This article reflects on an annual tradition in Portland: Veteran, all-season riders having to adjust to an influx of fair-weather riders at the onset of spring. It was submitted by 31-year old North Portland resident Adam Stone, who requested that I publish it as, “a timely plug for safety and etiquette.”
State Senator Chris Edwards (D-Eugene) is behind two bills this session that would strengthen Oregon’s helmet laws.
Sen. Edwards wants to raise the age limit for mandatory helmet use from 16 to 18 years of age (SB 742) and he wants to make helmet use mandatory for all ages when, “participating in an organized exhibition, competition or contest” (SB 741). Both bills are set for a hearing and possible vote in the Senate Business and Transportation Committee on March 25th.
According to Edwards’ Legislative Aide Holly Fifield, the concern over helmet use was brought to his attention during a meeting with a family last fall. “The family has a son who competes in skateboard competitions and that child has learned that there are benefits to not wearing a helmet [in competition],” wrote Fifield via email. Apparently judges in some skateboard competitions will award higher scores to people without helmets because the trick being performed is deemed to have a higher degree of risk. “So, if there were two athletes who performed the same trick successfully,” Fifield explained, “the judges would give a better score to the athlete who wasn’t wearing a helmet.” She said Sen. Edwards sees this as “a health concern.”
Year: 2008
Brand: sprout
Model: single speed mtb
Color:metallic silver
Size:roughly 16
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/84408504@N05/8555030637/in/photostream
Stolen in Portland, OR 97219
Stolen:2013-03-13
Stolen From: in front of my house/shopSW 9th dr. near terwilleger and taylors ferry
Neighborhood: south burlingame
Owner: edwin brown
OwnerEmail: edwin@sproutcycles.com
Reward: $1000
Description: compact geometry built w/ columbus zona steel tubing.
formula oro k24 white calipers w/ 160mm rotors
front wheel: chris king blue 32* 9mm/qr serial#1510026781 laced to white velocity cliff hanger
rear wheel: chris king blue single speed 32* bolt on serial #1910001787 laced to white velocity cliff hanger
both rims have a rainbow stripe at the seam. both wheels are laced with velocity competition 14/15g spokes
handlebars and cranks are also powder coated white
thomson elite silver 90mm stem
thomson elite silver 27.2 post
selle italia flite saddle black
speedplay frog pedals
made by my hands. missed very much
Police record with: portland police
Police reference#: #13-20295
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
The Port of Portland wants your feedback on bicycling in and around the Portland International Airport (PDX). They’re hosting an open house next week (3/19) to share information and hear your thoughts on existing facilities and what they can improve on in the future.
The impetus for this open house is an effort to update the Portland International Airport Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (PDF). That plan was the first biking and walking plan ever created for a commercial airport; but it came out in 2003 and it’s slated for an update this year.
There’s plenty to talk about when it comes to bicycling around PDX. As we’ve written about several times over the years, the Port has some bike-specific routes, wayfinding signage, bike parking, and other amenities that make bicycling to the airport a viable option for some. A recent study about bike-friendly airports by the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Berkeley held up PDX as an “exemplary” model of how to provide bicycle access. But while steps have been made, biking to the airport remains something reserved for the “strong and fearless” and much more can be done to make it as safe and convenient as driving or other modes.
Researchers at Portland State University are looking for e-bike riders to fill out an online survey. The survey is part of an ongoing study that began last fall with an aim to “provide valuable insight into the potential market, user characteristics and barriers to adoption” of e-bikes.
Here’s more about the survey from principal investigator on the project John MacArthur:
Mark Gorton, the founder of OpenPlans and the influential advocacy media empire Streetsblog, will deliver the keynote speech at the Oregon Active Transportation Summit next month.
The Summit takes place in Salem on April 24-25th and the agenda feature a host of speakers, breakout sessions, and a lobbying day at the state capitol.
Gorton (Wikipedia) is an engaging figure in the livable streets movement. An entrepreneur known for his creation of Limewire, a peer-to-peer file-sharing platform, he has devoted considerable resources to transportation and urban design issues for many years. He has been a major supporter of New York City-based non-profit Transportation Alternatives and his New York City Streets Renaissance initiative led to the creation of Streetsblog and Streetfilms. In 2009, the Utne Reader named him “One of 50 visionaries changing your world.”
At the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Long Beach, California last year, Gorton got a standing ovation from the assembled crowd of advocates and bureaucrats. Gorton’s latest project, Rethinking the Automobile, is aimed at raising awareness of, “the negative impact of the automobile on our world.”
“Through public events and media campaigns,” states the project’s website, “Rethinking the Automobile reveals how policies that prioritize the automobile destroy public space in our cities and towns and have created a dangerous and unsustainable world.”
I interviewed Gorton back in November while in New York City. To put it mildly, he has strong opinions about the continued dominance of auto-centric city planning and policies. “The fact is, people are dying, people’s lives are being shortened,” he said, “Why aren’t people impatient? Why aren’t they holding people accountable? Now it’s time for planners and officials to start owning the health and safety of citizens. It’s about not letting these people get away with it anymore.”
That sentiment should make for interesting conversations among transportation advocates the Summit and in the offices of Oregon state legislators who just pushed through a massive freeway expansion project (the Columbia River Crossing) that was expressly designed to make automobile use more appealing.
You can register online for the Oregon Active Transportation Summit. See you there!
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is going high-tech with their vaunted Safe Routes to School program. In an effort to motivate kids to bike and walk to school, they’ve purchased a product that uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to automatically track school travel trips.
PBOT has won a $35,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation that they intend to use for bike parking and for the purchase of a The Hub, a software package from Saris Cycling Group*. Gabe Graff, who manages PBOT’s Safe Routes program, says they plan to implement The Hub at four of the 80 schools that receive the program.
Year: 2006
Brand: Haro
Model: 124
Color:black
Size:24
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaredholmgrenphotography/8554059541/in/photostream
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2013-03-07
Stolen From: Someone cut my cable, left the lock with a short piece of the cable and stole my bicycle from a bike rack in Old Town across the MAX tracks from Whiskey Bar.
Neighborhood: Old Town
Owner: Jared Holmgren
OwnerEmail: jaredholmgren@yahoo.com
Reward: $100
Description: It’s a black 24" (oversized) Haro BMX bicycle. 2 headlight and 2 tail light brackets, seat bag, rear fender. It has 2 tears in the seat and a gyro headset. (503) 875-4383
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-151671
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Year: 2011
Brand: SE
Model: Draft
Color:Red
Size:47cm
Photo: web.stagram.com/p/193051282578438152_9890349
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2013-03-13
Stolen From: Safeway se 39th and Powell
Neighborhood: South east
Owner: Kelsie Brooks
OwnerEmail: Magicalprincesscat(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Description: Polished chrome accessories (cranks, bars, neck)
Alexis Non Deep Polished Wheelset
Chrome pedal set with nylon staps
Hawaiian license sticker on lower rear frame
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Year: 2011
Brand: SE
Model: Draft
Color:Red
Size:47cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2013-03-13
Stolen From: Safeway se 39th and Powell
Neighborhood: South east
Owner: Kelsie Brooks
OwnerEmail: Magicalprincesscat(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Description: Polished chrome accessories (cranks, bars, neck)
Alexis Non Deep Polished Wheelset
Chrome pedal set with nylon staps
Hawaiian license sticker on lower rear frame
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Year: 2010
Brand: Specialized
Model: Vita
Serial:P10BBP0301
Stolen in Portland, OR 97217
Stolen:2013-03-01
Stolen From: The bike was stolen from a bike rack in the garage of my apartment building (mississippi lofts). It was locked with a cable and u lock that were cut. They were professionals quickly turning the bikes over because they left my helmet and paniers
Neighborhood: North Portland, Missippi street and Skidmore
Owner: Adrianne Feldstein
OwnerEmail: feldsteinad@yahoo.com
Reward: $100
Description: This white hybrid Vita was purchased from 21st ave bikes in July 2010. It has a rear rack and (if it is still on the bike) battery operated front and rear lights but also an expensive rechargeable battery operated lighting system from DiNotte (400L and R headlight and tail light)
Police record with: Portland Police Dept
Police reference#: 13-18246-Officer Habkirk -jim.habkirk@portlandoregon.gov
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Brand: Cannondale
Color:Dark blue
Size:58 cm
Stolen in Springfield, OR 97477
Stolen:2013-02-26
Stolen From: UO Campus
Owner: Kayleigh Catron
OwnerEmail: kcatron22(at sign)gmail.com
Reward: $50
Description: Value: $$300.00
Frame Color: dark blue
Frame Size: 58 cm
Speed: 2 chain rings in the front
Engraving:
Bicycle Type: Men’s
Handlebar Style:
– Racing
– Taped
Grip Color: Purple and black striped
Fenders:
Fendor Color: No fendors
Seat Style: Racing
Seat Color: Black
Seat Material:
Reflectors:
Brakes: Two Hand
Generator:
Wheels:
Wheel Color: Silver
Tire Size: 700×23
Front Tire Color: Black
Rear Tire Color: Black
Police record with: EPD
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike