[Update: more photos of the markings] In the past 24 hours I have heard from several reliable sources that the new Hawthorne Bridge markings were done with little to no input from cyclists. One bike advocacy insider went so far as to say: “I am incredibly disappointed in the County (again, I might add) for … Read more
[Update: more photos of the markings] Multnomah County work crews restriped the bike/ped path on the popular Hawthorne Bridge this morning. The new markings were done in an effort to “reduce conflicts between pedestrians and bicyclists” according to the official press release (PDF). Here’s more from the release:
[click to enlarge] Bike theft is on the rise. I had 20 stolen bikes listed on this site in October alone. And from what I’ve heard, the thieves are getting more and more brazen, sawing racks in half, taking the entire rack with them, and even coming into homes while the victim sleeps just feet … Read more
Maria Rubia from the Mayor Potter’s office has requested a white paper from local bike advocate and lawyer Mark Ginsberg and Commissioner Sam Adams’ staffer Roland Chlapowski. The report is meant to detail “currently outstanding issues” with Critical Mass. The report should be completed in the next few weeks.
Castelli, a designer and maker of high-end cycling apparel is setting up shop in Portland. The global company, based in Milan Italy, previously had their U.S. operations in Minneapolis, MN. The new operation should be up and running by December. Eighteen months ago, Nike employee Greg Cowan took partial ownership in the company. Cowan lives … Read more
Erik Tonkin and Rhonda Mazza are the fastest couple in Portland. The husband and wife pair scored great results in the Cycle-Smart International held this morning in Northampton, MA. Erik placed 5th among an elite group of riders and Rhonda rode to an amazing 2nd place behind Canadian powerhouse Lynn Bessette. Way to go guys!
I know I’ve been harsh on ODOT in the past, but now I applaud them. A few weeks ago I posted something about a couple riding a tandem that had slipped on wet paint laid down by ODOT road crews. The paint had just been applied and no signs or cones were placed to warn … Read more
PDOT and Portland Streetcar, Inc. are embarking on a major project in the South Waterfront district. This new area will be like another Pearl District; complete with a streetcar line, tons of retail shops, and high-density, super expensive condos. Sounds great right?
[Rhonda Mazza] Vanilla Bicycles, a small Portland-based framebuilder is supplying bikes to some of the best cyclocross racers in the country. In the current standings of the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross Rhonda Mazza (shown in photo) is currently ranked 6th in the Elite Women’s field and Shannon Skerritt is ranked 7th in the Men’s … Read more
At a meeting last week between the BTA, the Portland Police Traffic Division and citizen bike advocates, Commander Bill Sinnott told us about a cool new program they’ve started. In recent weeks they have carried out undercover “bike missions” that put officers on bikes in order to observe and ticket motorists that violate laws and … Read more
[UPDATE: Don’t miss this very informative comment by Greg Raisman from PDOT.] As I first reported back in September, Portland traffic cops are embarking on a new program to install free lights on bikes. This morning, the Oregonian has a more in-depth story that lays it all out. Making appearances in the article are traffic … Read more
Good thing we’ve got the Willy Week watching our backs (or should I say fronts?). In an article titled, “Hey Numbnuts” they bring in an OHSU urologist to dispel an article in the NY Times about a link between erectile dysfunction (E.D.) and bike seats. For 95% of cyclists, this is a non-issue. But every … Read more