🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏

Year: 2014

Does it matter if politicians ride?

New bike racks at City Hall-3.jpg

Empty bike racks at Portland City Hall.
(Photo by J.Maus/BikePortland)

In a downtown brimming with bike commuters, there’s still one Portland workplace that currently posts a solid 0 percent bike commute rate: City Council chambers.

Portland’s five city commissioners aren’t opposed to bicycling by any stretch. But, since former Mayor Sam Adams left the council in 2012, none of the city’s leaders regularly spends time on a bike — specifically time that’s not at a special event (like Sunday Parkways, which is far from real-world conditions) or a parade or in some other type of controlled environment.

Does that matter? Does a lack of exposure to real urban cycling conditions make it harder for politicians to understand and care about bicycle issues?

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black red specialized stump jumper not sure

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: not sure
Brand: specialized
Model: stump jumper
Color:black red
Size:fit’s 5’7″
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2014-05-29
Stolen From: First Presbyterian church admin offices on 11th between Alder and Morrison.
Neighborhood: downtown
Owner: Patrice Cook
OwnerEmail: pcook(at sign)cresa.com
Reward: $100
Description: My commute bike though heavy. Has back rack and a small black bell. No stickers or other markings. Had a cable lock attached on seat tube and a water bottle holder.
Police record with: PDX Police
Police reference#: T14005705
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Create your own custom bag at Chrome’s downtown store

Chrome custom counter at Portland store-13

Lara Kessler, a full-time seamstress at the
Chrome retail store, walks a customer through
the ordering process.
(Photos J. Maus/BikePortland)

In a town where so many people get around by bike or transit, having a good (and waterproof) bag is essential. That’s probably one reason why Chrome opened up a retail store here two years ago (to go along with existing stores in Chicago, New York City, Seattle, and San Francisco (their hometown).

Now the company, known for its iconic messenger bags and roots in courier culture, is touting their ability to offer custom bags sewn and stitched as customers watch.

Chrome spokesman Billy Sinkford said Chrome has offered custom bags in the past via their online store, but they’ve only beefed up the custom program at the retail level in the past two years. Sinkford said the in-store custom option is a way for Chrome to strengthen their connection to local customers. “It’s about integrating deeper into the community… We want people using bags they’re stoked to use.”

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New Relic’s palatial in-office bike parking is Portland’s answer to the Google bus

in-house mechanic

Tech firm New Relic hires a mechanic to visit its Portland engineering headquarters and give free bike tuneups to its commuters.
(Photos by M.Andersen/BikePortland)

Real Estate Beat is sponsored by Portlandia Home

In 2012, one of Portland’s fastest-growing employers told the managers of Oregon’s biggest office building that it would walk away from any lease offer that didn’t allow employees to bring their bikes up to the 28th floor office.

The company, software performance management startup New Relic, got its way. Two years later, its 180 employees in downtown Portland’s U.S. Bancorp Tower are enjoying the benefits: the most attractive commercial bike parking in the city and a workplace where bike-commuting is about four times more common than driving.

New Relic also seems to have kicked off a new local trend, the Portland tech scene’s version of Silicon Valley’s on-site laundry services and all-you-can-eat buffets: hiring a bike mechanic to come by the office for free on-site tuneups while the bikes’ owners are at work.

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Magnesium White Cannondale 29er 2012

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2012
Brand: Cannondale
Model: 29er
Color:Magnesium White
Size:Large
Serial: A1374064
Stolen in 97209, OR
Stolen:2014-05-28
Stolen From: Stolen from Nw Naito Parkway, secure parking garage. Lock was cut.
Neighborhood: Pearl District
OwnerEmail: roguepdx(AT)gmail.com
Description: Nothing too extraordinary about the bike, it was pretty stock. It does have Shimano spd pedals, I think they were m540’s.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 14-4393
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

flat black free agent Novus 2014

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2014
Brand: free agent
Model: Novus
Color:flat black
Size:20
Serial: DRJ01034
Photo: http://imgur.com/qdjGBxZ
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2014-05-27
Stolen From: Smart part out of my car in portland. They or who busted my window out to get it.
Neighborhood: portland
Owner: phillip rorick
OwnerEmail: phillipsrorick(AT)yahoo.com
Reward: 500.00 if found in same condition as when took
Description: White peddles turn purple in sun light. The bike it all flat black but grips and peddles purple. It says fa in front tube. Puddles are white turn purple in sun light.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

light blue with white dots on top tube GT small 2009

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2009
Brand: GT
Model: small
Color:light blue with white dots on top tube
Photo: no
Stolen in Lake oswego, OR
Stolen:2014-05-27
Stolen From: virginia garcia memorial medical center.
beaverton, or.
Neighborhood: cedar hills mall
Owner: joel bohling
OwnerEmail: jibohling(at sign)comcast.net
Reward: yes
Description: light blue, white dots on top tube, only one chainring 38tooth, and stainless steel bottle cage. SORA derailleurs.
wheels are NOT original, they are
bontanger, spokes in groups of 2, front and rear.
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Guest article: An introduction to mountain bike orienteering racing

Tom Puzak of Team USA punches in at the “Go Control,” the last control before an all out sprint to the finish. The orange and white flag is called a “control bag” and is used in every discipline of orienteering.
(Photo: Abra McNair)

Here at BikePortland we love bicycling in all its forms. A few years ago we shared a reader’s story about the fledgling (in the states at least) sport of mountain bike orienteering. With a local event this weekend out at Stub Stewart State Park, we felt now was a good time to share more about the sport.

— by Abra McNair and Sue Grandjean

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Weekend Event Guide: Heron, parks, water, track racing and more

Sharrows to Sparrows ride

The Sharrows to Sparrows ride will introduce you to north Portland’s wonderful natural sites — all accessible by bike-only paths and low-stress neighborhood greenways.
(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)

Welcome to your menu of weekend rides and events, lovingly brought to you by our friends at Hopworks Urban Brewery.

The ride calendar is heating up with the temps so we hope your legs are ready!

If I had to pick a theme for this weekend’s rides I would say it’s education. With several rides being led by city agencies, and another installment of a monthly architecture survey ride, your bike is your ticket to learning more about our beautiful city.

Friday, May 30th

Breakfast on the Bridges — 7:15 am on the Broadway and Steel Bridges
As usual for the past 10 years (!), on the last Friday of every month, you can enjoy free pastries/donuts and coffee thanks to the fine folks at Shift. Leave home a bit early to give yourself time to snack, imbibe, and chat with friends old and new.

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Ready, set, ride: Preparation tips from a Pedalpalooza veteran

Cross Crusade Wash Co Fairgrounds-13

Chris “Fool” McCraw is pumped up for Pedalpalooza!
(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)

In case you haven’t heard, Shift’s amazing month of bike fun is about to begin. Yes, the annual Pedalpalooza — with its 259 events (so far) over 24 days — is set to get rolling just one week from today. On that note, we came across this spirited email from Chris McCraw on the Shift email list the other day and figured it’d be fun to share. Take his advice, start preparing now for an optimal Pedalpalooza experience.

— by Chris “Fool” McCraw

It’s time to think about riding your bike…all the time, for 3.5 weeks straight! Get that tune-up, stock up on spare tubes, and make sure your butt loves your saddle. It’s the last minute NOW because you want to have your bike ready before the fun really gets started!

Now get yourself tuned up – do you know where your summer bike clothes are? Been putting off that doctor’s appt? Been to see the barber? Nobody wants to stop riding with a few thousand of their closest friends to take care of stuff that could happen anytime, and you know you wanna be in top shape to enjoy the rides and be looking sharp for the cutie you’re sure to meet on the happy streets. Might not be a bad idea to get caught up on laundry, too..

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