Year: 2011

Test rides lead to thefts of two bikes at local shops

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
North Portland Bikeworks new location-11-10

Hey! Don’t get any wise ideas
(Photo © J. Maus)

Once again bike theft seems to be on the uptick in the Portland region. In August we had a record 109 stolen bike listings and we’re on pace for a big increase in September (52 listed already). This morning I learned of two thefts over the weekend from local bike shops — both of which came during test rides.

Lakeside Bicycles employee Robert Shigeta reports that two men came into their shop around noon on Saturday. After looking around at bikes and talking with sales people, one of them asked to test ride a Lynskey cyclocross bike (see the listing here).

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What keeps ‘Portlandia’ star from riding? Streetcar tracks

“I got caught in there [rail tracks]. And it put the fear of death in me. And that was the last time.”
— Portlandia star Fred Armisen on why he doesn’t plan to ride a bike when he moves to the Pearl District

Often when I’ve brought up issues related to sub-par bicycling conditions that I believe pose a safety hazard, I’ve been met with criticism.

Whether it was bone-jarring bumps on the Esplanade, the lack of shoulders on rural roads, or the dangers posed by streetcar tracks, some people react by saying, “Toughen up! Stop whining! Learn how to ride your bike and get over it!”

However, I remain convinced that high quality, smooth streets and paths are imperative if we expect more people to give bicycling a try (and an OHSU study agrees).

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City working on educational video about bicycling near streetcar tracks

Streetcar caution sign MLK Jr Blvd and Davis-2

Existing streetcar track
education effort.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The City of Portland is working with Portland Streetcar and streetcar project contractor Shiels Obletz Johnsen on a new educational video about how to ride a bicycle around streetcar tracks.

City spokesperson Dan Anderson said the idea to do a video was spurred by a “desire to increase education awareness” about how to best ride a bike around the tracks. Anderson adds that the video, expected out in mid-October, will include detailed information on how to navigate around the new tracks and roadway configurations in the Pearl District.

“Safety is our number one priority,” wrote Anderson via email, “and we believe this kind of outreach will make all users safer and more predictable when it comes to navigating streetcar tracks.”

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Teal frame Bridgestone frame composite components

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Brand: Bridgestone frame
Model: composite components
Color:Teal frame
Stolen in Portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2011-09-8
Stolen From: Rose City Park
Neighborhood: Rose City Park
Owner: Ben Hayden
OwnerEmail: oregonarchitect@hotmail.com
Description: Bridgestone frame with Brroks saddle
Police record with: Portland Police
Police reference#: T11006407 (temp #)

The Monday Roundup

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Here are the interesting stories that caught my eye this past week…

— New York Times columnist Frank Bruni devoted a column to praise NYC Transportation Commissioner Jeannette Sadik-Khan. The piece has a lot of very vital lessons for Portland’s transportation and political leaders and it is quite relevant to our local situation. “So if a city believes that biking is part of a better future,” writes Bruni, “it must sometimes muscle through a reluctant, rocky present.” Expect more thoughts from me about this later in the week.

— Ending a nail-biter weekend for national bike advocates, the House and Senate have agreed on a “clean” extension of the federal transportation bill. That means key funding programs like Transportation Enhancements are safe for at least another six months.

— We’ve all cringed when people on bicycles are blamed in fatal crashes; but in this story, it was the bicycle itself that authorities say is to blame (not the officer’s 90 mph speed).

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black Trek Top Fuel 7 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Trek
Model: Top Fuel 7
Color:black
Size:21.5
Serial:WL3468987
Photo: http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/7767/p1040915c.jpg
Stolen in Hillsboro, OR 97124
Stolen:2011-09-11
Stolen From: Stolen from Hidden Creek Apartment complex between 09/11 8:30 PM and 9/12 7:30 AM. Bike was locked at bottom stairs at building 5520.
Owner: Thomas Rinner
OwnerEmail: eva.rinner@me.com
Reward: 100
Description: The bike has clip pedals, a black bottle cage, a black bike tool bag behind the seat.

Please call 248-760-0918
Police record with: Hillsboro PD
Police reference#: 11808109
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

metallic/silver Giant Iguana 2005(approx)

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2005(approx)
Brand: Giant
Model: Iguana
Color:metallic/silver
Size:19 inch ?
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2011-09-7
Stolen From: 30th/hawthorne right in front of Claudia’s sports bar.
Neighborhood: richmond
Owner: jesse van arman
OwnerEmail: mx338mojo@gmail.com
Reward: 200$
Description: black grips, front manitou shocks, disc brakes, women’s bike, very little wear and close to brand new looking.
Police record with: Portland Police
Police reference#: 11-77671
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Gray Kona Paddywagon 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Kona
Model: Paddywagon
Color:Gray
Size:53
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2011-09-11
Stolen From: Right across from Tube Bar in Old china town. 18 NW 3rd Ave Portland, OR 97209
Owner: Audrey Thomas
OwnerEmail: audreyathomas@gmail.com
Reward: 50
Description: Gray Kona paddwagon single speed silver tektro brakes. gold lettering. black front flat handlebars. black tires with contrast letter color branding.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T11006415
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

celeste green Bianchi San Lorenzo 2006

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2006
Brand: Bianchi
Model: San Lorenzo
Color:celeste green
Size:49cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2011-09-10
Stolen From: in front of 511 sw 10th ave. portland medical center.
Neighborhood: down town
Owner: Priscilla Pang
OwnerEmail: scillakat@gmail.com
Reward: $150
Description: dark grey handlebar tape, celeste downtube and seat tube w/ black top tube. carbon fork w/ C3 sticker. other stickers include HA, joe’s bike shop and ADG cycling. sella italia seat. may still have rear light mount on seat tube. ultegra drive train. clip pedals.
Police record with: portland PD
Police reference#: 11-78463
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Bronze Schwinn La Tour 1975

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 1975
Brand: Schwinn
Model: La Tour
Color:Bronze
Size:52 cm
Photo: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2052294861971.2110398.1082490105#!/photo.php?fbid=2066581819136&set=a.2052294861971.2110398.1082490105&type=1&theater
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2011-09-11
Stolen From: my residence in southeast.
Neighborhood: Southeast, Reed College
Owner: Martha Stevenson
OwnerEmail: mstevens@reed.edu
Description: the bike has a bronze seat/body. it has red tubing and white/red prologo tape around the down bars.
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Silver Lynskey Pro Cross 2011

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2011
Brand: Lynskey
Model: Pro Cross
Color:Silver
Size:Large
Serial: 10539
Stolen in Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Stolen:2011-09-10
Stolen From: Lakeside Bikes
428 N State Street
Owner: Lakeside Bikes
OwnerEmail: info@lakeside-bikes.com
Description: Titanium bike with disc brakes (Avid BB7)
Carbon Fork
Shimano 105 Components
White decals with Red Ambrosio Colnago rims

“Customer” used a fake DL from Florida. Police confirmed it was a fake.
Police record with: Lake Oswego PD
Police reference#: 11-66-3124
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

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