Year: 2012

McMenamins gets heat for stalling 12th Avenue project, GM responds

Tracey Sparling's Ghost Bike-4

There’s a ghost bike right outside
the McMenamins on W Burnside —
so why would the company stall a bike
safety project?
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Some people in the community have reacted strongly after seeing the name of McMenamins General Manager Christopher Robbins on a letter calling for the halt of a PBOT project to improve bike access on SW 12th Avenue in downtown Portland. Frustrated that the project is stalled indefinitely, some have fired off emails to Robbins and I have seen the word “boycott” pop up in comments and on Twitter.

It’s easy to see why McMenamins — operator of many popular pubs, breweries, and hotels throughout Oregon — is a target. Not only did they support a letter that questioned the need for improved bike access on 12th, they also have an entire page on their website about how bike friendly they are. Making matters worse for some is that 17-year-old Tracey Sparling was run over by a truck and killed in October 2007 while waiting for a red light right outside the door of a McMenamins pub on West Burnside and 14th.

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Peeling blue Cannondale mt. bike 1988?

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Year: 1988?
Brand: Cannondale
Model: mt. bike
Color:Peeling blue
Serial: 27 (really)
Stolen in Portland, OR
Stolen:2012-06-5
Stolen From: 1130 NE Alberta Street, 11th and Alberta.
Neighborhood: NE
Owner: Karen Cradler
OwnerEmail: karencradler@hotmail.com
Reward: $50
Description: Ancient bike with peeling paint on aluminum frame. back rack, many stickers, handlebars curved into bar ends. Serial number by back wheel. took me years to find it.
Police record with: Multnomah County
Police reference#: 12-153483
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Picturing Pedalpaloozas past

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Pedalpalooza starts tonight with the traditional Kickoff Ride leaving the South Park Blocks at 6:00 pm. For as long as I’ve cared about bicycling in Portland, Pedalpalooza has been a strong inspiration. In many ways, it’s to blame for BikePortland’s existence.

As we embark on this month full of bike fun, I thought it’d be fun to take a look back at some of my favorite photos from years past. Since 2005, I’ve taken nearly 2,000 photos of Pedalpalooza rides and events. Looking through them has really fun. I hope you enjoy some of these as much as I do…

Bike Tango Fun Ride – 2011

Bike Tango Fun ride-4

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City, ODOT reveal $400 million freeway expansion plans near Rose Quarter

The plans would get rid of
existing bridge on Flint and
build a new overcrossing at Hancock.

After 16 months of meetings and open houses, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will share their “Draft I-5 Facility Plan” at a public, stakeholder advisory committee (SAC) tonight. The plans — estimated to cost $300-$400 million — call for adding two new lanes to I-5 as well as 8-10 foot “break down” shoulders, revamping on-ramps, adding new overcrossings, and making changes to surface streets in the area.

The State of Oregon has wanted to expand I-5 through the Rose Quarter area for decades and the ongoing N/NE Quadrant and I-5 Broadway/Weidler Plans (part of the Central City 2035 planning effort) have given them a golden opportunity to do so.

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Job: Full Time Summer Shop Hero – Seven Corners Cycles

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Job Title
Full Time Summer Shop Hero

Company/Organization
Seven Corners Cycles!

Job Description
Full time summer position. Candidate must be willing to work on sales floor and provide repair assistance. Must be fantastic on the telephone and provide extra-friendly customer service. I already know that you have fixed all of your buddies bikes, but, in the words of Brett Flemming “You can’t train nice”. In return, you get to enjoy a fine atmosphere chock full of bike people and bike stuff, and get to gain valuable experience that shop folks are always asking about…

Onward and upward!

How to Apply
Apply via email (ctcartwright@yahoo.com) or drop a resume by the shop (3218 SE 21st Ave). As much as you might want to, please resist the urge to call…

Blues Fest looking for volunteers to help with bike parking corrals

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Help out a great event that benefits the Oregon Food Bank. More info below:

Oregon Food Bank’s Waterfront Blues Festival is looking for volunteers to monitor the bike corrals at the festival, July 4-8, 2012.

Bike parking has been a part of the festival for years; info can be found at http://www.waterfrontbluesfest.com/Festival-Info/Getting-to-the-festival. The festival has 2 bike corrals, able to park about 60-80 bikes each. The corrals will be set up and ready to be staffed with volunteers who monitor the corral.

Volunteers would work 4-hour shifts. A meal ticket (a vendor pass would be provided for entry into the festival) would be provided to each volunteer. Volunteers could put out a tip jar and provide information about their group/company.

I have attached a spreadsheet (with 2 tabs) of shifts. If possible, would you please share this with your staff, members and/or volunteers to sign up for any shift(s). Please return this form on Monday June 11th to:
Maryann Brunner
Email: mbrunner@oregonfoodbank.org
Fax: 503-282-0922
Tel: 503-282-0555 ext. 2244

Inspired by Sunday Parkways, Beaverton to get ‘Sunday Trailways’

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A tour of the West Side-29

Event will encourage folks to get out and enjoy the Fanno Creek Trail.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland

The Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) has just announced its first ever “Sunday Trailways” event will be held on June 24th.

THPRD spokesman Bob Wayt says they’ve recognized the success of Portland’s Sunday Parkways (which boasted a crowd of nearly 30,000 last month), and they wanted to give Beaverton-area residents something similar. Wayt calls Sunday Trailways an “active outdoor event with a twist.”

The free event is scheduled to run from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and will celebrate the Fanno Creek Trail (which we happened to write about earlier today). There will be activities for all ages at various points along the path, which runs 4 1/2 miles from the Garden Home Recreation Center to Greenway Park. Some of the scenic areas along the route are the Koll Wetlands, the Fanno Farmhouse and Vista Brook Park.

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Gray/blue Cannondale CAAD 8-8 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Cannondale
Model: CAAD 8-8
Color:Gray/blue
Serial: VM07399
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/78332658@N00/7160622369/
Stolen in Portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2012-06-6
Stolen From: My locked garage. The doors had been kicked down during a larger robbery. 12th and Thompson
Neighborhood: Irvington
Owner: Richard Malena
OwnerEmail: rmalena@gmail.com
Reward: $200
Description: Bought from River City Outlet last May, this bike has seen a good 2000 miles of road and commuting wear, and was a few days shy of the summer tuneup. Right bar tape is worn, rear brake cable is kinked needs to be replaced, the whole beast is dirty. Two water bottle holders, front headlight were both attached. This time, they didn’t steal the helmet.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-48413
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Another collision at notorious N Broadway/Flint/Wheeler intersection – UPDATED

Still from KGW video footage this morning.

This morning there was a serious collision on N. Broadway between N. Flint and N. Wheeler — an intersection that has been identified by the City as one of the worst in Portland for bike/car collisions. According to reader who rolled up on the aftermath, it happened at about 6:30 am. The collision was also spotted by KGW’s Sky8 chopper as it flew over the area checking morning traffic.

Reader Jo Price says he saw a police officer, “loading up a very smashed up bike,” into a patrol car. I haven’t gotten word about the rider’s condition, but judging from the shattered windshield of the SUV seen on the KGW footage (below), it was likely somewhat serious.

Check out the image shared by a KGW Sky8 pilot via Twitter:

Via @Sky8JJ on Twitter

For another look at the collision’s aftermath, watch the KGW video:

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Progress on new Fanno Creek Trail connection

Getting cleaned up.
(Photos and story by Will Vanlue)

The Fanno Creek Trail, which the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation Department is grooming for a name-change to the Fanno Creek Greenway, will soon be a little safer for people traveling around Main Street in Tigard.

I was passing through the area the other day and noticed crews spraying herbicide on overgrown blackberries on an existing but inaccessible piece of the popular path north of Highway 99.

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