I recently found out that each month, during the First Thursdays celebration, Commissioner Sams Adams‘ office has a celebration around a different theme. They’ve chosen July as bike month and they want to showcase the Portland bike scene. Beyond just Sam’s office, the goal is to get other Commissioners on board, reserve the atrium and … Read more
[Shared lane marking, a.k.a. “sharrow”.](Photo by Todd Boulanger) These roadway markings in Northwest Portland are known as shared lane markings, or sharrows. They were installed back in September as an experimental project, and they’re still awaiting official sanction. Because the markings are still new to many road users, the City of Portland has developed a … Read more
Laughing Horse Books is a collectively run bookstore in Southeast Portland that was co-founded by Tim Calvert, who also co-founded the Citybikes Cooperative bike shop. As you might have read on IndyMedia, Laughing Horse has been forced to move due to a rent increase. Turns out they want to do the move by bike! Here … Read more
[From a BTA press release] Sam has been known to ride in Portland’s controversial Critical Mass ride, but this Friday, he will be taking part in a different sort of group bike ride. 5th graders at Sunnyside Environmental School and community volunteers will ‘helmet’ up to take a 2-hour ride through SE Portland. All week, … Read more
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
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
[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
[Gary Sansom, curator.] Over 20 years ago, 40 year-old Northeast Portland resident Gary Sansom was a top BMX racer. Like many guys his age (including me), he grew up wanting to be a BMX superstar. Eventually (also like many of us) he grew up, got a “real job”, and got on with his life…but his … Read more
[Dave Johnson, President] You wouldn’t know it from the outside, but up on MLK Blvd. (at Jessup Street), behind an IT company called Netropole, is an online retailer of bike apparel called Veloclothes.com. I recently paid them a visit to find out more about the company. Dave Johnson, a major bike enthusiast, is the owner … Read more
[Vintage poster from 1979] After a hiatus of nearly a decade, the City of Portland will host an official Bike to Work Day celebration at Pioneer Courthouse Square on May 17th, from 7:30-9:00am. Find out all the details in the official press release. It should be a great party and continuation of a proud tradition … 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