TriMet has just announced that they’ll discontinue the audible warning system they’ve been testing in an effort to improve safety of people biking and walking near buses.
In a statement, TriMet said they stopped the test, “because the announcement didn’t activate at the appropriate time—either too soon or too late in the turn—but did activate at other times, such as when the bus was making a lane change.”
Multnomah County will hold a public meeting on June 6th to garner input on how to spend federal funds on transportation projects. Check out the press release below for more info…
Input sought on East Multnomah County transportation projects
A meeting will be held on June 6 to gather public input on Multnomah County candidate projects for federal transportation funds under Metro’s Regional Flexible Funds program. The meeting is from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Oregon Trail Room of Gresham City Hall located at 1333 NW Eastman Parkway. The East Multnomah County Transportation Committee (EMCTC) will convene the meeting.
Metro forecasts that $70.7 million in federal Surface Transportation Program and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program funds will be allocated to the Portland region in fiscal years 2014 and 2015. While some of these funds have already been dedicated to construction of rail transit projects or will fund other transportation programs, $22.5 million is available for local projects. Of that amount 75%, approximately $16.7 million, is designated for Active Transportation and Complete Streets projects, which are projects that add or improve facilities for bicycling and walking and access to transit. The other 25%, approximately $5.6 million, is allocated to Freight and Green Economy projects. Multnomah County will receive approximately $1.6 million of Active Transportation and Complete Streets project funding, and $660,000 for Freight and Green Economy.
Projects must meet the criteria described in Metro’s 2014-15 project nomination process guidelines. These guidelines and further information about the regional allocation process are available at http://web.multco.us/transportation-planning/regional-flexible-funds
Staff from Multnomah County and the cities of Fairview, Gresham, Troutdale and Wood Village have identified potential projects on urban roads in Multnomah County outside the City of Portland. The Multnomah County Bicycle and Pedestrian Citizen Advisory Committee has been consulted on Active Transportation Projects.
At the June 6th meeting, staff and the elected members of EMCTC will present the projects to the public for consideration and comment. Members of the public will also have the opportunity to suggest alternative projects. By June 17, EMCTC will provide summaries of its top candidate projects to Metro for review. EMCTC will nominate its final list of projects at its meeting on July 11, 2011. A public comment period follows for candidate projects throughout the region. Local lead agencies will be able to receive comments and refine projects prior to Metro’s final allocation decision process in December.
Potential candidate projects by category:
Active Transportation and Complete Streets
· Arata Road – 223rd Avenue to 238th Avenue: complete sidewalks and bike lanes, storm water management
· NE Sandy Blvd. – 185th Avenue to 209th Avenue: new multi-use trail and bike lanes, and transit stop enhancements
· NE Sandy Blvd. and Halsey Street: transit stop enhancements, road crossings at mid-block stops
· Stark Street (Gresham/Troutdale city limits to Troutdale Road): construct north sidewalks
· Wood Village Blvd.- Halsey Street to Arata Road: construct multi-modal path and storm water management
· NE 223rd Ave. – NE Sandy Blvd. to Chinook Landing Marine Park: complete bike lanes and sidewalk gaps
· NE 223rd Ave. – NE Halsey Street to railroad undercrossing (at NE Sandy Blvd.) : construct bike lanes and sidewalksGreen Economy and Freight Initiatives
· NE Sandy Blvd. – 185th Avenue to Gresham/Fairview City Limits: increase capacity of travel lanes by widening on north side an additional 20′; add rain gardens and new street trees
· NE Sandy Blvd. – NE 223rd Avenue to NE 238th Drive: project development to design improvements to Sandy Blvd. providing access to Columbia-Cascade River District
· NE Sandy Blvd. – NE 230th Avenue (entrance to Townsend Business Park) to NE 238th Drive (Walmart development): improve pavement to handle freight, add bike lanes and sidewalks, improve drainage
Multnomah County maintains 300 miles of roads and bridges. For transportation planning information, visit http://web.multco.us/transportation-planning.
Hillsboro Mayor Jerry Willey is concerned that some measures being considered by our region to reach Oregon’s climate change goals are too expensive and that it’s time to ask “the bicycle community” to pony up to pay for some of them.
Willey’s comments came during the Metro Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC) meeting on Wednesday where representatives from around the Portland region discussed Oregon’s climate change policies, which call for a reduction in GHG emission levels to 10% below 1990 levels by 2020 and a 75% reduction by 2050.
Brand: Townie
Model: Electra cruiser
Color:silver
Size:red handle bars and red seat
Stolen in Portland, OR 97204
Stolen:2011-05-26
Stolen From: 620 SW 5th Ave – near Ross Dress for Less on max line
Neighborhood: Downtown
Owner: Kristin Wallace
OwnerEmail: finkaminka@gmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: blinky light on the handle bar (cheap one from Denmark). Back rack.
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike
Year: 2008
Brand: Bianchi
Model: Milano
Color:white/blue
Serial: cx0019836c
Stolen in Portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2011-05-24
Stolen From: 7th NE Tillamook
Neighborhood: Irving
Owner: Kyle McCallum
OwnerEmail: Squarebagelz@gmail.com
Description: White frame but bike has bright blue duct tape on frame.
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: 11-152664-0
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Many of you already know that you have the legal right to “take the lane” when necessary. What’s less understood is what this actually means, both in practice on the road and in the law.
“Take the lane” is a common phrase, almost a rallying cry in some circles, and it’s used throughout the country. For many people, it’s the catch-all term that explains how bicycles are allowed to legally use the roadway; but what does it mean in Oregon?
For starters, “take the lane” doesn’t even exist in the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS). So, does it mean a person riding a bike should literally take up the entire lane, riding wherever he/she chooses? Or are you legally allowed just a portion of the road?
It depends.
Year: 2010
Brand: Diamondback
Model: Cobra
Color:Blue/Back
Size:24 inch
Serial:12345
Photo: http://www.rei.com/product/803771/diamondback-cobra-24-mountain-bike-boys-special-buy
Stolen in Portland, OR 97217
Stolen:2011-05-26
Stolen From: It was stolen from the front of Portland Village School, 7654 N Delaware Ave, Portland, OR 97217-6417
Neighborhood: Kenton
Owner: Hau Hagedorn
OwnerEmail: hau.hagedorn@gmail.com
Description: Please help us find my son’s bike. He got it as a Christmas gift and it was stolen from in front of school. This is a boys bike has an REI sticker on it and Blazers’ bell.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 11-152682
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Event Name: Joy Ride through Central Portland
Event Start Date: 18 June 2011
Start Time: 11:00:00 AM
Web Site: http://www.madisonsgrill.com
Event Description: New Belgium Brewing, the BTA, Madison’s Grill and The Prudent Cyclist present a chance for you to enjoy yourself.
Explore your city, win prizes and support the right cause.
A Joy Ride thru Central Portland
Not a timed event, but still a contest. Kind of like Amazing Race. Riding together you’ll follow a map to each stop along the way. Look around to find the marker. Enter for a stamp, a playing card and a way to earn your next map. You’ll joy ride Portland. The winning team will enjoy big prizes. Everyone has a chance with the raffle. You will be followed by a film crew.
Each team of 4 riders each will start at Madison’s Grill and embark on a Joy Ride exploring the short-cuts and preferred bike routes of Central Portland. You will all start together with the first map. At each stop the next clue awaits. Don’t have a full team of 4? Sign up and we’ll put together teams.
Where: Madison’s Grill at 1109 SE Madison, just one block north of Hawthorne.
When: Saturday, June 18th. Start at Madison’s at 1109 SE Madison. Plenty of free parking for those that need it.
Time: 11 am – 2 pm. Start ride at 11 am. All teams must finish and be at Madison’s to win prizes by 2:00 pm. We’ll have a complimentary buffet ready for you and your famished team upstairs.
Sign Up: Go to madisonsgrill.com and click on the Joy Ride icon. Submit your contact info and we’ll get back to you to confirm your final registration.
Includes: Route maps, surprises along the way, snacks, emergency refreshments, passport, free food and prizes at Madison’s, specials on New Belgium beers, a feeling of accomplishment.
Price: Free- if you purchase a BTA membership for this event. $15 if you are already a BTA member, $20 for the rest of you.
Extra Bonus: Be a star! The Joy Ride will be filmed and a short will be produced and presented at New Belgium’s Clips of Faith film festival on Portland’s Waterfront on August 5, 2011.
Madison’s Grill Catering & Events has been a SE favorite since 1997. If you’d like more information about this topic, please call 503-730-7040 or email steve(at)madisonsgrill(dot)com.
The Oregonian reported yesterday that the Portland Bureau of Transportation has worked with business owners to negotiate a permit that will make SW Ankeny Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues carfree from June 21st to October 21st.
This block of SW Ankeny was the site of Portland Carfree Days back in 2006. Back in October, we flagged it as a perfect place to try a carfree street. Then, a few months ago, the Willamette Week reported on business owners on the street who also supported the concept. With full backing from new PBOT Director Tom Miller, The Oregonian reported yesterday that PBOT has granted a four-month permit to make it a reality:
Year: 1973
Brand: Univega
Model: Gran Turismo
Color:Silver
Size:58cm (I think)
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2011-05-25
Stolen From: NE 17th and Broadway in front of Broadway Flowers
Neighborhood: Lloyd District
Owner: Scott Ellis
OwnerEmail: sacklash@gmail.com
Reward: $50
Description: Silver converted 5 speed road bike w/green fenders, Schimano race seat, Trek lights front and back, 3 identical "Boo Frog" stickers in a horizontal row on the back bar of the frame that are about a square inch (blue border with a green frog with fangs in the middle), handle bars have road grease stained tan tape. Being that it is a 5 speed it only has a back derailer and one gear shifter on the right side. Thanks for looking! I miss my baby.
Police record with: Portland Police
Police reference#: 1142861
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
