Year: 2012

The Oregonian’s stance on bicycling (My opinion on their opinion)

The Oregonian Editorial Board weighed in on the state of bicycling in Portland today. The editorial appeared on the same week that PBOT released its annual bike counts showing a 6.4% increase between 2010 and 2011.

Whenever our state’s newspaper of record devotes major opinion space to bicycling, it’s worth noting. Regardless of what you think about The Oregonian, the fact remains they own an influential voice that helps frame the conversation. In Biking the path to urban health, The O’s Editorial Board seems to give a big thumbs up to bicycling in general, but when you look more closely, their opinion isn’t quite as clear.

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Nation’s largest bike advocacy orgs announce plans to unify

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Safe Routes to School National Conference-19

Tim Blumenthal has
been named acting CEO.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Massive news in the national bike advocacy world…

The Alliance for Biking & Walking, Bikes Belong, and the League of American Bicyclists — the three largest national bicycling advocacy organizations — intend to merge into one group. According to an official statement, the goal of the unification is to, “speed progress in creating a bicycle‐friendly America” and to “combine the significant resources of the three groups into one effective, powerful organization with a clear, integrated structure and a single voice.”

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Two years later, police sting and Craigslist help get stolen bike back

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Shop owner Wakefield Gregg
set up the sting.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

A bike stolen from The eBike Store on N. Vancouver and Alberta two years ago has been recovered thanks to some citizen sleuthing and a sting operation by the Beaverton Police Department.

The shop’s owner, Wakefield Gregg, checks Craigslist for stolen bikes everyday. His persistence paid off on Friday when he saw a listing that looked very suspicious. It turns out that the bike, an eZee Sprint worth $2,000, was a limited edition aqua blue color. “It helps that the bike was one of 10 made in the aqua blue color, and was the only one imported to the Pacific Northwest,” said Gregg.

Since the listing was in Beaverton, Gregg contacted the Beaverton PD to coordinate a meeting with the seller in the hopes of getting the bike back.

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blue Ciocc vintage 1981 ?

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Year: 1981 ?
Brand: Ciocc
Model: vintage
Color:blue
Size:smallish
Photo: http://i43.tinypic.com/14344zl.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2012-02-22
Stolen From: From the lobby at my work – NW 14th and Thurman
Neighborhood: NW Portland
Owner: Sarah Cline
OwnerEmail: magrish@riseup.net
Reward: yes! i would be happy to give the finder $100 for their help.
Description: The photo isn’t actually my bike but it is close. The bar tape on my bike is blue + black, not white. It is a single speed bike with brakes. It is a super special bike that my friend built for me. It was stolen along with my neon yellow/green helmet.
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Beaverton considering way-finding signs, bike corral for SW Broadway

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Detail of Broadway St. bike parking concept.
(Sketches by Bob Foster/
Robert Foster Architects)

As we’ve mentioned before, the City of Beaverton is working to make SW Broadway Street safer and more pleasant for people on foot and on bikes. They held an open house in early February and last week Mayor Denny Doyle was available for questions about the project at a neighborhood meeting.

Engineers are refining design elements and the city has a series of concept drawings showing what the new Broadway could look like. There’s an open house planned for March 5th and planners say they’re specifically looking for feedback on how bike parking should be set up.

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Navy Blue w/silver Trek 7.1FX 2011

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Year: 2011
Brand: Trek
Model: 7.1FX
Color:Navy Blue w/silver
Size:20″ mens
Serial: WTU004C2166F
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2012-02-19
Stolen From: 1400 NW Northrup – Bike Rack Outside LA Fitness
Neighborhood: Portland Pearl District
Owner: LaMar Lay
OwnerEmail: leelamar@comcast.net
Description: 21-Speed Urban Hybrid with 700c Wheels

Purchased May, 2011 @ $470 Retail.
I have original owner’s manual, CD, & documentation.

Defects:
Small scratched area on one rear fork where I hook up my bike trailer hitch.

The little plugs at the outer ends of handle grips are missing.

There is No quick release lever on the seat post.

Frameset:   Hydroformed Frame – Alpha Silver Aluminum

Fork:   High-tensile steel w/lowrider mounts; CLIX dropouts

Wheels:   700c – Alloy hubs; Bontrager 750 32-hole double-wall alloy rims

Tires:   Bontrager H2, 700x35c Drivetrain

Shifters:   Shimano EF51, 7-speed trigger

Front derailleur:   Shimano Tourney

Rear derailleur:   Shimano Acera

Crank:   Shimano M171, 48/38/28 w/chainguard

Cassette:   Shimano TZ31 14-34, 7 speed

Pedals:   Nylon platform Components

Saddle:   Bontrager SSR

Seatpost:   Bontrager SSR, alloy

Handlebar:   Bontrager Approved Riser, steel, 30mm rise

Stem:   Bontrager Approved, alloy, 15 degree

Headset:   Slimstak, semi-cartridge bearings, sealed

Brakeset:   Tektro alloy linear-pull brakes w/Shimano EF51 adjustable-reach levers

Handle Grips:   Bontrager Satellite, dual-density

20″ Frame Dimensions:

EBottom bracket height: 28.5 cm;
GChainstay length: 44.5 cm;
DEffective top tube: 56.8 cm;
CHead angle: 71.5;
BHead tube length: 16 cm;
HOffset: 4.5 cm;
ASeat tube angle: 73.5;
KStandover: 78.6 cm;
JWheelbase: 105.7 cm;
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-14780
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

ODOT begins work on new section of State Trail in the Gorge

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The new path will drop into forested areas near I-84 and will also connect with an existing US Forest Service trail.

A Federal Highway Administration grant is allowing the Oregon Department of Transportation to get started on a new path for walking and bicycling in the Columbia River Gorge.

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Three collisions in two hours in Washington County

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The bicycle involved in one of two
collisions on SW 185th Street in Aloha yesterday.
(Photos: Wash. Co. Sheriff’s Office)

“On Monday, February 20, 2012, Sheriff’s deputies were very busy dealing with crashes involving vehicles vs. pedestrians and bicycles.” That’s the opening line of a Washington County Sheriff’s Office statement sent to the media yesterday. It came after there were three collisions involving vulnerable road users in Washington County that happened within a two-hour time span.

Since I’ve covered this beat, I don’t recall ever seeing a police press statement with three separate incidents so close to each other.

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Beige/Gold Univega Hybrid

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Brand: Univega
Model: Hybrid
Color:Beige/Gold
Size:21
Serial:CP662509
Stolen in Portland, OR 972141]
Stolen:2012-02-11
Stolen From: 22nd & SE Pine Street (Pine Street Apartments). Stolen from bike lock area in covered garage facing Pine Street.
Neighborhood: Buckman
Owner: Ryan Organ
OwnerEmail: ryanorgan@gmail.com
Description: Straight handle bars with bar ends, white bar tape. 700c tires. Two water bottle cages. Black front/rear fenders. Black pedal cages.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-151224
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Biking, walking access lags on Washington County bridges

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Bike access seems to have been an
afterthought on this bridge over the
Tualatin River on 99W.
(Photos: Jim “K’tesh” Parsons)

Back in December, amid smiles and celebrations at the groundbreaking for the Sellwood Bridge project, our roving West Side correspondent Jim Parsons reflected at the poor state bridge access on many Washington County roads.

With design drawings of the enviable biking and walking lanes slated for the Sellwood Bridge fresh in his mind, he fired off one of his trademark emails to his usual coterie of advocates, bureaucrats, and policymakers. The subject line read: “Bridge Improvements needed in Washington County.”

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Cargo bike builder Tom LaBonty subject of new documentary

Tom LaBonty

Tom LaBonty
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland

Portland-based filmmaker Joe Biel (Cantankerous Titles) has released the trailer of his latest project: a documentary about cargo bike builder Tom LaBonty titled One Less Truck.

LaBonty is the 41-year old tinkerer (and baggage handler at PDX Airport by day) who builds affordable cargo bikes (they start at around $500 if you provide the frame) from used parts in his garage in the Lents neighborhood. When we profiled him back in August 2009, he was just starting to make a name for himself around town. Now, thanks to his website, his Flickr photostream, and Craigslist, he’s built and sold 55 bikes to customers around the country.

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Latest Headlines

Transportation bill passes committee (again), now heads to floor vote

Oregon Court of Appeals rules against City of Portland in parking setbacks case

Weekend Event Guide: Loud n Lit, bike swap, Sunday Parkways and more

Dems fish for votes with changes to transportation bill in final hours of session

From the Archives

How a young urbanist turned a slip lane into Portland’s newest plaza