2013 Archives

Portlanders prepare for Park(ing) Day party

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

(Park)ing Day in San Francisco, 2010.
(Photo: Josh Jackson)

The international festival that envisions ways to repurpose the 30% of central business district land area (PDF) that U.S. cities currently devote to auto parking keeps getting more interesting.

This Friday, Sept. 20, Park(ing) Day celebrations are going down at a few spots around Portland. But the most interesting might be the plan for SW Stark Street between 10th and 11th, close to Powell’s City of Books and just outside the Ace Hotel.

“We’re taking all of the parking spaces on SW Stark between 10th and 11th and turning them into extra bike parking, ping-pong tables, public parklets and outdoor seating for the nearby restaurants,” writes Katrina Johnston, the local researcher and designer behind THINK.urban. “Ace Hotel will also be doing two spaces in front of their place and there will be an event going on at The Cleaners that will serve as an unofficial after party.”

Reader Mary S. just shared word of a new, family-friendly bike ride out in Clackamas County on September 21st. See below for more details then register online…

The family farms in Clackamas County, on the Farm Loops, are teaming with Portland Wheelmen Touring Club to offer a farm-to-farm ride on Sept 21. Weather forecast is for cool and sunny! The ride offers routes of four different lengths and degrees of difficulty – from 8 miles to 50 miles. The rest stops are farms along the scenic farm loop. Freshly-baked blueberry muffins are offered at each farm rest stop, along with the usual biking goodies and water. Meet the farmers and see the farms. Shop if you like. Cyclists may register on farm loop website or EventBrite. www.canbyfarmloop.com. Thanks so much Jonathan! We could really use the boost — the farms are very excited to host the cyclists! Mary Stewart (503) 570-0133 or farmloop@gmail.com.

Guest article: ODOT bike/walk committee seeks new student member

Daniel Ronan, outgoing student
member of the Oregon
Bicycle and Pedestrian
Advisory Committee.
(Photo courtesy Daniel Ronan)

This article was written by contributor Daniel Ronan

Over the past four years, substantive changes have happened at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Through the pages of BikePortland, active transportation advocates have had the opportunity to view larger organizational changes such as the creation of ODOT’s Active Transportation Section and, more recently, the agency’s response to pavement on the shoulders of Highway 101. From my vantage point as the student member of the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (OBPAC), I’ve witnessed these changes as the committee’s youngest member.

While this transition is far from complete, ODOT has made bold steps as it seeks to reshape its identity from “the highway department” to a truly multi-modal agency. To continue this momentum, it’s vital that OBPAC has the perspective of a young, student member — and as I leave my position there’s a great opportunity for a new student to step up.

A car turns right onto SE Taylor from
SE 7th where a tow truck operator right-hooked a
bicycle rider last month.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Portland Police have cited the tow truck operator who drove his vehicle into a 16-year-old who was bicycling on SE 7th last month. 64-year-old Richard Tombleson was cited for Careless Driving Causing Serious Injury to a Vulnerable Road User. Tombleson was on duty and driving for Speed’s Towing when the collision occurred.

According to the PPB, Tombleson was driving southbound on SE 7th when he turned right onto Taylor. The teenager on a bicycle was also heading south on 7th and he was right-hooked by Tombleson. Tombleson didn’t stop after the collision but he and his truck were found by the PPB shortly after the collision. The 16-year-old sustained “traumatic but not life-threatening injuries” and was taken to the hospital and listed in serious condition.

Green Lane Project director Martha
Roskowski during a Netherlands study tour in June.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Portland will host bicycle planning leaders from six U.S. cities at a reception tonight to mark the end of the first phase of the ‘Green Lane Project.’ Portland was one of six cities accepted into the program back in April 2012 (the others were Austin, Chicago, Memphis, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.) Funded by the industry-backed non-profit Bikes Belong, the goal of the Green Lane Project is to hasten the development of protected bikeways in America.

The leader of the project, Martha Roskowski, says the project has been a big success. “[The Green Lane Project] helped to normalize protected bike lanes not just in these six cities; but also nationally. We created a dialogue around protected lanes and a desire for more of them and we have set a standard for what a bike lane should/could look like.”

Year: 2008
Brand: Bianchi
Model: 928 Carbon
Color:Celestial green
Size:Black
Photo: <a target=_new href="“>
Stolen in Milwaukie, OR 97267
Stolen:2013-09-14
Stolen From: Our garage. 14698 SE Loren Lane Milwaukie OR 97267
Neighborhood: Loren Lane & Thiessen Rd
Owner: Daniel Tanta
OwnerEmail: ditanta11(replace with at sign)yahoo.com
Reward: YES!
Description: Bianchi 928 carbon , Coast to Coast model , Novara rear set bag and unique celeste green tires. No rear rack when stolen and seat is WHITE
Police record with: Clackamas County Sheriff
Police reference#: 13-28226
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Jobs of the Week

We had two great opportunities posted to our Job Listings last week. Check them out via the links below…

Shipping Specialist – Velotech, Inc.
Bicycle Mechanics Instructor – United Bicycle Institute

Looks suspicious.
(Photo: Malloreigh)

Here are the news and stories that caught our eyes last week…

No helmet, no bike?: The police chief in Victoria, BC (one of the few North American cities where biking is more popular than in Portland) wants to let officers seize the bicycles of people repeatedly caught without a helmet.

Bike black box: There’s a Kickstarter on for a $119 “black box camera” for your bike that self-activates if it senses a crash.

Year: 2013
Brand: Schwinn
Model: Ranger
Color:Bright Blue
Size:26 inches
Serial: S4967TGD
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2013-09-13
Stolen From: Across from the Fred Meyer on 20th Place.
Neighborhood: Northwest, Goose Hollow area
Owner: Charissa Beeves
OwnerEmail: AB10280(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Description: I bought the bike two months before it was stolen, so it looked like new when it was taken. It was a bright blue color and for a medium sized adult female. Unfortunately there were no special marks on it.
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Black Robinhood 3 Speed 1948

Year: 1948
Brand: Robinhood
Model: 3 Speed
Color:Black
Photo: http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&sa=N&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&hl=en&biw=1920&bih=1019&tbm=isch&tbnid=WOQR1B7blfXDHM:&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/stellascorcher/1573005854/&docid=5TvgGn73ZDge7M&itg=1&imgurl=http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2082/1573005854_aceb073c9b.jpg&w=500&h=307&ei=F9Q1Ut6UNMLliAKl9ICICQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=261&page=1&tbnh=143&tbnw=243&start=0&ndsp=58&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0,i:98&tx=133&ty=78
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2013-09-14
Stolen From: 13th and SW Stark/ Burnside.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Owner: Mike Burns
OwnerEmail: Michael.burnsy(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: Completely stock 1948 Robinhood. White brake cable covers. Original Robinhood badge on front post ( green tights and all)
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Yellow 1950s

Year: 1950s
Color:Yellow
Size:Folding
Photo: http://instagram.com/p/czmWlQsRQG/
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2013-09-12
Stolen From: SE Cesar Chavez and Lincoln
Neighborhood: Richmond
Owner: Joe Biel
OwnerEmail: joe(replace with at sign)microcosmpublishing.com
Description: Old bright yellow folding bike, with stripes around the frame (model and brand not in English). Yellow rear rack built into frame. Extra long cranks. Stinger bars. Brand new tires. 20″ wheels.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Completing the Coast Route – North Bend to Brookings

I’m back in Portland now, but I’ve still still got 114 stunning miles of the Oregon Coast Bike Route to share. We didn’t have any connection to the outside world on our last night in Arizona Beach on Thursday night. Then yesterday, after our final, 50-mile final day on The People’s Coast Classic, we had to hustle into a shuttle bus in Brookings in order to get back to Portland at a respectable hour.

So below are my photos and a few thoughts from the last two days of the ride…

Portlanders prepare for Park(ing) Day party

Event: Blueberry Farm Loop Cycling Classic – 9/21

Guest article: ODOT bike/walk committee seeks new student member

Careless Driving citation for truck operator who right-hooked teenager on SE 7th

Portland hosts five ‘Green Lane Project’ cities at reception tonight

Celestial green Bianchi 928 Carbon 2008

Jobs of the Week

The Monday Roundup: Bike seizures, ‘black box camera’ & more

Bright Blue Schwinn Ranger 2013

Black Robinhood 3 Speed 1948

Yellow 1950s

Completing the Coast Route – North Bend to Brookings

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