Month: November 2013

It’s official! New section of Historic Columbia River Hwy State Trail now open

Policymakers Ride - Gorge Edition-57

This path is now open.
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)

A gorgeous new segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail is now officially open to the public. The new paved path is 12 feet wide and 1.6 miles long. It goes from the John B Yeon State Park trailhead to the Moffett Creek Bridge. Its completion marks a significant milestone because it’s now possible to ride a bicycle between Troutdale and Cascade Locks without ever having to ride on the shoulder of Interstate 84.

We got a sneak peek at this back in August and it is a truly stunning place to ride. The new shared-use path is 12-feet wide and is ADA compatible. There’s also a new 76-foot long, 16-foot wide bridge over McCord Creek that ODOT says, “reflects the craftsmanship of the original highway design.” Other features include a new picnic and rest area with views of Beacon Rock and a link to US Forest Service Trail 400 that connects to Elowah Falls.

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County says Hawthorne Bridge speed bumps a “mistake”

New rumble strips Hawthorne Bridge-11

Second thoughts about bump installation.
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)

A set of speed bumps in the bicycle lane of SE Madison Ave as it approaches the Hawthorne Bridge are likely to be removed. The bumps have garnered a lot of feedback — much of it negative — since they were installed a few weeks ago with the aim of slowing people down. We were surprised to learn that the County had installed them given the fact they were forced to remove a similar installation of speed bumps back in 2005.

Multnomah County has an advisory committee that meets once per month to discuss issues like this. However, we learned last week that the Multnomah County Bicycle and Pedestrian Citizen Advisory Committee was never briefed about the bumps before they went in. At their meeting last night, the bumps were on the top of the agenda and the County’s Engineering Services Manager Jon Henrichsen showed up to hear the committee’s concerns and try to explain why the decision was made to put them in.

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How much auto parking do we need? City of Portland looks long-term

For the love of parking lots-1

A surface parking lot in downtown Portland.
(Photo by J.Maus/BikePortland)
real estate beat logo

It looks like Portland is finally ready to think long-term about its auto parking policies.

The City of Portland is preparing to embark on an 18-month study of its future auto parking needs, thanks to a $225,000 state grant. The result of the work, which the city said seems to be the first project of its kind in the country, could shape residential and commercial development patterns and on-street parking policy in the city for decades to come.

And for people who care about fixing Portland’s chronic shortage of low-car-friendly housing, or who those who want the city to reduce the tax-funded handout of so much free auto parking, the tea leaves look good.

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Black Diamondback STI 8 2013

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2013
Brand: Diamondback
Model: STI 8
Color:Black
Size:21
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2013-11-14
Stolen From: 6015 SE Brooklyn street
Owner: Nathaniel Toups
OwnerEmail: Ntoups22(at sign)gmail.com
Description: Black with red letters and some white. Has lights on front and back. No fenders. Was
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Brown Marin Bridgeway 2011

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2011
Brand: Marin
Model: Bridgeway
Color:Brown
Size:17
Serial:ca11671gsc139
Photo: http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/6594/9cl2.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2013-11-12
Stolen From: LLoyd Center movie theater (the outside one)
Neighborhood: Lloyd
Owner: Denise Riffle
OwnerEmail: denise.eliza@gmail.com
Description: The bike is more or less as pictured. The white basket is attached with bungee cords. I now have a bigger light on the front and a red light attached to the basket on back. I also have a bell on the front handlebars.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-158822
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Green Linus Dutchi 1 2012

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2012
Brand: Linus
Model: Dutchi 1
Color:Green
Photo: http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0049/9332/products/DUTCHI_1_Spring_1024x1024.jpg?v=1375656340
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2013-11-11
Stolen From: NE 6th Ave. and Holman
Neighborhood: DEKUM
Owner: Aaron Feiger
OwnerEmail: aafeiger(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Reward: 300
Description: Green Linus Dutchi, single speed
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-158809
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Black Linus Gaston 1 2012

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2012
Brand: Linus
Model: Gaston 1
Color:Black
Photo: http://www.ecovelo.info/images/linus-gaston.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2013-11-11
Stolen From: NE 6th Ave, and Holman
Neighborhood: DEKUM
Owner: Aaron Feiger
OwnerEmail: aafeiger(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Reward: 300
Description: This is a black Linus Gaston 1 speed with Velo hammered rims, a brooks saddle, brooks handlebar grips and leather straps
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-158809
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Bill would make bike-sharing benefits tax-deductible (updated)

Bike share demo-9-8

Not considered public transit by the IRS. Yet.
(Photo by J.Maus/BikePortland)

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer is cosponsoring a bill to officially recognize bike sharing as the newest category of public transit, at least in the eyes of the IRS.

Unfortunately, the bill is limited by a persistent oversight in tax policy that restricts its benefits to those who both live and work in areas that have bikesharing stations.

It’s a new goal for the city transportation commissioner turned Congressman, who spent years pushing for the IRS’s first bike commuting benefit. The $20-a-month deduction finally passed as part of the 2008 bank bailout (despite Blumenauer’s “no” vote on that package).

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Study: Half of Portland bike riders don’t know how to trigger green lights

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Signal aids and innovation-3

The place to place the wheels.
(Image by J.Maus/BikePortland)

The pavement marking to the right, which is supposed to tell people where to place the wheels of their bike to trigger a green light, is illegible to about half of Portland bikers, a new study (PDF) finds.

Even worse: Those figures don’t include many people who rarely ride, suggesting that interminable red lights are a particular burden on new bike riders.

Stefan Bussey, a PSU civil engineering student who conducted the survey, said he came up with the idea when he noticed that people ahead of him at the long Seven Corners traffic signals on Southeast Division would regularly stop a few feet away from the traffic signal stencil.

“It would happen three or four times a week,” Bussey said.

Bussey’s research confirmed it: even in Portland, about 55 percent of bicycle riders surveyed don’t know the meaning of the pavement marking.

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By next month, Springwater path will be repaired and lengthened

Damage to Springwater path-3

Hang in there. It should be done by the end of this month.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

By next month, the Springwater Corridor bike path will be in the best shape its been in since early 2012. It will also boast a new, 2.25 mile section of pavement at its southern end in the town of Boring.

Portland Parks & Recreation is currently trying to finish up its repair of major damage to a section of the popular path just south of the Ross Island Bridge. A portion of the path fell into the Willamette River in March of 2012 and Parks is still working to repair the damage. The project has led to a full closure of the Springwater from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on weekdays since the end of September. Due to wet weather that prevents paving, the City now says the path will remain under construction until “at least this coming Friday” (the 22nd). For more details on the construction and why it has taken so long, read this article published by The Oregonian on Monday.

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Get smart: Two nights, six advocacy events

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

A City Club sponsored panel discussion will look
at who’s riding — and who’s not.

There’s a reason Portland is such a haven for transportation wonks, advocates, and civic engagement superstars. There is never a shortage of advocacy-related events to attend. I have six events on my calendar scheduled for tonight and tomorrow night — all of which offer important opportunities to learn about local bicycle and transportation issues.

Below is a quick guide to what’s in store…

Tonight (11/12)
River View Natural Area Community Meeting/Open House: 5:30 to 7:30 pm at PDX Church, 125 SW Miles
Off-road bicycling advocates are hoping for a big community turnout at this important planning meeting hosted by Portland Parks & Recreation. As we reported last month, a public process is already underway with the aim of developing a 146 acre parcel in southwest Portland in the hills near the Sellwood Bridge. Parks staff will be on hand to answer questions and hear your feedback about whether or not you think bicycling should be a priority as the trail plans get drawn up. Learn more about this project in our archives, then show up tonight between 5:30 and 7:30 at PDX Church, 125 SW Miles. More info here.

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From the Archives

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