Framing the NE Multnomah Street project

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
The new NE Multnomah -7

(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

From my perspective, the most positive and important project (in terms of improving bicycle access) the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has completed in many years is their redesign of NE Multnomah Street. The project not only put the street on a serious diet — from five standard lanes and narrow bike lanes to three standard lanes and wide, protected bike lanes — its transformation was spearheaded by unusual suspects. Instead of being pushed for by citizen activists and advocates, the project was largely pushed forward by powerful, local business interests*.

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The Oregonian exposes ‘culture of exhaustion’ among TriMet operators

Sunday’s front page.

On Sunday, The Oregonian published a major front page story on the issue of driver fatigue at TriMet. The report was the result of an eight month investigation into driving records and the findings are quite disconcerting to say the least. As someone who regularly shares the road just inches from buses and MAX trains, the thought that a driver might be drowsy or asleep at the wheel is very scary.

The Oregonian story recounts several anecdotes and backs them up with TriMet’s own reports and other documentation. In one example, reporter Joseph Rose wrote that, “In a 2010 case a veteran Line 75 driver decided to retire rather than fight a report that he fell asleep at the wheel ‘almost every day.'” When a rider complained that one driver had completely fallen asleep at a stop, the driver was never disciplined.

TriMet Director of Operations Shelly Lomax told the paper, “We do not have a policy against closing one’s eyes.”

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The Monday Roundup

Good thing that barrier was there!

After a few weeks off for the holidays, it’s time to get back into rounding up the best bike news and stories around the web…

— Has Chicago taken two steps forward and one step back? Grid Chicago reports that the Chicago Department of Transportation plans to convert a stretch of protected bike lanes on Independence Blvd to buffered bike lanes after receiving complaints from neighborhood leaders.

— Speaking of protected bike lanes, this photo of a van on the Flushing Ave lanes in Brooklyn, NY pretty much sums up their safety benefits.

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chrome Franklin custom

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Brand: Franklin
Model: custom
Color:chrome
Size:53cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97217
Stolen:2013-01-7
Stolen From: Buffalo and Mobile
Neighborhood: North Portland
Owner: Kevin Mcwhirter
OwnerEmail: mcwhirterkev(AT)gmail.com
Description: Chrome fork and frame. Black grip tape and cranks, worn to silver on sides. Buckle bumps on the down and top tubes near steering column from crash. Chrome rusting at first cable guide.
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Man arrested after pepper spraying riders on Sauvie Island

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Kenneth Tester
(Photo: Mult. Co. Sheriff)

Members of a local cycling team were pepper sprayed by a man in the parking lot of a store on Sauvie Island this afternoon. The incident was reported on the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association email list by David Root, road team director for the Therapeutic Associates Cycling team.

Root says that he and other members of the team had just finished a motor-pacing session when they pulled into the parking lot of the Cracker Barrel Grocery Store near the Sauvie Island Bridge when a man driving a Ford F150 pick-up attempted to back out of the store. “When we pulled past him he rolled down his window and asked why we were staring at him and we told him that we’re just trying get past him and that we weren’t staring,” wrote Root. “He then continued to back out and clipped our moto driver Jon [Pearson] and then proceeded to try and start a altercation with Jon.”

Then, according to Root, the man in the pickup threatened Pearson and, “Then quickly as if he had it cocked and ready to go, pulled out the most powerful Police grade Pepper Spray and shot him at close range “full discharge” in the eyes and face and some of the rest of us got a little too.”

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Metallic Blue/White State Bycicle Co Tsunami 2011

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Year: 2011
Brand: State Bycicle Co
Model: Tsunami
Color:Metallic Blue/White
Size:59
Photo: http://www.statebicycle.com/PhotoDetails.asp?ShowDESC=N&ProductCode=tsunami
Stolen in Milwaukie, OR 97222
Stolen:2013-01-4
Stolen From: SE Olsen, 32nd Ave.
Neighborhood: Milwaukie
Owner: Quinn Carson
OwnerEmail: qnncarson(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Reward: 50$
Description: Metallic Blue frame, forks, hubs. Chrome handlebars with white wrap grip, White seat, wheels, and tires. Sprocket and cranks are white. !!ONE OF THE CRANK ARMS HAS A SILVER STEEL INSERT WHERE THE PEDAL SCREWS INTO THE ARM!!!
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

blue Trek 2300 WSD 2002

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Year: 2002
Brand: Trek
Model: 2300 WSD
Color:blue
Size:52 cm
Serial: WL1618070
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2013-01-4
Stolen From: Washington Park Condo
2211 SW Park Place
Neighborhood: Goose Hollow/King’s Hill
Owner: Sandra Mackey
OwnerEmail: tmkslm( atsign )gmail.com
Description: Clipless pedals, front and rear travel bags, bicycle computer,added headset to handle bars (Bontrager alloy)
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-1398
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

blue Trek 2300 WSD 2002

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2002
Brand: Trek
Model: 2300 WSD
Color:blue
Size:47 cm
Serial: WL1699624
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2013-01-4
Stolen From: Washington Park Cond0
2211 SW Park Place
Neighborhood: Goose Hollow/King’s Hill
Owner: Tina Kaufman
OwnerEmail: tkaufm(A T)gmail.com
Description: Clipless pedals, front and rear travel bags, bicycle computer, attached bicycle pump
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-1398
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

gray Pake C’mute 2012

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Year: 2012
Brand: Pake
Model: C’mute
Color:gray
Size:54
Photo: https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/c67.0.403.403/p403x403/282943_10152433292505565_265281530_n.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2013-01-6
Stolen From: 12th and Holman NE Portland
Neighborhood: Woodlawn
Owner: shana goodson Goodson
OwnerEmail: goodsongirl(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Description: Dark Gray Pake Bike, butterfly handlebars, brown seat brown bars
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

White Republic Aristotle

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Brand: Republic
Model: Aristotle
Color:White
Size:54 cm
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/XpEpI.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2013-01-4
Stolen From: NE Sandy and 37th
Neighborhood: Laurelhurst
Owner: Brooke Harrison
OwnerEmail: brookecharrison( atsign )gmail.com
Reward: $50
Description: White frame, single speed (fixed-gear). Blue grips on a black handlebar as well as a blue chain, and a blue “h” sticker on the body. White seat, front tire is white, back tire is blue.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-150115
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

orange windsor clockwork 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: windsor
Model: clockwork
Color:orange
Size:57
Stolen in Portland, OR 97227
Stolen:2013-01-5
Stolen From: Burnside & 7th
Neighborhood: burnside
Owner: talha abubakr
OwnerEmail: dragoutron(A T)yahoo.com
Description: Track bike,switch hub,white pedals,black fork,straight bars,red tires.
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

BLUE SPECIALIZED STUMPJUMPER 2006

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Year: 2006
Brand: SPECIALIZED
Model: STUMPJUMPER
Color:BLUE
Size:18″
Serial: PU506185
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205-1103
Stolen:2013-01-4
Stolen From: 2211 SW PARK PLACE, WASHINGTON PARK CONDOS STORAGE UNIT
Neighborhood: KINGS HILL/GOOSE HOLLOW
Owner: Richard Potestio
OwnerEmail: rick(replace with at sign)potestiostudio.com
Description: BLUE FRAME, BLACK SEAT, SEAT POST LOOSE, SPD PEDALS, ALUM. BOTTLE CAGES. BLUE HAND GRIPS, HAS PHOTO OF RICK JAMES PASTED TO HEAD TUBE.
Police record with: PORTLAND
Police reference#: T13000142
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

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From the Archives

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