Month: November 2011

Purple BMX Mongoose 2010

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2010
Brand: BMX
Model: Mongoose
Color:Purple
Size:16-18″
Photo: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v144/beefgoddess/39667_476954808968_540463968_6441278_7934708_n.jpg
Stolen in Gresham, OR 97030
Stolen:2011-11-19
Stolen From: Outside Building J of Stark Street Apartments off of Stark and 205th.
Neighborhood: Stark Street
Owner: Bethany Masters
OwnerEmail: bshambe@gmail.com
Description: Girl’s Mongoose bike with black and pink accents on the body. Some stickers have been removed by the owner.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

blue/black Fuji Newest 2.0 2007

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2007
Brand: Fuji
Model: Newest 2.0
Color:blue/black
Size:xs
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2011-11-3
Stolen From: Bikes were stolen the evening of 11/2/11, or morning of 11/3/11. This bike was u-locked to a 80s kia bike. They were in front of our apartment, in inner SE.
Neighborhood: Inner SE
Owner: Liz Lewis
OwnerEmail: lizplewis@gmail.com
Reward: to be determined
Description: 46cm(xtra small) woman’s Fuji newest 2.0
Black/Blue frame covered in stickers. Bar was wrapped yellow with interrupter brake levers. Bike had Shimano lower end parts (shifters were Sora i think with Tiagra derailleurs) Bike had a black bike rack and fenders.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 11-156213
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

PBOT warns of black ice starting tonight

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Snow could be on the way too.
(Photo © J. Maus)

If you thought wet and slimy leaves were sketchy; wait until you encounter black ice. When you hit it, there’s sometimes little you can do to stay upright.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation says winter weather is on the way and freezing temps could hit as early as tonight. Mix in clogged up drains and wet bike lanes and you’ve got the recipe for some seriously slippery riding.

Here’s how PBOT described it in an advisory press release sent out a few hours ago:

“Black ice is treacherous because it is hard to see. It forms when roads are wet and temperatures drop to freezing. Even though the roads look like they are just wet, they can be very slick. The traveling public is advised to be especially careful on bridges, overpasses, tunnels, and in shady spots. These areas freeze first and thaw last.”

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Ricky Andrews died from gunshot while bicycling on Williams Ave in 2007

Ricky Andrews

Ricky Janell Andrews was shot while riding his bike on N. Williams Avenue near Beech Street on November 18th, 2007; exactly four years ago today. According to news reports at the time, he died at the hospital later that night. Mr. Andrews was 48 years old.

There were six other fatalities involving people on bikes that year and all of them were covered here on BikePortland; but somehow I never even heard of Andrews’ death until last week.

Was that because he was black?

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PBOT sweepers to put ‘focused attention on bike lanes’ this weekend

City will focus on sweeping
bike lanes this weekend.
(Photo © J. Maus)

As the comments pouring in on our story yesterday has made crystal clear, bike lanes throughout the city are inundated with wet and slippery leaves right now. The issue isn’t simply a sign of disrespect by PBOT — the unpredictable weather has posed some serious challenges — but we wondered if PBOT had a set policy for dealing with bike lane obstructions and/or if they planned to do anything specific about it.

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To reduce right-hooks, City turns on illuminated bicycle sign at Couch and Grand

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

New sign went up yesterday.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) turned on an illuminated bicycle sign on NE Couch at Grand Avenue. As we reported last month, the intention of the sign is to reduce the risk of right-hooks at an intersection where several injury collisions have taken place.

A bike box has already been installed at the intersection, but collisions have continued. The problem is that, even though there’s no right turn on red allowed, that law — and the presence of the colored bike box and lane — don’t work as effectively to deter right-hooks during green lights. This sign is an attempt to address that issue.

The new sign was turned on yesterday and it’s the first of its kind in Portland. I observed it in action as people streamed down Couch during this morning’s rush hour.

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Would more bike cops and fewer riot cops lead to peaceful protests?

The face of a front-line officer at yesterday’s protest.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Our story about cops on bikes at the Occupy Portland protests yesterday has sparked a dialogue (that’s happening citywide, not just on BikePortland) about the size and style of force the City of Portland is bringing to these events.

In a comment on our story yesterday, former PPB bicycle liaison officer and noted community advocate Robert Pickett explained the reason for riot gear. “Jonathon [sic],” wrote Pickett, “the officers in riot gear are not there to respond to people like you, or most of the protesters at any demonstration. That is one of the reasons why this critique comes so often, I believe — most of the protestors are not there to attack or injure officers, so it is hard for them to understand the need for heavily armored officers.”

Pickett went on to share that police are prepping for the “small minority who mingle among the peaceful protestors.”

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charcoal Trek 7.2 FX 2010

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2010
Brand: Trek
Model: 7.2 FX
Color:charcoal
Size:20″
Serial: SWTU327C2811F
Photo: http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/fitness/fx/7_2_fx/#
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2011-11-17
Stolen From: Stolen from the back of my car in my driveway–was locked to rack
Neighborhood: South of Woostock area /48th & Ogden
Owner: Tom Johnson
OwnerEmail: tmjbrody@gmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: Dark charcoal, has plastic fenders, black metal rear rack, had front and rear light mounts, in like-new condition.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 11-099832
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Blue Bianchi Strada

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Brand: Bianchi
Model: Strada
Color:Blue
Size:medium
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2011-11-17
Stolen From: Central Library downtown. 10th and Yamhill. Locked to the bike rack.
Neighborhood: 10th and Yamhill
Owner: Mark Todd
OwnerEmail: blackcherrypurple@yahoo.com
Description: Blue w/white lettering. Black fenders,aluminum rear rack,black kickstand, air horn,rear tail light
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 11-156596
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Leaves in bike lanes: Open thread to report locations

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Leaves in the bike lane
on Naito this morning.
(Photo © J. Maus)

After the burst of fall was followed by stiff winds and rain last night, leaves are covering many bike lanes in Portland. For cars, leaves aren’t a big deal, because the mass, velocity and tires on a car act like sweepers to keep lanes clean. But bikes aren’t big enough to have that same effect, so the leaves pile up.

The dangers of leaves are two-fold: Ride in them and risk slipping out in the slimy muck; ride around them and risk getting hit by other traffic in other lanes. Add in the early darkness of the evening commute and it becomes even more important to keep bike lanes free of debris and hazards.

I noticed nearly all of the northbound bike lane on Naito Parkway was completely covered in leaves this morning. I’ve also heard of major leafing up on N. Willamette on the bluff overlooking Swan Island.

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