6/25: Hello readers and friends. I recently had my second (of two) total knee replacement surgeries so I'll be out of commission for a bit while I recover. Please be patient while I get back to full health. I hope to be back to posting as soon as I can. I look forward to getting back out there. 🙏. - Jonathan Maus, BikePortland Publisher and Editor

Year: 2013

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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black Trek Mountain Track 820.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Brand: Trek
Model: Mountain Track 820.
Color:black
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/2FsLvIw.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2013-10-26
Stolen From: 3621 SE Division. We have a locked shed in the back of the parking lot that was broken into and stolen
Neighborhood: SE Portland
Owner: Meredith Shield
OwnerEmail: meredith.shield@gmail.com
Reward: Beer/Wine/Food
Description: My bike had a "I love my bike" bell, phish sticker from Lake Tahoe. Also stolen: black basket for the front and lock.
Police record with: City of Portland
Police reference#: T13011594

‘Know Your City’ wants to build a pedal-powered local history kiosk

A rendering of the planned mobile kiosk.
(Image: Know Your City)

Two years after Old Town’s Southwest Ankeny Street closed to cars and became Portland’s first human-only street, it continues to overflow with cool new ideas.

The latest is a tricycle with a built-in kiosk that’d provide a public face for Know Your City, Portland’s independent civic education nonprofit. The trike would be constructed by local frame-maker Oscar Camanera of Simple Bicycle Co and Brennan Conaway of Micro-Structures, with components from Chris King Precision Components.

“Artist-designed and artist-made in Portland OR, the kiosk is an embodiment of all things local,” the organization writes in its Kickstarter pitch. “From here, we’ll sell tickets to tours as well as books on Portland’s history and culture. The kiosk will also provide information about the city, particularly independent businesses in the Old Town area.”

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Chris King Precision Components hires former head chef of Clyde Common

Chris King Gourmet Century-25

Chris DiMinno, shown here at the 2013
Chris King Gourmet Century.
(Photo by J. M

Chris King Precision Components has hired well-known Portland chef Chris DiMinno. DiMinno has spent the past five years as head chef at Clyde Common, a popular restaurant on SW Stark adjacent to the Ace Hotel. The move by King has made headlines in the local food scene and it cements the company’s already strong connection between bikes and food.

As we shared earlier this month, Chris King (the man and the company) is well known in the bicycle industry for a commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Those principals have been pillars of the company for over thirty years and have established it as one of the strongest brands in the cycling world. What is lesser known is King’s love of gourmet food (as chronicled by The Oregonian). From the company’s long-running annual event, the “Gourmet Century” and their “Cielo Salon,” to their on-site cafe which serves two, made-from-scratch meals a day for its 120 employees; King has now taken his love of food to a new level.

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white Cannondale Six 2009

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2009
Brand: Cannondale
Model: Six
Color:white
Size:small
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/ux4LkHI.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97213
Stolen:2013-11-10
Stolen From: Garage
Neighborhood: NE Portland
Owner: Amy Cortese
OwnerEmail: corteseassociates(at sign)hotmail.com
Reward: yes
Description: My Cannondale six has a white fizik saddle, new black handlebar tape (unlike the picture which was taken last year), a handlebar bag attachment, cyclometer, a bag under the seat and mountain bike pedals. It also has a bobble head Apu (from the Simpsons) zip tied to the handlebars.
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: 13-95241
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

orange Santa Cruz Blur XC 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Santa Cruz
Model: Blur XC
Color:orange
Size:small
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/uq67r5K.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97213
Stolen:2013-11-10
Stolen From: Garage
Neighborhood: NE Portland
Owner: Amy Cortese
OwnerEmail: corteseassociates(AT)hotmail.com
Reward: yes
Description: Small men’s full suspension bike with Fox front shock. Thanks for helping me keep an eye out for it!
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: 13-95241
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Do bikes get a free ride? Advocates’ infographic shows why not (updated)

Click for full version.

One car damages the road about as much as 9,600 bicycles. If bike riders had to pay a fee for their wear and tear on roads, they’d be writing checks for a few cents per year.

In other words: When people ride bikes, they save everyone money.

Those are the facts the Portland-based Bicycle Transportation Alliance is spreading with the new infographic below. The BTA says it’s designed to “start a conversation” about the ways we pay for our road system, despite a funding regime that Communications Director Will Vanlue calls “kind of a mess and hard to understand.”

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Yellow Specialized Allez Ellite 2013

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2013
Brand: Specialized
Model: Allez Ellite
Color:Yellow
Size:58CM
Photo: http://www.babylonbikeshop.com/sites/default/files/f_images/Allez%20Elite%20Mid%20Compact%202013.png
Stolen in Vancouver, WA 98660
Stolen:2013-11-11
Stolen From: Stolen off the back of my bike-rack. They cut the chain and took off with the bike during the daylight hours.
Neighborhood: Grant Street and W 36th
Owner: Alexandria Hart
OwnerEmail: kipitry(replace with at sign)me.com
Description: The bike itself is just 6 months old and has a few scrapes. However the front tire and tube are busted. So I’m really trying to get the attention of any bike shops because someone should be taking my bike in for a new front tire.
Police record with: VPD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

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