[Kids love mud and bikes.] Last year, Portland’s cyclocross scene was one of the biggest in the country. At one Cross Crusade event (Alpenrose) there were 760 competitors, making it the largest event of its kind in the history of U.S. cross racing. What’s not to like? Whether you watch or ride, it’s really just … Read more
[PDC’s Jennifer Nolfi] Ever since City Council passed a bicycle-related industry resolution back in July, the Portland Development Commission (PDC) has been working behind the scenes to add some teeth to the effort. The PDC has designated Jennifer Nolfi as their official liasion to the bicycle industry. She will travel to Las Vegas next week … Read more
The Willamette Week reports that Southeast Portland resident Jake Gill was verbally accosted and then rammed with the front of a TriMet bus back on September 6th. Here’s how it played out, according to the story in the Willy Week: Gill’s problems began in downtown Portland a little before 8:45 am on Wednesday, Sept. 6. … Read more
[The Eastbank Esplanade] KGW reports that Sunset Magazine, which bills itself as “The Magazine of Western Living,” has ranked the “Willamette River Loop” the fifth best bike ride in the (western) U.S. Fifth place wouldn’t be so bad, but we’re behind a trail in Los Angeles, California…ouch! (I can make fun of L.A. because I’m … Read more
[Future site of a bike trail?] This just in from Jessica Roberts (formerly of the BTA, now with Alta Planning): I’m sure you know all too well how dangerous and unpleasant it is to ride a bike on Highway 43 between Lake Oswego and Portland. In fact, the BTA listed this project as one of … Read more
The $4.7 million, three-year project to create three new bicycle and pedestrian bridges along the Springwater Corridor Trail is finally nearing completion. According to Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder‘s September newsletter, a ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for October 19th. Organizers are still working out details, but save the date for this historic event! The graphic … Read more
This Friday through Sunday, Portlanders will get a taste of Europe when a small section of downtown will be closed to cars. The occassion is the Portland Carfree Days, organized by an emerging group of advocates, who are working with local businesses and non-profit groups to promote alternatives to motorized vehicles in the city and … Read more
[Commissioner Adams (L) and PDOT’s Mark Lear (R) at a Share the Road event last January] Traffic safety specialists at PDOT are working with Transportation Commissioner Sam Adams, the Portland City Council, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, and the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition to beef up their legal toolkit with new laws that will make it easier … Read more
[Stop polarizing] A local TV station recently ran a news segment on the notoriously tricky I-5 bike path. A bicyclist was interviewed. He sometimes has a rough commute, though overall he seemed fit and cheery and enjoyed his choice of transportation. For some reason, the words “Bikes vs Cars” blared on the corner of the … Read more
[Chris King at the Alice B. Toeclips Awards] Chris King, founder of Portland-based King Cycle Group will be inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame later this month at the Interbike trade show in Las Vegas. King, who moved his company to Northwest Portland a few years ago, developed his first headset in 1976 … Read more
BTA director Evan Manvel has had enough with the way some journalists report on traffic crashes involving bicycles. He has just published the “Top Ten Things the News Gets Wrong About Crash Reports.” Here’s his list.
[Former owners Matt Labadie andRon Hinckley] After 32 years, the owners of Northwest Bicycles have decided to move on. The well-loved shop in the heart of Northwest Portland (21st & Lovejoy) has been sold and a new bike shop will open in its place November 1st. According to co-owner Ron Hinckley, the shop has been … Read more