BikePortland

Two new trails opening at Sandy Ridge this weekend

Now there are two more reasons to ride at Sandy Ridge.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Sandy Ridge, the popular mountain bike trail-riding area just 40 miles east of Portland, just got even better. Two new trails are set to open by this weekend bringing the total mileage of bike-specific trails in the system to over 15.

Adam Milnor, a recreation planner with the Bureau of Land Management’s Salem District, shared the great news a few minutes ago:

Follow the Leader is a 1.65 mile advanced trail that features a challenging double black diamond segment. Riders start at the upper info kiosk and traverse a couple scree fields before fording Little Joe Creek. From there, the trail drops 350 feet in the next mile with some exposure, big grade reversals and plenty of opportunities for skilled riders to get off the ground.

Flow Motion is a 0.75 mile intermediate flow trail with incredible soil and more than fifteen berms. The trail drops 275 feet through a nice Doug fir and hemlock forest before crossing the road and tying directly into lower Hide and Seek Cut. Great pedal to payoff ratio, with an easy session opportunity using Homestead Road. Sure to see lots of traffic.

Mike Cooley, shown here ready to head out on his
daily bike commute, may never walk again.
The man who drove his truck into him
is still on the loose.
(Photos courtesy Lisa Cooley)

Update, July 5: The Cooleys have set up a fund for those wishing to support Mike’s recovery. See below for details.

Two weeks after a white Ford pickup reportedly hit him from behind at 60 mph, postal driver Mike Cooley is still in critical condition at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and the person whose actions nearly killed him is still at large.

The crash took place June 15th on North Interstate Avenue near Greeley. Police have distributed photos of the truck that may have hit Cooley, with little results so far.

“There’s only been one tip, and it was completely bogus,” said Cooley’s wife, Lori Cooley, in an interview with BikePortland yesterday.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

The Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division has sent a clear message to people how are driving fast and dangerously around the closure of SE Cesar Chavez Blvd: slow down and follow the laws. A statement issued by the transportation bureau this morning says they’ve written 80 citations so far in a “stepped-up” enforcement effort aimed at preventing people from cutting through residential streets — some of which are important arteries in the bike route network.

After we posted a story about this closure last week we immediately heard feedback from readers both via Twitter and in the comments about people who were driving too fast on neighborhood streets. SE 41st in particular, which is a popular street for biking, had become a thoroughfare for high-speed, inconsiderate drivers. Reader Pat Franz, who lives in the area, shared via a comment that, “we’re definitely getting more traffic- probably 3X normal. And more fast traffic.”

Here’s more from Franz:

Riders scope out routes at Sandy Ridge, a popular trail-riding
destination built specifically for mountain biking.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Nobody in Oregon gets more of its tourist dollar from bikes than the Mount Hood region, and people in eastern Multnomah and Clackamas counties are taking notice.

Whatever happens in the controversy about a planned mountain bike park near Timberline Lodge, the area seems to be thinking more and more about biking. Consider a few elements:

Aftermath of a collision on the Highway 6 yesterday.
(Photo: Oregon State Police)

The Oregon State Police are investigating a collision that happened yesterday afternoon on Highway 6 (Wilson River Highway) east of Tillamook. According to an OSP statement, 29-year old Portland resident Joel Westrom was riding westbound on the shoulder of the highway when he was struck from behind by Suzanne Flood, a 65-year old Milwaukie resident driving a Mini Cooper.

The OSP statement says Westrom, “reportedly moved into the car’s path” prior to the collision. Investigators believe Flood was driving 55 mph prior to the collision. Westrom has sustained serious injuries and was flown to OHSU. The police statement also says he was not wearing a helmet.

Sean Martin outside the Chrome store
in downtown Portland.
(Photo © Alex Milan Tracy)

If you think urban fixed-gear riding was just some fad that has been played out, you couldn’t be more wrong. In cities all over America, urban fixed gear riding has gone from a death-defying, extreme sport dominated by messengers, to a more established discipline with organized events, races, and big-time sponsorships. And Los Angeles resident Sean Martin is one its stars.

Martin, 33, is captain of the CBNC Cycling Team and a charismatic and talented blogger who’s taking track bikes to a whole new level. His big break came last year when he was featured in Fixation, a documentary about the world of fixed gear cycling.

Brand: Hoo Doo
Model: Voo Doo
Color:Yellow
Size:Mountain
Serial: S9TM00401
Stolen in Portland, OR
Stolen:2013-07-2
Stolen From: Taken from basement of residence apartments located at the intersection of NW 23rd Avenue and NW Raleigh in the Knobhill area of Portland.
Neighborhood: Knobhill area in NW Portland
OwnerEmail: ProOptions(replace with at sign)comcast.net
Description: Mountain bike. Bright yellow frame with red Manitoo front fork. Frame has Hoo Doo on top, Voo Doo decals on lower frame. Speedo, bell, and Cats Eye headlight on handlebars. Cats Eye rear taillight mounted to ToPeak storage bag under seat. Also has a bright round pink/black “Suicide Girls” decal mounted to the frame directly under the seat. Serial number: S9TM00401
Police record with: Online Portland PD report
Police reference#: 13-154328
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

What caused Portland’s biking boom?

Chart by Rutgers University professor and noted bicycle researcher John Pucher. This was one slide from a presentation he gave last week in Seattle.

N Williams Ave Open House-N Williams Ave Final Open House-9

As we reported last March, the City of Portland has about $1.5 million to spend on the North Williams Traffic Safey & Operations project. That’s enough money to build all recommendations put forward by the project’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) in April 2012.

However, PBOT was in a tricky spot when they found out the state grant that’s funding the project ($1.3 million of the total) could not be used for one small but crucial piece: the “Honoring History Streetscape”. That element of the project is a $100,000 piece of public art that will, “honor N Williams Avenue’s importance in local African-American history.”

PBOT is nearly finished with a project to improve bicycling conditions on the NW Broadway ramp south of the Broadway Bridge. The $30,000 project is expected to be finished by tonight but most of the new striping was completed early this morning before rush hour.

In order to create the additional five feet needed for the buffered bike lane, PBOT reduced the amount of vehicle lanes from five to four. Instead of a five-foot bike lane and four, 9.5-foot standard lanes, there is now a 10-foot bike lane and three, 11-foot standard vehicle lanes. The change was made because of the huge amount of people who ride bicycles down this ramp and the need to create safer and more pleasant conditions for them.

I rode it this morning and took a few photos.

Year: 2009
Brand: Kona
Model: Zing Deluxe
Color:Black
Size:56
Serial: 635700HSG
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=133663756648473&set=t.620078856&type=3&theater
Stolen in Portladn, OR 97203
Stolen:2013-07-01
Stolen From: The Streetcar Lofts parking garage
Neighborhood: Pearl
Owner: Bill Michielsen
OwnerEmail: michiels13(AT)up.edu
Reward: 250
Description: It is a custom black, white and red paint job for Rad Racing NW. Has silver Mavic Ksyrium elite wheels and a sticker near the seat tube for University of Portland Public Safety registration
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T13005805
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Carnage: Three hospitalized in Foster wreck; Driver slams into house on Skidmore – UPDATED

KATU jokes in their headline,
but this is no laughing matter.

The carnage on Portland’s streets show no signs of letting up.

In the past 24 hours alone, three people failing to control their cars has led to serious injuries and significant property damage.

At about 8:15 pm last night, the Portland Police reported that two people driving in the intersection of SE 92nd and Foster (map) collided with each other. The driver of a Jeep then rolled his/her vehicle and it went up onto the sidewalk where two people were standing. Both people standing on the sidewalk appear to have been either riding bikes or standing their bikes and both sustained “serious but not believed to be life-threatening injuries.” The driver of the Jeep was also injured and taken to the hospital.

Two new trails opening at Sandy Ridge this weekend

As hit-and-run victim leaves coma, suspect remains on the loose

Police send message with 80 citations to drivers near major road closure

Stars aligning for a bike tourism boom in the Mt. Hood area

Portland man seriously injured in collision on Highway 6 near Tillamook

Meet urban fixed-gear star Sean Martin

Yellow Hoo Doo Voo Doo

What caused Portland’s biking boom?

City commits funds to honor history in Williams Ave project

First Look: Wider bike lanes on NW Broadway ramp

Black Kona Zing Deluxe 2009

Carnage: Three hospitalized in Foster wreck; Driver slams into house on Skidmore – UPDATED

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