(Photos: Mitch Lomacz (L) and Mark S. (R))
We warned you.
After the nice fluffy white snow yesterday, it rained a bit last night and temps have remained below freezing. That means there’s a layer of ice over most every outdoor surface. Thankfully schools, the city, the county and many other agencies and businesses are closed today due to travel hazards because conditions are downright sketchy.
Reader Mitch Lomacz from Montavilla sent us the photo above this morning. I asked if he tried riding on that road. “Impossible,” he replied via email. “Didn’t even attempt with the MTB. Not worth a broken wrist, collarbone or worse. Ice is ice. What’s worse are the bad drivers sliding all over the side roads I’ve been noticing everywhere… If the ice doesn’t get you a driver will!”
From what we’ve heard, public transit is still running, albeit with delays.
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Our best advice is to avoid using the roads for everything except a very careful walk in the neighborhood. If you must get somewhere, a bike is probably just as good a tool as anything. Before rolling out, read up on some tips about how to set up your bike and ride on black ice. The BTA has a good guide, and I shared some tips on biking on ice last year as well (and as always, the comments are where the best information is at).
It looks like things should melt up by the end of today. Hopefully tomorrow the roads will be fine. We’ll be monitoring our inbox and Twitter all day so please keep us posted on conditions and your experiences. Good luck out there.
— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org