🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏

Year: 2013

CRC set for likely House vote this Monday

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Artist’s rendering of the project

HB 2800, the bill that will give a green light (at least on the Oregon side) to the Columbia River Crossing I-5 freeway expansion project, will likely be voted on by the Oregon House when they convene at 11:00 am on Monday (2/25).

After years of what has felt like very slow progress, the project has flown through the legislative process this session. It’s clear that Governor Kitzhaber — who was opposed to massive highway expansion projects during his former stint as Governor, but for some reason this time around he’s become a champion of the largest freeway expansion in Oregon history — has seized the opportunity of having a Democratic majority in both the House and the Senate.

Read more

Black/blue Giant Defy 2011

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2011
Brand: Giant
Model: Defy
Color:Black/blue
Size:Large
Serial:GVOG6414
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2013-02-22
Stolen From: SE 25th & Division, by Reel ‘m Inn.
Neighborhood: Clinton
Owner: Tyler Jennings
OwnerEmail: hotsauceoneverything@gmail.com
Description: 2011 Giant Defy, compact road bike. Black with blue and white accents. Blue bar tape. Red and silver Shimano R500 wheelset. Has mounts for front and rear lights and bike computer. Bought from Alfred E. Bike in Kalamazoo, MI (sticker near bottom bracket)
Police record with: Portland Police Bureau
Police reference#: 13-151356
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Why House Rep. Tobias Read signed onto the bike toll bill

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Tobias Read

HB 3152, a bill to toll people riding bikes across a new I-5/Columbia River bridge has reared its head in the state legislature. Surprising as the bill itself was to anyone with a reasonable understanding of transportation policy, what was even more surprising to us was that House Rep. Tobias Read (D-Beaverton) was listed as a co-sponsor.

Rep. Read’s unabashed and full-fledged support of the Columbia River Crossing project is worthy of our attention in and of itself; but why would he go even further and sign onto a bill that has even more dubious policy underpinnings than the freeway expansion project that inspired it?

Rep. Read reached out to me via telephone this morning to explain the context of his support for HB 3152.

Read more

Rebuilding Center will move deconstructed house by bike

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Debbie's Bike Move

(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The north Portland non-profit Rebuilding Center is planning a bike move this weekend. The Rebuilding Center deconstructs old homes around the Portland area and then resells the old wood, fixtures and other architectural elements at a retail warehouse in the Mississippi district.

BikePortland reader and neighborhood activist Ted Buehler is helping the organization facilitate the bike move. He says the plan is to move a giant pile of 2x4s, 2x6s, 2x8s, siding, windows, doors, floors and bricks from a deconstructed home in the Overlook neighborhood and carry it all by bike about 1.2 miles to the Rebuilding Center warehouse at N. Mississippi and Fremont.

Read more

Oregon lawmaker introduces bill to toll people who ride bikes across new I-5 bridge

House Rep. Kevin Cameron thinks people who
ride bikes don’t pay for roads and he wants
a bike toll on a new I-5 bridge
over the Columbia River.
(Photo: Cameron for Oregon)

A new bill has been introduced in Salem that would toll people on bikes for using a new bridge over I-5 (if one ever gets built). Existence of the bill started as an uncomfirmed rumor on the Facebook page of a state legislator yesterday and it was confirmed this morning via an article in The Oregonian.

The bill, HB 3152, was put forward by House Rep. Kevin Cameron (R-Salem). Here’s the key text from the bill:

“If the Department of Transportation collects a toll from motor vehicle operators for the use of Interstate 5 bridges, the department shall also collect a toll from bicyclists who use the bridges.”

Read more

Local shop now offers hot tub rentals, delivered by bike

Trying out the Dutchtub-4

Wood-fired hot tub delivered by bike
and now available to rent.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland

The folks at Clever Cycles, those blessed souls that never fear a bold step into a new market, announced their Dutchtub rental program today. Remember Dutchtubs? Nine months ago when we broke the news that Clever Cycles was bringing these portable, wood-fired hot tubs to Portland, the story caused quite a buzz.

Now, after using the product for several months themselves and ironing out all the details with an insurance company, Clever Cycles is finally ready to launch a rental program. Starting today, you can order a Dutchtub and sit back and wait for a Clever Cycles “tubbist” to pedal one to your front door.

Read more

Job: Experienced Bike Tour Guide/Mechanic – Cycle Portland Bike Tours

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title
Experienced Bike Tour guide/ Mechanic

Company/Organization
Cycle Portland Bike Tours

Job Description
Local bike tour and rental company looking for experienced rider with strong customer service skills and detailed knowledge of Portland’s culture, neighborhoods, and events. This position includes leading rides, staffing our downtown rental shop and providing bike service and repair as needed. Position requires strong mechanic skills/ shop experience and a true desire to work with people from all over the world. Those that are bike snobs, loathe tourists, or have problems taking responsibility for their actions need not apply. Positive/ friendly demeanor or personality is mandatory and previous guiding experience is helpful. Thank You.

How to Apply
Please email resume and brief description of why you would be a good candidate for the position to info@portlandbicycletours.com

Bridge project that’s part of North Portland Greenway raises concerns over tree removal

City design plans showing tree slated for removal.

A bridge project in St. Johns that’s part of the North Portland greenway and the 40-Mile Loop has gotten some unwanted attention this week. Portland Parks & Recreation is set to start construction on a new biking and walking bridge between Pier Park and Chimney Park; but removal of a large sequoia tree has sparked an outcry from at least one concerned citizen.

The story broke earlier this week on KATU-TV:

“The bridge would be part of the ten-mile North Portland greenway. Right now, Union Pacific Railroad tracks separate the two parks and the bridge would go over those tracks. But construction plans call for one giant sequoia inside Pier Park to fall in the process.

It is a tough pill to swallow for Dennis Keepes. He has sounded the alarm bells, trying to build enough support to save the tree.”

Read more

At bike share event, City begins crucial search for sponsors

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Mia Birk at bike share event

Mia Birk made the pitch for bike share
at the Porltand Art Museum last night.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

At the Portland Art Museum last night, high society donors mixed with corporate bigwigs and local bike industry luminaries. While PAM got in a few words about their upcoming major exhibition of Cyclepedia (opens June 8th), the main reason for the gathering was to wine-and-dine potential sponsors of the forthcoming Portland Bike Share system.

While the event put a shine on bike share in hopes to woo sponsors, it underscored an urgent need to raise money. So far the system only has $1.8 million in the bank thanks to a federal grant. However, the estimate to fully launch (750 bikes) and operate the system in the first year is $6.6 million ($4.7 million to get the system on the street and $1.9 million in operating costs). That leaves a significant funding gap that PBOT and Alta need to close. Given that the goal is to launch a complete system, rather than trickle out bikes and stations in phases, the City would prefer to wait until all that sponsorship money is in hand before moving forward.

Read more

Dark Gray Origin8 Kit put together 2011

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2011
Brand: Origin8
Model: Kit put together
Color:Dark Gray
Size:Medium Frame
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.erickson.904#!/photo.php?fbid=862349223501&set=t.42006512&type=3&theater13
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2013-02-18
Stolen From: SE Portland, Woodstock & 48th Ave. Stolen from a setback garage Monday the 18th of February night.
Neighborhood: Woodstock
Owner: Amanda Erickson
OwnerEmail: Originalmanda( atsign )yahoo.com
Description: Clipless pedals, converted single speed to 6 gears @ rivercity, straight mountain bike handlebars, steel Origin8 frame, black seat, medium frame 54-56cm (I am 5’8). My # is 503-545-7192. Thanks!
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-14745
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Mayor Hales shares his thoughts on paving and the PBOT budget

Mayor Hales

Mayor Hales at a City Council
PBOT budget work session yesterday.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

At an event last night I was able to grab Mayor Charlies Hales for a few minutes to ask him for his thoughts on the major PBOT budget move that was unveiled yesterday.

At a City Council budget work session, Hales’ interim director of PBOT, Toby Widmer, unveiled a plan that would take $7.15 from existing budget items and put it all toward street paving and maintenance. Among the places Widmer “realigned resources” for more paving is a $1.2 million sidewalk project already funded and slated for construction this summer in East Portland on SE 136th between SE Powell and Holgate (about 0.52 miles). Another Widmer realignment victim is PBOT’s ADA curb ramp program which is being asked to give up $500,000. According to PBOT sources, that chunk equals about 30% of the entire program (which has annual budget of $1.7 million).

Asked about the proposal last night, Hales distanced himself from it. “It’s a bureau budget. It’s just a starting point.”

Read more

Latest Headlines

‘Better Sheridan’ project brings safer street to South Waterfront 

Your guide to finding the ‘Wildwood’ crows by bike

My journey to that ‘Hard Rock glow’

Off-Road Cycling Master Plan: A decade later, what has changed?

From the Archives

The 10 busiest bicycling spots in Portland