Month: October 2013

Council agenda doesn’t include Barbur; BTA will rally – UPDATED

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

UPDATE, 10/8: The BTA is no longer holding a rally, but they still encourage folks to show up and testify. More on their blog here.

Next week’s Portland City Council agenda has been published and it doesn’t include a key amendment on the SW Corridor Plan resolution that the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) was hoping to see.

As we reported earlier this week, the BTA had made a very public request to Transportation Commissioner Steve Novick and the rest of City Council. They wanted a vote on a resolution supporting the SW Corridor Plan to be amended to include the following:

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Weekend Event Guide: October 5-6

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Flyer for the Country Bike Ramble
(By Shawn Granton)

We know it’s a bit late, but there are some great events this weekend. And, in case you hadn’t noticed, the sun is out! Check out the details of this weekend’s events below…

Saturday, October 5th

Rough Stuff/Country Bike (in the city) Ramble – 11:00am – 5:00pm, meet at Fernhill Park (NE 37th and Ainsworth)
From the ride organizer: “A ramble exploring the “country” aspects in the city while riding “Country” bikes. Expect a good deal of gravel/dirt action, climbs (you can walk it if you have to), meandering, and places you didn’t think existed. We’ll have food/picnic breaks along the way. Ride a bike geared towards comfort, not speed, and one that can handle off-road elements. Moderate pace, no one left behind. Lycra and carbon, no, shellac and seersucker, yes. Longer ride this time, estimated 30 miles with 3,000 ft cumulative climbing. Ride not a loop, but will end near transit and beer. Trailers not recommended.” More info here

Oregon Coast Gravel Epic – All day
This is a serious adventure ride. There are two routes to choose from: The Abomination is 73 miles with 10,000 ft of climbing and the Son of Abomination is 37 mi and 5,000 ft of climbing. You have been warned. More info here.

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On 20th anniversary, an interview with Cross Crusade’s Brad Ross

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Cross Crusade at Alpenrose-33

There’s nothing quite like the Cross Crusade.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Believe it or not, Portland’s Cross Crusade cyclocross series enters its 20th season this weekend.

Founded in 1993 when Rick Potestio and Russ Humberston took over a smaller series dubbed “The First Mud”, the Cross Crusade has grown by leaps and bounds. Today it’s known as the largest cyclocross series in the world in terms of participants and it has played a key role in the burgeoning popularity of the sport in the United States over the past several years.

Cross Crusade Director Brad Ross was there at the beginning. I spoke to the 47-year-old professional bike race promoter from his home in southwest Portland this morning.

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Purple Bianchi Hybrid

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Brand: Bianchi
Model: Hybrid
Color:Purple
Stolen in Vancouver, WA
Stolen:2013-10-3
Stolen From: The bike rack in front of my apartment in East Vancouver. The cable lock was cut.
Neighborhood: Bella Vista
OwnerEmail: kafkawa( atsign )gmail.com
Description: An at least 15-year-old purple Bianchi Hybrid with the handlebars swapped out. There is a black sticker from a Spokane bike shop called Bicycle Butler
Police record with: VPD
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

‘ARTCRANK’ poster show illustrates depth of cycling’s inspiration

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
untitled-141

One more night to experience Artcrank.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
    “Bikes are the world’s most fun, accessible way to get around. Posters are the world’s most fun, accessible art form. ARTCRANK brings them together.”

That’s the simple yet powerful idea behind Artcrank, an event that opened last night in downtown Portland and continues tonight at 5:00 pm. 34 artists have hung their bike-inspired posters at the Cleaners gallery on SW 10th and Stark and they’re all for sale at $40 a piece.

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Timbers mascot to join city staff at ‘Walk and Bike to School Day’

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Check out the PBOT press release below… Looks like a great day planned next week to celebrate Walk and Bike to School Day:

‘Walk + Bike to School Day’ on Wed., Oct. 9 citywide;
Procession with Commissioner Novick, Director Leah Treat, Timber Joey and
150 students to Maplewood Elementary School

(Oct. 4, 2013) – International “Walk + Bike to School Day” will be celebrated with a news event at Maplewood Elementary School in Southwest Portland at 7:40 a.m. Wednesday, October 9. More than 150 children are expected to meet up and walk or bike to school with City Commissioner Steve Novick, Transportation Director Leah Treat, Portland Timbers’ Timber Joey and community leaders. At the school, teachers, parents and community leaders will talk about the health and safety benefits of being active.

Thousands of other children from about 60 Portland schools will also walk and bike to their schools, showing that it’s easy and fun to walk and bike to school.

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Silver Diamondback Mountain 2005

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2005
Brand: Diamondback
Model: Mountain
Color:Silver
Stolen in Portland, OR 97266
Stolen:2013-10-3
Stolen From: 84th Place and Woodstock, residence.
Neighborhood: Lents
Owner: Timothy Hulbert
OwnerEmail: tshulbert(at sign)comcast.net
Description: Silver Diamondback Mountain bike, bent back rim, bottle holder on steering wheel and frame. Zip ties on seat from old tool kit
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

New map reveals important key to the future of Portland transportation

Screen grab of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability’s Comp Plan Map App.

Forget the free bike map taped to your fridge. Forget the city’s terrific but frequently ignored 20-year bike plan. Forget the Bicycle Transportation Alliance’s map of its top 16 regional priorities, and even Metro’s long-term vision of a region with multiple urban centers and a huge grid of mass transit lines.

To understand the potential for where good urban transportation is currently within reach in Portland, you’ve got to look at the map above. Its green area shows “where the street grid meets connectivity standards and where the majority of the streets have sidewalks.”

Without a massive surge of political will, this is likely to be, for decades, the only area of Portland where most people will actually find it appealing to frequently get around without a car.

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New shop on Williams Ave, ‘Gladys Bikes’, caters to women

Gladys Bikes bike shop-11

Leah Benson, owner of Gladys Bikes.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Portland has a new bike shop. But before you react with, “Really? Another one!?”, keep in mind that unlike any other shop in Portland, Gladys Bikes (Facebook) at 3808 N Williams caters specifically to women.

The shop is the work of 30-year old north Portland resident Leah Benson. I stopped by yesterday to check out the space and learn more about her.

A native of Wisconsin, Benson moved to Portland five years ago. She previously worked for Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., a non-profit that provides education and advocacy for women going into non-traditional employment (mostly building and construction trades). Benson has also been an active volunteer with the Community Cycling Center.

While she’s ridden her bike her entire life (“I grew up in the middle of nowhere, so I had to ride my bike if I wanted to do anything,” she said) and started biking to work in her early 20s, it wasn’t until she moved to Portland that biking became a larger part of her life. “This is such an easy city to become immersed in bicycles,” she said, “it became not just something I did to get from point A to point B, but so much an integral part of my life.”

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Red&black Bajaj Pulser 220F 2013

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2013
Brand: Bajaj
Model: Pulser 220F
Color:Red&black
Serial: HR76A7006
Stolen in GURGAON, OR 122001
Stolen:2013-09-28
Stolen From: hyde park in ansal,
badshapur,
gurgaon haryana
India
Owner: Rajender Kumar
OwnerEmail: Upendersingh.chauhan(at sign)gmail.com
Description: Lord Little Hanuman sticker(Red) in frunt of the mask.
Police record with: FIR no 376 date 29-09-2013
Police reference#: Badsahpur
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Metro seeks applicants for influential transportation committee

The Portland area’s regional government is recruiting three volunteers to join one of the most powerful transportation committees in town.

Metro’s Transportation Policy Alternatives Committee has three openings starting in January. The committee, which is divided between transportation professionals and community members, advises the elected Metro council and other bodies on many transportation investment priorities and policies.

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From the Archives

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