November 2011 Archives

Tomorrow: Legal, law enforcement experts to join rural road safety forum

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Traffic on Skyline Blvd.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Tomorrow night the Skyline Ridge neighborhood association is hosting a community forum to discuss rural road safety issues. Safely sharing high-speed, narrow, and winding rural roads like Skyline Blvd has been an issue for years; but back in August, the issue reached a boiling point when it became clear that many people had been harassed in the same area along Rock Creek Road (which connects to Skyline).

To help calm tempers and perhaps find a solution before someone ends up being seriously hurt (or worse), neighbors decided to air out the issues and give everyone an opportunity to talk. At the forum tomorrow night, organizer and nearby resident Laura Foster has lined up legal experts and a professional moderator from Portland State University to help add structure to the event.

Adams says sidewalk spending
commitment is rock-solid.
(Photo © J. Maus)

A story in The Oregonian published Friday (and an irresponsible Tweet by BikePortland) might have you thinking that Mayor Sam Adams — grappling with a tight budget at the Bureau of Transportation — has broken a promise to invest in sidewalks in East and Southwest Portland.

“Cracks have appeared in Portland Mayor Sam Adams’ pledge to build new sidewalks” is the opening line in The Oregonian story. In a Tweet about that story, I wrote “Mayor Adams backed off promise to build sidewalks due to budget.” “Not true at all,” Adams replied, “but I agree that is the impression the article falsely conveys.”

With historic cuts coming to PBOT, many in the community are watching Adams’ spending decisions — especially those that impact biking and walking — very closely.

What follows is more context behind Adams’ decision and how a local walking advocacy group is taking the news.

Just ‘Mo’ and go. (Note the mo tag on the seatpost.)
(Photo: Mo)

A reader tipped me off to a new urban mobility concept recently launched in Munich that is really blowing my mind… Or should I say “mo”-ing my mind?

Introducing “mo” (short for mobility); a system that hopes to someday integrate bike-sharing, car-sharing, and transit access into a seamless network that just might be the future of how cities tackle mobility challenges. The video below explains how it works…

Detail of new sign
that will be posted at
entrance to Waud Bluff Trail.

Next Tuesday, officials from the City of Portland Parks and Recreation bureau will join community leaders at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Waud Bluff Trail; a short, paved path that will connect North Portland and Swan Island near the University of Portland.

After six years of waiting, Swan Island businesses, trail advocates, and thousands of residents eager for safer and more direct access to the Willamette River have rejoiced at seeing this project move forward.

Unfortunately, for people riding bikes (and others using wheeled modes of transport), the trail will present several challenges.

By now you’ve probably heard about peer-to-peer carsharing; but what about the same concept for bikes?

The State of Oregon passed a law back in June (HB 3149) that makes it easier for private citizens to rent/share their cars with others. The law goes into effect in January and companies like Getaround Inc. are already testing out the service in the low-car hotbed of Portland.

If car-sharing can work in Portland, it seems like bikes are a natural next step. At least that’s the hope of Will Dennis, the man who has just launched “Spinlister.”

BBC journalist interviews Zoobomber
and PPB spokesman downtown.

The esteemed British Broadcast Corporation has turned its lens on Zoobombing. The beloved Portland institution is the focus of a recent BBC “Close-up” segment.

The short piece offers classic footage that is hilarious (in a good way). It features a serious journalist interviewing Zoobomb’s “Handsome” Dave and Portland Police Bureau spokesman Peter Simpson in front of the Zoobomb Pyle.

US DOT Sec Ray LaHood:
Well, maybe it’s not the end of
“favoring motorized transportation”
just yet.
(Photo: J. Maus)

Here’s the news that caught our eyes this past week…

– Enrique Penalosa has lost his bid for re-election as Mayor of Bogota, Colombia. Penalosa is widely hailed for his work in making Bogota more biking and walking friendly. He spearheaded the “Ciclovias” that were widely adopted around the world and which served as inspiration for Portland’s Sunday Parkways.

– U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood — who won many fans in the bike world when he declared the “end of favoring motorized transportation” — has stated that the federal government will be involved “big time” in the Columbia River Crossing project and that it is a “classic example of what America has always been known for: doing big things.” Many local residents are concerned about Oregon and Washington states’ financial commitment to expand the bridge and surrounding freeways when both states are already making major budget cuts in other areas.

Year: 1976
Brand: Raleigh
Model: Grand Prix
Color:Black
Size:21
Serial:GK408510
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2011-10-22
Stolen From: Midtown Apts, 17th & NE Davis
Neighborhood: Kerns
Owner: Lucas Yoder
OwnerEmail: lmyoder@yahoo.com
Description: UPDATE INFO FOR ALREADY LISTED BIKE.
Black frame, red handlebar tape, silver painted chain shrouds. Gooseneck handlebars, front Simplex derailleur, rear Shimano derailleur. Shimano crank. Skinny old bike seat, has a broken tag on the back that says "MKIV" or "MKV" or something similar. New black fenders. No head badge.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 11-092059.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Black Scattante R330 2009

Year: 2009
Brand: Scattante
Model: R330
Color:Black
Size:Red
Photo: http://www.performancebike.com/reviews/performance/power/pwr/product-reviews/Specials/Weekly-Specials/End-of-Summer-Road-Bikes-at-Great-Prices/SCATTANTE/p/30__1701-Scattante-R-330-Road-Bike.html
Stolen in Portland, OR 97207
Stolen:2011-11-06
Stolen From: PSU CAMPUS: Parked/locked in bike racks between Cramer and Smith Hall (SW Montgomery).
Neighborhood: PSU CAMPUS
Owner: Vincent Aguas
OwnerEmail: vincent.aguas@gmail.com
Reward: http://www.performancebike.com/reviews/performance/power/pwr/product-reviews/Specials/Weekly-Specials/End-of-Summer-Road-Bikes-at-Great-Prices/SCATTANTE/p/30__1701-Scattante-R-330-Road-Bike.html
Description:
My bike was stolen this evening at Portland State University campus between Cramer and Smith Hall. The bike is in excellent condition as I rarely rode it. Two front lamp brackets were attached at time of incident, as well as a black water bottle cage. Grip tape was loose, so extra black electrical tape was applied- especially on the left side of the stem. The back tire’s valve stem is significantly longer than the one on the front and it is silver in color. A police report has been filed, so please be aware if you come across this bike/plan to purchase it. Police Report #T11008101
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T11008101
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Grey Bianchi Auto Milano 2003

Year: 2003
Brand: Bianchi
Model: Auto Milano
Color:Grey
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2011-11-06
Stolen From: 3435 SE 13th ave.
Neighborhood: Brooklyn
Owner: Joseph Vaught
OwnerEmail: josvaught@gmail.com
Description: “Café Racer” sticker on frame. Shifts by buttons on handelbars. Full fenders, flashing light on seat, & speed internal Nexus shifting.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 11-156277
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

White & black Fuji Mountain bike hybrid

Brand: Fuji
Model: Mountain bike hybrid
Color:White & black
Size:Medium
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/68730171@N08/6319582226
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2011-11-5
Stolen From: Stolen from a bike rack next to Counter Media on SW Oak (downtown). It was locked to the rack with a thick Kryptonite cable lock.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Owner: Natalie Baker
OwnerEmail: natalie.x.baker@gmail.com
Reward: $20
Description: This is a hand-painted bike covered in intricate black & white designs, including prominent phrases “Go Love Yourself” and “It Goes On” on the top bar. Underneath that paint job, it’s a bright purple Fuji mountain bike. 21 gears–Shimano–a Planet Bike rack on the back, skinny 26″ tires with tan lining. I’m 5’6″ and it’s a little small for me, so it’s probably a 19″ bike.
Police record with: Filed with Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Black Trek 7.1

Brand: Trek
Model: 7.1
Color:Black
Serial:WTU261C3127D
Stolen in Portland, OR 97213
Stolen:2011-11-02
Stolen From: NE Portland near 82nd and Glisan
Owner: Luty Alex
OwnerEmail: Aluty1982@gmail.com
Description: Front and rear fenders, wheels don’t have quick release (I replaced with locking pins)
Police record with: Portland police
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Tomorrow: Legal, law enforcement experts to join rural road safety forum

Mayors Adams still committed to sidewalk funding

Is ‘mo’ the ultimate urban mobility solution?

Steepness, stairs will limit bike access on new Waud Bluff Trail

‘Spinlister’ tries for peer-to-peer bike sharing

BBC goes ‘Close-up’ on Zoobombing

The Monday Roundup

Black Raleigh Grand Prix 1976

Black Scattante R330 2009

Grey Bianchi Auto Milano 2003

White & black Fuji Mountain bike hybrid

Black Trek 7.1

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