Month: February 2012

Beaverton considering way-finding signs, bike corral for SW Broadway

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Detail of Broadway St. bike parking concept.
(Sketches by Bob Foster/
Robert Foster Architects)

As we’ve mentioned before, the City of Beaverton is working to make SW Broadway Street safer and more pleasant for people on foot and on bikes. They held an open house in early February and last week Mayor Denny Doyle was available for questions about the project at a neighborhood meeting.

Engineers are refining design elements and the city has a series of concept drawings showing what the new Broadway could look like. There’s an open house planned for March 5th and planners say they’re specifically looking for feedback on how bike parking should be set up.

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Navy Blue w/silver Trek 7.1FX 2011

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Year: 2011
Brand: Trek
Model: 7.1FX
Color:Navy Blue w/silver
Size:20″ mens
Serial: WTU004C2166F
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2012-02-19
Stolen From: 1400 NW Northrup – Bike Rack Outside LA Fitness
Neighborhood: Portland Pearl District
Owner: LaMar Lay
OwnerEmail: leelamar@comcast.net
Description: 21-Speed Urban Hybrid with 700c Wheels

Purchased May, 2011 @ $470 Retail.
I have original owner’s manual, CD, & documentation.

Defects:
Small scratched area on one rear fork where I hook up my bike trailer hitch.

The little plugs at the outer ends of handle grips are missing.

There is No quick release lever on the seat post.

Frameset:   Hydroformed Frame – Alpha Silver Aluminum

Fork:   High-tensile steel w/lowrider mounts; CLIX dropouts

Wheels:   700c – Alloy hubs; Bontrager 750 32-hole double-wall alloy rims

Tires:   Bontrager H2, 700x35c Drivetrain

Shifters:   Shimano EF51, 7-speed trigger

Front derailleur:   Shimano Tourney

Rear derailleur:   Shimano Acera

Crank:   Shimano M171, 48/38/28 w/chainguard

Cassette:   Shimano TZ31 14-34, 7 speed

Pedals:   Nylon platform Components

Saddle:   Bontrager SSR

Seatpost:   Bontrager SSR, alloy

Handlebar:   Bontrager Approved Riser, steel, 30mm rise

Stem:   Bontrager Approved, alloy, 15 degree

Headset:   Slimstak, semi-cartridge bearings, sealed

Brakeset:   Tektro alloy linear-pull brakes w/Shimano EF51 adjustable-reach levers

Handle Grips:   Bontrager Satellite, dual-density

20″ Frame Dimensions:

EBottom bracket height: 28.5 cm;
GChainstay length: 44.5 cm;
DEffective top tube: 56.8 cm;
CHead angle: 71.5;
BHead tube length: 16 cm;
HOffset: 4.5 cm;
ASeat tube angle: 73.5;
KStandover: 78.6 cm;
JWheelbase: 105.7 cm;
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-14780
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

ODOT begins work on new section of State Trail in the Gorge

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The new path will drop into forested areas near I-84 and will also connect with an existing US Forest Service trail.

A Federal Highway Administration grant is allowing the Oregon Department of Transportation to get started on a new path for walking and bicycling in the Columbia River Gorge.

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Three collisions in two hours in Washington County

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The bicycle involved in one of two
collisions on SW 185th Street in Aloha yesterday.
(Photos: Wash. Co. Sheriff’s Office)

“On Monday, February 20, 2012, Sheriff’s deputies were very busy dealing with crashes involving vehicles vs. pedestrians and bicycles.” That’s the opening line of a Washington County Sheriff’s Office statement sent to the media yesterday. It came after there were three collisions involving vulnerable road users in Washington County that happened within a two-hour time span.

Since I’ve covered this beat, I don’t recall ever seeing a police press statement with three separate incidents so close to each other.

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Beige/Gold Univega Hybrid

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Brand: Univega
Model: Hybrid
Color:Beige/Gold
Size:21
Serial:CP662509
Stolen in Portland, OR 972141]
Stolen:2012-02-11
Stolen From: 22nd & SE Pine Street (Pine Street Apartments). Stolen from bike lock area in covered garage facing Pine Street.
Neighborhood: Buckman
Owner: Ryan Organ
OwnerEmail: ryanorgan@gmail.com
Description: Straight handle bars with bar ends, white bar tape. 700c tires. Two water bottle cages. Black front/rear fenders. Black pedal cages.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-151224
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Biking, walking access lags on Washington County bridges

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Bike access seems to have been an
afterthought on this bridge over the
Tualatin River on 99W.
(Photos: Jim “K’tesh” Parsons)

Back in December, amid smiles and celebrations at the groundbreaking for the Sellwood Bridge project, our roving West Side correspondent Jim Parsons reflected at the poor state bridge access on many Washington County roads.

With design drawings of the enviable biking and walking lanes slated for the Sellwood Bridge fresh in his mind, he fired off one of his trademark emails to his usual coterie of advocates, bureaucrats, and policymakers. The subject line read: “Bridge Improvements needed in Washington County.”

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Cargo bike builder Tom LaBonty subject of new documentary

Tom LaBonty

Tom LaBonty
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland

Portland-based filmmaker Joe Biel (Cantankerous Titles) has released the trailer of his latest project: a documentary about cargo bike builder Tom LaBonty titled One Less Truck.

LaBonty is the 41-year old tinkerer (and baggage handler at PDX Airport by day) who builds affordable cargo bikes (they start at around $500 if you provide the frame) from used parts in his garage in the Lents neighborhood. When we profiled him back in August 2009, he was just starting to make a name for himself around town. Now, thanks to his website, his Flickr photostream, and Craigslist, he’s built and sold 55 bikes to customers around the country.

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black/orange Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 2011

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Year: 2011
Brand: Specialized
Model: Hardrock Sport Disc
Color:black/orange
Size:17.5
Serial: WSBC602078238G
Photo: http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/8185/hardrocksportbike.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97210
Stolen:2012-02-20
Stolen From: NW Cornell Rd, Portland.
Neighborhood: King’s Heights / nr. Chapman School
Owner: Jan Pinkava
OwnerEmail: pinkava@pacbell.net
Reward: yes
Description: Matt black (as picture, but with white bottle holder), front shocks, disk brakes, sram derailleur.
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: 12 – 14885
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Silver MARIN San Anselmo 2005

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Year: 2005
Brand: MARIN
Model: San Anselmo
Color:Silver
Serial:C535PSD008
Stolen in Portland, OR 97210
Stolen:2012-02-20
Stolen From: NW Cornell Rd, Portland
Neighborhood: King’s Heights / nr. Chapman School
Owner: Jan Pinkava
OwnerEmail: pinkava@pacbell.net
Description: Large silver frame. Front shocks. Flat handle bars, black grips, with black bar ends (like bullhorn). Black fenders. Wired for odometer.
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: 12-14885
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Two bright bike light ideas on Kickstarter

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The “Magnic,” (L) and the Gotham Bicycle Defense light.

In a place like Portland where darkness covers commutes for several months a year, two projects currently seeking funding via Kickstarter — a theft-resistant bike light and a wireless dynamo light — are well worth your consideration.

I shudder to think how much money I’ve lost in stolen bike lights over the years. That’s why the new anti-theft light from Gotham Bicycle Defense (love that name) caught my eye. The light locks onto your bars and its designers say “no tool from a hardware store can remove it.” It’s also waterproof, and it’s shaped like a revolver for good measure. Watch the video below and you won’t be surprised that this project has already gone way over it’s funding goal…

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The Monday Roundup

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Secure bike parking might become an
employer-provided perk in San Fancisco.
(Photo: Will Vanlue/BikePortland)

Here’s the news and other cool stuff that caught our eyes this past week…

– Have you seen the “Magnic Light” over on Kickstarter? It looks to us like it could revolutionize the bike lighting world. It’s a wireless dynamo that’s super bright. Check it out.

– Tea Party members are pushing hard to eliminate federal funding for public transit and bike facilities under the notion that transportation projects are part of a plot by the United Nations to “herd citizens toward cities.”

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Latest Headlines

Portland advocacy group brings ‘Stop Super Speeders’ campaign to Oregon

People on Bikes: A mild fall day on Springwater Corridor

Monday Roundup: Anti-speed law in China, new velodrome, Rad Power blues, and more

Video: In the Shed with Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear

From the Archives

Protestor blocks bus and bike lanes on Division with his car