We packed the bike racks at Blazers Bike Night!

Blazer Bike Night-1.jpg

Becky Morton brought her whole family along! (And who let that weird guy with the cape bomb this photo!?)
(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:

Blazer Bike Night-2.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-3.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-4.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-5.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-6.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-7.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-8.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-9.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-10.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-13.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-14.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-16.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-17.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-18.jpg

And look how full the bike racks were!

Blazer Bike Night-19.jpg

Blazer Bike Night-12.jpg

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

BikePortland can’t survive without subscribers. It’s just $10 per month and you can sign up in a few minutes.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

6 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Amanda Judkins
Amanda Judkins
7 years ago

Great photos, Jonathan! Go Blazers!

MaxD
MaxD
7 years ago

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.

MaxD
MaxD
7 years ago

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.

B. Carfree
B. Carfree
7 years ago

Bike parking capacity for less than 1% of the fans should mean “success” at every game. It’s sad that it isn’t so.

Tina P
Tina P
7 years ago

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!