From Bronze to Silver to Gold? A dispatch from Beaverton
Subscriber Ms. Fast shares her activism adventures from the West Side.
West Side
Forced to steal, a Cedar Hills teen turns in her mom and gets a new bike
At least this ends on a happy note.
‘Carefree Commuter Challenge’ starts July 1st
The Carefree Commuter Challenge starts next month and the folks at Drive Less Save More are expecting over 2,000 people from across the region to take part. The Challenge is just one component of a state-funded marketing program aimed at encouraging folks to get around with something other than their car. Drive Less Save More … Read more
Proposed ‘Scenic Bikeway’ would connect Hillsboro to Banks-Vernonia Trail
The beautiful roads just outside Hillsboro.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) Oregon’s State Scenic Bikeway program has really taken off in recent years. Routes have sprung up all over the state and they’re spurring economic development and providing people with great bike adventures. But so far, none of them are very close to Portland. Now comes word … Read more
Tonquin Trail gets new name and a master plan
Rollin’ through the Ice Age.(Photo: Metro) The Tonquin Trail — a 22 mile system of paths that will someday connect the cities of Sherwood, Tualatin and Wilsonville — is now officially named the Ice Age Tonquin Trail. The project has also just completed a master plan that is set to be forwarded onto city, regional, … Read more
Persistent activism gets ODOT and police focused on Sylvan overpass problems
Google street view of Sylvan overpass.
Hillsboro school custodian starts student bike repair program
Still from KATU News video (watch their story here). A reader brought to our attention a great story about the power of bicycles and how one person can make a difference. The head custodian at Poynter Middle School in Hillsboro, John Sarrazin, has turned a chance encounter with a student who needed help fixing his … Read more
Owner of Hillsboro coffeehouse says “cyclists” have worn out welcome – UPDATED
Anyone who has ridden regularly with a group or club knows the importance of a great, pre-ride meeting spot. For Portland Velo, a large cycling club based west of Forest Park, their “home base” since 2006 has been Longbottom Coffeehouse in Hillsboro. Over the years, Longbottom has become not just one of Portland Velo’s sponsors, … Read more
Catching up with the Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition
Inside the WashCo BTC’s Frans Pauwels Memorial Bicycle Center.From left to right: Volunteer Al Martinez, Hal Ballard, and founding staff-member Mark Norbert.
Bethany Blvd widening approved: See what’s in the plans
Plan drawing of Bethany expansion. On Tuesday night, Washington County Commissioners voted 3-2 to widen Bethany Boulevard north of Highway 26 (map). The current roadway is two lanes and Tuesday’s vote was for a four-lane design that will bulge out to five lanes where left turns are permitted. We haven’t been following this project closely, … Read more
Beyond Beaverton by bike
Join us for a ride beyond Beaverton.(Photos © J. Maus) Last week I met up with Jim Parsons for a ride on the West Side. We wove our way through the bowels of Beaverton, (confronting mega-arterials at every turn) and eventually made our way into beautiful unincorporated Washington County. I always learn a lot when … Read more
Beaverton fatality follow-up: A conversation with police spokesman
“Given the circumstances, it seems like issuing a citation would probably not stand up in court. Any person could go in and say, ‘It’s dark, rainy, there’s this little red light in the road’. I think any judge would toss that citation out’.”— Det. Sgt. Jim Shumway, Beaverton Police Department The community is trying to … Read more