BikePortland

The Monday Roundup

Protected bike lanes are so hot right now.

Hey folks, I’m down in California on a holiday road trip, visiting family from Arcata to Cypress (in northern Orange County). Hope all is well up in Portland. I hear you’re having a winter storm? Well, it’s not exactly warm and sunny down here if it makes you feel any better. If you need help getting caught up on cool and noteworthy links that popped up in the last week, check out the list below…

— Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel spoke at a press conference for the opening of new protected bike lanes on Dearborn Street. Back on the 4th, I wrote about what a big deal this project is and it turns out that someone on Emanuel’s staff shared our story with him. Here’s what the mayor said at the opening event (as reported by Grid Chicago):

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2009
Brand: Schwinn
Model: Road, touring
Color:BLUE
Size:58 MM
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/QcrdA.jpg
Stolen in Milwaukie, OR 97222
Stolen:2012-10-20
Stolen From: Bike was stored inside garage.
Neighborhood: SE Milwaukie,
Owner: Tomas Tortuga
OwnerEmail: kaziertm(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Description: Bike had front and rear racks, tool kit on seat, hand pump, 2 water bottles, new rear tire. Just rode cross country from Madison, Wisconsin. Foot pedals in need of replacement.
Police record with: None filed
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

red,blk Redline 17X24 2005

Year: 2005
Brand: Redline
Model: 17X24
Color:red,blk
Size:24 in
Serial: HP0206143
Stolen in Portland, OR 97236
Stolen:2012-07-14
Stolen From: This bike was in our gated back yard. someone moved the recycle bin, open back gate, and took only this bike. Between Powell and
Division
Neighborhood: Centennial
Owner: Dawn Imlay
OwnerEmail: tenznuff(AT)comcast.net
Description: I just found our bike purchase registration and thought it might be worth it to report this theft.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Gray Marin Sausalito Hybrid 1992

Year: 1992
Brand: Marin
Model: Sausalito Hybrid
Color:Gray
Photo: /home/sbr/public_html/temp/17426.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97215
Stolen:2012-12-11
Stolen From: From our backyard at SE 52nd and Salmon.
Neighborhood: Mt Tabor
Owner: Shannon Rhoads
OwnerEmail: shannon.rhoads@yahoo.com
Description: Bike is painted with a dark gray coarse coating that reminds me of teflon. There is an American flag decal and a Sausalito decal on frame in addition to Marin. Bike had a gel seat, kickstand and a bike rack in the back. 503-332-6530 .
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-108500
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Reader: Why I don’t always stop for people waiting to cross the street

Scared to stop.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

A reader sent us a note recently about a traffic situation that I feel could use more community awareness and discussion. It has to do with stopping for people who are waiting to walk across the street. Oregon law (ORS 811.028) clearly states that if you see a person waiting to cross an intersection at a corner, and you’re able to do so in time, you must stop and let them cross. (UPDATE: To clarify, the law says you must only stop if the person extends their body/bike/cane/stroller into the intersection.)

But what if you’re on your bike and you’re afraid that people behind you in cars (or on bikes for that matter) might not stop and that they’d run into you? That’s a sensation I can relate to. It’s also one that reader Chris S. felt compelled to email us about. Here’s what he wrote:

Year: 2007
Brand: Trek
Model: 1.2
Color:White/Blue Pink Handlebars
Size:54cm
Serial: WTU20300153C
Photo: http://www.trekbikes.com/images/bikes/2008/xl/12wsd_whiteblue.jpg
Stolen in El Cerrito, CA 94706
Stolen:2012-12-12
Stolen From: Bike rack outside El Cerrito Plaza BART Station. U-locked outside during business hours.
Owner: Veena Patel
OwnerEmail: VeenaIPatel(at sign)gmail.com
Reward: TBD
Description: White and baby blue Trek cycle with white seat (slighty torn) and light pink handle bars. Stickers – Freewheeling Bicycles and Iowa City PD Registration.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Meet the “Orp” a new bike horn (and light) created in Portland

Portland-based industrial designer
Toren Orzeck and his “Orp” bike horn/light.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Many people ride with bike bells; but the truth is, in the midst of traffic they are not nearly loud enough to be heard inside the cabin of a car or truck. That’s a problem that Toren Orzeck of Fuse, a product design firm located in southeast Portland, wanted to fix. “I’m not the best biker,” he said when I met him at his shop back in September, “but I love to solve problems.”

The “Orp” — which went live on Kickstarter today — is Orzeck’s solution. Orzeck is a former designer for GE Plastics and Nike whose brain seems to never stop working. He started thinking about the bike horn idea after the tragic, right-hook deaths of Tracey Sparling and Brett Jarolimek in October 2007. He felt an even greater urgency to solve this problem when, in summer of 2008, the gas-price induced bike boom got him and his employees on their bikes.

“I thought, there’s got to be a way to make bikes more visible — or maybe more hearable.”

Big crowd for Let’s Race Bikes! launch party.
(Photos by Will Wall)

Last month we shared a bit about Let’s Race Bikes!, a new coalition of local teams that want to encourage more women to suit up and race on the road. They had their big launch party on Saturday night and we heard from one of the organizers, Karey Miles, that it was a huge success.

Miles says over 250 people turned out for the party and there were a “whopping” 65 ladies who showed up the morning after for a group ride in the rain. The party was both a launch and a fundraiser to support women’s racing. Attendees snapped up raffle tickets in hopes of winning one of the many donated prizes.

The women behind Let’s Race Bikes! plan to host rides and clinics in the coming months as the 2013 road racing season is just around the corner.

Along with women on bikes, another major biking theme that has gone from trend to full-fledged movement in 2012 is the connection between bicycles and disasters. From our local efforts here in Portland, to national attention thanks to hurricane Sandy, this is an idea whose time has come.

Check out the developments below, all of which underscore the momentum the bikes/disaster connection has going for it.

Local filmmaker Joe Biel of Cantakerous Titles is working on a documentary about last summer’s Disaster Relief Trials event. Joe filmed the event while being pulled in a cargo trailer and earlier this week he released a trailer of the forthcoming documentary:

Year: 2008
Brand: Specialized
Model: Rockhopper
Color:Yellow/black
Size:13
Serial:P7FAS0443
Stolen in Portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2012-12-12
Stolen From: Bike stolen from main parking lot of Grant High School (near NE Knott and NE 36th). Bike was left at 2 just east of pool building, locked to bike rack. Stolen by 3.
Neighborhood: Alameda/Hollywood/Grant Park
Owner: Joey Majidi
OwnerEmail: majifi@gmail.com
Reward: $50
Description: Yellow with black markings, black seat had slight tear. Bike lights and bike lock were only accessories
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-157834
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Holiday themed rides aplenty this weekend

It’s a well known fact that Portlanders love themed bike rides. Even in the depths of winter and with the holiday hustle and bustle in full swing, the bike lovers among us still find time to organize rides. And why not? Being on a bike is a great way to explore holiday events, discover the lights and decorations up all around town, and there’s nothing like a bike ride to make new friends and keep the old.

This weekend there are several holiday-themed rides that are sure to increase the merry in your holidays.

Saturday, December 15th

Kidical Mass Bike Carol Ride

Brand: univega
Color:Light blue
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2012-12-12
Stolen From: Pcc cascade, 501 n killingsworth
Neighborhood: Piedmont
Owner: Cameron Whitten
OwnerEmail: Adoculos(A T)rocketmail.com
Description: Bike has a bent left handle.
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

The Monday Roundup

BLUE Schwinn Road, touring 2009

red,blk Redline 17X24 2005

Gray Marin Sausalito Hybrid 1992

Reader: Why I don’t always stop for people waiting to cross the street

White/Blue Pink Handlebars Trek 1.2 2007

Meet the “Orp” a new bike horn (and light) created in Portland

Let’s Race Bikes! gets a strong start (Photos from launch party)

More from the bikes/disaster front

Yellow/black Specialized Rockhopper 2008

Holiday themed rides aplenty this weekend

Saturday, December 15th

Light blue univega

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