Year: 2011

‘Drive Less, Save More’ campaign survives budget scrutiny in Salem – Updated

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House Rep. Mike McLane (R-Medford)2

“Drive Less, Save More,” a marketing campaign run by a PR firm for the Oregon Department of Transportation, came under fire this week as Oregon legislators worked to trim the state’s transportation budget.

A freshman Republican lawmaker, House Rep Mike McLane (Medford), led a push with support from several colleagues to end the $2 million (per biennium) expense, saying that the program lacks results and isn’t necessary — especially when lean state revenues mean vital transportation services are underfunded.

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US DOT Secretary will bike to work with employees Monday

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

This just in from the US DOT office:

MONDAY: U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood to Bike to Work with DOT Employees

On Monday, June 6, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will bike to work with a group of DOT employees. The route will begin at the Washington Monument, and will end at DOT headquarters. The group will stop briefly at the Capital Bikeshare operations warehouse during the trip.

At a time of record high gas prices, the ride will highlight DOT’s commitment to providing Americans with convenient, affordable, and healthy transportation options. Last year, DOT formulated key recommendations for state DOTs and communities to integrate the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians in federally-funded road projects. Through the TIGER program, DOT funded major projects across the country that allow Americans to safely and conveniently get where they need to go on a bike or on foot. In May 2010, DOT gave its employees a new bicycle commuting benefit that allows bicyclists to receive reimbursement for qualified commuting costs similar to that provided to employees who take public transportation to and from work.

WHO: U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood

WHAT: Morning Ride to Work with DOT Bicycle Commuters

WHEN: Monday, June 6
7:00 A.M.

WHERE: Start: Washington Monument

End: DOT Headquarters
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC

New book: The Urban Biking Handbook

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Just got word of yet another bike book… The Urban Biking Handbook. It’s not out yet, but you can pre-order from Powell’s.

Here’s a blurb from the publisher:

The Urban Biking Handbook
The DIY Guide to Building, Rebuilding, Tinkering with, and Repairing
Your Bicycle for City Living
by Charles Haine

Bicycle culture is bigger than ever before. From Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine, people are leaving their cars at home—and city planners are adjusting accordingly. Riders across the country are heeding the cost benefits, increased accessibility, greater fitness, and reduced carbon footprint of their two-wheeled transportation.

Quarry’s The Urban Biking Handbook is a hardworking, illustrated guide to the cycling lifestyle. Not only does it fully cover repair and maintenance techniques, it focuses on the health benefits and community aspects of riding while teaching non-competitive bike-lovers how to integrate their hobby into everyday life. Whether they’re looking to commute to work, ride on the weekends, venture off-road, or trek down city streets, The Urban Biking Handbook will prepare them for the journey

Topics Covered Include:
Choosing Your Ride
Riding in Traffic
Riding in a Group
Bike Clothing
A Car-Free Week
Bicycle Anatomy
How-to: Adjust Your Brakes
Building a Fixie

About the Author
Charles Haine has been a bicycle mechanic for over a decade. He learned to fix bikes at a bicycle co-operative at Oberlin College. He is currently the chairman of the Bicycle Kitchen, a non-profit bicycle education space in Los Angeles, California. He has taught beginning and advanced bicycle mechanics to countless people.

Here’s the link to the book on Powell’s… and remember, when you order books from Powell’s via our special links, BikePortland gets a bit of revenue from the sale.

Jobs of the Week

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It’s not so much like work when you love what you do. This week’s list of local businesses that will pay you for showing up, following directions and spreading that love is right here. Follow each link for job descriptions and application procedures. Be sure to tell them you read about it here.
Good luck and happy Friday!

For a complete list of available jobs, click here. If you’d like more information about the BikePortland Job Listings, contact us, or visit the Job Listings page.

You can sign up for all the latest job listings via RSS, email, or by following us on Twitter.

celeste green Bianchi Milano cafe racer

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Brand: Bianchi
Model: Milano cafe racer
Color:celeste green
Size:48
Stolen in Portland, OR 97201
Stolen:2011-06-2
Stolen From: Urban Center Plaza, PSU
Neighborhood: United States
Owner: Emily Rackleff
OwnerEmail: emily.rackleff@gmail.com
Description: all original components: http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/milano/milano-parco/
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T11003753
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Blue Giant Defy 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Giant
Model: Defy
Color:Blue
Size:Black/Silver
Serial:GX8V1555
Photo: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/road/2428/32462/
Stolen in Portland, OR 97204
Stolen:2011-06-02
Stolen From: It was stolen downtown, from the corner of SW 5th and Alder St.
Neighborhood: United States
Owner: Kevin Prentice
OwnerEmail: kevin.prentice@gmail.com
Reward: Yes.
Description: Bike is a stock Giant Defy. Has clip-in pedals, not regular pedals or toe straps. It was purchased at Bike n Hike on SE Grand, and is registered for life-long tire maintenance there, so it has a Bike n Hike sticker on the frame denoting that it is registered there.
I saw the guy who stole it. He is a white male somewhere in his 20’s. I chased after him for about 7 blocks but ended up losing him around SW Naito down by the waterfront.
Police record with: portland police bureau
Police reference#: 11-152801
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Congressional task force releases “Freedom from Oil” blueprint

Earl Blumenauer-2

Give people choices and they’ll
use less oil says Blumenauer.
(Photo © J. Maus)

In a press conference in Washington D.C. this morning, the Congressional Livable Communities Task Force released a set of policy proposals they say will lead to “Freedom from Oil.”

The task force, which is made up of House Democrats and chaired by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland), outlined steps on how everyone — from individuals on up to the federal government — can use less gas. The new report, Freedom From Oil: Policy Solutions From the Livable Communities Task Force, comes amid concerns about gas prices and the cost of transportation.

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PBOT unveils new “Beacon Buddies” animated video

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Still from “Beacon Buddies” video
produced by PBOT.
-Watch it below-

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has released a new animated video to educate the public about “rapid flash beacons.” As we reported back in November 2009 the beacons are PBOT’s preferred tool to improve the safety of mid-block crossings. Why? They’re cheap and they work.

At just $35,000 a piece, and study results that show a massive increase — from 18% to 80% — in the number of people who stop for someone crossing the road once they’re installed, the beacons are being rolled out at tricky crossings and on neighborhood greenway projects throughout the city.

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Event ride given $20,000 grant by tourism agency

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Cycle Oregon Weekend 2009-63

On the road to economic development.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Washington County Visitors Association has awarded a $20,000 grant to the organization that puts on the Harvest Century bike ride.

Rebecca Miller, the Development Director for Community Vision, Inc. the organization that puts on the ride, says they’ll use the money to try and lure 300 out-of-town visitors to Washington County. Those visitors come for the ride and end up spending money on lodging, food, and other products and services. Community Vision will use the grant money to pay for marketing of the ride and hire staff to handle PR.

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Update from PBOT on NE 12th Ave overcrossing project

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

The info below was sent to Lloyd District project stakeholders by the City of Portland’s project manager (we’ll have more analysis on the front page later):

This message is an update on the test process for the traffic signals in the vicinity of the NE 12th Avenue overcrossing. The Portland Bureau of Transportation has installed new traffic signal controllers and completed the communication links and programming. We have completed the first two stages of a three-stage test, during which we’re collecting data about travel time, delay, and queue lengths at the signals.

In stage one, we collected baseline data for traffic conditions with the preexisting signal programming. In stage two, we modified the signal programming at NE 12th and Irving, NE Lloyd and 11th-12th, and NE Lloyd and 13th, without making any on-the-road changes. The indications from stage two are favorable, so we expect to proceed with stage three, in which our Maintenance Operations crews will implement temporary traffic control measures to simulate a “one lane in, two lanes out” configuration.

The temporary traffic control is scheduled to be installed this weekend. It will consist of traffic delineator posts at the entry end of each of the inner (left) lanes, along with appropriate signage. We are working with Franz Family Bakeries, which has been extremely helpful, to ensure that the temporary traffic control is appropriately placed to avoid compromising the left turn for trucks.

No permanent changes to the roadway will be implemented until we have completed the test process and the Lloyd District Bikeway Development Projects Stakeholder Advisory Group has had a chance to consider the results. The Lloyd SAC is scheduled to discuss this project on June 16, so we expect to have fully analyzed results by that time.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to let me know, and feel free to forward this message to anyone who is interested in the project.

Infamous blind curve on I-5 Bridge poses safety hazard

Where the I-5 bridge path ends.
(Photos: Marcus Griffith)

Despite the City of Vancouver’s efforts to redesign an adjacent parking lot in 2009, the blind corner at the northeast end of the I-5 Bridge continues to have frequent collisions between people bicycling and illegally parked cars.

The parking lot where the bridge path comes out belongs to Clark County Public Utilities, and it’s infamous for regular bridge riders.

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