Mayor Adams issues statement on fatal bicycle collision – Updated

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Street Smart campaign launch event-7-6

(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Portland Mayor Sam Adams just issued a statement about last night’s fatal collision on SW 3rd and Madison.

Adams’ office has posted the statement on his blog, under the headline: Statement from Mayor Sam Adams on Bicycle Accident at SW 3rd and Madison. Here it is:

Last night, a terrible tragedy occurred downtown: a bicyclist was struck by a motor vehicle and killed. My condolences go out to this young woman’s family and friends; I am deeply sorry for the anguish they are going through. This incident hit me particularly hard given my commitment as mayor to making our city’s streets safer for all users. While we’ve made great strides, losing even one life is too many. This incident is still under investigation and the Portland Police Bureau will work with the District Attorney’s Office to determine appropriate action.

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Election night a big one for Bike Walk Vote PAC

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Bike Walk Vote candidate party-13

Bike Walk Vote excited an
active (transportation) base of
Portland voters.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Tuesday night’s elections were full of good news for Portland’s re-energized Bike Walk Vote political action committee.

After being founded in 2004, then lying dormant for several years following the 2008 elections, Bike Walk Vote came roaring back last winter. Boasting some seriously smart and plugged-in new leaders (Evan Manvel, Peter Welte, Mike O’ Leary just to name a few), they threw a highly successful launch party in December. When the likes of U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer and a packed crowd showed up, it was a clear sign that Portland’s huge population of low-car advocates were just waiting to organize and make their voices heard.

With the votes counted from the May 15th primary, candidates supported by Bike Walk Vote did extremely well. In fact, five of the seven candidates they endorsed won outright and the remaining two — Jefferson Smith for mayor and Mary Nolan for City Council — finished very close seconds and will sail into runoffs in November.

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Learn what’s coming to N Williams Ave at final open house

Most of N. Williams Ave will be converted
into this cross-section.
(Graphics: Fat Pencil Studios)

Finally.

This Saturday (5/19), PBOT will host the final open house for their North Williams Ave Traffic Operations Safety Project.

As we shared back in March, after 13 months of public process, a citizen committee finally made a decision last month about how to make the street safer. The open house will be the public’s first opportunity to see detailed maps and drawings of what we can expect to see once PBOT implements the changes.

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New program gets adults on bikes in Vancouver

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Participants in the program pose in
front of Human Services Council
in Vancouver.
(Photos: Human Services Council))

[This story was written by Madeleine von Laue.]

A Vancouver woman has a new job and a new bicycle to get there, thanks in part to a new program that helps job seekers and low-income adults in SW Washington access bicycles for transportation.

Vancouver and Clark County have had programs to help school children get bicycles and ride safely, but nothing for adults. That changed last year when the Human Services Council received a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation for an innovative ‘Bike to Work’ Program.

“This was definitely a life changer,” said Shari Brown, who moved to Vancouver a year ago from Texas. “It really opened up doors for me. Now I can feel confident and positive that I’ll be where I need to be, like at my new job.”

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Community will gather for Kathryn Rickson tomorrow

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Kathryn Rickson on May 3rd.
(Photo: Facebook profile)

Tomorrow night the community will gather at the corner of SW 3rd and Madison in downtown Portland to remember Kathyrn Rickson. Kathryn is the 28-year-old Southeast Portland resident who died late last night from injuries sustained in a collision with a truck while bicycling through that intersection.

Every time someone dies while riding a bike, it hits all of us very hard. When it happens on a section of bike lane that many of us here in Portland have ridden on hundreds of times, we feel it even more deeply.

Let’s come together as a community tomorrow night and remember this tragedy. Let’s show Portland that there are many people who care deeply about traffic safety and that every life lost on our roads is one too many.

The BTA and Swanson Thomas, Coon & Newton will host sign-making from 3:00 to 5:00 at their offices on SW 2nd (820 SW 2nd Ave, just a few blocks away). We will assemble between 5:15 and 5:30 pm at 3rd and Madison. Please consider being there. Thank you.

UPDATE: Mayor Sam Adams says he plans to attend this event.

NOTE: I have closed comments on this post because I didn’t like the back-and-forth that was happening. This is a sensitive time and a sensitive post. Thanks for understanding. — JM

gray Cannondale T2000

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Brand: Cannondale
Model: T2000
Color:gray
Size:50cm
Photo: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6458057071_0590a611d8_b.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6458064915_096c3832aa_b.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2012-05-17
Stolen From: 3513 NE 12th Avenue, Portland OR 97212
Neighborhood: Sabin
Owner: Amanda Milholland
OwnerEmail: amanda.milholland@gmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: Cannondale T2000 touring bike was stolen last night/this morning from nearby Irving Park, XTR rear derailleur, LX front derailleur, FSA Vero cranks on a sealed cartridge bottom bracket, Dura Ace 9 speed bar end shifters, Mavic A519 touring rims on Cannondale Cartridge bearing hubs, Shimano 600 brake levers, full fenders and a heavy duty rack for fully loaded touring. cyclo-computer. Specialized Armadillo tires. Any info is greatly appreciated.
Police record with: 12-153017
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Woman dies after collision with 18-wheeler on SW Madison

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Emergency crews at work.
(Photo: JoniPhoto.com)

The Portland Police Bureau have just released information about a very serious collision that happened downtown less than one hour ago.

It occurred at the intersection of SW 3rd and Madison at around 8:30 pm tonight. Police say it appears that the woman — now identified as 28-year-old Kathryn Leah Rickson — was riding her bike eastbound on Madison and the truck was attempting to make a right-hand turn from Madison onto SW 3rd. There is a green colored bike box and a bike lane at this location (as seen in the photo at right). It might also be worth noting that this intersection is just one block from City Hall and Madison is on a slight decline at this location.

The police say the woman’s injuries “may be life threatening” have confirmed that the woman died last night.

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Charcoal Specialized Epic 2004

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2004
Brand: Specialized
Model: Epic
Color:Charcoal
Photo: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEquipPopup.jsp?equipimage=/OA_MEDIA/2004/bikes/04Epicslvr_l.jpg&equipmodel=04%20Epic
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2012-05-12
Stolen From: Bike was stolen between 9pm-9:30pm while I was eating dinner at Alexis Restaurant, 215 W.Burnside. It was locked up to a bike rack on Burnside.
Neighborhood: Downtown / Old Town
Owner: Tommy Jedrzejczyk
OwnerEmail: tommyjed@gmail.com
Description: The only identifying item would be the bike lock mount that held the lock to the seat post that they cut
Police record with: Portland PDP
Police reference#: T12004109
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

PBOT unveils plans for NE Multnomah road diet project

NE Multnomah open house

Lindsay Walker of the Lloyd TMA
looks over the project maps with PBOT
Traffic Engineer Rob Burchfield and
City Bike Coordinator Roger Geller.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Last night the City of Portland and representatives from the Lloyd Transportation Management Association hosted an open house for their NE Multnomah Street Transportation Pilot Project. It was the first time the public was shown the proposals for this project.

If you recall, back in October a citizen committee ended a 10 month public process with a 12-1 vote in favor of moving forward in making NE Holladay the main east-west spine for safe and convenient bicycling through the Lloyd District. That lone dissenting vote was held by the most powerful man in the room (or perhaps just the most feared) — Wade Lange of commercial real estate firm Ashforth Pacific. Lange — who was also representing a San Diego real estate firm that had just purchased $92 million worth of Ashforth property (the majority of which is on Multnomah Street) — never made it clear exactly why he opposed the project on Holladay; but despite being outvoted 12-1, he convinced the City of Portland to turn their attention away from Holladay and toward Multnomah instead.

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Turquoise and Pink Novara Ponderosa 1989

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 1989
Brand: Novara
Model: Ponderosa
Color:Turquoise and Pink
Size:19 ?
Photo: http://f.cl.ly/items/312r3N0c3W2o1L023B2j/IMG_0965.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2012-05-14
Stolen From: NE 22nd and Mason Street from the driveway of my home.
Neighborhood: Sabin/Alameda
Owner: Jacqueline Wilson
OwnerEmail: jackie@imaginaryline.net
Reward: $150
Description: Bright turquoise and pink with black and white striped fenders. Tiny porcupine toy hanging from seat. Looks like it is from the ’80’s, great condition. Has two water bottle holders.
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: 12-152998
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike