Last week Portland Transport reported that the idea of recycling the old Sauvie Island Bridge and turning it into a bike and pedestrian overpass in Northwest Portland was dead. However judging from this statement from a post on Commissioner Sam Adams’ blog, the idea might still have some life:
[Zoobombers on Burnside.] Highway 26 leading into downtown Portland is a traditional route sometimes used by Zoobombers. They call it “the Hellway” and it is simultaneously feared and revered by many. While it’s usually legal to ride bikes on Highway 26, because of a sewer construction project, currently the Hellway route is off-limts. In early … Read more
[Introducing Sweetpea Bicycles] Portland’s burgeoning crop of custom framebuilders just got a litte sweeter. Natalie Ramsland and her partner (in life and business) Austin have launched Sweetpea Bicycles. Natalie recently quit her job as a bike messenger and is now working full-tilt to design and build bikes especially for women. She has set up shop … Read more
[Download appeal] [UPDATE: Download appeal JPEG, 94K.] SK Northwest, the company that wants to develop a parcel on the Willamette River and not allow public trail access through their property, has appealed the recent denial of their development permit. According to Kate Green of the City of Portland Bureau of Development Services, a public hearing … Read more
A recent stolen bike listing describes a brazen thief clipping bike locks in broad daylight on NE Broadway Blvd: “My bike was stolen a few hours ago outside Costello’s Travel Cafe on NE Broadway between 22nd and 23rd. It was 7:00pm, bright out, and busy on the street. A woman who was parking right beside … Read more
Tigard school teacher Eric Kautzky was killed in June of 2005 by a teenager who fell asleep at the wheel (more on Kautzky here). Evan Manvel of the BTA just forwarded me this news release from Salem from the office of State Representative Jerry Krummel (R-Wilsonville). It’s an announcement of a special ceremony this Sunday … Read more
[via Portland Transport] After some speculation that the old Sauvie Island Bridge might become a new bike/ped only bridge over the 405 freeway at Flanders Street, city transportation insider Chris Smith tell us that, “The Commissioner’s office indicates that community response was not sufficient to justify the extra cost of moving the bridge.” We needed … Read more
[Hardly “better” access.] Noticed an article in the Oregonian yesterday about the upcoming 75th anniversary of the St. Johns Bridge in North Portland. Given the controversial recent history of this bridge, one paragraph jumped out at me: “In 2005, the Oregon Department of Transportation spent nearly $43 million to complete a major overhaul of the … Read more
Susan Otcenas has a keen eye for erratic drivers. She’s logged thousands of miles on her bike, riding between her business in Hillsboro and to meetings in and around Portland. Last Sunday night, while driving, she watched in horror as the car in front of her struck a cyclist riding in a bike lane on … Read more
[One of six bikey sculptures.] Last Friday, Nikkie West of the Community Cycling Center put the final touches on a bike art garden at Abernethy Elementary school in Southeast Portland. The garden includes six artistic sculptures (see them all) made from recycled bike parts and was a collaborative effort between West – the CCC’s recycling … Read more
The City of Portland Bureau of Development Services (BDS) has denied the development application of Shawn Karambelas and his company, SK Northwest (PDF of the official decision). SK’s application to build on the Willamette River became a big deal because they didn’t want to allow a trail to be built across their property, in spite … Read more
[Bike lanes coming soon!] As part of their Interstate 5/Delta Park widening project, ODOT allocated $1 million for “community enhancement projects.” Savvy activists Shamus Lynsky and Shayna Rehberg, working closely with Roger Geller and the Portland Bicycle Advisory Committee, applied for some of this funding and I’ve just gotten the word from ODOT that their … Read more