January 2014 Archives

A bit of open streets information and inspiration

The Via Recreativa in Guadalajara is just one of hundreds of open streets events in Latin America. Former Metro councilor Rex Burkholder will lead a presentation about them next week.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

With Portland’s Sunday Parkways firmly ensconced in city budgets and citizen psyches, it’s a good time to step back and take a broader look at the open streets revolution. Since Bogota’s Ciclovia gained widespread attention (thanks in large part to this 2007 Streetfilm), open street events have spread through America like wildfire.

Here’s an interesting and persuasive idea that could turn Northwest Johnson into the most pleasant crossing of Interstate 405 between Northwest Portland and downtown.

Sharon Maxwell at an open house for the
Williams Avenue Traffic Safety and Operations
Project in April 2011.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

Sharon Maxwell, the latest challenger to Commissioner Nick Fish’s seat on Portland City Council, might be a familiar name to many BikePortland readers. Maxwell spoke up early and often during the public process to update the design of North Williams Avenue.

For those who don’t remember, the City of Portland’s North Williams Avenue Traffic Safety and Operations Project began as just another transportation project, but ended up as a citywide conversation on bicycling, race, and gentrification. The project became a case study for urban planners, garnered national media attention, and became the subject of academic research.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Brand: Soma
Model: Smoothie ES
Color:Burgundy
Size:54cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2014-01-8
Stolen From: South side of Science Building 1 on the PSU campus.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Owner: Dan Lankow
OwnerEmail: dmsnig( atsign )gmail.com
Description: burgundy Soma Smoothie ES frame with a SRAM Apex compact double 10 (50 34 compact double crank, 30-12 cassette) with mavic rims, shimano hubs, a Bontrager carbon seat post, and Continental Gatorskin tires, wellgo reversable pedals, axiom back rack, black plastic fenders.

Residents hope the time has finally come for new path to Mt. Tabor Park

A committee formed by neighborhood residents wants the City to (finally) fund a new path that would connect neighborhoods south of Division to Mt. Tabor Park.
(Graphic: Committee to Improve Access to Mt Tabor Park)

Southeast Portland’s Mt. Tabor Park is one of the most popular open spaces in the entire region — especially for the neighborhoods that border its 190 acres of wooded groves, view points, trails, roads, and picnic areas. Multiple park entrances offer easy access from the north, west, and east; but residents south of the park aren’t so lucky. Now there’s an effort to change that.

Morning sun drenches Ridgecrest Blvd high above
the Pacific Ocean in Mt. Tamalpais State Park.
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)

During the winter break I spent time in the California Bay Area visiting family. While I was there I took full advantage of the sun, warm air, and the many miles of paved and dirt roads that surround my aunt’s house in Forest Knolls, a small community west of Fairfax in Marin County.

Marin is a fascinating place for a bike lover like myself. It’s the birthplace of two of America’s most important contributions to cycling’s rich history: the Safe Routes to School movement and mountain biking. Safe Routes was first piloted in Marin County in 2000 and mountain biking as we know it today was born on the dirt roads around Mt. Tamalpais in the late 1970s. Both of those innovations are still major components of the physical infrastructure and cultural heritage of Marin.

Mark Zahner outside his 34th Avenue home.
(Photos by M.Andersen/BikePortland)

It’s an anomaly in Southeast Portland’s parking wars: a group of homeowners is asking the City of Portland to please remove a row of auto parking spaces from their street.

They’d rather have a bike lane, the group says. But it’s not yet clear whether their request will be granted.

“It’s a street where nobody’s been killed, but many, many near misses,” said Mark Zahner of the street where he lives, 34th Avenue between Clinton and Division streets. “We feel like it’s only a matter of time.”

Year: 206
Brand: Vanilla
Model: Custom Road
Color:Teal green
Size:56 CM (M)
Stolen in 97206, OR
Stolen:2014-01-8
Stolen From: Stolen from my car at the corner of SE Woodward and 59th.
Neighborhood: South Tabor
Owner: David Pilz
OwnerEmail: dpilz(A T)me.com
Description: One of a kind Vanilla Bicycles road bike. Mix of SRAM Force and Rival drive train, black Chris King hubs, silver Chris King headset. Says “Sacha White 2006” on the top tube. Rear dropouts have unicorns carved in them and say “Gentle Lovers Team Issue.”
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T14000239
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Low-income and senior housing projects see a bike parking boom, too

The lower-income seniors at Glisan Commons, Northeast 99th and Glisan, are expected to demand substantial bike parking, its developer says.
(Image courtesy REACH.)

Apartments with lots of bike parking and little car parking are a hot trend in local real estate, and not just because more well-to-do people are looking to live that way.

Bike parking has become a popular amenity at publicly subsidized apartments in Portland, too. Even those for seniors.

“Our experience has taught us that bike use in our buildings tends to exceed our most optimistic expectations, which is a good thing,” said Laura Recko, a spokeswoman for affordable housing developer REACH. “So we try and accommodate as much as is financially feasible.”

Year: 2012
Brand: GT
Model: Traffic 2.0
Color:XL
Size:Blue
Serial:SNMNG11F52365
Photo: http://imgur.com/SBD0gN1
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2012-01-06
Stolen From: Bike was stolen out of the back of my locked Subaru wagon in the City Center Parking Lot #138 on NW 10th Ave between Couch and Davis. The back windshield of the car was smashed and the bike removed from the locked vehicle from through the smashed back window
Neighborhood: Pearl District
Owner: Don Crossley
OwnerEmail: don@doncrossley.com
Description: It is a blue 2012 GT Traffic 2.0. It is a hybrid commuter bike with straight handle bars and disk brakes. Front and rear lights were attached along with a bell and Kryptonite lock. The bike had a kickstand and front and rear fenders and a rear bike rack. Frame size was XL and the wheel size was 700.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T14000193
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

First-ever Oregon Bicycle Adventure Summit set for January 21st

Oregon has a lot of backroads and more and
more people are setting out on bikes to discover them.
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)

In the latest sign of surging interest in endurance, gravel, and adventure riding, a new event dubbed the Oregon Bicycle Adventure Summit will take place in Eugene later this month.

The event is the brainchild of Eugene resident and co-owner of Co-Motion Cycles Dwan Shepard. Shepard, a veteran of Oregon’s bike industry who has been active as a sponsor and participant in rides and races throughout the state for many years, felt it was time to organize the enthusiasm for “gravel grinders“, gran fondos, and rides like the Oregon Outback.

A bit of open streets information and inspiration

Reader proposes two-way ‘bike track’ on NW Johnson (video)

Council candidate Sharon Maxwell played role in Williams Ave re-design process

Burgundy Soma Smoothie ES

Residents hope the time has finally come for new path to Mt. Tabor Park

Marin’s cycling splendor

Miracle on 34th? Neighbors ask city to improve bike access by removing auto parking

Teal green Vanilla Custom Road 206

Low-income and senior housing projects see a bike parking boom, too

XL GT Traffic 2.0 2012

First-ever Oregon Bicycle Adventure Summit set for January 21st

Latest Headlines

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From the Archives

Opinion: If we’re serious about cycling, let’s get serious about cycling infrastructure