The Monday Roundup

[For nearly three years now, I’ve been rounding up the bike news every Monday morning right here. It’s been a good run, and I’m moving on to other adventures, including writing regularly at Grist and at my new blog, Taking the Lane. Keep in touch, and thanks for reading and sharing. And don’t forget to support this site, and this column’s sponsor, the awesome Harvest Century. — Elly]

So…one last time, here’s the news that caught my eye this week:

Hurricane Irene blew along the east coast this week, leaving many streets filled with water and debris. Bicycling conditions don’t seem ideal, but many people are taking to two wheels anyway. In Richmond, Virginia, a columnist offers advice for postapocalyptic biking.

– The day of the recent earthquake out east, though, DC’s bike sharing system was an essential part of the evening commute, clocking record ridership while the subway system was shut down.

– A parent in Elizabethton, Tennessee is being threatened by law enforcement for letting her 10-year old ride to school. Bike Walk Tennessee has the story.

– Jack Layton, the Toronto politician and pioneering bicycle advocate, passed away last week.

– In Mexico City, a radio news commentator specializing in economic issues called the city’s growing bicycling population a “plague” and “savages” and called on listeners to “throw your vehicle at them and flatten them.” The government has issued public statements taking him to task.

– In Santa Monica, a man allegedly ran someone on a bike off the road in a fit of road rage and then claimed it was the other guy’s fault, but don’t worry, the entire incident is on video.

– In NYC, demand for indoor, secure bike parking in residential buildings—or at least the ability to bring bicycles inside your own apartment—is on the rise.

A carfree housing complex is planned for Melbourne, Australia, but people who bike regularly say that surrounding road infrastructure has some catching up to do.

– In Pittsburgh, people and businesses are moving specifically to be able to use the city’s network of bike trails for their daily transportation.

– The city of Hoboken, New Jersey has big ideas about bike infrastructure—with plans to give bike-friendly treatments to 80% of its streets.

Cleveland is the latest city to embrace the bike station—its Bike Rack opened last week, providing secure parking, showers, and bike rentals.

– California, which has already outlawed talking on the phone while driving, may now extend the law to people riding bicycles.

– In Seattle, the Cyclopy is a parade float mounted to an old car chassis converted to bicycle power that takes seven people to pedal—slowly—with one to steer and brake.

The pre-eminent bicycling cartoonist of Orem, Utah says that he drew many of his early works while actually riding his bike.

– A special film series from PBS examines “Old People Driving” and offers a glimpse into just how entrenched private car travel is in American culture.

– Invention of the week: The self-inflating bicycle tire that clips into your tube and maintains steady air pressure.

Portland links

– Cartlandia, the cart pod with access from the Springwater Corridor held its grand opening this week. Among the pods celebrating was The Bike Rack, Portland’s first bike shop cart.

Caleb Pruitt, the man who hit and killed Angela Burke while she walked across SW Barbur Blvd back in December, apologized to Burke’s family and was sentenced to five years in prison.

– Waiting for the Morrison Bridge bikeway to re-open? Don’t hold your breath. The Oregonian reports that a squabble between the contractor and the County has left the project at a stalemate.

– Once again, the New York Times visited Portland, and once again, bicycling loomed large in their report.

– An illegal BMX course was discovered among sensitive wetlands in Clackamas. While officials decry the incident, some say it just shows the dire need for more places to ride. Video from KGW-TV coverage below…

— Thanks to the non-profit Community Vision and their annual Harvest Century (October 8th) for support of the Monday Roundup!

Photo of author

Elly Blue (Columnist)

Elly Blue has been writing about bicycling and carfree issues for BikePortland.org since 2006. Find her at http://takingthelane.com

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Lance P.
Lance P.
12 years ago

This has been, and still is, the post that I most look forward to seeing every week. Thanks for all your time Elly!

NF
NF
12 years ago

Thanks for all the great updates over the years Elly – The Monday roundup is always great way to start the week.

Adams Carroll (News Intern)

I’ll join in the chorus and add how much I’ve appreciated the consistency and quality of this column over the years. Thanks Elly and I look forward to future collaborations (and to seeing your work appear all over the place!).

On a related note to readers… I plan to keep The Monday Roundup going, so if come across interesting stories, please send them in.

Charley
Charley
12 years ago

Good job Elly!
In response to the BMX track. It’s dumb and they shouldn’t have built it. It’s bad for water quality.

But if the government dams a river (or dams ALL of them) that’s okay. If Clackamas county zones for a big mall, with its attendant non-porous parking lots, that’s okay. So. . . in the long run, the real damage to Clackamas County watersheds is done by massive government sanctioned developments. In this case, we’re getting worked up over a small time water quality issue, while parking lots, dams, and logging all over the county are creating huge issues. BMX tracks, illegal or not, did not destroy the salmon runs, and our government should at least be held to the same standard as our children. No?

q`Tzal
q`Tzal
12 years ago
Reply to  Charley

This just shows the need for guerrilla BMX course builders to learn innovative building techniques for preserving the natural attributes in the area where they do their thing.
There ought to be a way for these to coexist with nature without harm. With all the work a private citizen puts in by hand doing this how much more would it really be to try to preserve the environment before laying the first board or stone?

A.K.
A.K.
12 years ago

Certainly one of my favorite features here, thanks and good luck Elly! And thanks Jonathan for keeping it going.

Also, regarding the Caleb Pruitt story, he is also losing his license for five years once he is released from prison.

Jay
Jay
12 years ago

looking for more writers? (bats eyelashes)

patrickz
patrickz
12 years ago

Thanks, Elly. I’ll be following your work on those blogs of yours.

velvetackbar
velvetackbar
12 years ago

Thank you, Elly! You will be missed. This is the first thing I open up on Monday mornings!

9watts
9watts
12 years ago

I will add my voice to the appreciative chorus, Elly. And I’m very glad to see Jonathan will continue this feature. It is the piece of bikeportland I find myself forwarding to others most often.

rootbeerguy
rootbeerguy
12 years ago

i think Clackamas Park people need to check in the area regularly. It is not only illegal BMX trails but also illegal camps. I do not feel safe to hike in the area because of transients. It is well-hidden area. You cant see from the roads around the area.

Alan 1.0
Alan 1.0
12 years ago
Reply to  rootbeerguy

Best wishes in your new endeavors, Elly, and thanks for turning this column into a ‘must read’ for me, too.

3-speeder
3-speeder
12 years ago

Good luck with your future pursuits, Elly, and thank you for contributing this excellent column all these years.

Dan Kaufman
12 years ago

Very well done, Elly, and I am glad to hear the section will continue on.

roger noehren
roger noehren
12 years ago

+1 all of the above comments. I also got a kick out of seeing Joe’s camera peering up at me from the bamboo trailer as I was segueing into Sunday Parkways on se 16th yesterday…keep us posted about all your bikey enterprises & adventures.

Jeff
Jeff
12 years ago

It would be tax dollars spent well by the city on attorneys to go after those Morrison bridge contractors to get their butts moving. Any further delay is unacceptable to me.

Doug Smart
Doug Smart
12 years ago

Thanks for the great work Elly! Following you on twitter and your other forums to keep an eye on your wonderful perspective.

Antload
Antload
12 years ago

Thank-you Elly!

dmc
dmc
12 years ago

Thank you for all your hard work Elly. Live long and prosper

Eli
Eli
12 years ago

Thank you, Elly, for the weekly inspiration and joy!

Ted Buehler
12 years ago

Thanks much, Elly, much appreciated the news roundups.

Ted Buehler

Zed
12 years ago

postapocalyptic biking: http://vimeo.com/10837956