Month: February 2013

Filmed by Bike to pay tribute to couple killed in Thailand

The cycling world is reeling today as word spreads of a tragic collision that claimed the lives of a UK-based couple that was touring the world by bicycle together. Peter Root and Mary Thompson were riding their bikes in Thailand when someone driving a pick-up truck drove into their path. The couple had been on global biking adventure that started in July 2011.

Peter and Mary had also just recently learned that a film based on their biking adventures was chosen for the 2013 Filmed by Bike festival slated for Portland this April.

Festival Director Ayleen Crotty confirmed today that the couple’s film, Cycling Central Asia, was chosen by a panel of judges to be part of the event. Crotty said this morning that they plan to do a video tribute to Peter and Mary when their film is shown. “Filmed by Bike is producing a short piece to honor the love Peter and Mary had for each other and the adventures they shared.”

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The Monday Roundup

Lookin’ good Al Roker.

Welcome to our time-honored Monday morning tradition of rounding up the week’s bike and transportation news…

– Aspen, Colorado is poised to be the latest city to enact the “Idaho-style” stop sign law for people riding bicycles.

– If you’re a parking policy wonk, you’ve got to be encouraged that the scourge of free parking was part of the dialogue when a major storm approached the Northeast.

– The venerable BBC weighed in on “why cyclists enrage car drivers.” Their theory? “Motorists hate cyclists because they think they offend the moral order.” And of course you must read the rebuttal by Carlton Reid on IPayRoadTax.com.

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Cream Gary Fisher Mendota 2010

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2010
Brand: Gary Fisher
Model: Mendota
Color:Cream
Size:19.5
Serial: WTU293C1141E
Stolen in Portland, OR 97221
Stolen:2013-02-01
Stolen From: House
Neighborhood: Bridlemile
Owner: Craig Wessel
OwnerEmail: cwessel(at sign)bizjournals.com
Description: Gary Fisher commuter bike. Unusual cream color with fenders and rack.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Blue Diamondback Response XE 2011

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2011
Brand: Diamondback
Model: Response XE
Color:Blue
Size:LG
Serial:U95K00171
Stolen in Beaverton, OR 97005
Stolen:2013-02-17
Stolen From: Bike stolen off my back porch at parkbrook manor, 5th and maple, beaverton OR.
Owner: Daniel Johnson
OwnerEmail: darius.corrieri@comcast.net
Description: Blue diamondback response xe, front and rear fenders, front and rear lights. worn tires, disc brakes. Orange paint smudged on underside of front forks from my porch railing. Kevlar key lock wrapped around seat post and through rear fork.
Police record with: Beaverton PD
Police reference#: 13-1384
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Black Surly Long Haul Trucker 2011

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2011
Brand: Surly
Model: Long Haul Trucker
Color:Black
Size:58
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2013-02-16
Stolen From: 23rd and Alberta
Neighborhood: Alberta, NE
Owner: Kenny Jewett
OwnerEmail: kenny.jewett(at sign)gmail.com
Reward: $200
Description: Decals are scratched, there is an “8th Ave. Bike and Coffee House” sticker on it, red leather strap toe clips.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-13052
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Blue Bike Friday New World Tourist 2009

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2009
Brand: Bike Friday
Model: New World Tourist
Color:Blue
Size:Medium
Serial: 22714
Photo: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/194/screenshot20130215at404.png/
Stolen in Portland, OR 97217
Stolen:2013-02-15
Stolen From: Kenton Commons across from Kenton Park, in North Portland, near Denver Street.
Neighborhood: Kenton
Owner: Jeff Kennel
OwnerEmail: jeffkennel(A T)gmail.com
Reward: 200
Description: Folding Bike made by Bike Friday with white lettering. Has a rear bike rack and fenders.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T13001519
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Activists see Monday hearing as last chance to stop CRC bill

Anti 12-lane CRC Ride-6

Scene from a 2009 anti-CRC rally.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

House Bill 2800 — and in some ways the future of Columbia River Crossing project — is up for another hearing at the state capitol on Monday. Activists against the project, who packed hearing rooms this past Monday, hope for a repeat performance in order to “make sure the narrative remains on our side.”

Others see Monday’s hearing as a “last chance” effort to stop the bill. If passed, HB 2800 would declare that it’s in Oregon’s state interest to fund and move forward with the project. The bill would free up the bonding and tolling authority necessary so the state can come up with its share — $450 million — of the project’s $3.6 billion price tag. But critics call the bill a “blank check” that unleashes a series of scary financial obligations.

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Over 40 years ago, City of Portland memo outlined ‘Disincentives to the Automobile’

“The overall goal is to arrive at a more favorable balance between the city and the car, between the erosion of the city by cars and the attrition of automobiles by the city.”
— Alan Webber, in a 1971 memo created for City Commissioner Neil Goldschmidt

This morning a reader tipped us off to a fascinating memo penned by a City Hall staffer in 1971. The memo, titled, Disincentives to the Automobile (PDF), was written by Alan Webber, a staffer to then City Commissioner Neil Goldschmidt. Webber (bio) went on to have a notable career in journalism and is most well-known as being founder of Fast Company magazine. Today he’s an author and speaker considered an, “Expert on change and innovation in the knowledge economy.”

Webber’s six-page memo was created to “stimulate discussion on the role of the automobile” in Portland’s Downtown Plan. At the time the memo was written, cities around the country were being tasked by the Environmental Protection Agency to do something about high levels of urban air pollution (The “Anti-Planner” Randal O’Toole shared more historical context for the memo on his blog in 2008). The tone and content of the memo reveals a deep understanding that car overuse has a negative impact on the creation of a vibrant, livable city. Far from being simply “anti-car,” the memo reads like something you’d hear espoused by an advocate or planner at a modern-day active transportation conference.

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black azor oma 2005

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2005
Brand: azor
Model: oma
Color:black
Stolen in Oregon City, OR 97045
Stolen:2013-02-15
Stolen From: Sandy and 31st
Neighborhood: Laurelhurst
Owner: Martin Meyers
OwnerEmail: meyers(at sign)easystreet.net
Description: Bike stolen 3100 Hassalo behind Tonic Bar
Police record with: filed
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

42 cm Surly Crosscheck 2013

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2013
Brand: Surly
Model: Crosscheck
Color:42 cm
Size:LIME GREEN
Serial: M12060004
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2013-02-14
Stolen From: Ladd’s Inn SE 12th & Hawthorne
Neighborhood: LADD’S, SE PORTLAND
Owner: Vanessa Gonzalez
OwnerEmail: Talktovanessa(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Reward: YES
Description: BRIGHT SOLID GREEN FRAME – CONSTRUCTION CONE ORANGE HANDLEBAR TAPE.

SILVER BACK RACK.

VERY SMALL BIKE !
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: pending
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Latest Headlines

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From the Archives

With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike