BikePortland

‘Bullying works’ and other lessons from a tactical urbanist

I was surprised to bump into a volunteer from Safe Street Rebel (note: story updated 7/31/24 to keep person anonymous at their request) at the Vision Zero Cities Conference this morning. Given that the volunteer was listed as “anonymous” on a panel yesterday, and identifiable only by the name of the group they organize with, Safe Street Rebel, I figured folks like them prefer to stay in the shadows.

The volunteer is part of a what conference organizers glowingly referred to as “illegal,” “confrontational,” and “illicit,” and, “a new breed of tactical urbanism that has sprung up across the U.S. and is transforming city streets without the permission of city governments.” “Direct action gets the goods,” reads the title of a panel the Safe Street Rebel organizer participated in Wednesday.

Or, you might just know his group as the folks who garnered national headlines in August for sabotaging driverless taxis in San Francisco by placing traffic cones on the hoods.

Given that similar tactics bubble-up in Portland from time-to-time — most recently as a group called BlockOps that earned the ire of the Portland Bureau of Transportation for placing concrete curbs in a bike lane where woman was brutally hit by an errant driver who plowed right through plastic flex-posts — figured it would be fun to ask this person from Safe Street Rebel to share more about what they’re doing with Safe Street Rebel.

Screenshot of Safe Street Rebel Instagram account.

Jonathan Maus/BikePortland: What is your message to activists in other cities that, might just be a few folks with a social media account, but who aren’t as far along as your group?

Safe Street Rebel organizer: I mean, we started with a Twitter account, too, and a group chat, and just all it takes is a group chat to come together with your friends and get out in the streets.

BikePortland: Can you give me a sense of scale or context in terms of what you are up to?

Safe Street Rebel organizer: We have a big group chat with about 250 people on it. That’s not really for organizing. It’s more for just chatting about what’s going on, and keeping each other up-to-date. But then we have breakout groups for things like guerrilla infrastructure, for community slow rides, and we try to have actions that accommodate all risk levels.

And even with the cone campaign, you know, there were people who were instrumental in that, who never put a cone on a robo-taxi, the person who made that viral Tiktok video for us never did that, but still really wanted to get involved. So I think it’s important to create a welcoming environment, so that anyone, regardless of their risk tolerance, can get involved. Yeah.

But on the other end of the spectrum, we also do tactical urbanism and guerrilla infrastructure. We’ve been learning how to drill plastic, soft-hit post into the streets.

BikePortland: Tell me more about “risk level.” I mean, you’re breaking the law. What do you tell activists who might be afraid of getting into something like that?

Safe Street Rebel organizer: I think using your privilege is important. You know, there are a lot of people in our community who can’t take that risk of getting arrested, whether that’s for immigration reasons, economic reasons, or whatever. But there are some who can. And it’s important to step up for your community. It’s important to show the public that safe streets are worth taking risks for.

BikePortland: So, like a protestor who goes to an action wanting to get arrested?

Safe Street Rebel organizer: Well, I’d emphasize that the most important thing is for you to get out of there and have the action end safely — not to finish the action… Getting arrested is not ideal. It can be dire for a lot of people economically, it could be the reason why you lose her job. We’d rather people sort of get out safely, then finish the install.

BikePortland: Speaking of getting arrested, what’s your position on police enforcement and street safety?

Safe Street Rebel organizer:Safe Street Rebel is explicitly anti-police. We’ve seen efforts from a lot of traditional advocacy groups calling for increased enforcement. We see cops as a reactionary band-aid, and something that’s not a preventative solution. There’s a limit to the deterrent effect they have. We think it’s important that we focus on literal, concrete solutions, because infrastructure will always be more effective than enforcement.

“We say ‘bullying works.'”

BikePortland: Do you see yourself as being an antagonist of transportation agencies? Or partners? What’s that relationship like?

Safe Street Rebel organizer: We have a love-hate relationship with SFMTA [San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency]. Wee have good relationships with the lower-level planners, who definitely agree with us in terms of our goals. But then, sometimes it can be tense with the directors and appointees of the Mayor’s office, for example, or people who favor car access, or, you know, oppose safe streets.

But we’re not like a libertarian kind of group. We want the city to make these improvements. We don’t want to be the only ones doing this. It’s also not sustainable for the community to do this entirely. So, just like the Portland group with installing concrete, it’s really just a way to push the city in the right direction.

We say ‘bullying works.’ It’s not a way of antagonizing it’s more of just showing what’s possible — quickly. If we can install soft-hit posts in response to a four-year-old being killed within five days, there’s no reason the city shouldn’t.

BikePortland: Anything else you want to say?

Safe Street Rebel organizer: This is as much community-building and making friends, and having fun with your friends, as it is direct action. You’ll make some of the best friends you’ll ever have doing this work and it’ll change your life.

— SafeStreetRebel.com

The bike bus world came together in Brooklyn today

Dressed in uniforms of bright yellow jackets with “Bike Bus” emblazoned on the back, the foot soldiers of America’s burgeoning bike bus movement came together in Brooklyn today. But instead of leading kids, they led bike bus advocates and fans from across the country.

In just a few short years, the simple act of riding bikes to school together has gone from lone advocates in a few schools, to a bona fide national movement. At today’s ride, organized as part of the Vision Zero Cities Conference hosted by nonprofit Transportation Alternatives, there was a sense that the disparate efforts that have blossomed in the past two years or so are beginning to gel.

And leaders of bike buses in Oregon can take some of the credit for the momentum.

In February of 2022, Brooklyn school teacher Emily Stutts was cooking breakfast with her husband when a podcast featuring Hood River’s Safe Routes to School Manager Megan Ramey came on. “I hear her story and I said to my husband, ‘Someone should do that here,'” Stutts shared with me today as we gathered in Brower Park before the ride. “And he’s like, ‘Yeah, it’s you, you fool! Who else would do it?’ And I was like, ‘No, no, no, it’s someone else, not me,’ and he was like, ‘You’re a teacher, you know all the kids, you ride your bike — I’m pretty sure it’s you.'”

So a few months later, Stutts had created the Bergen Bike Bus. Each morning before school she rides the same, five-mile route and kids and parents from up to 10 schools hop on and off the bus.

Today Stutts and Ramey rode together.

“We all keep saying, ‘Thank you for inspiring me,'” Ramey shared while biking on Stutts’ route. “And I think the feeling is mutual; because without each other we wouldn’t have been able to do this.”

Ramey was inspired to start her “bike train” in 2020 after watching a Streetfilm video shot in Portland in 2013. And of course the person who made that film, the inimitable Clarence Eckerson, was also at today’s ride.

In addition to Ramey and Stutts, other bike bus leaders on the ride included: Sam Balto, leader of the Alameda Bike Bus in Portland; Luke Bornheimer from San Francisco Bike Bus; Andy Hawkins and Jessica Tillyer from Montclair (New Jersey) Bike Bus, and others.

The next stop for the bike bus is to create a national organization. A clearinghouse of sorts, that can guide would-be bike bus leaders and give them the tools to get rolling.

I ran into Luke Bornheimer as he scribbled his name and phone number on the bottom of fliers that had “Bike Bus World” in big red letters across the top.

What’s this? I asked.

“It’s a national organization that is helping people start and grow bike buses and support them from a national state and city level,” he replied. According to Bornheimer, a lot of people see a bike bus video online and want to start one, but they have no resources or advice on how to do it. “They’re basically reinventing the wheel every single time. And this is happening all across the country,” he said. “What we’re trying to do is solve that problem for people, help them start bike buses, and give them the tools and resources to do it, and advocate for the policy and infrastructure that helps support that.”

On that note, the group stopped by two “school streets” on the ride — carfree streets adjacent to schools that help make drop-off and pick-up safer while providing a larger space for play and community.

At the Brooklyn New School, parents and administrators worked together to get a permit to prohibit drivers from using the street outside the playground. Now they use the space to teach kids how to ride bikes. School principal Diane Castelucci called it, “Extended outdoor learning space,” on the permit paperwork. “And for us, what sort of came naturally and having a nice long open space was a biking program.”

Asked what type of volunteer effort it takes to keep the school street going, Castelucci said, “It’s made a huge difference for our school and being able to have much more outdoor space for our kids has been wonderful. We’ll do whatever it takes to keep it going.”

At another school street in Park Slope, the folks who made it happen said it became such a success that the school moved its main entrance off the busier commercial street and onto the newly carfree one.

There’s a clear nexus from getting more families biking to school, to vision zero. One of the most effective ways to reduce fatal crashes is to simply lower exposure to automobiles. Getting kids and families out of them, and creating safe routes and safe spaces near schools, can save a lot of lives.

And safety is just one of many reasons bike buses are taking off. Actually, that’s hardly the reason at all.

“The very first time I went on a bike bus ride, it was so joyful and uplifting,” Bornheimer told me at a happy hour mixer after the ride. “People talk a lot about policy and infrastructure and how, we hope things will happen. And this is very real. You see it in front of you and it’s like a visceral feeling of, like, knowing this is a very positive thing.”

— BikeBus.World

Manhattan dispatch: It’s wild here (and I like it)

Riding a bike in Manhattan is like everything else in this city; you never know what to expect, there’s something new around every corner, and the bike people watching is world-class. Portland is weird, Manhattan is wild.

I’ve spent just two days rolling and walking around the east side of lower Manhattan from about West 25th down to the Brooklyn Bridge and City Hall. I realize there’s a lot more to see, but the experience has already made quite an impression.

The first thing I noticed was the bike traffic. A great sign! An obvious presence of bicycle riders is the first sign that you’re in a cycling city. When there are ample people on bikes, the infrastructure is almost secondary, because the humans themselves force — and reinforce — the idea that bikes belong.

In Manhattan, it feels like the majority of people on bikes are deliveristas — professional food delivery riders who zoom around on throttled electric bikes. I reported on them on my previous trip in 2012 and their numbers have swelled since then. So too has their speed. 11 years of electric battery technology and a boom in ordering-in apps has made these fast food bikes ubiquitous here.

I’m glad deliveristas have gained a more organized advocacy voice since my last trip. Given the challenging — and too often deadly — conditions they work under, tensions around illegal mopeds and e-bikes using bike lanes, and attention by New York City Mayor Eric Adams on e-bikes in general, they are going to need it.

Another big change since I was last here is the presence of Citi Bike, NYC’s bike share system. And that’s an understatement. Citi Bikes are everywhere. And now the fleet includes zippy e-bikes with futuristic front lights. I’ve used these for two days. They work great, although it’s odd and a bit of a bummer that they have only one gear (I prefer to pedal a higher cadence and would love to start on an easier gear).

The presence of deliveristas and two types of Citi Bikes (electric and not) alone would be enough to create a bit of chaos on the bike lanes. Add into that mix tourists on hotel bikes, folks on commuter bikes, mopeds, e-scooters, and so on and so forth.

The mix of vehicle types — and the mix of people riding them — in Manhattan is more diverse than anywhere in North America. That’s a guess, since I haven’t been everywhere, but if there’s another place with such a vast diversity of humans and modes of conveyance in bike lanes, I’d love hear about it.

All the bike and assorted micromobility traffic puts a tremendous pressure on the infrastructure network. And to the DOT’s credit, the cycling system here holds up relatively well. I say “relatively” because it’s nothing like the European cycling capitols, but for the US of A, it’s not bad at all.

Like I said, you never know what to expect. One block you’ll have a wide, physically-protected space, the next block you’ll be sharing space with drivers (all of whom are on their phones) or squeezing between a curb and a delivery truck. It’s probably because I don’t know the routes (which shouldn’t be a requirement in a good network) and because I’m new here, but there have only been a few blocks where I felt I could relax and enjoy the ride.

New York City has had an impressive run at building out a quality bikeway network for the past 15 years or so (since former NYC DOT Chief Janette Sadik-Khan burst onto the scene in 2007), but if a calm, “8-80” experience is the goal, there’s a lot of work to do.

And the bumps! My goodness the streets here are rough. There aren’t potholes, but with sewer grates and uneven surfaces all over the place, the ride is quite jarring (the very high tire pressure on most of the Citi Bikes doesn’t help).

Bumps are relatively minor quibble. Given the legacy of car-centric street planning here, and the crush of human and vehicle traffic everywhere, I give a lot of credit to advocates and the DOT for squeezing in a useful bikeway network and taking road space wherever they can.

Given the chaotic feeling of Manhattan streets, it’s a testament to human nature that — at least in my experiences so far — folks on both sides of the windshield seem to be pretty good at sharing space. Unlike in Portland, people here expect chaos, so they go with it. They adjust.

I’ll test this claim out a lot more today, as I ride across town over to Brooklyn to see Portland’s very own Sam Balto and Hood River resident Megan Ramey lead a ride that shares lessons from their creation of bike buses.

I’ve got a lot more cool stuff to share. Stay tuned!

Portlanders killed while biking in Napa, California

A Portland couple were hit and killed Tuesday while biking on a rural road in Napa, California.

52-year-old Christian Deaton and 48-year-old Michelle Deaton were avid bike riders and travelers. They were visiting Napa County’s wine country and were riding on Silverado Trail when a truck driver attempted to pass them. Law enforcement officials say the driver’s load of lumber shifted just as he passed the Deatons and a piece of wood hit both of them. Christian died at the scene and Michelle died shortly after at the hospital.

Silverado Trail has two general purpose lanes and is striped with unprotected bike lanes. The speed limit near the location of the collision is 55 mph. It’s considered a safer, less-trafficked alternative to nearby Highway 29.

It’s unclear whether police will hold the driver accountable for breaking any traffic laws. In California, all vehicle operators must secure their loads. Failure to do so can result in a citation. And the state’s safe passing law requires motor vehicle operators to give bicycle riders at least three feet when they pass.

“According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, at 55 miles per hour, an object weighing just 20 pounds that falls from a vehicle strikes with an impact of half a ton,” states a press release from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Both victims were employees of Nike. Christian raced several times at Oregon Bicycle Racing Association events, including the Monday night series at Portland International Raceway. A source who knew Christian said he rode with him on Nike’s ‘Windjammers’ cycling club.

“This enormous, preventable loss is sitting heavy in our hearts and minds, as we know it is for those who ride locally and work toward safer streets,” reads a statement from the Napa County Bicycle County Bicycle Coalition. “Living here, riding here, and visiting here should be safe for all road users, and we are incredibly saddened that the Deatons were not kept safe.”

If anyone knew the Deatons and wants to share more about them, feel free to do so in the comments below or get in touch and I will add your remembrance to the story.

***Update October 20, 2023: This morning, BikePortland spoke with a witness to the crash who has posted several comments under this article. Laura Ray told BikePortland that she was traveling south on Silverado Trail and that the crash occurred in the northbound lane. Laura wasn’t able to directly see the impact, but she pulled over and rushed to the aid of the Deatons. Three or four other people also stopped, and a couple of men in two trucks directed traffic and used their vehicles to protect the site. Laura took a number of photos of the site.

She said that a witness was driving northbound, in back of the crash, and that he was the first to call 911. He was freaked out, as was everybody, and he spent most of the time on the phone. She thought she heard him say that there was wood hanging off the back of the truck.

Laura was distressed that it took so long for the emergency response to arrive–15 minutes, she thought–which didn’t make sense to her because there is a hospital nearby. When the police arrived she was surprised that they did not collect information from the witnesses, and that they seemed more concerned with clearing everyone away. (An investigator contacted BikePortland early yesterday evening.)

The driver of the truck which allegedly struck the Deatons stopped, but very far from the location of the crash, Laura thought about a quarter mile past the crash. He did not approach the crash location.

Laura said that Silverado Trail is a dangerous road, particularly this time of year, during harvest season, and also with wine-lovers visiting the area’s vineyards. She mentioned that the area was building a protected path, with no cars allowed, which would run to Calistoga.

***

Pushing bike share boundaries with Citi Bike Boyz

Whatever pops into your head when you first think of bike share bikes, I bet that it’s the polar opposite of what Jerome Peel thinks of.

Peel is a 33-year-old New York City resident and fashion designer who’s become the face and the force behind Citi Bike Boyz. Peel’s exploits include launching a set of stairs, bunny-hopping over subway tracks, launching over work zones — all on a 45 pound Citi Bike (or 60 when he grabs an electric one) — have earned notoriety in the NY Times, Vice, The New Yorker, and more.

With over 120,000 followers on Instagram and a merch line that’s mostly sold-out, it was no surprise that when I met up with him Tuesday afternoon, he was on his way to the post office to deliver dozens of hats and t-shirts.

Thumbnails of videos on @Citibikeboyz Instagram.

“This is my bike,” Peel shared as we pedaled the streets of Lower Manhattan, “It’s hard to work with bicycle brands [who are eager to sponsor him] because I only ride one bike. I can’t ride anything but a Citi Bike. It’d be weird.”

(If you’re wondering, Peel doesn’t rent his Citi Bike. He pays for an annual Citi Bike membership, but said he found the one he rides and that it’s not no longer in the system.)

Peel grew up in South Florida and moved to New York City about six years ago. He told me much of his inspiration for Citi Bike Boyz came from the hit TV show and movie, “Jackass,” known for its star Johnny Knoxville’s high-risk pranks and stunts.

“As a kid I loved jumping curbs, making my own ramps, fixing up dirt piles and stuff,” Peel shared. “I like to pretend I’m on a skateboard sometimes. I see a lot of inspiration in skate videos.”

Jerome Peel in Lower Manhattan. (Photos and video: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Peel rode motocross bikes as a kid, and when he moved to New York City he didn’t have anything to ride. “So I just took a Citi Bike. You’ve got to work with what you’ve got and be resourceful.”

And work he does. A few years later, these beastly, ubiquitous blue bikes most of us can hardly lift up a curb or pedal up a hill, have made Peel something of a legend.

For now at least, Peel seems content to impress his followers and search out that next iconic jump or trick. He doesn’t have any grand mission and mostly just wants to have fun (and use his design skills to sell a bit of merch) — although he did say he’d like to travel and get rad on bike share systems around the world (anyone from Biketown interested?).

What about Citi Bike? Are they mad? Peel said he hasn’t heard from them yet; but we both agreed it’d be funny if he ended up in one of their ads — or in a safe riding PSA.

As I pedaled back to my hotel room and filmed Peel popping-a-wheelie through chaotic, traffic-filled streets, his response to my last question bounced around my head.

“Anything else you want to say?” I asked.

“I would just say the possibilities are endless. Keep riding. And there’s no there’s nothing wrong with one of these bikes. These bikes are cool. They’re not whack! Yeah, it doesn’t make sense to everybody, but people don’t get it. It is stupid, but it’s also what I do for fun, and it entertains some people.”

— @Citibikeboyz on Instagram

Rain gear recommendations from our Family Biking Columnist

Alpaca wool for mama, waterproof onesies and Bogs boots for the kids. (Photos: Shannon Johnson/BikePortland)

Thanks for all the great feedback on my post last week about how I psych myself up for riding in the rain.

As I mentioned in that post, I really enjoyed Ride Westside’s Winter Gear Clinic earlier this month. If you missed it, they posted their members’ gear recommendations. It was so encouraging to hear gear suggestions and solutions in-person, and to meet like-minded folks who ride in the rain. I relied on their enthusiasm to get me outside on our first rainy ride last week, and I’m using their gear list to shop for a few items to bolster our stash of winter riding gear.

Now, after two years of rainy riding, I finally have some winter gear favorites of my own to share.

A word about our gear: Much of our gear isn’t bike-specific. A big reason for that is that we’re adopting a rainy lifestyle outside; so we want gear that can ride the bike, play at the park, pop inside at the library, and head back outside for an afternoon picnic in the drizzle. With an upright e-bike, slow pace, and nearby destinations, I am not riding like a fitness cyclist or long-distance commuter, so bike specific gear is less necessary for me and most of my children (who are riding along without pedaling).

OK, here’s my list. First I’ll share what I’ve got, and then will share what I’ve got my eyes on.

In other words, whatever we can find. It’s worth investing in quality rain gear, but if you can’t afford what you need, Portland thrift stores probably have something to cover you (hint: look for rain gear in the summer and stock up), or a BuyNothing group may be able to supply you for free. When it comes to children, who change sizes every year and lose/misplace gear regularly, I usually rely on used gear found for cheap or free. I have found much of my kid rain gear that way. You can too.

Be sure to get waterproof (not merely “resistant”) from head to toe–hoods, shirt, pants, lined boots, gloves, plus a warm performance underlayer complete with hats and warm socks. Don’t skip anything or kids will be cold and very unhappy. In other words: worry less about having the perfect/best brands, and just make sure you have everything covered.

Full-Body Rain Suits

A onesie for the rain! These are an absolute favorite, a “must-have” especially for toddlers, who somehow manage to belly flop into the first puddle they see. The brands Hapiu, Tuffo, and Oaki have all served us well. (We managed to have different brands in each size, passed from kid to kid. After five years in the PNW, we haven’t had to replace any of them yet.)

One caution: These rain suits make playground slides go really fast. Rain-suit-wearing kids will fly a few feet off the end of the slide–which might be great or terrible, depending on the kiddo. I recommend you be ready to catch a flying kid at the bottom.

Toddler/Baby Bunting

A friend gave me her JJ Cole BundleMe stroller bunting, which is basically a winter sleeping bag that connects to the stroller to keep baby snug and warm. This worked with our bike seat straps kept my baby cozy. He always looked so snuggly! It gave me the confidence that my little one’s toes would stay warm. There are many brands that offer stroller bunting. I just used what I was gifted.

Bogs Boots

Warm, sturdy, waterproof, and with handholds to help put them on. Added benefit of rain boots: No shoelaces! It’s wonderful when the youngest ones can put their boots on without help. Definite win. BogsFootwear.com

Wool/Waterproof Picnic Blanket: My favorite piece of rain gear!I didn’t have a rain cover to keep my kids warm and dry, so I purchased a waterproof picnic blanket from Amazon (from a company which has since disappeared… this is the closest similar item I can find). My picnic blanket is wool on one side with a waterproof layer on the back. The wool is so warm, and it’s very sturdy and the waterproof side lives up to its purpose. We have used this durable blanket year-round for picnics and we never have to get wet from sitting on wet grass or wet park benches. Furthermore, I wrap this around my kids, wool side down, to keep them warm inside and dry outside.

This is a really good idea, especially if you will be waiting around in the cold with kids. It’s one thing to bike in the cold, but it’s especially hard to sit and wait in the cold, which happens a lot, like when picking up a sibling from an activity, or for kids riding along without pedaling. (This is a hard adjustment, compared with waiting in a heated car, so try to plan for it.) Be prepared to wrap up waiting/riding kiddos in a warm blanket. We find we need this even with our fancy rain canopy. Wool is sturdy and warm, and I am now a wool convert. This is pricier, but I think our sturdy wool/waterproof blanket will last us a decade, and it doesn’t seem to get muddy and gross the way a regular blanket would. Previous family biking columnist Madi Carlson also recommended this upside-down waterproof picnic blanket.

Alpaca Winter Hat and Gloves

I love the coziness of real wool, and I like thinking about the alpacas that my kids got to feed and pet, who provided the wool for my favorite hat. This hat makes me happy. And the bonus is I got them from a local farm! StonebergAlpacas.com

Merino and Alpaca Wool layers

After falling in love with my wool blanket and hat, I’m trying out more wool layers this year. So far I am enjoying various layers from WoolX and Paka. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Crosspoint Knit Waterproof gloves from Showers Pass

I don’t usually ride very far/long, so I can often wear my fingerless gloves, but when the temperature really drops, I regret it if I forget my Showers Pass gloves. These are warm and flexible and they even handled a morning of sled-riding and snowball fighting last winter. ShowersPass.com

Nikwax Tech Wash
Keep rainwear waterproof or refresh the waterproofing on used gear with this technical wash. Otherwise, avoid washing rain gear with detergent (try a water-only wash, or only wash when needed) and never use fabric softener. I try to make our waterproof layers last a long time with limited and careful washing. REI.com

Merrell Men’s Jungle Moc Nubuck Waterproof
This is the only pair of shoes my husband wears. He stomps in puddles and wears them to work. He beats them up and one pair last him two years. Totally waterproof, sturdy, comfortable, and with no shoelaces to tie. Best all-around, walking, working, do anything waterproof shoe. Worth every penny. I resupply him every second Christmas. Merrell.com

My Rainy/Winter Gear Wishlist

Alpaca Joggers from Paka
I’m very interested in wool for its warm and breathable qualities, its combination of sturdiness and coziness. I don’t usually want to bother putting on rain pants, and I dislike the swishy noise and plastic feel. I want something else that keeps me warm while wet.

Portland’s annual Tweed Ride got me thinking more about functional wool clothing. I’m also interested in wool as a nature-friendly product. And I’m especially interested in the Paka brand for their commitment to pay a fair wage to the women artisans who make the clothing. This is what I am looking for in clothing that matches my needs and values. I already bought— and love — the Paka Hoodie. Now I will have to save up for these!

Double Darn Wool 4-Panel Cap
Thanks to Michael and the Ride Westside Winter Gear clinic for this suggestion. I’m in love with this cap, handmade in Portland, with helmets and cyclists in mind. I wonder if the shop could add the earflaps to the charcoal colored cap? I bet they could. That would be dreamy! Double Darn

Lights, Lights, and More Lights
As it gets darker and rainier, we need more lighting. We never have enough lights. They break, they fall off, kids switch to new bikes over the summer and we forget to add lights to them. We always need more lights to see and be seen. First, I need a better headlight to be able to see debris and roadway hazards. Any recommendations?

For our front-box cargo bike to be better lit for drivers to see us, I really wanted Cargo Glow lighting, but they don’t make a product for my Bunch bike (Bunch is currently working on a new lighting option for their box bikes). So in the meantime, I swiped my husband’s work light and the kids just hold it up on the night ride home. The plastic rain cover filters it such that the entire bike box is lit up like a glowing lantern. I bet an electric camping lantern could work too. I think it’s a pretty effective DIY solution.

I’m also interested in pedal lights and wheel spoke lights for my son’s bike. The more we ride, the more we ride in rain and darkness, the more we want more lights.

Shower’s Pass Updated Little Crossover Jacket
Reflective and bright kid jacket with waterproofing and breathability. Since my 10-year-old son rides fast to keep up with his Momma’s e-bike, I think he merits some cycle-specific clothing that can help keep him warm, comfortable, and highly visible. Showers Pass

Low Profile, Casual, Waterproof Shoes
I thought I would try wearing my regular sneakers with wool socks yesterday. That was a soggy failure! I hated how wet and squishy my feet were. But I don’t feel very comfortable in my heavy waterproof hiking boots all day, and I don’t always want to wear my giant galoshes.

I’d like to find a low-profile, casual, everyday waterproof shoe to wear to the park, playground, library, and local bike rides. Something that feels comfy at a coffee shop, but can do the job in the rain. No more squishy feet. Any recommendations? (I’m looking at waterproof Merrell sneakers and I am also told that Nike Shield is a line of waterproof sneakers great for the rain. I think I’d be more interested in a low-profile waterproof slip-on shoe, more of a “rainy lifestyle brand” casual shoe…anyone have a favorite?)

What’s your favorite piece of winter gear? Let us know. It’s great to learn from each other! Thank you so much!

— Browse more great tips and tricks in our Riding in the Rain story archives.

Comment of the Week: A paean for ponchos

It’s raining! Luckily Shannon Johnson already posted about it, I was ready to ride in the rain, until it rained, and you all had much to share on the topic of riding while it’s wet.

I learned a lot reading your comments. I learned that my husband probably needs some waterproof socks. I learned about chaps (they aren’t just for horse riders). The comment thread was oddly intimate, but hey, it’s nice to forget about policy and politics for a while and get down to the brass tacks of dressing for dry. There were a few common themes that many of you touched upon, “no bad weather, just the wrong gear,” “tubeless is a game-changer,” ventilation . . .

(Looks like hail out my window, sleet maybe. Definitely getting dark and cold.)

Anyway, out of your bounty of comments, Aaron’s put a smile on my face. It was a cheerful combination of practical advice, encouragement, and appreciation of our city’s beauty.

Here’s what Aaron had to say:

Riding in the rain is just as enjoyable as riding on a sunny summer day, just a different kind of enjoyable. Glad you could get out there and see for yourself!

I’m an advocate of the rain cape/poncho for cycling in the rain. I switched to one a few years ago and I’ve never looked back, between that and waterproof socks I feel like I am prepared for basically any kind of wet weather. I have one of the Cleverhoods that are popular, as far as I can tell Cleverhood and Showers Pass are the only two companies making good quality rain capes these days.

The rain cape keeps your upper legs dry and because the bottom is open you get a ton of ventilation so you can even be comfortable riding in the rain on a warm day, unlike a regular rain jacket that will have you drenched in sweat after a while. If it’s cold and rainy I will often wear my fleece and/or windbreaker underneath the rain cape.

Portland has too many days filled with a beautiful foggy misting rain to just stay inside all winter, everyone should try enjoying the PNW for the unique type of beautiful weather we are lucky to have. When I first bought my rain cape I was living in a city where rainy days usually meant heavy rain that comes in punishing, torrential sheets. The rain we get here is like a dream compared to that, but I rode happily in both. There’s no bad weather, just the wrong gear.

I think the torrential rain just started.

Thank you Aaron, and everyone else for all the good advice. I hope you arrive home dry, with a steaming mug of cocoa waiting for you.

If you aren’t as dry as you would like to be, you can read Aaron’s comment and the whole thread under the original post. And stay tuned for Shannon’s next post Tuesday morning where she’ll share her personal rain gear recommendations and wishlist.

New Portland-based classes offer bicycle equivalent of Drivers Ed

If you think people don’t know how to drive cars safely, imagine the deficit of knowledge and confidence when it comes to bicycling.

The scary truth is that the vast majority of people using our roads don’t know as much about how to operate their vehicles as they should — not to mention the legal requirements of doing so.

Vivek (“Viv”) Jeevan wants to change that. Jeevan, whom you might recall from our video profile or his recent legislative pursuit, is one of Oregon’s pre-eminent road safety educators and researchers. He recently launched a new service for the community that aims to teach people not just how to bike safely; but how to be a safe road user no matter what vehicle you are in.

Portland Bicycle School is Jeevan’s latest passion project. By day, he works with high tech medical devices and trains people how to use them safely. “So it’s easy for me to bring those concepts to traffic education,” he shared with BikePortland via email last week. “This is the bicycle equivalent of Drivers Ed.”

Jeevan (left) and Stevens. (Photos: Portland Bicycle School)

Jeevan is certified as a bicycle instructor with the League of American Bicyclists and veteran cycling advocate whose work with the nonprofit Corvallis Right of Way (now defunct) is widely respected. Local bike advocate and certified instructor Frank Stevens has been trained by Jeevan and has now joined him as an instructor-for-hire.

“Viv’s instruction approach is unique because his course is focused on not only cyclist instruction but also driver education,” Stevens shared with BikePortland. “Pushing back against the misinformation and polarized viewpoints about cycling, while creating a perspective shaped by how fun and energizing biking can be in our local community.”

The two offer a range of services that are flexible to the needs of almost anyone — from folks brand new to cycling, to veterans who want to know the latest laws and tricks to avoid near-misses. The nine-hour class is split between classroom theory and hands-on bike rides with instructors.

The curriculum at Portland Bicycle School pulls from the League of American Bicyclists as well as that of the American Bicycling Education Association — the only two nationally-sanctioned groups that offer bike education.

What sets their courses apart is Jeevan’s integration of car driving best practices and his deep expertise in what causes car/bike collisions. “I’ve likely conducted more studies and written more about the behavioral causes of traffic crashes and fatalities with cyclists and pedestrians than anyone in America,” Jeevan shared with BikePortland (and I realize how that comes off, but Viv is an exceedingly nice and humble guy!).

“Many bike educators out there have never taken a class, never read what causes crashes, never read a law, and never read the Drivers Manual. They don’t know data, theory, and laws. They simply pass along myths they’ve heard,” he continued.

Jeevan scours incident data, police reports and traffic crash analyses to more deeply understand the true root causes of collisions. “We know what are true safety problems and what are myths, so we focus our resources on the top problems,” he says.

Jeevan feels more formal cycling education will save lives and make people better riders and drivers. And to keep things fun, Portland Bicycle School’s offerings complement the Bike Buddy program run by BikeLoud PDX. That program focuses on the need for a social connection to cycling for new riders.

Classes are $60 per hour for individuals (with one-on-one instruction) and $30 per hour for groups. Learn more at PortlandBicycleSchool.com.

Podcast: In The Shed with new co-host Eva Frazier!

I’m excited to share the inaugural episode with new co-host Eva Frazier! Eva is a co-owner of local bike shop Clever Cycles, a board member of the nonprofit BikeLoud PDX, BikePortland contributor, Bike Happy Hour regular, and just an all-around quality person who cares about cycling and wants to see Portland thrive.

In what I hope is the first of many “In The Shed” chats to come, Eva and I touch on a wide range of topics. It’s fun, free-flowing banter between two bike and city-loving nerds — a change from the more formal interviews and event recaps I’ve done in the past (I will still do those things, but “In The Shed” will be a regular feature).

In this episode (recorded Thursday, October 12th at BP HQ in north Portland’s Piedmont Neighborhood) Eva and I talked about:

Eva’s preferred route from inner southeast (SE 9th and Hawthorne) to The Shed in NoPo near Peninsula Park
Life in the shop (uninvited squirrels and shop cats!)
Millionth Brompton Ride
The Street Trust Alice Awards
Automatic shifting bicycles
Why more people should bike in Rose Lanes (bus priority lanes)
Tapas Tuesdays
The amazing Mazamas story of the first bike on Mt. Hood
PBOT’s SE Hawthorne Blvd Evaluation Report (PDF)
Broadway Bike Lane Scandal
The first bakfiets in Portland and subsequent Dutch bike invasion
and more!!

We had so much fun and can’t wait to chat again. Next episode, I’ll ask Eva about: why she doesn’t ride an e-bike, what she thought of the Alice Awards, riding in the rain with sandals on, why ponchos are taking over (at least among Brompton owners), and who knows what else! Got a topic you want us to chew on? A question for Eva or myself? Send it in. And thanks for listening.

Listen in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Monday Roundup: Bike hater warning, Seattle’s sweepers, rolling coal, and more

Welcome to the week.

Here are the best stories we’ve come across in the past seven days — all from sources you can trust.

E-quivalent: After a court case raised the question, the European Court of Justice has clarified that electric-assisted bicycles should definitely be defined as bicycles, not “motor vehicles.” (Forbes)

British city fights back: Birmingham is one of the most car-centric cities in the UK, and people who live there are tired of drivers and their cars holding their quality of life hostage. (Guardian)

Body image and mobility marketing: References to calorie intake and body fat reduction are common in active transportation messaging; but new research suggests more sensitive language and framing could shift focus away from body shaming. (Streetsblog USA)

A warning for the haters: This essential read lays out the case that a growing anti-bike, pro-car movement will likely backfire because it only serves to energize the vast majority who prefer people — not car — friendly streets (as the Broadway bike lane scandal illustrated so beautifully!). (Streetsblog NYC)

Rolling coal consequences: Ebay is facing billions in fines from federal environmental watchdogs for selling illegal devices used by truck owners who like to “roll coal.” This news makes me simultaneously sad (because the people who do this are so terrible) and happy (that their enablers will be caught). (CNBC)

Told you so: A new scientific study shows that people who mostly walk and bike (instead of drive) are inherently more engaged in building toward the common good because of the increased social cohesion and community-building that’s inherent in using a mode that doesn’t isolate them inside a metal box. (Journal of Environmental Psychology)

Carfree in Phoenix?: A development in Arizona called Culdesac, where people live in a European-style development without cars, shows that there’s demand for walkable neighborhoods. (Guardian)

Electric bike lane sweepers: The City of Seattle has one-upped Portland with the introduction of a mini, electric bike lane sweeper that can fit in their protected bike lanes. (Electrek)

Portland, the outlier: Data from smartphones shows that Portland is still lagging behind other major U.S. cities when it comes to cycling’s rebound after the pandemic. (Axios)

Getting back out there: If you’ve had a serious, traumatic crash, here’s some advice on how to get back into the pedaling groove. (Bike Radar)

Road rager shooting: In just the latest example of vehicle-based violence, a harrowing incident of a driver who shot and killed someone and injured another in downtown Portland after a bout of road rage. (The Oregonian)

Thanks to everyone who sent in links this week. The Monday Roundup is a community effort, so please feel free to send us any great stories you come across.

Advocates support protected bike lanes at ‘Bike Broadway Day’

(Video from this morning’s event. Browse photos below.)

This morning on the corner of Southwest Broadway and Harvey Milk, Portlanders gathered in support of protected bike lanes.

The event, hosted by all-volunteer nonprofit advocacy group BikeLoud PDX, comes just weeks after Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps and Portland Bureau of Transportation Director Millicent Williams planned to roll back the design of the protected bike lane on Broadway to a previous version that PBOT staff warned would be less safe.

With the fight to save the Broadway bike lane largely over, BikeLoud wants to raise awareness of the importance of protected bike lanes — for keeping people safe and for revitalizing downtown. BikeLoud volunteers held signs and passed out free coffee, donuts, and other snacks to passersby.

“We’re here to show people that are on this bike lane today that we support them,” BikeLoud Chair Nic Cota said in an address to the crowd. “And I know all city councilors say their number one issue is public safety. This is public safety, right? This is keeping the public safe.”

Downtown worker Ean Howe was thrilled to see the event. He was biking into work and stopped to fill up his coffee mug when I heard him say Broadway is his favorite bike lane. “This is one of the important bike lanes on my daily commute,” Howe said. “Whenever I make a turn into the beginning of a bike lane, I have a little rush of, ‘This is the place for me!'” There’s a bike lane right here for me to turn into. “

“I take this one to work every day… when I heard they were going to possibly close this bike lane, I just had a cussin’ fit and got on Reddit asking where I could voice my displeasure. I feel great about knowing that they’re not going to take away my favorite bike lane.”

Kristin Sweeney rode to the event from north Portland early this morning to show her support. “I ride this lane every Saturday with my kids on our cargo bike. It used to be really dangerous when the bike lane was right next to the traffic and now it feels a lot safer.”

Commissioner Mapps and Director Williams said the design change was necessary mostly because local business interests and hotel managers have voiced concerns about it. While we now know that at least one major hotel on Broadway strongly supports the current bike lane, it’s clear other influential business interests have had an influence on City Hall.

But BikeLoud’s leader Nic Cota, doesn’t see it as an either/or proposition. He believes quality, protected bike lanes are just what downtown Portland needs to create the type of environment that will help revitalize downtown. “It’s a win to have these in here for everybody. For the hotels, for the businesses… biking means business. I know a lot of people who come to downtown Portland knowing that this protected bike lane is hear and they may have not made that decision if it wasn’t… [Bike lanes like the one on Broadway] are the future of Portland, so let’s let’s get behind it. Let’s support it and let’s let’s show people what it means to use them and support people that rely on them.”

Headed to New York City for Vision Zero Cities conference

I have some exciting news: I’m going back to New York City!

My goal: To cover the Vision Zero Cities conference hosted by nonprofit streets advocacy group Transportation Alternatives.

Some of you might recall my trip to the Big Apple back in 2012. I made the trip to cover the inaugural NACTO Designing Cities conference. NACTO, short for National Association for City Transportation Officials, (a counterbalance to the more conservative American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, or AASHTO), was fledgling back then and the conference gave me the chance to meet amazing people and tell the story of New York City’s emergence as a cycling power in the U.S.

That trip was the best (and most fun!) reporting I’ve ever done outside of Portland. I was able to interview legendary former NYC DOT chief Janette Sadik-Khan, Streetsblog financier Mark Gorton, cover a speech were former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg proclaimed that cyclists were more important than drivers, highlight Manhattan’s hard-working deliveristas, experience Central Park in fall, ride-along with a first-time commuter, and more.

Then, just as I packed up to go home, we got word that a major hurricane was bearing down. I decided to extend the trip to wait out the storm and it was the right decision! Imagine being a cycling journalist in America’s largest city after it was it with a hurricane that damaged buildings, cut electricity to thousands, and flooded the subway. I got to ride around Manhattan during a blackout, survey damage first-hand, and photograph one of the most remarkable commutes in the history of cities as a subway shutdown stranded tens of thousands of people who took to feet and bike to get to work.

And then, I witnessed bicycling emerge not just as a mobility tool, but as a power-generator, community-builder, and lifesaver.

Suffice it to say, I can’t wait to go back and see how the city’s infrastructure has evolved and changed in the past 11 years.

My itinerary has extra days beyond the Vision Zero conference, but the event’s speakers and topics will be a major focus. The speaker list includes two Portlanders: Sam “Bike Bus” Balto, and Michelle DuBarry who will represent Families for Safe Streets. I’ve covered both Sam and Michelle several times here on BikePortland, so it will be fun to see their voices lifted to a national stage.

The two conference keynotes will be given by author and Houston DOT Director Veronica Davis and The War on Cars podcast co-host Doug Gordon. There are three full days of virtual sessions, field tours (including a bike bus ride with Sam!) and breakout sessions. With traffic safety at an all-time low, there’s tremendous urgency around Vision Zero and I’m eager to hear what our country’s best and brightest have to share about it.

I leave late Tuesday night (10/17), which means I’ll have to miss Bike Happy Hour.

I’ll miss being here, and I get nervous about missing local news when I’m gone; but the break from Portland will do me good. If you are reading this from New York City and have a story idea and/or a connection or event you’d like me to make while I’m in town, please get in touch!

One last thing… this trip is a hefty expense for this little business and I need sponsors and financial support to help make it sting a bit less. If you or your company wants to come along as a sponsor, just email me at maus.jonathan@gmail.com and we’ll work something out. And if you value the work I do/will do and are able to support it, I would really appreciate your help.

Please visit BikePortland.org/support where it’s easy to subscribe or contribute funds. If you’re on Venmo, we’re @bikeportland.

And stay tuned! I’ll be sharing photos, maybe some audio and podcasts, a social media video or two — you never know what I’ll be inspired to create or what story might present itself. Thanks for all your support.

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My Rainy/Winter Gear Wishlist

Comment of the Week: A paean for ponchos

New Portland-based classes offer bicycle equivalent of Drivers Ed

Podcast: In The Shed with new co-host Eva Frazier!

Monday Roundup: Bike hater warning, Seattle’s sweepers, rolling coal, and more

Advocates support protected bike lanes at ‘Bike Broadway Day’

Headed to New York City for Vision Zero Cities conference

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With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike