New buffered bike lanes have been installed west of MLK Jr Blvd as part of the ongoing changes to NE Multnomah Street through the Lloyd District.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
Sunset Cycles loses lease, will close Beaverton location
Our friends at Sunset Cycles have just announced the closure of their Beaverton store. They plan to consolidate into their Bethany Village location. Full details below…
Portland’s Premier West Side Bicycle Shop Consolidates Stores, Renews Focus
November 20, 2012–Beaverton, Oregon–Citing economic concerns and challenging lease terms, Sunset Cycles owner Roger Colwell has announced his intention to close the doors of his Beaverton location.
“A change in ownership of the space we rented left us in a tough spot,” said Colwell. “We had to choose between signing a lease that wasn’t in our best interests, or consolidating our resources and focusing on our Bethany Village store.”
As the premier bicycle store on Portland’s West side, Sunset Cycles offers bikes and accessories for every rider, from elite-level racers to weekend neighborhood enthusiasts and their families. Shuttering their Beaverton store, according to Colwell, helps his staff better serve their core customer and attract new business.
“The bottom line is we now will be able to concentrate on doing what we do best…that is, giving all of our customers a better all-around bicycle experience,” he said. “I’m as optimistic as ever for the future of the bike business and for Sunset Cycles.”
Shoppers looking for a bargain will benefit from the Beaverton store closing, where deep discounts of up to 60% can be found on bikes and accessories until January 31st, 2013.
Reader thanks PBOT for new bike lanes on SE 112th
New bike lane on SE 112th near Powell Blvd.
(Photos: Gretchin Lair)
(Photos: Gretchin Lair)
I love receiving dispatches about bike stuff from readers in parts of town that I don’t often get to myself. I rely on your eyes and ears to help me cover more than just the central city.
Case in point is reader Gretchin Lair. She noticed some lane re-striping and a new bike lane on an intersection she frequents in outer southeast Portland so she snapped a few photos and shared her thoughts.
Take it away Gretchin:
“I noticed new bike lane markings at the intersection of SE 112th & Powell. They’re short bike lanes, lasting for about a block on either side of the intersection, and they exist in both directions. Additionally, a left turn lane has been added in both directions.
National spotlight shines on role of bikes in disaster response
Screen grab of The Rachel Maddow Show last night.
It’s been a good year for the idea that bikes are the ultimate disaster response vehicles.
What started as a niche thing here in Portland (promoted by a few emergency preparedness hobbyists with a penchant for cargo bikes), spread east to New York after superstorm Sandy; and then last night the idea made its big, prime-time national cable TV debut.
The FHWA now controls some local streets: The latest on why that matters
NW Broadway is a federally controlled
piece of the National Highway System.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)
piece of the National Highway System.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)
We continue to track an interesting policy development that could have wide-ranging impacts on several local streets here in Portland. As we first shared back in September, the new federal transportation bill, MAP-21, included an expansion of the National Highway System (NHS) to include “all urban and rural principal arterials.”
In Oregon, that means as of October 1st there are 600 new miles of roads that are now part of the NHS.
Locally, this means several key streets that used to be solely managed by the City of Portland are now under the purview of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). As such, the streets have an entirely new system of oversight, they must adhere to federal design, engineering, and performance standards, and so on. That gives PBOT much less leeway and independence to do innovative designs and to make changes to the streetscape without a potentially onerous process of seeking federal approval.
New information from ODOT about the implications of this policy make it clear that it’s on the issue of design standards where the NHS expansion could have the largest impact on Portland.
Red Raleigh
Brand: Raleigh
Color:Red
Size:23
Serial:304737
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2012-11-13
Stolen From: Garage near 33rd and Alberta
Neighborhood: Concordia
Owner: Scott Benish
OwnerEmail: scott.benish@gmail.com
Description: Red sparkly hand grips;
chrome bell by left grip;
3-speed hub with thumb shifter;
chrome front fork;
white brake & shifter cables;
Community Cycling Center sticker inside of frame by rear wheel;
Plastic lock holder (Specialized brand) above CCC sticker;
chrome chain guard (with an unused hole due to custom mounting job);
silver-colored plastic fenders (thin stripes in the center);
700c wheels (don’t recall the brand but they have tan sidewalls);
black saddle with grey/silver accent
Shimano crank (newer than bike, also a bit creaky);
kickstand
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-157301
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Lime Green Novara Buzz 2011
Year: 2011
Brand: Novara
Model: Buzz
Color:Lime Green
Size:XL
Serial: U09U10862
Stolen in Portland, OR 97217
Stolen:2012-11-14
Stolen From: Stolen from our garage near Mississippi & Alberta
Neighborhood: Overlook (N PDX)
Owner: John Furtado
OwnerEmail: johnpfurtado( atsign )gmail.com
Description: Lime green 2011 Novara Buzz, chromaly frame, all stock except longer stem, wide flat bars, grippier pedals and a rear rack.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-100539
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Open thread: Flooded streets make tricky conditions
People on bikes take the lane to avoid floods on N. Interstate Ave.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)
The art of riding in New York City
Art infuses the bicycling experience
in New York City.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
in New York City.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
As you might have noticed, there were many things I liked about riding through the streets of New York.
While their bike-specific infrastructure is nothing to ignore, one aspect of the New York City bicycling experience that might get easily overlooked by engineers and planners is its interestingness. Maybe it was just because I love public art. Or perhaps it was simply because I was a tourist with fresh eyes. Either way, I couldn’t help but notice all the paintings, murals and other interesting art as I rode around.
Kenton Cycle Repair now open for business
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
The small, north Portland neighborhood of Kenton now has a bike shop to call its own. Kenton Cycle Repair has been open for about a month and I finally stopped in to take a peek yesterday.
Located on McClellan Street, right off Kenton’s main drag of Denver Ave, the shop is a nuts-and-bolts operation where you’ll find friendly service and a limited selection of new parts and accessories. The shop is owned by Starmichael Bowman and Rich Walker, both of whom have strong connections to Portland’s non-profit, community bike shop scene. Starmichael is a former volunteer at the Bike Farm and Rich worked at the Community Cycling Center for eight years.
Crusade finale course a ‘soul-crusher’; but smiles prevail
Mud left its mark on the Crusade finale out at PIR yesterday.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
Friends and community mourn suicide death of Justin Drawbert
Justin Drawbert: 1986-2012.
(Photos: Nate Gibson)
(Photos: Nate Gibson)
Friends, fellow racers and classmates are mourning the death of 26-year-old Justin Drawbert, who took his own life on Monday, November 12th.
Justin was an engineering student at Portland State University who moved to Portland in 2009. He was an avid bike racer and competed with the Trailhead Coffee Roasters cycling team. Prior to living in Portland, he was a bike messenger in San Francisco.
Justin’s friends are devastated by the news. Tym Lang, who just returned from participating in a “courier wake” memorial for Justin in San Francisco, shared with me this morning that he and Justin’s large community of friends, “are reeling in shock.”