🚨 Please note that BikePortland slows down during this time of year as I have family in town and just need a break! Please don't expect typical volume of news stories and content. I'll be back in regular form after the new year. Thanks. - Jonathan 🙏

New path for bikes on west end of Sellwood Bridge

Multnomah County has built a new path for bike traffic.
(Photos sent in by a reader)

A new bike path on the western end of the Sellwood Bridge was just completed yesterday. Multnomah County spokesman Mike Pullen says it will be in place for about a year and that it’s one of many temporary alignments we can expect as the bridge is rebuilt over the next three years.

Heading west over the bridge sidewalk, you will now see a transition into a curb-protected path, separated from Highway 43 with plastic “candlestick” bollards. This path leads northbound bike traffic all the way down a corkscrew ramp. About two-thirds of the way down the ramp (once it is going south), you can choose to continue to Lake Oswego or Riverview Cemetery, or — if you want to go north toward Portland — you must make a sharp, hairpin turn (marked with an arrow in the image below).

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Silver wiith black lettering Columbia Columbia Commuter 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Columbia
Model: Commuter
Color:Silver wiith black lettering Columbia
Size:21 or 22 frame
Serial: 08B0022401
Stolen in Portland, OR 97227
Stolen:2012-09-24
Stolen From: Kaiser Central Interstate 3500 N Interstate Portland Oregon 97227 1st floor bike lock up. South end of lock up. Last stall. Cable Lock.
Neighborhood: Not sure Maybe Overlook
Owner: Marcine Lester
OwnerEmail: marcinelester@yahoo.com
Description: Portland Police report # 1284388 Silver with black lettering Commuter has fenders, luggage rack, left round mirror on handle bars, right handle bar
ringer Bell brand. No reflector on front due to accident in Sept 2010. Male bike Sticker removed from GI joes on frame. Stickey residue on frame
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 1284388
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

black painted Trek 6700 2004

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2004
Brand: Trek
Model: 6700
Color:black painted
Size:19 3/4
Serial: wl3153235
Stolen in Portland, OR 97217
Stolen:2012-09-27
Stolen From: N. Curtis ave and Holland ave
Neighborhood: arbor lodge
Owner: David Smith
OwnerEmail: llxxll27@gmail.com
Description: black mount. bike white front shocks (rockshocks) pabst blueribbon seat skinny front tire nobby back tire .
Police record with: portland pd
Police reference#: 12-85069
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Light brown Nishiki 1982

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 1982
Brand: Nishiki
Color:Light brown
Size:Dark Brown
Stolen in Portland, OR 97215
Stolen:2012-09-10
Stolen From: SE 47th and SE Licoln
Owner: Marcus Hoover
OwnerEmail: mhoover1442@gmail.com
Description: Mens Nishiki, Large basket on front. Shift on down tube. backsweep handlebars.
New brake levers and calipers.black seat
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

White w/blue lettering Fuji Cross Comp 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Fuji
Model: Cross Comp
Color:White w/blue lettering
Size:54-55cm
Stolen in Portland, OR
Stolen:2012-09-26
Stolen From: Eco trust building
Neighborhood: Pearl District
Owner: Tony Gomez
OwnerEmail: gomezt@gmail.com
Description: 2008 Fuji Cross Comp
White w/blue letter
Black fenders
Blackburn rack
After market compact crank
Mount for rear light (I still have the light)
Mount for front light (I still have the light)
Mount for computer (I still have the computer)
Continental Gator skin tires
Front wheel is after market (don’t remember the name)
Major components are Shimano (105 and better I think)
Candy C clip in pedals
After market kick stand
Livestong bottle
Tektro brakes

black Schwinn Varsity (i think) 1980s?

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 1980s?
Brand: Schwinn
Model: Varsity (i think)
Color:black
Size:57?
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2012-09-26
Stolen From: 639 SE Morrison, at 7th st.
Neighborhood: inner SE
Owner: michael pifke
OwnerEmail: mikepifke@gmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: all matt black and chrome frame (spray painted with yellow paint showing through at the scratches) 700c deep v black wheels with aluminum breaking surfaces. Single speed, modern aluminum cranks and pedals. Handlebars are drops, wrapped in black cloth tape that’s faded to light grey. front brake only-diacompe brand.
Police record with: portland
Police reference#: T12008164
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Event Roundup: Centuries, cyclocross, Parkways and dance parties

Friday night is your chance to help Mat Barton.

Whether you’re into long rides on beautiful country roads or some good, old-fashioned civil disobedience, it’s going to be another great weekend on a bike.

Friday night is the big Fundraiser for Mat Barton. As we’ve shared since his freak crash back in June, Mat is on the road to getting strong again; but he needs community support to do it right. The event is being held at The Lumberyard indoor MTB park and there are tons of great reasons to be there. Check out the event website for more info.

This is the PDX Bike Swarm’s “Super Swarm” weekend. This rising activist group is leading several rides this weekend, starting Friday evening with some “Civil Discobedience”. According to swarmers, they’ll meet at Peace Park (N Interstate and NE Oregon) at 4:30 for a mobile dance party and bike ride to demonstrate “that human power, music, and dance is better than inter-urban freeway occupations, noise and air pollution.” The action will target the City’s plans to expand I-5 through the Rose Quarter. (Facebook event page)

Also on Friday night, local artist and freak bike maker Johnnie Olivan will unveil his new Bike Train at Bike Bash 2012. The ride will start from the new Rejuiced Bikes headquarters at the corner of NE Mason and Garfield. Meet at 6:00 pm and expect music, art, and fun. Check out the event announcement for more details.

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Late night Old Town street closure plan would prohibit bike traffic

A plan being proposed by the Portland Police Bureau (through the Office of Neighborhood Involvement) to improve safety on the streets of Old Town/Chinatown would come with seven blocks of downtown streets being closed to, “all vehicular traffic, including bicycles and skateboards.” The plan aims to create a carfree “Entertainment District”.

The plan is “at the very early stages” says Mike Boyer, the Crime Prevention Coordinator with the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI). An outline of the plan was shared today on the Active Right of Way email list. According to a PDF from the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (uploaded by Portland Afoot) the closure zone would be active only on Friday and Saturday nights from 9:00 pm to 3:00 am and on selected major holidays.

The streets that would be included in this closure would be:

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Get a seat at the transpo table: Consider joining Metro’s TPAC

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
JPACT meeting-2

A chance to be where a lot of
important stuff happens.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Metro’s Transportation Policy Alternatives Committee, or “TPAC” as it’s known around here, is looking for four new community representatives. If you want to influence local and regional transportation projects, this is a great opportunity.

TPAC’s main role is to advise the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT), the panel of local elected bigwigs and agency execs that controls the federal transportation pursestrings in the Portland area. There are 21 people on TPAC, 15 of them are transportation professionals appointed by cities, counties, and agencies, and there are six at-large community members.

Metro says they’re looking for four new community reps who have some expertise in the following areas:

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NW Trail Alliance is getting kids on mountain bikes (and you can too)

Still from new video

As we shared back in July, the Northwest Trail Alliance (NWTA) held their first summer kid’s camp this past summer. A new video (watch it below) released today shares the impact that camp had on the kids, in their own words.

Over the four day camp, 20 kids (led by experienced guides) visited different riding spots throughout the Portland region. They learned about nature, how to be good trail stewards, and of course, they learned how to ride in a way most of them had never even considered before. It’s one thing to hop down a curb in front of your house, but it’s an entirely different experience to roll over a log while riding down a trail in the forest, or to move smoothly over a berm at a pump track at the local park.

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