Next week the focus of bikes lovers around the globe will turn to Sacramento, host city for this year’s eighth annual North American Handmade Bicycle Show. Portland-based builders have always made a a big impression at NAHBS (pronounced “nabs”), and this year will be no different.
The Oregonian Editorial Board weighed in on the state of bicycling in Portland today. The editorial appeared on the same week that PBOT released its annual bike counts showing a 6.4% increase between 2010 and 2011.
Whenever our state’s newspaper of record devotes major opinion space to bicycling, it’s worth noting. Regardless of what you think about The Oregonian, the fact remains they own an influential voice that helps frame the conversation. In Biking the path to urban health, The O’s Editorial Board seems to give a big thumbs up to bicycling in general, but when you look more closely, their opinion isn’t quite as clear.
Massive news in the national bike advocacy world…
The Alliance for Biking & Walking, Bikes Belong, and the League of American Bicyclists — the three largest national bicycling advocacy organizations — intend to merge into one group. According to an official statement, the goal of the unification is to, “speed progress in creating a bicycle‐friendly America” and to “combine the significant resources of the three groups into one effective, powerful organization with a clear, integrated structure and a single voice.”
A bike stolen from The eBike Store on N. Vancouver and Alberta two years ago has been recovered thanks to some citizen sleuthing and a sting operation by the Beaverton Police Department.
The shop’s owner, Wakefield Gregg, checks Craigslist for stolen bikes everyday. His persistence paid off on Friday when he saw a listing that looked very suspicious. It turns out that the bike, an eZee Sprint worth $2,000, was a limited edition aqua blue color. “It helps that the bike was one of 10 made in the aqua blue color, and was the only one imported to the Pacific Northwest,” said Gregg.
Since the listing was in Beaverton, Gregg contacted the Beaverton PD to coordinate a meeting with the seller in the hopes of getting the bike back.
Year: 1981 ?
Brand: Ciocc
Model: vintage
Color:blue
Size:smallish
Photo: http://i43.tinypic.com/14344zl.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2012-02-22
Stolen From: From the lobby at my work – NW 14th and Thurman
Neighborhood: NW Portland
Owner: Sarah Cline
OwnerEmail: magrish@riseup.net
Reward: yes! i would be happy to give the finder $100 for their help.
Description: The photo isn’t actually my bike but it is close. The bar tape on my bike is blue + black, not white. It is a single speed bike with brakes. It is a super special bike that my friend built for me. It was stolen along with my neon yellow/green helmet.
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
As we’ve mentioned before, the City of Beaverton is working to make SW Broadway Street safer and more pleasant for people on foot and on bikes. They held an open house in early February and last week Mayor Denny Doyle was available for questions about the project at a neighborhood meeting.
Engineers are refining design elements and the city has a series of concept drawings showing what the new Broadway could look like. There’s an open house planned for March 5th and planners say they’re specifically looking for feedback on how bike parking should be set up.
Year: 2011
Brand: Trek
Model: 7.1FX
Color:Navy Blue w/silver
Size:20″ mens
Serial: WTU004C2166F
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2012-02-19
Stolen From: 1400 NW Northrup – Bike Rack Outside LA Fitness
Neighborhood: Portland Pearl District
Owner: LaMar Lay
OwnerEmail: leelamar@comcast.net
Description: 21-Speed Urban Hybrid with 700c Wheels
Purchased May, 2011 @ $470 Retail.
I have original owner’s manual, CD, & documentation.
Defects:
Small scratched area on one rear fork where I hook up my bike trailer hitch.
The little plugs at the outer ends of handle grips are missing.
There is No quick release lever on the seat post.
Frameset: Hydroformed Frame – Alpha Silver Aluminum
Fork: High-tensile steel w/lowrider mounts; CLIX dropouts
Wheels: 700c – Alloy hubs; Bontrager 750 32-hole double-wall alloy rims
Tires: Bontrager H2, 700x35c Drivetrain
Shifters: Shimano EF51, 7-speed trigger
Front derailleur: Shimano Tourney
Rear derailleur: Shimano Acera
Crank: Shimano M171, 48/38/28 w/chainguard
Cassette: Shimano TZ31 14-34, 7 speed
Pedals: Nylon platform Components
Saddle: Bontrager SSR
Seatpost: Bontrager SSR, alloy
Handlebar: Bontrager Approved Riser, steel, 30mm rise
Stem: Bontrager Approved, alloy, 15 degree
Headset: Slimstak, semi-cartridge bearings, sealed
Brakeset: Tektro alloy linear-pull brakes w/Shimano EF51 adjustable-reach levers
Handle Grips: Bontrager Satellite, dual-density
20″ Frame Dimensions:
EBottom bracket height: 28.5 cm;
GChainstay length: 44.5 cm;
DEffective top tube: 56.8 cm;
CHead angle: 71.5;
BHead tube length: 16 cm;
HOffset: 4.5 cm;
ASeat tube angle: 73.5;
KStandover: 78.6 cm;
JWheelbase: 105.7 cm;
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-14780
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
A Federal Highway Administration grant is allowing the Oregon Department of Transportation to get started on a new path for walking and bicycling in the Columbia River Gorge.
“On Monday, February 20, 2012, Sheriff’s deputies were very busy dealing with crashes involving vehicles vs. pedestrians and bicycles.” That’s the opening line of a Washington County Sheriff’s Office statement sent to the media yesterday. It came after there were three collisions involving vulnerable road users in Washington County that happened within a two-hour time span.
Since I’ve covered this beat, I don’t recall ever seeing a police press statement with three separate incidents so close to each other.
Brand: Univega
Model: Hybrid
Color:Beige/Gold
Size:21
Serial:CP662509
Stolen in Portland, OR 972141]
Stolen:2012-02-11
Stolen From: 22nd & SE Pine Street (Pine Street Apartments). Stolen from bike lock area in covered garage facing Pine Street.
Neighborhood: Buckman
Owner: Ryan Organ
OwnerEmail: ryanorgan@gmail.com
Description: Straight handle bars with bar ends, white bar tape. 700c tires. Two water bottle cages. Black front/rear fenders. Black pedal cages.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-151224
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Back in December, amid smiles and celebrations at the groundbreaking for the Sellwood Bridge project, our roving West Side correspondent Jim Parsons reflected at the poor state bridge access on many Washington County roads.
With design drawings of the enviable biking and walking lanes slated for the Sellwood Bridge fresh in his mind, he fired off one of his trademark emails to his usual coterie of advocates, bureaucrats, and policymakers. The subject line read: “Bridge Improvements needed in Washington County.”