February 2014 Archives

I love my bikes. There. I said it.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Sometimes I just have to pull over
and take a photo. I think that’s love.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

I do not like to get sentimental or overly emotional here on the Front Page. Over the past 8 years, I’ve learned that doing so — especially as our audience has changed and grown in recent years — is fraught with all sorts of pitfalls and risks. But today, because it’s Valentine’s Day and all my social media timelines are full of odes to love and bikes, I couldn’t resist.

So, I just want to say that I love my bikes.

Even after decades of riding them, writing about them, working in the bike industry, and so on, I still love them just as much as ever. Whether it’s a quick trip around town, a work-day escape up into the hills, or an all-day weekend adventure. There are so many reasons to love them I could go on and on. I won’t bore you with all that. I’m liable to get into Too Much Information mode pretty quick.

It has finally happened. For years now we’ve wondered why the largest beer maker in Portland — Widmer Brothers Brewing — didn’t have a bike-themed beer. After all, not only are we the best biking town in America, but Widmer is a very bike-friendly company. Co-founder Rob Widmer even rode his bike in a commute challenge during National Bike Month in 2008.

Now comes word that Widmer has collaborated with another Portland-based company, Keen Footwear, to make a new beer that will be called Full Fender Brown Ale.

We don’t know all the details yet, but the official announcement and label art are expected to be unveiled next week.

One shared lane and one buffered bike lane is probably the most bike-friendly option the city will accept between I-84 and Stark, Project Manager Rich Newlands said Tuesday.

An “optimal” facility with buffered bike lanes in both directions, but no auto parking on 28th Avenue through its busiest commercial district, probably isn’t in the cards for the 20s Bikeway, a city project manager said this week.

The most comfortable biking plan “achievable,” city project manager Rich Newlands said in a presentation Tuesday to Portland’s Bicycle Advisory Committee, is a design that hasn’t been seen before in Portland or almost anywhere else: a shared lane in one direction, marked by green-backed sharrow stencils, with a buffered bike lane in the other direction.

PBOT director Leah Treat.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Portland will follow in the steps of Chicago and New York City by setting a schedule to completely eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries no matter the cost, the city’s transportation director said in a new interview.

In a two-year action plan a city contractor is about to begin preparing, “Vision Zero will be incorporated for certain,” Portland Bureau of Transportation director Leah Treat said in an interview with the KBOO Bike Show broadcast Feb. 5.

“Vision Zero,” as the philosophy is known, was first introduced in Sweden in 1997 and has spread to several U.S. cities in recent years. In 2012 it was embraced by the man Treat describes as her mentor, former Chicago Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein, and it’s the centerpiece of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s transportation policy.

Thanks to Hopworks for
making this feature possible.

This is going to be a big bike weekend. With the recent storm keeping many off their bikes, we have a strong hunch that the events and rides in this week’s guide will see strong attendance. (And as a bonus, check out what’s happening tonight in the Mid-Week Event Guide posted on Tuesday.)

Sponsorship message ahead… Before you head out, please think about supporting the excellent brewpubs and beverages created by Hopworks Urban Brewery. They’re not only a solid local company that cares about bicycling; they have also stepped up in support of BikePortland and they make this event guide possible each week.

Friday, February 14th

Year: 2012
Brand: Surly
Model: Ogre
Color:Black
Size:XXL
Stolen in 97209, OR
Stolen:2014-02-10
Stolen From: Downtown Library
Owner: Robert Strandlof
OwnerEmail: rcs12457(replace with at sign)inbox.com
Description: Big black Surly Has Billings Mt. Tag on it,Brooks saddle
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Steel Bridge closed to all users at night this weekend and Monday morning

Please note the following route advisory from ODOT:

Night Steel Bridge closures this weekend

Maintenance work will close the bridge to all users Saturday and Sunday nights

The Steel Bridge will be closed to all modes of traffic on Saturday and Sunday nights for maintenance.

The first closure will begin at 11 p.m. Saturday Feb. 15 with the bridge open again by 8:30 a.m. Sunday Feb. 16. The esplanade walkway on the lower desk and the sidewalk on the upper deck will be closed at the same times.

The second closure will begin at 11 p.m. Sunday Feb. 16 and until no later than 8:30 a.m. Monday Feb. 17. The esplanade walkway on the lower desk and the sidewalk on the upper deck will be closed at the same times.

Crews will be adjusting counterweights and carrying out other maintenance projects.

The Steel Bridge, which opened in 1912, is owned by the Union Pacific Railroad and maintained by ODOT.
ODOT

Man claims he was victim of intentional smoke screen from passing truck

(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

Getting hassled on the road for no other reason than simply being on a bike is unfortunately relatively common here in the United States. Usually it involves someone yelling at you, or honking, or revving their engine, or all of the above.

But yesterday we heard of a disturbing new method of anti-bike road rage: a smoke screen that sends a huge black cloud from a truck’s tailpipe. We’re not talking about someone intentionally revving their engine and sending a bunch of exhaust into your face (that’s bad enough, and yes, it’s all too common) — what happened to reader John M. Tuesday night was worse.

John says the incident happened while riding near the Mt. Tabor reservoir. Here’s his account:

– Click to download PDF –

Mark your calendars! The Portland Bureau of Transportation has just announced the dates and locations for the five Sunday Parkways events for this year.

Here are the details:

East Portland Sunday Parkways
May 11, 2014 ~ 11am-4pm (7 miles)
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a tour of East Portland. Whether walking, biking, rolling or dancing along the route, take time to stop by Glenwood, Bloomington, and Ed Benedict Parks for a spot of food, vendors, music and more.

Read more

Locked Up: A vintage Peugeot mixte with tasteful upgrades

This old Peugeot, parked in front of the Multnomah County Health building on SE Stark, is a feast for bike nerds and a testament to its owner’s eye for beautiful and functional upgrades.
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)

Welcome back to Locked Up. It’s been two years since we last shared a beautiful and/or interesting bike we found parked in a Portland bike rack.

Today’s subject is a gorgeous, green, ~~single-speed~~ Peugeot mixte that caught my eye as I rolled into my office this morning. I love the classic and simple lines of these bikes and this one in particular has some very nice custom touches that made me loop back and take a closer look.

Julia Himmelstein at Tuesday’s Dress Like Your Bike event.
(Photos by M.Andersen/BikePortland)

Did you ever start to realize that you’ve begun to physically resemble your bicycle?

That was the question of the night in a North Portland bike shop Wednesday as dozens of bike riders coordinated their color choices to pose for free shots from a local fashion photographer.

Year: 2010
Brand: Scott
Model: Sub 40
Color:Black/White handlebars
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2014-02-11
Stolen From: Roughly SE 12th and Yamhill
Owner: Rachel Tramel
OwnerEmail: rachel.tramel(AT)gmail.com
Description: Sott Sub 40 bike. Black frame – white cables and handlebars. Rear rack attached.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 14-11543
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

I love my bikes. There. I said it.

Widmer teams with Keen Footwear for new ‘Full Fender Brown Ale’

City’s top idea for 28th Ave: Shared lane in one direction, buffer in the other

PBOT director says new action plan will include ‘Vision Zero’ commitment

Weekend Event Guide: Bob Roll, Mini Bike Olympics, Gateway Green, and more

Friday, February 14th

Black Surly Ogre 2012

Steel Bridge closed to all users at night this weekend and Monday morning

Man claims he was victim of intentional smoke screen from passing truck

City releases dates, locations for 2014 Sunday Parkways events

Locked Up: A vintage Peugeot mixte with tasteful upgrades

Portlanders show off bikes, fashion at ‘Dress Like Your Bike’ party (photos)

Black/White handlebars Scott Sub 40 2010

Latest Headlines

Why did Oregon lower the legal age for e-bike riding?

Jobs of the Week: Mokwheel, eLock, Go By Bike, Velofix, Northwest Hub

Robotaxis will need to jump through these hoops before operating on Portland streets

Here’s the new ‘complete street’ coming to Cully Blvd

From the Archives

With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike