May 2013 Archives

Black Surley Ogre 2013

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2013
Brand: Surley
Model: Ogre
Color:Black
Stolen in Portland, OR 97215
Stolen:2013-05-5
Stolen From: Inner SE by White Owl Social Club 1305 SE 8th Ave
Neighborhood: Inner SE
Owner: Colin Slack
OwnerEmail: dronehenge(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Reward: Yes
Description: Black Surly Ogre, purple cables, egg beater pedals, purple chris king headset, riser bars, 1×10, disc brakes, brand new, may be with a neon yellow helmet. 336-491-3064
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

blue/white Bianchi Boardwalk 90s

Year: 90s
Brand: Bianchi
Model: Boardwalk
Color:blue/white
Size:16″-18.5″
Photo: http://www.re-cycle.com/ImageFetch.ashx?picNum=1&Size=2&ImageID=4155
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2013-05-4
Stolen From: 6th and Burnside in NW, across the street from the Star Theatre
Neighborhood: Downtown/Pearl District
Owner: Elena Roby
OwnerEmail: ecroby( atsign )lclark.edu
Reward: undying gratitude and perhaps some cash
Description: My bike looked just like the picture except it had an entirely black seat. It had a water bottle holder, two black holders for my front and rear lights (the front one was falling off). I can’t remember but there may have been a recycled cycles sticker on it from the store where I bought it. The breaks were off center and would often rub the front tire a little bit.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Weekend Open Thread

The Peninsula Crossing Trail in north Portland.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The weather will be splendid this weekend in and around Portland. What are your plans?

If you haven’t dreamed up an adventure on your own, there are plenty of races and rides going on. Some folks will head to the Coast Range for the Rapture, a grueling 70 miles of unsanctioned adventure where just finishing is an accomplishment. Others will join the Society of Three Speeds on Sunday for a “celebration of planetary gearing” on the Three Speed Ride. The BTA’s Alice Awards is tomorrow so the region’s bike advocates will get together to celebrate great accomplishments.

Whatever you end up doing, have a great weekend. Feel free to promote other events and share your plans in the comments. You can also share your thoughts on the week’s news if you feel like it.

See you on Monday!

Changes Afoot at BikePortland

For over eight years now, I’ve run BikePortland in pretty much the same way. Give or take a few years when I had the good fortune of working with Elly Blue (as managing editor) and Jonathan Reed (as my ad sales and business guy), this has been a solo operation. Over 15,000 posts, 211,000 comments, 32,000 photos and countless meetings and events. That’s a whole lot of work, stress, ups-and-downs, and screen-time for one person. That’s why today I am very happy to announce that I’m about to get some much-needed help.

BikePortland and Portland Afoot are joining forces.

A cargo bike mini-mart debuted at Buckman
Farmer’s Market yesterday.
(Photos: Portland Farmer’s Market)

Portland’s love of cargo bikes just took another big step. And I mean big. The folks who run Portland Farmer’s Market debuted their new “Produce Pedaler” cargo bike at the Buckman market yesterday. The bike is an old-fashioned style, extra-large, classic Dutch bakfiets. It has a load capacity of 660 lbs and it’s nearly 12 feet long.

The bike will travel to the eight different Portland Farmer’s Markets around town throughout the season. It’s set up as a mini-market and will offer vegetables and produce, flowers, and assorted goodies from market vendors. PFM Operations Director Jaret Foster says, “Having a mobile market bike has been a longtime dream. The Produce Pedaler not only creates another sales opportunity for our vendors, it’s also the perfect way to bring together Portland’s celebrated bike culture and regional bounty in a fun and memorable way. We hope this beautiful three-wheeled vehicle becomes a Portland icon…”

Sorry. This job has been filled.

Job Title
Sales/Customer Svc Associate

Company/Organization
Cyclepath

Job Description
Cyclepath Bike Shop has immediate openings for one full & one part-time sales employee. 3+ years of prior experience required. Must be neat, clean, punctual, able to work with a variety of customer demographics (age, gender, type of riding) and have appreciation for delivering the highest-quality customer service. Our work week is Monday-Saturday. Working Saturdays (1pm – 6pm) would be a requirement (it’s typically our busiest day). Retail often moves fast so you’ll be on your feet most of the day.

Familiarity with most things high-end in the bicycle world required. Enthusiasm to learn and be a part of this team is essential. We enthusiastically sell mountain, road and cyclocross bicycles, generally from the frame up (our motto is Custom Bike Love).

We are looking for long-term employees but have room for someone available through the summer only. Health care provided to f/t employees after 90 days; significant employee discounts begin at 30 days. Competitive salary based on experience.

How to Apply
Respond by email and tell us why this job would be a good fit for you. Please provide references (or attach resume). Michael(at)Cyclepathnw(dot)com

For Blake Hicks, bike tricks are ticket to the big time

Blake Hicks is a fixture in Waterfront Park,
where he can be seen nearly every day
working on his tricks.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

For the past four years, southeast Portland resident Blake Hicks has focused his entire life on two things: Perfect his bike tricks and share them with the world. Now, after countless hours of hard work, the 28-year-old professional performer is about to embark on the biggest summer of his young career.

I first came across Blake’s amazing riding skills in 2006, when I photographed him practicing his moves in Waterfront Park. Yesterday I was riding through the park and there he was again — working on his awe-inspiring, spinning, rolling, and balancing act. And I’m glad I stopped to talk because he’s about to leave for a three-month performance gig at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida.

Pete Jordan, a former Portland resident who lived in Amsterdam for the past eleven years, has written a book about the experience. In the City of Bikes: The Story of the Amsterdam Cyclist (Harper Perennial 2013) came out a few days ago and Jordan is back in Portland tonight for a reading.

Here’s more about the book from Powells.com:

“When Pete Jordan arrives in Amsterdam to study how to make America’s cities more bicycle-friendly, he immediately falls in love with the city that already lives life on two wheels. His new bride, Amy Joy, joins Pete, and despite their financial hardships and instability, she eventually finds her own new calling as a bicycle mechanic as Pete discovers the untold history of cycling in Amsterdam.

From its beginnings as an elitist pastime in the 1890s to the street-consuming craze of the 1920s, from the bicycle’s role in a citywide resistance to the Nazi occupation to the White Bikes of the 1960s and the bike fishermen of today, Jordan chronicles the evolution of Amsterdam’s cycling.

Part personal memoir, part history of cycling, part fascinating street-level tour of Amsterdam, In the City of Bikes is the story of a man who loves bikes, in a city that loves bikes.”

Three great opportunities popped up on our Job Listings this past week. Check them out via the links below…

Sales/Customer Svc Associate– Cyclepath
Program Administrator – OTREC at Portland State University
Bike Mechanic with Customer Service Skills – Pedal Bike Tours

“It was a tragic situation that we want to avoid this year. Greater awareness may help us do that.”
— Louis Torres, ODOT Region 2

After a traffic collision claimed the life of a 65-year-old Camas man during the Reach the Beach ride last year, the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Oregon State Police (OSP), race organizers and other officials are being proactive about safety this time around.

The ride is on May 18th and it attracts nearly 3,000 riders who pedal to the coast from four different starting locations (including Portland).

In a statement released today, ODOT urged people driving on the route to consider other options because there will be, “several thousand bicyclists who will be sharing space with motorists on rural highways in Washington, Yamhill and Tillamook counties.” In particular officials are concerned about OR 22 and OR 130 (Little Nestucca Road) because they are “narrow and can be a challenge when motorists and bicyclists are sharing the road.”

Mt. Hood could use more
travel options.
(Photo: ODOT)

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has released an online survey that seeks input to inform their Mt. Hood Multimodal Transportation Plan. As reported back in March, ODOT wants to make it easier and safer to bike, walk, and hop on a bus around Government Camp, Timberline Lodge, and all the other popular recreation destinations on Mt. Hood. The plan focuses specifically on reducing auto trips on highways 26 (Sandy) and 35 (Hood River).

ODOT Region 1 Project Planner Mike Mason told us in March that, “What we’re hoping to find are good ideas to reduce the number of people who feel they need to drive cars up there.”

In a statement released today, Mason said, “People travel along the Mount Hood highway corridor for many reasons… We want these people who use the highway to help shape the future of transportation on the mountain.”

Welcome to the latest installment of People on Bikes.

This morning I rolled over to North Vancouver Avenue to take a closer look at who’s riding. My location was just north of Shaver and a few blocks south of the Going Street neighborhood greenway. The bikeway on this section of Vancouver is pretty nice; even though from an engineering standpoint it’s decidedly low-tech. The bike lane here is just a standard white stripe. No green paint. No protection of any kind. However, because PBOT made it extra-wide — at some spots it’s a comfortable 6 1/2 feet — it feels much nicer than other bike lanes in town. The Vancouver bike lane is also very popular (the most popular according to a 2007 PBOT survey) and feels relatively comfortable because it’s downhill and the speed differential between people on bikes and people in cars is minimal.

Black Surley Ogre 2013

blue/white Bianchi Boardwalk 90s

Weekend Open Thread

Changes Afoot at BikePortland

Portland Farmer’s Market debuts ‘Produce Pedaler’ cargo bike mini-mart

Job: Sales/Customer Svc Associate – Cyclepath – FILLED

For Blake Hicks, bike tricks are ticket to the big time

Book event tonight: A chronicle of life in Amsterdam, the ‘City of Bikes’

Jobs of the Week

ODOT, State Police step up safety push for Reach the Beach ride

ODOT wants your thoughts on Mt. Hood travel options

People on Bikes: North Vancouver Avenue

Latest Headlines

Transportation advocates say lawmakers ‘betrayed public trust’ with budget bill votes

River City Bicycles owner survives heart attack while on bike ride

Weekend Event Guide: Gold sprints, Springwater cleanup, and more

Guest opinion: ‘Bikeable Portland’ plan will get more people riding

From the Archives

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