Riding on SE 52nd Ave., along the route once slated for a major freeway and which is now planned to become part of the 50s Bikeway.
(Photo © J. Maus)
(Photo © J. Maus)
Month: November 2011
In Oregon, what we buy emits more greenhouse gases than what we do
The shop of a local bike builder.
(Photo © J. Maus)
(Photo © J. Maus)
A new report issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality shows that there are more greenhouse gas emissions from products we buy than through driving, making electricity, or other activities. This “consumption-based” analysis of GHG emissions seems like yet another great example of why we should buy bikes made in the U.S.A. and why local and state politicians should work even harder to promote local bicycle manufacturing. (OK, even if I’m stretching to link this report to bicycling, I still think it’s interesting, so hopefully you’ll read on…)
The report, Consumption-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for Oregon – 2005 (PDF), is the first ever study to estimate the carbon emissions footprint from all products consumed by one state — ranging from food and beverages to clothing and appliances.
Black KHS Gran Sport 80s?
Year: 80s?
Brand: KHS
Model: Gran Sport
Color:Black
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2011-10-30
Stolen From: SE 6th Ave at Belmont
Neighborhood: Southeast
Owner: Liz Hummer
OwnerEmail: lizhummer@gmail.com
Description: Vintage KHS "Gran Sport" road bike, black frame, sticker for a Springfield bike shop on the frame, grey seat with some tears, new Planet Bike black fenders, white tape wrapped handlebars, metal rack on back, metal water bottle holder
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 11-156191
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Black Fat Chance "Wicked" 1987
Year: 1987
Brand: Fat Chance
Model: "Wicked"
Color:Black
Size:19
Serial:available
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2011-11-02
Stolen From: Two bikes were stolen from SE 15th and Belmont on Nov. 2nd. It was locked to a 1950’s Black Schwinn Cruiser (also stolen) on my porch.
Owner: Gabriel Quitslund
OwnerEmail: GQuitslund@gmail.com
Reward: Yes
Description: Black hand-built Mtn. Bike. It had Wilderness Trail Bars w/bar-end shifters and semi-slick tires. It had WTB brakes, hubs, headset, XTR derailers, Cook’s Brothers cranks, etc…
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: 11-095534
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Portland’s first two-way cycle track to open Thursday
Artist rendering of SW Moody taken from project website.
Tomorrow, the Portland Bureau of Transportation will lift the lid on their SW Moody Project that includes what will be downtown’s first-ever cycle track.
PBOT must slash $16 million to balance budget
PBOT Director Tom Miller says
“tough decisions” lie ahead
for his agency.
(Photo © J. Maus)
“tough decisions” lie ahead
for his agency.
(Photo © J. Maus)
The Portland Bureau of Transportation has projected $16 million in cuts to balance their 2012-2013 fiscal year budget.
As we reported earlier this month, the cuts are necessary due to a variety of local, regional, and national issues and Portland Mayor Sam Adams is asking all bureaus to do their parts to weather the storm.
In a statement issued today, PBOT said they’ve gotten even lower than expected gas tax receipt projections from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). State gas tax revenues are PBOT’s single largest source of funding and they’ve been dwindling as people decide to drive less and drive more fuel-efficient cars.
UPS looking to hire 49 people for seasonal bike delivery
An ad from UPS for bike delivery personnel.
Shipping giant United Parcel Service is once again looking to save money on fleet vehicle costs by hiring bicycle delivery staffers during the busy holiday season.
Tomorrow in North Portland, Worksource Portland Central will host a hiring event for as many as 49 “Bicycle Delivery Helper” positions.
This isn’t the first time UPS has supplemented their holiday delivery staff with bike-mounted employees. When we first reported on this in 2008, UPS spokesman Jeff Grant told us it’s a matter of dollars and cents. “For every three bikes we use for deliveries, we save an average of 17 gallons of fuel per day (compared to one truck),” said Grant, “That’s about $50 in savings.”
Across the entire Oregon and Washington region, Grant said for every three bikes used during the holiday season, UPS will save $38,000 in vehicle operation and upkeep costs.
PBOT picks up two dropped bike lanes
Note where PBOT removed
the old bike lane and extended it.
(Photo © J. Maus)
the old bike lane and extended it.
(Photo © J. Maus)
It’s a huge pet peeve of mine when I’m riding in a bike lane and then it suddenly vanishes just prior to an intersection. It’s like the City has a half-commitment to people on bikes — let’s give them dedicated space where it’s easy to do, but when things get tight and tricky let’s just forget about them.
Well, I’m happy to report that in the past several weeks I’ve noticed two separate intersections where PBOT has extended the bike lane striping all the way to the intersection.
The first is on N Rosa Parks Way as you approach Vancouver. Below is a before and after…
The Advocacy Roundup
TriMet’s “Be Seen Be Safe” rally comes
to Pioneer Square Friday.
(Photo © J. Maus)
to Pioneer Square Friday.
(Photo © J. Maus)
We now present to you the weekly roundup of meetings, open houses, and other opportunities for activism…
Tuesday, Nov 1
North Williams Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting
Noon to 2:00 pm, Red Cross Board Room (3131 N Vancouver Ave)
Here’s the blurb about this meeting from PBOT (more info here):
“At this meeting the Committee will work on developing its own decision-making process, for making later decisions about the project’s scope, outcomes and alternative designs. This is an open public meeting. The public is welcome to attend and there will be a public comment period at the close of the meeting.”