December 2012 Archives

orange/brown Curtlo custom 2003

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2003
Brand: Curtlo
Model: custom
Color:orange/brown
Serial:04110
Photo: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8247820563_ebf868e0ee.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2012-12-05
Stolen From: 1400 NE Alberta Street, directly in front of Zoom Care.
Neighborhood: Alberta Arts
Owner: Jeff Nichols
OwnerEmail: jnichols621@gmail.com
Description: This is a custom cyclocross bike with skinny road tires on it (unlike the tires in the photo). It had a Wound Up X Fork, and a Campy Centaur drivetrain.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-157623
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

black Jamis Coda Sport 2010-2011

Year: 2010-2011
Brand: Jamis
Model: Coda Sport
Color:black
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/oMLst.jpg
Stolen in , OR
Stolen:2012-12-01
Stolen From: NE Prescott and 20th. Apartment building basement.
Neighborhood: Alberta Arts
Owner: Stephen Mitchell
OwnerEmail: Samitchell1231( atsign )gmail.com
Description: There is a large scuff mark on the handlebars right in the center.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T12010416
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

How bikes are becoming more like cars

A sound system, plenty of storage space,
high-powered lights… Who needs a truck?!
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

It occurred to me today that, when it comes to accessories and their presence on the road, bikes are slowly but surely becoming more and more like cars. Consider this: Not only are more and more cities dedicated increased roadway space to bicycles; but the proliferation of sound systems, iPhone mounts on handlebars, super-bright hub-powered light systems, and other product trends point to a significant leveling of the vehicle playing field.

As seen just south of SW Whitaker St.
(Photos: Jim Parsons)

As we reported back in September, PBOT has repaved SW Barbur Blvd just south of downtown Portland. As part of that project, they’ve widened the bike lanes and have painted a striped buffer. The new buffered lanes are about 3/4 of a mile long and go from SW Caruthers near I-405 south to SW Lane at Naito.

The new lanes were completed late last month. Our roving correspondent Jim Parsons snapped a few photos…

Emily Finch pedaling talk show host Ricki Lake
during a recent trip to L.A.
(Photo: The New Ricki Lake Show)

When I first saw Emily Finch with her six kids in tow at a local farmer’s market this past summer, I had no idea she would become a bona fide bike celebrity before the year was out. But that’s exactly what has happened.

This Friday night, Finch is hosting a viewing party at Velo Cult Bike Shop (1969 NE 42nd Ave) for her recent appearance on The New Ricki Lake Show. Where Emily will show up next is anyone’s guess; but there’s no guesswork about how far her story has traveled and how many people she has already inspired.

This little device plugs into you car’s diagnostic
port and then records mileage and other trip data.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

MetroMile, which launched in Oregon today, is the first company in the nation to offer pay-per-mile auto insurance. The company is targeting its services at the growing number of Americans — particularly those under 40 — who are driving less.

While company CEO Steve Pretre hails from Redwood City, California, he and his partners have decided to base the company here in Portland.

Why Portland?

“What brought us here was here initially was the bike community,” Pretre shared when I met with him last week. During one of his many visits over the past several months he went on a run and got caught at a bridge lift on the Hawthorne Bridge. “While I was waiting there, there were probably close to 100 bikes waiting with me to get across. I realized right then that this was the right place for us to start.”

Brand: Schucks
Color:green
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2012-11-28
Stolen From: 1517 NE 8th Ave.
Neighborhood: Lloyd center
Owner: Jessica Vorster
OwnerEmail: tia1616(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Description: Old green schucks with new breaks, a red iamsterdam bell, cup holder on the handlebars and a basket on the front. And a rack on the back.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T12010387
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

blue Schwinn

Brand: Schwinn
Color:blue
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2012-11-28
Stolen From: 1517 NE 8th AVe.
Neighborhood: Lloyd center
Owner: Jessica Vorster
OwnerEmail: tia1616(A T)gmail.com
Description: An adult tricycle with a baby seat mounted on the back and a big basket in front.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T12010387
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

black Schwinn Madison 2004

Year: 2004
Brand: Schwinn
Model: Madison
Color:black
Size:23 in. ?
Serial:NIDT81000313
Stolen in Gresham, OR 97030
Stolen:2012-12-04
Stolen From: Mt Hood Community college
Owner: Sam Smith
OwnerEmail: racinman@juno.com
Reward: possible
Description: Black w/yellow accents,black fenders, white fizik seat w/black tape, black bar tape and cables. single speed w/flip flop, deep black front wheel, yellow alex rear
Police record with: Gresham P.D.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Parks’ proposal puts North Portland Greenway ‘Trail’ on surface streets – UPDATED

Portland Parks & Rec says they’ll move forward
with using this portion of N Interstate for the
Willamette Greenway Trail.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The dream for the North Portland Greenway trail project has always been to extend the Eastbank Esplanade to St. Johns along the river. It was envisioned as a path that would be separated from motor vehicle traffic, just like Esplanade and Springwater exist today through the Central City.

Unfortunately, design and engineering of the project is moving forward with the assumption that the “trail” will actually be routed away from river and along busy, narrow, and dangerous roads.

When the Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) bureau came out with plans back in September showing the preferred alignment up on N Greeley and Interstate Ave, there was widespread criticism and concern.

New bike lanes on Dearborn;
just in time for holiday shopping.
(Photo: Green Lane Project)

Like New York before them, Chicago has just taken a major step forward in becoming a city where biking is given equal respect to driving.

Advocates are buzzing today as the Chicago Department of Transportation has striped a new, two-way bikeway on N. Dearborn St between Polk and Kinzie. That’s a segment of over one mile on a high-profile downtown street in one of America’s largest cities.

“That’s huge and symbolic,” tweeted Portland Mercury News Editor Denis Theriault upon hearing the news, “[Would] Be like putting one here on Washington or Everett.”

Yeah. If only.

Carl Larson proves you don’t need a car
— or cargo bike — to pick up your tree.
(Photo: Carl Larson)

Portland not only has more people who use their bikes for transportation than any other major U.S. city, we are also the epicenter of cargo bike construction, sales, and appreciation. Given those two things, it’s not surprising that a lot of Portlanders pick up their Christmas trees by bike.

I’ve noticed several of you posting photos of your tree pick-ups to various social media sites with the hashtag #christmasfeats. To encourage more of this behavior, I figured I’d share some of those photos…

Here’s Travis Wittwer and his boys in front of their home in North Portland:

orange/brown Curtlo custom 2003

black Jamis Coda Sport 2010-2011

How bikes are becoming more like cars

First look: PBOT adds buffer to bike lanes on SW Barbur Blvd

As talk show appearance looms, thoughts on the Emily Finch phenomenon

Pay-per-mile auto insurance company launches in Portland

green Schucks

blue Schwinn

black Schwinn Madison 2004

Parks’ proposal puts North Portland Greenway ‘Trail’ on surface streets – UPDATED

Talk in Portland, action in Chicago

Pick up your holiday tree by bike and join the #christmasfeats

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From the Archives

What five people say about living outside along the Springwater path