Month: February 2013

Paving, street maintenance audit hits (mostly) familiar notes

Cover of paving audit.
– Download PDF –

Portland has a major backlog of street paving and maintenance. That’s the main finding of a new report by the City Auditor that came out yesterday (PDF). If that doesn’t sound like huge news; that’s because it isn’t. The maintenance backlog has been a major issue for many years. What’s different this time is that City Auditor LaVonne Griffin-Valade pins the blame for the problem on poor “stewardship” of the system by Bureau of Transportation staff and City Council.

The audit is just the latest red flag raised by the Auditor’s office on this issue. Since May of 2006, they’ve released seven audits relating to street paving and maintenance. In the audit released this week, Griffin-Valade accuses the City of, “not adequately protecting the condition of street pavement.” Despite data showing the maintenance backlog only getting worse, Griffin-Valade said City Council “chose to invest in competing transportation priorities without an overall strategy.”

The audit named those competing priorities specifically as funding for the Portland-Milwaukie light rail line, streetcar operations, and new sidewalks. All three of those refer to significant funding commitments made by former Mayor Sam Adams. Much to its credit, the audit never mentioned spending on “bike lanes” or “bike projects” as an example of a “competing priority.”

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BTA gets behind push for bike lanes, road diet on SE Division

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

SE Division. Time for a diet?

After months of working with the Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association to make SE Division Street safer, the Portland Bureau of Transportation now plans to open up a road diet project for further public feedback. And today, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) stepped in to throw their organizational weight behind it as well.

Dubbed the Division Street Lane Reorganization Project (road diet must not poll well), the project would transform SE Division betwee 60th to 80th from its existing four standard lanes into three standard lanes and two bicycle-only lanes.

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Headed to D.C. for the National Bike Summit (and more)

National Bike Summit 2010 - Lobby Day-22

Hello again.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Next month I’m headed to the League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike Summit in Washington D.C. I’ll also attend the National Women’s Bicycling Forum which takes place on March 4th right before the Summit begins. In addition to covering those events, I plan to stay several extra days to soak in the D.C. bike scene, observe that city’s infrastructure, visit with advocates, interview transportation officials, and so on.

This will be my seventh Bike Summit since 2006 and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with the national advocacy scene. The League has adopted a theme of Bicycling Means Business so we can expect a heavy dose of bikenomics woven into the regular programming. The list of speakers looks interesting, with outgoing US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood slated to be there, as well as the likely-outgoing New York City DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. Other speakers include members of congress and, somewhat surprisingly, Yolanda Cade, Managing Director of Public Relations for automobile lobby group, AAA.

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Shop owner does the right thing and recovers a stolen bike

Jennifer and her Linus re-united.
(Photo: Jennifer Cree)

We have a long tradition of sharing bike theft recovery stories here on BikePortland. While we’ve seen just about everything from police chases to citizen stings, one of the most common ways bikes come back is through the diligence and courtesy of well-meaning bike shop employees. In fact, one of our first-ever reported recoveries — in March 2006 — was thanks to quick-thinking shop employees.

Earlier this month, Portland resident Jennifer Cree got her beloved bike stolen, then got it back a few days later. And

Below, she shares the story in her own words:

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hot pink Sub 2005

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2005
Brand: Sub
Color:hot pink
Stolen in Portland, OR 97217
Stolen:2013-02-16
Stolen From: northeast portland, alberta area
Neighborhood: northeast
Owner: Esther Hockett
OwnerEmail: teamestrogen(at sign)gmail.com
Description: Hot pink road bike with purple fork. bull horn handlebars, black front basket. orange bell. sparkly blue top tube coozie.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Yellow Cannondale R700

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Brand: Cannondale
Model: R700
Color:Yellow
Size:54cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2013-02-18
Stolen From: Fremont St. and 50th Ave (in front of Pizza Nostra, on bike rack).
Neighborhood: Beaumont-Wilshire (Fremont St), Central NE Portland
Owner: Emily Matson
OwnerEmail: emilycmatson@yahoo.com
Description: Yellow Cannondale R700 (road bike with dropped cross bars). Some scratches on frame. Light on front handlebars. Small black bike bag on stem at back of bike, contained a multipurpose bike tool and tube.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-151205

Ira Ryan and Tony Pereira team up to launch ‘Breadwinner Cycles’

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Breadwinner Cycles sneak peek-2

Introducing Breadwinner Cycles.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Ira Ryan and Tony Pereira, two of Portland’s most well known bicycle builders, are going all-in on a new company. The duo plan to formally launch Breadwinner Cycles at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Denver this weekend.

“We’re coming together to build more bikes for more people,” is how Pereira explained it when I got a sneak peek at the new line of bikes last week.

Breadwinner is more than just a new bike company, it’s the beginning of a new adventure for Pereira and Ryan. After spending over seven years (each) building up their own brands — Pereira Cycles and Ira Ryan Cycles both started in 2006 — the launch of Breadwinner as a standalone bike company marks a significant step in a new direction.

“This is definitely a huge leap for us,” Pereira said, as he and Ryan bantered over final details prior to loading up their new bikes in a truck and driving to Denver for the Big Show.

Far from just another custom bike brand, Pereira says their five-year plan is to establish a factory, hire welders, and make 1,000 bikes per year.

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Legislative committee votes to move forward on CRC project

CRC hearing in Salem-6

Committee Co-Chair Tobias Read listens to testimony.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Columbia River Crossing project took a step forward in Salem on Monday. After hearing nearly four hours of testimony for the second week in a row, a joint legislative committee voted 14-2 (see votes below) in favor of HB 2800 — a bill that “declares that it is in the state’s interest” to undertake the project.

While an opposition rallied against the bill, it was pushed through so quickly and decisively by the legislative power structure that those against it never really had a chance. In today’s marathon hearing, numerous labor union reps and business interest groups lined up to testify in support of the bill and the project. There were many of smiles and handshakes inside and outside the hearing room before the hearing even began. It was clear many of the movers and shakers had already counted votes and the public testimony would be a mere formality.

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Job: Pedicab Mechanic – PDX Pedicab

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title
Pedicab Mechanic

Company/Organization
PDX Pedicab

Job Description
Our RAD Pedicab man has left us and we are now looking for the next bike wizard. We are looking for p/t help now and with the potential to full time as summer approaches.

What we need
* 3 years experience
* Knowledge of heavy duty cargo bikes
* motocycle / quad experience a plus
* Like beer
* Not afraid to ask questions

How to Apply
send resume to info@pdxpedicab.com

blue tall bike tall bike 2011

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2011
Brand: tall bike
Model: tall bike
Color:blue
Size:6-7 feet tall
Photo: https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/u/0/?ui=2&ik=0e873e846e&view=att&th=13a2e3e1a0173a57&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_h7wj7x9h0&zw&saduie=AG9B_P8ZQWENk3fcRRTJyeXPGP49&sadet=1361241654714&sads
Stolen in Portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2013-02-16
Stolen From: My bike was stolen from the very west end of the water front at the end spot of the dropout right this last friday.
Neighborhood: South West
Owner: jessica caldwell
OwnerEmail: caldwellj89@gmail.com
Description: My bike is two frames high. Color is blue with chips in the paint. One silver peddle one black one. Zoobomb sticker on the top frame, animal right sticker on the front of the frame. Red Nostalgia sticker on the top frame. Black seat. Ape hanger handle bars.
Police record with: portland police department online
Police reference#: T13001617
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

blue/carbon grey Lemond Zurich

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Brand: Lemond
Model: Zurich
Color:blue/carbon grey
Size:51cc
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2013-02-13
Stolen From: Locked securely in my small apt complex locked storage unit that is within the building laundry area.
Neighborhood: Buckamn neighborhood (near the school)
Owner: angela jones
OwnerEmail: amazon1117(at sign)mac.com
Description: Like new (had 30 miles on it- new condition 2008 Lemond Zurich carbon OLVC frame-blue and carbon grey…all high end shimano components (2011) double compact crank- only components STI 6600 Shimano shifters, new shimano wireless flight deck, shimano ultegra wheel set – new (no miles) Veredstein Forezza TrI Comp -blue strip tires. A selle italia Lady gel flow saddle- like new- timbuk 2 medium rear safddle bag w/ park multi tool kit inside…cateye front and rear lights, black gel handbar wrap. Richey carbon drop arms…
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 1312333
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Black Surly Cross Check 2010

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2010
Brand: Surly
Model: Cross Check
Color:Black
Size:42cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97220
Stolen:2013-02-17
Stolen From: 4830 Se 42nd avenue. Cross street NE Alberta. The bike was chained to my Yakima car rack.
Neighborhood: Alberta Arts
Owner: Kristin Pulley
OwnerEmail: Kristin_Pulley(at sign)yahoo.com
Reward: $100
Description: White seat, white handlebar tape, no bottle holder, egg beater pedals, cross tires. There is a small silver rocket like sticker near the stem of the handle bars.
Police record with: Porland
Police reference#: 13-151177
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

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