworks Urban Brewery and delicious treats courtesy of Portland Pedal Power (delivered by bike, of course!), special discounts and one-day sales on cycling apparel and accessories (including locally based manufacturers Castelli, Retro Image Apparel and Showers Pass), and the great Classic Paris Roubaix 2011 race aired on our new showroom floor, it’s going to a be a great way to GEAR UP for Spring.

BicyclingHub.com recently received a Bicycle Friendly Business Award for its efforts to promote and encourage bicycling from the League of American Bicyclists at the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. It proudly joins other Oregon-based Bicycle Friendly Businesses, including Bike Gallery, Alta Planning + Design, Community Cycling Center, King Cycle Group, Travel Oregon and The Standard, who are committed to creating a more Bicycle-Friendly America.

With the opening of our new retail space at 642 SE Stark St., located near two main corridors for bicycle commuters in the city’s well-mapped bicycle route network, walk-in business is expected to increase significantly during the 2011 cycling season, as well as online traffic from across the nation.

The Grand Opening Celebration is open to everyone in the larger Portland-area bicycling community and will provide an opportunity for those passionate about making their community a safer and more enjoyable place to ride, work and play to come together and connect. Please join us!

Tonight: Three-day workshop for I-5/Rose Quarter traffic revamp begins

Just another day on Broadway near I-5.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Tonight at ODOT headquarters in Northwest Portland, City and state transportation officials will host a public meeting to discuss how to best improve the transportation system around the I-5/Broadway/Weidler interchange near the Rose Quarter.

The event is part of the N/NE Quadrant Project, a “unique collaboration” between ODOT and PBOT to, “ensure a vibrant Central City at the heart of the metropolitan region.”

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Bike-sharing in Portland “On a path to yes”

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City of Portland bike sharing demonstration-22

Could happen sooner than you think.
(Photo © J. Maus)

It’s been over four years since the City of Portland first announced their interest in bike-sharing. They’ve held off for a number of reasons; but new developments show that the plan could come to fruition sooner than you might think.

A panel discussion on the topic at the Oregon Active Transportation Summit last month revealed that the idea to bring a large-scale bike-sharing system to Portland is once again gaining steam.

Bike-sharing in Portland has at least some amount of all the essential ingredients required to pull it off: a potential funding source (for start-up costs), interest from the private sector (for operating costs), influential supporters, and support from City of Portland staff and Mayor Sam Adams.

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