(Photo: Becky Morton’s sister)
The seventh (not quite annual) Blazers Bike Night is in the books. We packed the bike racks at the Moda Center and the Blazers won the game and clinched a spot in the playoffs. What a great night!
Before the game I hung out at the main bike parking area behind the box office. Dressed in my best Blazers garb I greeted everyone who rolled in. My goal for the night was to fill these racks to capacity. The Blazers told me they are officially able to park 90 bikes in that location. By the time I left to go inside and watch the game there were 102 bikes! We did it! (And this is despite the racks being those horrid ribbon-style racks that are hard to use and widely discouraged by planning professionals.)
With the other bike racks around the Moda Center, I’d guess that overall there were about 200 people who biked to the game. That’s a good start. But with 20,000 or so fans and staff combined, we can do much better!
Here are a few more of the beautiful people who showed up by bike:
And look how full the bike racks were!
We let the Blazers take the lead on planning this year’s event and it’s great that they have embraced it and are willing to keep it going. Next year we’ll plan more festivities and activities around the event, so stay tuned. Thanks to everyone who biked last night. It was fantastic to see all of you.
Go Blazers!
— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Great photos, Jonathan! Go Blazers!
I am glad this event was a success and that so many bikers managed to get there safely. I had read that this was happening and embarked on my commute hopeful that the Blazers staff would be a bit more proactive than usual at looking out for the safety of people riding bikes. Unfortunately, it was the same old dangerous scenario: Guy in a safety vest facing traffic, waving cars into the parking garage. Even though he can see that I am RIGHT NEXT TO the white Subaru, he does nothing to warn them of my presence or warn me of their turning across my lane. THe people drving are looking at the guy directing traffic and NOT head-checking for bikes. I lock ’em up, the people in the Subaru proceeds cluelessly, and the guy directing traffic shrugs. This is a serious conflict area and the Blazers do not take it seriously. Until they get more creative and proactive about protecting people walking and biking, I do not see the numbers going up substantially.
Good points MaxD. I agree. We have work to do on this front. It just takes a bit more proactive planning and bringing some people to the table. If you’re able to lead the charge on this let me know how BikePortland can help. I want to take it on but can only do so much! I will mention it to my people at the Blazers org and see what I can do. Hope to see you at a future Bike Night.
I actually spent some time tracking down phone numbers and getting in touch to explain my concerns at the beginning of the season. I received polite comments but that was about it. I think they may be putting themselves ina precarious legal situation by having people “direct traffic” without actually directing it. I hate to think about problems legalistically, though. I think they could train their staff to stop people driving when there is a conflict and they could add signs reminding/informing people driving that there is a lane to their right, and they should do a head check before crossing it and avoid blocking by waiting until there is room to pull into a driveway. Pass those ideas on to them if you get a chance. I may make another round of calls next season, but I am getting pretty fed up with the ednless calls resulting in zero action.
Bike parking capacity for less than 1% of the fans should mean “success” at every game. It’s sad that it isn’t so.
Thanks for sharing! I just tried to stalk out the bike racks on Google maps and in these photos, but I can’t seem to tell what side of the Moda Center they are located. I’m going for a concert tomorrow and I’ll be cutting it close. Could you please let me know what corner of the Moda Center these racks are located? Thanks, Jonathan!