(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
There are two events today you won’t want to miss (actually three, but we’ll share the third one in a separate post later today).
Islabikes, the UK-based purveyor of fine children’s bicycles is hosting an Open House event at their new store in southeast Portland (which we visited back in May). Islabikes established their North American headquarters at SE 7th and Lincoln in March and they’ve found a healthy business niche so far.
Islabikes North American GM Tim Goodall will open up his shop for a day of fun (a unicycling juggler), sweet treats (“farm fresh ice cream” from Salt & Straw) and test rides. The founder of the company, noted bicycle designer Isla Rowntree, will also be in attendance.
The Open House is from 1:00 – 5:00 pm today (July 17th) at the corner of SE 7th and Lincoln (2113 SE 7th). More info here.
After checking out Islabikes, roll north up to Williams Avenue to take advantage of the 2nd annual Rider Appreciation Day. This event was created by Williams Avenue-based Portland Design Works as a way to encourage cycling and to show how riders are loved and supported by businesses along the street. It started with a bang last year and looks to be shaping up well again this time around.
During the evening rush from 4:00 – 6:00 pm, more than 40 businesses along the “Williams Ave Bicycle Corridor” will be taking part. Stop at the PDW HQ at 15 NE Hancock (just one block north of Broadway) to collect a map and manifest of participating businesses. Each location will provide a free “token of appreciation” to riders. Collect them all!
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I missed RAD last year and I’m excited for it this year! Too bad it’s coinciding with the Broadway Bridge sidewalk closure — I wonder if that’s diverting folks to other routes.
Seems like a good opportunity to flash-mob a bunch of little mini critical masses to get bikes safely over the bridge while taking the lane.
I rode up Williams on the way home (Live at the Albert on Williams) to check out RAD and I didn’t notice much. Don’t get me wrong, they were out there, just seems it was less than last year based on the time I passed through, which happened around 420-430. You had PDW out there, Metropolis, New Seasons, HUB of course, and a few others.
Side note, I took a count of people riding by as I sat down to have a beer at Tin Bucket. In 30 minutes from 432-502 I counted 168 people going north on Williams. I think that’s a good number based on the weather, RAD, just seems like on a cooler day I’ve seen more.
Hope who ever reads this had the chance to get a few goodies.