The Portland Development Commission needs to hear from you about what traffic safety projects you care about on the Vancouver/Williams corridor. The meeting is tonight from 6-8PM. I know this is way late notice, but this is an important opportunity to weigh in on traffic safety issues. If I could make it, I would tell … Read more
[Photo by quite peculiar.] For many years, the prevailing mantra from bicycle advocates has been, “Same roads, same rights, same rules.” Beyond a catchy slogan, the thought is that this puts bicycles on a level playing field with motorists in the court of law and public opinion. This seems to make sense. However, the problem … Read more
Yesterday morning the Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division set up a sting at SE 23rd and Salmon streets. Several cyclists were given $242 dollar fines (the same amount for motor vehicles) for rolling through the four-way stop. This enforcement “mission” was motivated by a phone call to 823-SAFE (the City’s traffic safety hotline) several weeks … Read more
On May 17th at 7:00PM, thousands of cyclists around the world will gather and ride in silent solidarity to remember cyclists that have been killed. The Ride of Silence started in Dallas, Texas in 2003 and will happen in 225 cities in the U.S (including five in Oregon). Amazingly though, until today there was no … Read more
[Unsecure bikes.] A group of bike advocates have been working with Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) for over a year to improve conditions for bike commuters at the hilltop campus. However, despite clear evidence of the problem they have been “systematically rebuffed” by management and the former head of their Bike Commuters Group calls OHSU’s … Read more
[“Bagels for bikers!”](Photo: Lisa Carrigg) What started as a brainstorm in their Political Action Seminar class, has led four Lake Oswego teens to form the Lake Oswego High School Bike Project. Yes, the powers of bike fun can even penetrate the hallowed halls of Portland’s smartest high school (according to Wikipedia, LOHS has the highest … Read more
[via PedalPushers] The Bikes Belong Coalition just announced that the Portland-based Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) will receive a $5,000 grant to assist in their bike boulevard campaign. According to the official announcement, the money will go to: “…help promote and develop their campaign for Bicycle Boulevards in Portland. These low-traffic roadways will serve as a … Read more
[See this comment for an update.] Yesterday I received a phone call from Shawn Karambelas, owner of SK Northwest (I had left a message for him last week). This is the company currently in escrow on a lot just south of OMSI on the Willamette River, smack dab in the middle of a potential trail … Read more
[New bike lane on Vancouver!Photo: BTA] Some very exciting news announced by Jessica Roberts of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA). A major new bike lane has been striped on Vancouver Ave., from Russell Street down to Broadway. This completes a “missing link” in the bike network that is part of the BTA’s larger goal of … Read more
[Photo Kerrke Yu] The calm and civility that has long been the hallmark of Portland’s Critical Mass ride was shattered last Friday. According to a report and photos on Indymedia there were several arrests that got out of hand. As usual, there are several different accounts of what happened. One says the riders instigated the … Read more
[Photo: Bike Walk Vote] Bike Walk Vote, the political action committee that tries to get bicycle and pedestrian friendly candidates into elected office, has just released their endorsements for the 2006 election. Never heard of Bike Walk Vote? They were key in pushing the current bike-friendly Transportation Commissioner Sam Adams into office in 2004 (back … Read more
[For reference, here are the previous posts on this issue: Springwater development may nix trail improvement Springwater development update] This morning I spoke with Wayne Kingsley, the owner on record of the land being purchased by SK Northwest. Wayne is a well-known local businessman and president of American Waterways, Inc. owner and operator of the … Read more