Month: July 2012

Orange Public Model C Step-Thru 2011

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2011
Brand: Public
Model: Model C Step-Thru
Color:Orange
Photo: http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg88/scaled.php?server=88&filename=cliftbike.jpg&res=landing
Stolen in Portland, OR 97230
Stolen:2012-01-01
Stolen From: Detached garage at my home, near 148th and Glisan.
Neighborhood: Wilkes/Glenfair
Owner: Melissa Redacted
OwnerEmail: boeing682009@yahoo.com
Reward: yes
Description: Front Light: Belkin LED light, white/cream color
Rear Light: Red Planet Taillight
Mirror: Mirrycle MTB Bar End Mountain Bicycle Mirror
Bell: Public Bell, cream color
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-64105
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Checking up: PBOT mulls improvements on Stark/Oak buffered bike lanes

SW Stark buffered bike lane isn't working-14

The buffered bike lanes on SW Stark — which are supposed
to be bike-only — don’t work at all.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

It’s been about three months since I shared my photos and thoughts about the buffered bike lanes on SW Stark street, so I figured it was time for an update. Back then I was shocked at how poorly the design of the lanes was functioning. Driver after driver after driver rolled down them as if it was just another regular lane. I’d like to think everyone knows the lanes have the same legal standing as a bike lane (which means no cars allowed); but they don’t. And who can blame them? There’s little/no signage, the striping has all but worn off completely, and there’s no physical separation or medians to deter people from driving cars in the lane.

And in case you were wondering, from my vantage point as a daily user of this street, the problem has gotten even worse in the past three months.

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Over 10,000 participate in first ever Southwest Portland Sunday Parkways

A ‘Marketplace’ set up at the Hillsdale shopping
center was a big hit.
(Photos: Roger Averbeck)

PBOT’s Sunday Parkways event ventured into southwest Portland for the first time this past weekend. According to Roger Averbeck, an active bicycle advocate in the area, about 10,800 people showed up and the event was a big success — although it did highlight the barriers that still exist to riders in the area.

PBOT hasn’t held the event in the southwestern part of town since Sunday Parkways started in 2008. That’s likely because the area lacks the connectivity, bike usage rates, and flat topography of other parts of the city. SW Portland is also criss-crossed by major arterial streets, which makes preventing cars from using all the lanes and allowing people to walk and bike on them a more difficult task.

Spurred on by a “Bicycle Facilities Strategy” planning document crafted by citizen activists four years ago, PBOT has been working to improve riding conditions in the area by building out a network of bike-friendly neighborhood streets and installing bikeways along with road projects.

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The NY Times gives helmet cams their due

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

A major story in the New York Times about people wearing helmet cams while riding has sparked a national dialogue (at least in the bike world) about documenting the daily commute. The trend toward using helmet cams as a last resort for traffic justice has been going on for years and — thanks to smaller, better, and cheapers cameras — has exploded recently.

Back in February 2011, in Helmet cams for justice and for advocacy, I shared how two Portlanders put on-board cameras to use on our local streets to document dangerous conditions. Then last month, I shared how southwest Portland resident Andrew Holtz has built up an impressive collection of on-bike camera footage via his YouTube channel — especially the dangerous intersection up on Highway 26 at Sylvan.

It turns out riders all over the U.S. are doing the same thing. Here’s a snip from the NY Times article:

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Man riding bike stabbed and robbed in northeast Portland

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

The Portland Police Bureau are actively investigating two armed robberies that happened in the Concordia Neighborhood early this morning.

According to a PPB statement, the incidents took place near NE 26th and Alberta at just before 1:00 am. One of the victims was walking and the other was riding his bike. The man who was walking was able to run away from the would-be attackers. The man on the bike, whose name has not yet been released, was riding his bike when he was approached by the suspects.

The PPB says one of the three suspects was armed with a knife and demanded the man’s cell phone and bike. Then, “The suspect with the knife stabbed the victim and the suspects left the area with the victim’s bicycle.” The man suffered a non-life-threatening stab wound and is recovering at a local hospital.

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Blue Scott Sub 45 2011

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2011
Brand: Scott
Model: Sub 45
Color:Blue
Size:Medium
Serial: TY0608058
Photo: http://www.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/cc7/aed/ed3/52690/product_page/scott-sub-45-solution-2011-hybrid-bike.jpg?1311461602
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2012-07-14
Stolen From: 28th and Burnside
Neighborhood: Burnside Laurelhurst
Owner: Candice Coulson
OwnerEmail: coulsoncandice@gmail.com
Reward: Karma
Description: My bike is a light blue, 2011 Scott SUB 45 hybrid. It has a light pink water bottle holder, a bell with a tie-dye & peace sign image, white wall Continental tires, white handle bars, and black fenders. One of the bars from the front fender is loose, and sticks out slightly. It also has a stickers– one with a green heart and Oregon, and one says “Santiam Bicycle”.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 1261688
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Blue Surly Long Haul Trucker 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Surly
Model: Long Haul Trucker
Color:Blue
Size:56cm
Serial: M7124437
Stolen in Portland, OR
Stolen:2012-07-22
Stolen From: 34th and SE Madison
Neighborhood: Inner Southeast
OwnerEmail: rain-desert@hotmail.com
Description: Blue Surly Long Haul Trucker with straight handle bars. Front and Back racks. Combination brake/gear shifters
Police record with: T12006151
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Red Giant Bowery 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Giant
Model: Bowery
Color:Red
Size:Small
Serial: GF874992
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2012-07-16
Stolen From: Southeast Portland Garage
Neighborhood: Southeast
Owner: Anthony Cabbibo
OwnerEmail: anthonycabbibo@yahoo.com
Reward: $75
Description: Red and White Giant Bowery 72, Giant logo in retro font, gold cable guides, old celeste selle italia/bianchi seat, blue snafu bmx pedals,
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T12006145
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Dark Blue Optibike 1100R 2012

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2012
Brand: Optibike
Model: 1100R
Color:Dark Blue
Size:All same size
Serial: 10135
Stolen in Portland, OR 97217
Stolen:2012-07-20
Stolen From: 1935 N Winchell St
Neighborhood: Kenton
Owner: Monte Green
OwnerEmail: mkgreen34@yahoo.com
Reward: $1.000
Description: Large heavy electric bike 75Lbs. motorized bottom bracket 48V battery plus 48V touring battery, Rohloff 14 speed internal gear hub, Front and rear lights, schwalbe tires on mavic wheels, Avid hydralic brakes, front and rear Fox suspension. ergon grips and pedals. speedometer. Retail price $17.332
Police record with: Portland Police
Police reference#: 12-63369
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Sellwood Bridge plans finalized; County will use green concrete on bike lanes

Adopted plans.

Last week, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners adopted final plans for the new Sellwood Bridge. After a bumpy final week of the six-year process to arrive at a design, people who care about quality bicycle access breathed a sigh of relief on Thursday when the Board voted to shelve their hastily planned, cost-cutting alternative design.

On July 13th, the County raised lots of eyebrows when they shared several cost-cutting measures that would have dramatically changed bicycle access. On Monday of last week, at the meeting of the Project Stakeholder’s Committee (PSC), Portland Mayor Sam Adams eviscerated the County’s plans. Adams poked holes in the County’s proposed money saving measures and raised significant concerns about the hasty timeline and the impact the design would have on bicycling and walking.

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From the Archives

With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike