2012 Archives

Documentary org to offer class on filming by bike

Filmmaker Joe Biel will go to
great lengths to capture bike
footage.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Did you know there’s a non-profit based in Portland devoted to teaching the art of the documentary? Not only does NW Documentary teach folks the, “art of non-fiction storytelling,” they have a new class this term that will delve into the often overlooked discipline of filming by bike.

Teaching the “Ride and Shoot” bicycle filmmaking class will be none other than local bike filmmaker Joe Biel. Biel — a prolific artist and publisher who’s also the man behind Microcosm Publishing — has been making moves about bikes for many years. Remember his Martinis in the bike lane film back in 2006? More recently he’s embarked on a documentary about cargo bike builder Tom Labonty.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

The “Foldnfix” fender will retail for $20.

Two Kickstarter projects have come to our attention that have a bike and Portland connection: a nifty new foldable plastic rear fender and a vegan food cart pulled by a tandem bike.

The fenders come from Full Windsor, a London-based design start-up with a U.S. sales rep in Portland. The fenders, dubbed the Quickfix and Foldnfix, have a cool, origami-inspired design that allows them to be snapped onto a wide variety of frames and then be folded flat while not in use. They come in two varieties, one that snaps on via a button (Quickfix, $25) and another, more permanent one (the Foldnfix, $20) that attaches via zip-ties. They are made in the U.K. and the designer is looking to raise $5,000 (they’re at about $1,300 so far) to make the first big shipment of them into the States.

The Bike Snob (Eben Weiss) has a new book and he’s headed to Portland next month as part of an 11-city promotional tour. The Snob’s eponymously named first book was a smash hit and he’s back for more with, The Enlightened Cyclist: Commuter Angst, Dangerous Drivers, and Other Obstacles in the Path to Two-Wheeled Transcendence (Chronicle Books).

Here’s the publisher’s blurb:

The joys of commuting by bike attract scores of new converts every year. But as fresh-faced cyclists fill the roads, they also encounter their share of frustrations—careless drivers, wide-flung car doors, zoned-out pedestrians, and aggressive fellow cyclists, to name a few. In this follow-up to the best-selling Bike Snob, BikeSnobNYC takes on the trials and triumphs of bike commuting with snark, humor, and enthusiasm, asking the question: If we become better commuters, will that make us better people? From the deadly sins of biking to tactics for dealing with cars, pedestrians, and other cyclists, this primer on bike travel is a must-read for cyclists new and seasoned alike.

Just one job posted this week; but it’s a good one! A great opportunity to work at one of Portland’s coolest neighborhood bike shops. Check out the details in the link below…

Store Manager/Mechanic — The Bike Commuter

The future “Coolest street in Portland?” Maybe.

What if government agencies and advocacy groups spent a greater portion of their time and resources creating online content that connected with their constituents and members and then used that audience to support their work?

I’m excited to announce that, thanks to the forethought and effort of Portland Afoot‘s Michael Andersen, I’ll be joining a panel at the upcoming Oregon Active Transportation Summit (4/16-17 in Salem) that will try to address that question.

Here’s the official title and description of our session:

Sexy Schwinns and Trektosterone Rides-13

Coming to a street near you.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

2012 is shaping up to be a big year for women on bikes.

Everywhere I turn I see signs of a growing recognition that there needs to be more women riding bikes in American cities and increasingly — both from the grassroots and on a national advocacy level — people are doing something about it. Given that women played a big role in cycling’s popularity in the late 1890s and early 1900s, this is a resurgence that is long overdue.

Five way-finding signs will be installed
in Tigard along the Fanno Creek Trail.
(Map courtesy City of Tigard)

Riding a bike on Portland’s streets is made easier by the presence of way-finding signs.

Unfortunately once you get off the street and on to a trail you don’t find many (if any) directional signs. That’s especially true if you’re riding on trails in Washington or Clackamas County.

The folks at The Intertwine are trying to fix the problem by partnering with local jurisdictions to install way-finding signs along the Metro area’s trail network.

When I stopped by the future home of the signs yesterday there was one in place but just minutes after I arrived a crew came and took the sign down. They explained the signs were up as part of a “test run” and were being taken down to avoid vandalism until officials have a chance to view them early next week.

Year: 199?
Brand: Trek
Model: 720 Multi-trak
Color:Dark Green
Stolen in Portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2012-03-01
Stolen From: Stolen from my garage on NE 18th Avenue.
Neighborhood: Irvington
Owner: Scott Neumann
OwnerEmail: neuquin@comcast.net
Reward: $50.
Description: Standard bike except for Blackburn rear carrier and softer seat. Good condition.
Police record with: No
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

PSU students lead project to use bike trails as economic booster in the Gorge

A view of the Bridge of the Gods
from Thunder Island in the Marine Park.
(Photos: Celilo Planning Studio)

A group of planning students at Portland State University need your help on an ambitious project that could lead to much better bicycling in the Columbia River Gorge.

The project, ‘Connect Cascade Locks’ is a joint effort between six students in PSU’s vaunted Masters in Urban and Regional Planning program (who call themselves Celilo Planning Studio) and the Port of Cascade Locks. The goal is to create a “regionally integrated” network of recreational trails that will help boost economic development in the community of Cascade Locks (about 43 miles east of Portland).

Mr. Knievel, bike salesman for AMF Wheel Goods

Before I head home to tend to two sick kids, I thought I’d share an awesome YouTube find. Behold, “EPIC Evel Knievel Bicycle commercial”…

The citizen-led committee tasked with how to improve bike access and traffic safety on N. Williams Avenue met for the 14th time yesterday. And as the clock winds down on making an official recommendation to PBOT on how to move forward, they appear no closer to reaching consensus.

Committee member Steve Bozzone, summed up his thoughts about the meeting on Twitter last night: “Overall there remains broad agreement about safety outcomes on Williams Ave, but process to decide on options is muddled, confusing.” In addition, it appeared that the specter of mistrust of PBOT and concerns that community feedback was not being heard, have reappeared.

Documentary org to offer class on filming by bike

Portland Kickstarter watch: Foldable rear fender and a vegan tandem food cart

The ‘Bike Snob’ returns to Portland, with a new book

Job of the Week

NE Multnomah Blvd through the Lloyd could get world-class bikeways, parklets

Can good web content build the bike movement?

All signs point to a big year for women on bikes

Sneak peek at The Intertwine’s new way-finding signs

Dark Green Trek 720 Multi-trak 199?

PSU students lead project to use bike trails as economic booster in the Gorge

Best thing I’ve seen all week: Evel Knieval bike commercial

Williams project committee struggles, mulls new options

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From the Archives

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