Talking while driving doesn’t boost crash rates, surprising new study finds

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Busted!

Not really a risk?
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

What if talking on a cell phone behind the wheel isn’t so dangerous after all?

What if people who are on the phone naturally tend to drive more carefully, essentially canceling out any danger?

That’s the startling implication of a cleverly designed study released Thursday that hasn’t yet gotten much attention in the media. Its authors, a professor of social and decision sciences and an economist, readily admit that their findings seem contrary to some (though not all) previous work in the area.

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Silver K2 Zed 4.9 2013

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Year: 2013
Brand: K2
Model: Zed 4.9
Color:Silver
Size:Large
Photo: http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=16255826&cp=3077572.3077627.2712462&parentPage=family
Stolen in Portland, OR 97215
Stolen:2013-08-9
Stolen From: Tabor Tavern restaurant, 5325 E Burnside St Portland, OR 97215
stolen at 5.15PM in broad daylight outside the restaurant.
Neighborhood: Mt. Tabor/53rd & Burnside
Owner: Adam Yon
OwnerEmail: rainie_rebitzke(A T)hotmail.com
Description: Brand new K2 Mens Zed 4.9 Mountain Bike. No kickstand, no water bottle holder.
Police record with: Portland Police Bureau
Police reference#: T13007448
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Black Surly Cross-Check 2011

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Year: 2011
Brand: Surly
Model: Cross-Check
Color:Black
Size:56cm
Serial: m10070579
Stolen in Portland, OR 97217
Stolen:2013-08-10
Stolen From: Alberta and 68th. From back shed.
Neighborhood: Cully
Owner: Christopher Vigliotta
OwnerEmail: chris.vigliotta(at sign)gmail.com
Reward: Beer, etc
Description: Surly Cross-Check built with SRAM Rival shifters, derailers, and cranks. Shimano Ultegra hubs to Mavic Open Pro rims. Thompson seatpost. Yellow bar tape. WTF Bikes sticker on frame.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: Pending
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

black TREK 7.5 fx WSD 2011

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Year: 2011
Brand: TREK
Model: 7.5 fx WSD
Color:black
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2013-08-09
Stolen From: Kaiser Permanente West on N. Interstate ave.
Neighborhood: Overlook neighborhood
Owner: Megan Scheminske
OwnerEmail: meganscheminske@gmail.com
Description: Black trek 7.5 fx wsd
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Dark green Trek 1500 2003

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Year: 2003
Brand: Trek
Model: 1500
Color:Dark green
Serial: Ww1775645
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2013-08-9
Stolen From: NW Lovejoy and 14 th
Neighborhood: perarl district
Owner: Stephen Kafoury
OwnerEmail: Skafoury(A T)hevanet.com
Reward: $100
Description: Computer attached
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: 1366366
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

White BMC ProMachine SL 2010

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Year: 2010
Brand: BMC
Model: ProMachine SL
Color:White
Size:Black
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/nRMuRcz.jpg
Stolen in Gresham, OR 97030
Stolen:2013-08-9
Stolen From: Garage on Wonderview Ave. between NW 16th and 18th streets off 202nd, between Division and Burnside
Neighborhood: Baltz Creekside
Owner: Greg Madson
OwnerEmail: gmadson(A T)villagehc.com
Reward: $1000.00
Description: BMC Promachine road bike, White & black, 2 red water bottle cages, red seat bag, red blinkie light on handlebars, Black saddle
Police record with: Gresham PD
Police reference#: T13000787
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

‘Tis the season for cyclocross clinics

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Blind Date at the Dairy race-16

Ready, set, ‘cross!
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

It might be hard to believe, since we’re just now getting in the groove of summer, but cyclocross season is right around the corner. The first official cyclocross race of the season is just three weeks away.

If you’ve been meaning to brush up on your ‘cross skills, or if this will be your first season and you want to gain some confidence in your riding, you are in luck. The Oregon Bicycle Racing Association (OBRA) calendar is full of skills clinics led by experts and designed to help you get the most out of your racing.

Check out three of the best local cyclocross clinics in our round-up below:

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Navy Felt ZW4 2010

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Year: 2010
Brand: Felt
Model: ZW4
Color:Navy
Size:47
Serial: WUD61008926E
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/btr3dij.jpg
Stolen in Grehsam, OR 97030
Stolen:2013-08-9
Stolen From: my garage on Wonderview ave. between NW 18th and 16th streets off 202nd.
Neighborhood: Baltz Creekside
Owner: Lynnell Madson
OwnerEmail: lynnell09(AT)yahoo.com
Reward: $1000
Description: Electric blue frame, blue wheels, White Terry “lady” saddle, Black front frame bag.
Police record with: Gresham PD
Police reference#: T13000787
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

County re-thinks cemetery detour: Bikers will be flagged through work zone

Multnomah County has revised their detour plans for a construction project that was going to close the popular bicycle route through River View Cemetery near the Sellwood Bridge. After our story on Monday, County spokesman says he heard from many people concerned about the safety of the proposed detours (which included a gauntlet-running uphill on SW Taylors Ferry Rd.). Here’s more from Pullen via the official County statement:

“After we announced an upcoming construction closure of a road in Riverview Cemetery last week, we heard from bicyclists concerned about the safety of alternate east/west routes. This week the project team worked with Riverview Cemetery staff to revise the traffic plan so that bicyclists and pedestrians will be able to use the road during construction of the new cemetery entrance from August 12 through September.”

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Three local bike books to nab (and one to await)

bike books!

Portland is rich with locally written bike books.
(Photo by J.Maus/BikePortland)

Portland has been exporting its biking expertise for years, but the explosion of independent publishing is helping that happen faster than ever.

Case in point: Four new books by young local authors, all currently in development, poised to document and spread local bike wisdom around the city, the region and the country. One’s about moving by bike, one’s about bike touring, one’s about bike-inspired cooking and one is a popular-audience introduction to the role bikes can play in economic growth.

With the days getting shorter and book season approaching, here’s a cheat sheet on a few projects in the works, and how to get ahold of them.

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From the Archives

With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike