Month: November 2011

Westside Transportation Alliance says “Thank You” to Washington County

People gathered at a bar in
Beaverton to give thanks to
those who help make projects
happen.
(Photos: Will Vanlue)

Earlier this week the Westside Transportation Alliance (WTA) gathered a group of advocates and citizens from around Washington County to write thank-you notes to people who have helped promote and improve conditions for bicycling, walking, and public transit in the region.

The WTA hosted the event at Billy’s Bar, a new locally-owned business in Beaverton.

The focus of advocacy work is often on activities before a project takes place: letter writing, testifying at meetings, calling elected officials, and etc. After a project is complete it’s easy to move on to the next big thing while forgetting to take the time to thank everyone who made past projects successful.

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5 questions with ‘Occupy’ supporter Dan Kaufman

“I see a greater need for civil disobedience and believe the success of the movement will mean long term safety for all vulnerable uses of our streets.”
— Dan Kaufman

Sellwood resident Dan Kaufman is no stranger to BikePortland. The man behind Crank My Chain! CycleTV has helped us with video projects in the past like coverage of the Aerial Tram and a video ad. His most recent project is a new video about the effort to ban studded tires in Oregon.

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Blue/Black MOTIV Stone Grinder 1990?

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 1990?
Brand: MOTIV
Model: Stone Grinder
Color:Blue/Black
Size:19″ farme
Stolen in Portland, OR 97233
Stolen:2011-10-15
Stolen From: fenced back yard, SE 130th and SE Lincoln
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Owner: Chris Salter
OwnerEmail: kitnlib@comcast.ney
Description: MOTIV MTB: Stone Grinder, 21 speed, Blue and Black frame, 26″ wheels, City Slicker Tires, mud guards black, rear rack black, bar ends black, computer and light mounts, bottle cages.
Police record with: PPD
Police reference#: T11008336
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

‘Bike Train Lessons’ is subject of free talk Thursday

Kiel “Bike Train” Johnson.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The City of Portland’s excellent monthly “Bicycle Brown Bag” discussion series continues tomorrow with a presentation titled ‘Bike Train Lessons’.

Kiel Johnson, who has spearheaded a flourishing local bike train movement will give the talk. Johnson will talk about, “his successes and struggles in building a bike train movement and how his experiences can be applied to other efforts to promote active transportation.”

Kiel is the consummate citizen activist who took a passion for making a difference and turned it into a sustainable program that has gotten widespread notoriety not just for himself, but for bike trains in general. And the amazing thing is that he did it almost completely DIY-style, with very little funding or resources.

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The ‘bike swarm’ is back: Ride planned to support N17 actions

Occu-bike.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Tomorrow’s ‘N17 – Occupy the Banks‘ actions of civil disobedience throughout downtown Portland can count on an assist from a cadre of people on bikes. A ride dubbed ‘Swarm the Banks‘ will look to play a similar role to the ‘bike swarm’ that made its presence felt at the big standoff at Chapman and Lownsdale Squares this past Sunday.

Here’s a snip from the ride description:

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red, gold, black Specialized Langster Tokyo 2009

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2009
Brand: Specialized
Model: Langster Tokyo
Color:red, gold, black
Photo: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6229/6350393553_7226031690.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97201
Stolen:2011-11-15
Stolen From: 1310 Southwest 3rd Avenue, in front of Paradise Bakery and Cafe
Neighborhood: downtown
Owner: Honey Darling
OwnerEmail: drawinghoney@gmail.com
Description: Tokyo style specialized single-speed bike stolen downtown with pump and 350 watt front light attached, red grip bull horn handle bars.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 11-156548
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

silver/gray Kona Dew

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Brand: Kona
Model: Dew
Color:silver/gray
Size:54 cm (approximately)
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2011-11-15
Stolen From: 511 SW 10th Ave, right in front of the Portland Medical Building
Neighborhood: Downtown
Owner: Jeff Payne
OwnerEmail: sendstuffhere@comcast.net
Description: Commuter bike with rear rack for panniers, red tail light. It has a sticker on it from the Police Dept of Boulder Colorado. It has an empty front light holder (the light was removable and I took it with me when I locked up the bike).
Police record with: Portland PPD
Police reference#: T11008432
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Union group, PBOT maintenance workers to speak out on budget cuts – Updated

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Maintenance workers say potholes will
get worse, and people on bikes will
pay the price.
(Photo: Heather Andews)

With massive cuts coming from the Bureau of Transportation, there’s one group that is ready to stand up and defend their piece of the pie: maintenance workers. And people who bike should support them, says organizer Erica Askin.

According to a statement released by Laborer’s Local 483, PBOT maintenance workers and their community supporters will pack into City Hall this morning to “demonstrate opposition to the proposed $16.2 million in cuts to the Bureau’s ongoing budget.”

Askin, who plans to represent the workers with testimony at the City Council meeting this morning, met with PBOT staff yesterday. According to a union spokesperson, Askin brought up two key reasons for protecting the maintenance budget: emergency vehicle access and “cyclists depend on the roads too.”

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Navy Blue Trek 700 2012

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2012
Brand: Trek
Model: 700
Color:Navy Blue
Size:15 inches
Serial: WTU077c5951G
Photo: http://www.dandq.com/prodimg/824%201309011.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97201
Stolen:2011-11-15
Stolen From: Smith Building Portland State University Broadway Street
Neighborhood: Downtown
Owner: Lizet Martinez
OwnerEmail: lmart2@pdx.edu
Description: Lmart2@pdx.edu
or
Dianaolson08@gmail.com
The reflector is on the left side of the bike.
Police record with: Campus Police
Police reference#: 11-0688
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

CEO of development firm sees fewer cars in Portland’s future

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Mark Edlen
(Photo: Gerding Edlen)

Did anyone else see this interview with Gerding Edlen CEO Mark Edlen on BlueOregon last week? In it, Edlen talks about the future of Portland and he mentions biking and walking several times.

His comments show that planning for a future where cars play a much more minor role in our transportation mix isn’t only on the minds of activists.

Edlen lays out the reality that Portland is likely to see millions more people moving here in the not so distant future and in order to prepare for that we need to create new industries (cough, bicycles and bike parts, cough) and create streets where people can safely walk and bike.

Edlen also talks about “resiliency” as it pertains to a sustainable city (his firm specializes in green building) and shares this story:

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