Francine leading a Pedalpalooza ride: Climate, Cycles and Creamsicles

[NOTE: This is a guest post from a BikePortland subscriber.]

As Joe Biden mentioned during his speech at the DNC convention last month, we face four historic crises: a pandemic, a collapsed economy, a struggle for racial justice and a threat of climate disaster. While the first three of these are front of mind for most of us, it is the last one that really keeps me up at night. Maybe that’s true for you as well? I suspect that climate change is never far from the bike community’s mind. Fortunately, there’s a straightforward way to start bringing down carbon emissions quickly and addressing the climate crisis: put a price on carbon.

Like many people in the biking community, I ride for many reasons, including convenience, health, community and fun. I started bike commuting more than 20 years ago because it was an easy, quick way to get to work. Then I started going on group weekend rides for camaraderie and exercise. To encourage others to rediscover the joy of biking, I was the Bike More Challenge co-captain at my workplace for over a decade. It was satisfying to help others get back into biking. I also led a Climate, Cycle and Creamsicles ride for Pedalpalooza.

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In light of the dismal corridor options presented for SE Hawthorne, I encourage PBOT employees watch parking policy expert, Stuart Donovan make the argument that no parking serves equity goals. I believe PBOT can take a few hints from Aussies on using parking policy to address equity issues, plus the accent is fun!

PBOT needs to add a new corridor option that removes parking entirely and adds a shared biking, transit and cargo delivery options spaces. Shared freight parking in the middle with a higher speed centered bike lane could be an option. Observe Hawthorne in the early am when all the fresh deliveries are happening. These drivers are at risk all the time. All the corridor options developed should be scrapped. Start over. Remove parking, add bike lane.

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Roberta Robles, Kiowa sun dancer and bike advocate.

Cyclists are a vital advocacy voice in climate change recovery. We are standing on the backs of decades of Portland cycling advocacy work. This article is meant to be read as a response to the Making Space post on BikePortland.org.

I am fully inspired by the WOKE cycling advocates who came together to cork for #BLM and now the Wall of Mom in cycling helmets. I see a lot of us putting our bodies on the lines for #BLM to protect the marchers. According to plant spirit medicine healers, shared traumatic experiences on the road is felt in the mind similarly to systemic racism. I now make a call to healers and advocates. We are burying the black snake oil of fossil fuel at the same time we are healing Black communities. Healing trauma of road violence is supported by the teachings of Pacha Mama, or Mother Earth.

Centering the Bike in Indigenous Advocacy

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I’m immune compromised and self-isolating for as long as I can afford to, and I am not getting out much, sitting too still for too long, and getting bored.

Yes, there are fewer cars on the road, but when I have gone out, I have encountered about the same number of aggressive drivers – I’m still blasting my horn about once per trip. When roads are emptier, that kind of driver is more inclined to barrel through stop signs. My cellmate is not feeling like the roads are any safer: he does not want to take advantage of what should be an opportunity.

We’re both slow, almost-paranoid, low-mileage riders, and usually insist on taking the lane because we insist on being seen. We live in inner SE. Where should we dare to ride?

Help keep this Portland bike institution rolling! Kidical Mass PDX is entering its 10th year (wow!) and we’re looking to add to our small eager group of volunteer ride leaders as well as assign a new organizer or co-organizers to keep the finely-tuned KMPDX machine running smoothly.

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Kittie Knox is surfacing again with welcome arms.

Knox is a cyclist from Boston who lived in the late 1800s and died early at age 26. There are few facts and one might think she is a token to be bandied about. But this is not true. And thanks to Lorenz Finison who published The Boston’s Cycling Craze, 1880-1890, we receive greater insights into who she was. Her life and treatment by other cyclists forces us to ponder, have we changed?

The Racial Divide feels ever great everywhere. Having our America build United States-Mexico border walls heightens the Berlin Wall of Eastern Germany ethic of xenophobia. In our town, we have a huge melting pot of 40 plus languages in the Gresham-Rockwood area, the large disparity of those who are insured vs. no insurance, the homeless sprawl, the face of younger people without prospects to equal equity comforts of their parents; the largest economic class disparity since 1929…the list goes on for those who are subject of disparities in addition to more often mentioned racial disparity.

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This post was submitted by evo Portland, a BikePortland business subscriber.

(Photo: evo Portland)

For the dedicated rider, bike commuting is a year-round affair. Sure, there are plenty of fair-weather commuters who hang up their bikes as soon as it starts to rain, but for those really committed to riding their bikes to work, there is no offseason. Instead, Portland’s winter bike commuters must re-asses and prepare for less clement weather. It’s a good idea to get your bike tunes done each spring and fall anyway, whether or not you’re a commuter, the change of seasons offers the perfect reminder to go over your bike and make sure it’s still running smoothly.

Road bike tuning every fall might seem unnecessary, after all, the bike is running fine, why pay to mess with it? But with most things, and especially with bikes, an ounce of prevention saves a pound of repair. The wet winter season puts different demands on your bike, and it’s worth having a good Portland bike repair shop go over it and make sure it’s ready for the change of seasons.[Read more…]

With incredible support from many people and organizations, the Gorge Pedal ride happened this July. It delights my soul that this happened and reinforces several public and hidden agendas in regard to our needs of our incredible World Heritage Site worthy Columbia River Gorge.

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Saddle and seat tube taken from my bike while shopping – and no, no quick releases were involved. I hope whoever gets “such a deal” on it has a 27mm seat tube and has to deform it to securely hold my 26.8mm post. WTB “Speed She” on the loose – not even a particularly desirable seat.

Folks: This is not Portland, but for those of you planning to visit Bellingham, here is a nice bicycle ride through some hidden little gems of parks and beaches that can be quite secluded and peaceful!