🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏
MetroMile, the pay-per-mile car insurance company that set up it’s national headquarters and launched in Portland back in December has an offer for BikePortland readers: The first 100 people to sign up for a “Test Drive” of their service get a free month to see if it’s a good fit. The basic premise of MetroMile is that if you drive less, you pay less, so their insurance is a great complement to the growing number of “low-car” Portlanders.
Joe Cortright, an economist with Impresa Inc. and a noted critic of the Columbia River Crossing project, sent the letter below to the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners before their vote today on an anti CRC resolution:
Today, the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners is considering a resolution to oppose the Columbia River Crossing. Attached is a copy of testimony I prepared for this meeting. Here is a quick summary:
The overly optimistic assumptions underlying the CRC finance plan, and the high probability of cost overruns mean that the Columbia River Crossing is likely to greatly reduce the ability of the State of Oregon to fund other transportation projects over the next decade.
– CRC traffic and toll forecasts, based on outdated data, and models that ODOT admits can’t accurately forecast traffic on tolled facilities, grossly over-estimate I-5 traffic and associated toll revenues. Shortfalls in toll revenues on the project will have to be made up from state highway funds. CRC sponsor WSDOT cut its estimate of toll revenues for the Alaska Way Viaduct tunnel project in half–after it signed construction contracts.
-CRC failed to get the $400 to $500 million earmark it was counting on in the federal highway re-authorization bill. Again, this shortfall would have to be made up by state highway funds. Because virtually all federal highway money is now allocated by formula, building the CRC will not bring additional revenue to Oregon, but instead will consume revenue that could be used for other projects throughout the state.
-CRC has no guarantee of receiving the full $850 million cost of the light rail portion of the project from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). FTA usually only funds half of the cost of such projects. This shortfall would have to be made up from sources other state state highway funds or tolls–which in Oregon cannot be used for transit.
-ODOT has routinely experienced 200 percent cost overruns on its largest projects. The current Highway 20 Pioneer Mountain-Eddyville project was originally supposed to cost $110, but is years behind schedule and is now estimated to cost nearly $400 million. Globally, highway megaprojects like CRC average 30 percent cost overruns.
-ODOT’s financial situation has deteriorated significantly in the past decade, it now spends nearly 30 percent of its revenue on debt service, up from 1.5 percent in 2002. And the agency has significantly over-estimated its revenue, and is already having to dramatically cut its capital spending.
-Two bills currently before the Oregon Legislature (HB 2260 and HB 2800), authorize effectively unlimited amounts of debt for the CRC, but provide no new revenue repay these bonds. Instead, they provide that bonds would be repaid from future gas tax revenues and federal grants coming to Oregon, which would reduce the availability of money for other projects around the state.
Proceeding with the CRC under these circumstances is likely to jeopardize the financial health of the Oregon transportation system, and reduce funding available for other highway projects in Oregon for the next decade or more.
Brand: Specialized
Model: Stump Jumper
Color:yellow
Stolen in Portland, OR 97213
Stolen:2013-02-6
Stolen From: Providence Portland Medical Center, NE 47th Ave parking garage, bottom level locked on bike rack outside of Wee Care Center entrance
Neighborhood: NE Portland
Owner: Alicia Gross
OwnerEmail: gross.alicia(replace with at sign)comcast.net
Reward: $50
Description: yellow Specialized Stump Jumper with mountain bike tires, Monkey Bar handlebars, trigger shifters, a silver bell from India, Planet Bike fenders, a black & gray saddle, a bicycle tire neatly wrapped around the frame to protect it from the chain, and Ultralight ATB pedals with clipless toe straps
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-10363
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike
Year: 1970’s
Brand: Schwinn
Model: World Tour
Color:Black
Size:Large
Photo: https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/?ui=2&ik=74e85b99dc&view=att&th=13ca992959712ad7&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_hcstem460&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P-s6Ip1lACQlsqaXn43IT4W&sadet=1360202002986&sads=k_3Ux2oyDg65KreKZ3bHXaIXX4Y
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2013-02-7
Stolen From: Stolen from Concordia University in NE Portland.
Neighborhood: Alberta/Concordia district
Owner: Noah T
OwnerEmail: Noaht57(AT)gmail.com
Reward: YES
Description: Black Schwinn street bike. Made in Taiwan. Blue lettering. Has broken pedal reflectors. light rust on gears. Black rear rack attached. Small skull-style lights.
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike
Portland Copwatch announced a seminar event today that’s aimed at people who ride bikes. “Your Rights, Bikes and the Police” will be an informational event that will feature local attorney Mark Ginsberg and members of Portland Copwatch, a non-profit, “grassroots group promoting police accountability through citizen action.”
Here’s more about the event:
Welcome to the latest installment of our Ride Along series, which is sponsored by MetroMile.
Last week I joined Stasia Honnold for her morning commute. Stasia, 29, lives just a block south of SE Division near 40th and she rides up to the Oregon Zoo each day where she works in the Zoo’s education programs. It’s about an eight-mile trip each way, and unlike many commuters that head up and over the West Hills, Stasia rides up through Washington Park instead of hopping on light rail.
Year: 2007
Brand: Felt
Model: Z65
Color:Dark Blue
Size:54cm
Serial: WK1F03018
Stolen in Portland, OR 97204
Stolen:2012-10-7
Stolen From: Stolen from the bike rack on the SW corner of Yamhill & 3rd Ave.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Owner: Shannon Wilkinson
OwnerEmail: shannon(at sign)shannonwilkinson.com
Description: A dark blue road bike, with cyclometer, lights and a black leather selle italia saddle.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-156277
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
You know an event ride is a big deal when 1,000 people show up — for the route announcement. As per tradition last night at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Cycle Oregon unveiled their 2013 route with a full-blown party, expo, and all the fanfare we’ve come to expect from what many consider “The best bike ride in America.” The theme of this year’s ride is “Saddle Up.”
The 26th edition of the Cycle Oregon will head to eastern Oregon and will begin and end in the small town of John Day. Here’s more from a Cycle Oregon press release:
“Along the way riders will pedal through the Strawberry Mountains, bisect the Bear and Silvies valleys, cross one of the busiest avian flyways in the world at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and explore the western edge of The Great Basin… Besides John Day, the route includes overnight stays in Burns, Diamond, Crane and Seneca. Riders will have the option to ride a loop on Day 4 from Diamond south past Frenchglen and back, skirting Steens Mountain.”
Remember the “Orp”? The quirky creation of local product/industrial design firm FUSE has just completed a successful Kickstarter campaign. We heard from Orp’s creator and FUSE owner Toren Orzek that they’ve raised over $96,000, easily surpassing their goal of $90,000 with five days still to go.
The Orp was inspired by the tragic right-hook collisions that took the lives of Tracey Sparling and Brett Jarolimek back in 2007. As designers and engineers often do, Toren and the crew at his central eastside studio went to work to create a loud bicycle horn that could be heard inside the cabin of a car. The 96 decibel horn is also a bright LED light and it’s much smaller than other loud bicycle horns on the market. When we wrote about the Orp back in December, it had a sound that resembled a fire alarm. After hearing feedback that a more vehicle-like sound would be better, FUSE changed the sound to sound more like the “beep-beep” of a moped.
Year: 2008
Brand: Gary Fisher
Model: Simple City
Color:Beige
Size:large
Photo: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3432/3354018309_c46cebd21d_z.jpg?zz=1
Stolen in Portland, OR 97210
Stolen:2013-02-01
Stolen From: Out of my garage across from Wallace Park (where people watch the Swifts in the Fall)
Neighborhood: NW Portland
Owner: Sam Chase
OwnerEmail: gsamchase(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Reward: 100
Description: It’s beige and has a basket on the front. They also stole my helmet, gloves and hat, so the parent in me is glad they will be safe and warm!
Police record with: online service not working right now
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Year: 2010
Brand: Trek
Model: 2.1 wsd
Color:Lava
Size:52
Serial: WTU074GXSS6E
Photo: http://imgur.com/EMbDkmP
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2013-02-5
Stolen From: Residential home/garage. across from ME Fitness at NE Alberta and MLK
Neighborhood: Piedmont
Owner: Heather Dugas
OwnerEmail: heatherdugas(AT)gmail.com
Description: Frame Alpha Black Aluminum
Fork Bontrager Race, carbon; SpeedTrap compatible
WHEELS
Wheels Bontrager SSR (43cm: alloy hubs w/650c Alex rims)
Tires Bontrager Race AW, 700x23c (43cm: 650x23c)
DRIVETRAIN
Shifters Shimano 105 STI, 10 speed
Front Derailleur Shimano 105
Rear Derailleur Shimano 105
Crank Shimano R-600 50/34 or R-553 50/39/30
Cassette Shimano 105 12-27, 10 speed
Pedals n/a
COMPONENTS
Saddle Bontrager R1 WSD
Seat Post Bontrager Carbon
Handlebars Bontrager VR WSD, 31.8mm
Stem Bontrager Race Lite, 7 degree, 31.8mm
Headset Aheadset w/cartridge bearings, integrated, sealed, alloy
Brakeset Shimano Tiagra w/short reach Shimano 105 STI levers
shimano clip pedals
lights front/rear
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T13001228
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
See the press release below for information about a new scholarship fund in honor of Mark Bosworth, the Cycle Oregon volunteer who went missing while working at the event in 2011 and has never been found. The fund will be launched at the Cycle Oregon 2013 route announcement event in Beaverton tonight.
Contact: John Miller, 503-866-6518
Family launchs the Mark Bosworth Fund at 2013 Cycle Oregon Kickoff Party
At the 2013 Cycle Oregon Kickoff Party on Tuesday, Feb. 5, family and friends of Mark Bosworth will launch a fund in his name that will send fellow cyclists to Cycle Oregon, a yearly event near and dear to Mark’s heart.
The Mark Bosworth Fund will sponsor a first-time rider in Cycle Oregon each year. The fundraising goal is $30,000 for this year, with nearly half of that already raised. The money will cover the fee for the week-long Cycle Oregon ride, including meals and the tent and porter fee. The application process for candidates, fundraising efforts and a new website – www.markbosworthfund.org – will be announced at the 2013 Cycle Oregon Kickoff Party at Nike’s Tiger Woods Center. Doors open at 6 p.m. Spots on the annual ride fill up fast, but Cycle Oregon organizers will hold one open each year for the Mark Bosworth Fund. Applications for the Bosworth fund for this year’s ride are due March 15. The application can be downloaded at www.markbosworthfund.org.
Mark, an avid cyclist and longtime Cycle Oregon volunteer, vanished on the night of Sept. 16, 2011 near Riddle High School, the night before the final stretch of that year’s Cycle Oregon ride. Extensive searches in the days and weeks following failed to turn up any sign of him.
“When Mark went missing from Cycle Oregon on Sept 16, 2011 we all thought that the nightmare would end soon,” said Julie Bosworth, Mark’s wife. “As the days and weeks stretched on and on until now we’re into the second year of missing Mark, his disappearance continues to be a mystery. However, I know for a fact that Mark would love the idea of having his name attached to a scholarship designed to get a first-time rider to experience Cycle Oregon, removing cost as an obstacle. Mark was always fixing bikes, lending bikes, helping people to get on their bikes and to gain confidence on their bikes. The Mark Bosworth Fund is another step in what Mark loved to do his entire life.”
Mark, age 54 at the time of his disappearance, had survived two bouts with cancer. His family and doctor believe the cancer returned, leading him to be confused and disoriented at the time he vanished. There’s a $10,000 reward for information that leads to finding Mark. Anyone with information about Mark’s disappearance should call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch line at 541-440-4471.
Efforts to find Mark
• Following Mark’s disappearance hundreds of volunteers and members of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue team as well as other law enforcement personal conducted searches in and around Riddle.
• Posters went up in the area as well as at stops along main arterials from Northern California through Oregon and Washington.
• Billboards with Mark’s photo and description were put up. Alerts went out to law enforcement across the country as well as truckers.
• Family, friends and strangers joined together to call 4,450 hospitals in the US in hopes of finding Mark.
• Outreach was done at cycling events.
• Renowned cyclists Lance Armstrong and Greg LeMond used social media to share Mark’s story
• A website, FindMark.org, as well as a Facebook page and Twitter account continue to share information about Mark and the hopes of finding out what happened to him.
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