12 October 2016 Archives

Police write 53 speeding citations in just two hours on Highway 26 near the Zoo

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

PPB officers camped out on Highway 26 up near the Oregon Zoo to catch speeders. Read their press release below for how that turned out…

53 CITATIONS ISSUED DURING A #VISIONZERO TRAFFIC SAFETY MISSION

News Release from Portland Police Bureau
Posted on FlashAlert: October 12th, 2016 3:04 PM
Downloadable file: Vision_Zero.jpg
On Tuesday October 11, 2016, the Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Division conducted a Vision Zero traffic safety mission on the Sunset Highway at the Oregon Zoo overpass. For approximately two hours, officers conducted high-visibility enforcement and education stops.

In total, 53 traffic citations were issued along with three written warnings. The average citation speed was 70 MPH in the 50 MPH zone. This location was selected for the mission due to the number of crashes that occur on the Sunset Highway.

This mission was conducted in an effort to address the high number of traffic crashes this year resulting in serious physical injuries or death. So far this year, 32 people have died in traffic-related crashes.

The Traffic Division and Precinct operations will be conducting future enforcement missions as staffing allows.

The Portland Police Bureau is committed to working with our partners in government and the community to create safer streets and work towards reducing, and eventually eliminating, traffic fatalities as part of Vision Zero.

Bike law expert says PBOT’s crossbike markings create confusion

This post is part of our Get Legal series made possible by Swanson, Thomas, Coon & Newton.

When we first reported on crossbikes in August, concerns about them began almost immediately. While some people were happy to see the increased visibility for bicycling traffic at crossings via the big green stripes, others said the treatment creates confusion.

Now Ray Thomas, the Portland lawyer who literally wrote the book on Oregon bike law, is adding his voice to the chorus of concerns.

Before we get into his critique, let’s review what crossbikes are and what problem they aim to solve.

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) was formed as a counterweight to the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The group exists to promote more progressive and innovative street designs that reflect how Americans actually want to live in cities.

NACTO has 49 member cities and just announced three new transit agency members. Portland-based TriMet is one of them. Check the full press release below…

NACTO Welcomes New Transit Members, Reinforcing Transit’s Central Role on City Streets
New Transit Members in Seattle, Portland OR, and Miami-Dade County Join Peers in New York City and San Francisco

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) today announced that Seattle’s King County Metro, Portland’s TriMet, and Miami-Dade County have joined NACTO as the association’s newest transit agency members, weeks after New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) joined the association. These four major transit providers join NACTO’s 49 member cities across North America working to build sustainable, equitable streets and transit networks.

As more people are choosing to live in cities across North America, cities and transit agencies are partnering to move more people in less space, and make sure all neighborhoods have the streets and transit access that they need. NACTO’s recently-released Transit Street Design Guide, created by this unique coalition, shows how putting transit at the heart of street design greatly expands the number of people a street can move, and unlocks street space to create more vibrant places for everyone.

Read more

PBOT unveils design proposal and timeline for bikeway on SW Capitol Highway

Riding on Capitol Hwy today is a risky proposition.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Thanks in part to the passage of the Fix Our Streets gas tax increase the City of Portland is finally going to build what many consider to be southwest Portland’s highest priority transportation project: A redesign of SW Capitol Highway between Multnomah Village and Taylors Ferry Road.

This one-mile north-south stretch of Capitol Highway has been on the radar of PBOT and neighborhood advocates for over 20 years. It was listed as a priority in the 1996 Capitol Highway Plan and since then has been bounced around many project lists and planning documents. The reason for the delay has been the relatively high cost: Because of its topography and stormwater management issues the project has always been on the expensive side.

Last night at the City’s Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting, PBOT project manager Steven Szigethy said the project is estimated to cost $10-12 million. Funding is now in hand thanks to $3.3 million from the Fix Our Streets fund and another $6-7 million from transportation and stormwater system development charges (fees paid by developers to improve infrastructure).

The Moda Center bike parking area is always full and fun on Bike Night!

If you’re excited as we are for the start of the NBA season, you’ll love this news: Blazers Bike Night is back for 2016 and operators are standing by to take your ticket order .

This year’s game is the Sunday, November 13th contest against the Denver Nuggets, an exciting young team that features former Trail Blazer Will “The Thrill” Barton.

Job Title *
Bike Tour Guide Worldwide

Company/Organization *
Trek Travel

Job Description *
Do you want to bike around the world while getting paid? GREAT! We can’t wait to hear from you!

TREK TRAVEL, voted among the World’s Best tour operators, is in search of vibrant and service driven individuals who are passionate about people, cycling and travel to lead cycling vacations worldwide. We are especially interested in candidates with strong bike mechanic skills, travel experience and fluent in another language.

How to Apply *
If you are interested in finding out what it takes to be a TREK TRAVEL GUIDE, learn more at https://trektravel.com/employment/be-a-guide/

Application deadline December 10, 2016 for the upcoming season. Completed applications are reviewed and processed in the order they are received.

Your guide to Portland’s ‘Walktober’ fest

This guest article is written by Noel Mickelberry, the executive director of Oregon Walks

It’s a special time of year for people on foot. It’s a little rainy, there are patches of sun, and it’s the perfect time to prep yourself for Halloween – it’s Walktober, an entire month of walking fun that Oregon Walks has been organizing for the past five years.

Police write 53 speeding citations in just two hours on Highway 26 near the Zoo

Bike law expert says PBOT’s crossbike markings create confusion

TriMet now one of four transit providers that are also NACTO members

PBOT unveils design proposal and timeline for bikeway on SW Capitol Highway

Join us, the CCC and Oregon Walks for Blazers Bike Night on November 13th!

Job: Bike Tour Guide Worldwide – Trek Travel

Your guide to Portland’s ‘Walktober’ fest

Latest Headlines

I’m going on hiatus

Come to BikePortland’s 20th birthday and beer collab release party!

Big day for PBOT budget as new revenue proposals head back to Council Wednesday

Monday Roundup: Paris in Brooklyn, ‘Trail Towns’, e-bike reviews, and more

From the Archives

The 10 busiest bicycling spots in Portland