Eight years ago today I posted to BikePortland.org for the first time. Since then it’s been an amazing journey to where we are today.
When I made that first post, I had written about 150 short posts under the “Bike Fun” banner at OregonLive.com. Since then, we’ve published 9,273 stories here on the Front Page. In total — when you figure in job and stolen bike listings, Page Two stories, and everything else that doesn’t get posted to the Front Page — there have been 16,335 posts.
That’s nothing when you consider how many comments have been left: 219,688. That’s a lot of opinion, facts, debates, clarifications, and so on.
Today we’re as strong as ever and I’m trying to push the site into a new era. The addition of Michael Andersen as our news editor is part of that effort (which reminds me, he still needs a formal introduction here on the Front Page doesn’t he?). I think Michael and I are working very well together and his presence has allowed us to start working on some cool new stuff. Some of it isn’t ready to announce; but it’s mostly simply doing what we already do — provide informational and inspiring content every day — even better.
I have my eyes set on the 10-year mark. By July of 2015, I want BikePortland.org to be a much stronger business and resource. I’m very proud of this site; but for it to reach its potential (and for me to keep my sanity), some things have to change. I’ll also turn 40 that same year, so that milestone is causing even greater personal reflection about what all this means and what I want to do with it.
Thank you to everyone who contributes to BikePortland, either as a reader, newsmaker, commenter, fan, supporter, or all of the above. And a special thank you to our advertisers whose support makes this site possible.
Here’s to eight more years!