BikePortland

Biking, walking access lags on Washington County bridges

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Bike access seems to have been an
afterthought on this bridge over the
Tualatin River on 99W.
(Photos: Jim “K’tesh” Parsons)

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.”

Tom LaBonty
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland

Portland-based filmmaker Joe Biel (Cantankerous Titles) has released the trailer of his latest project: a documentary about cargo bike builder Tom LaBonty titled One Less Truck.

LaBonty is the 41-year old tinkerer (and baggage handler at PDX Airport by day) who builds affordable cargo bikes (they start at around $500 if you provide the frame) from used parts in his garage in the Lents neighborhood. When we profiled him back in August 2009, he was just starting to make a name for himself around town. Now, thanks to his website, his Flickr photostream, and Craigslist, he’s built and sold 55 bikes to customers around the country.

Year: 2011
Brand: Specialized
Model: Hardrock Sport Disc
Color:black/orange
Size:17.5
Serial: WSBC602078238G
Photo: http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/8185/hardrocksportbike.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97210
Stolen:2012-02-20
Stolen From: NW Cornell Rd, Portland.
Neighborhood: King’s Heights / nr. Chapman School
Owner: Jan Pinkava
OwnerEmail: pinkava@pacbell.net
Reward: yes
Description: Matt black (as picture, but with white bottle holder), front shocks, disk brakes, sram derailleur.
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: 12 – 14885
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Silver MARIN San Anselmo 2005

Year: 2005
Brand: MARIN
Model: San Anselmo
Color:Silver
Serial:C535PSD008
Stolen in Portland, OR 97210
Stolen:2012-02-20
Stolen From: NW Cornell Rd, Portland
Neighborhood: King’s Heights / nr. Chapman School
Owner: Jan Pinkava
OwnerEmail: pinkava@pacbell.net
Description: Large silver frame. Front shocks. Flat handle bars, black grips, with black bar ends (like bullhorn). Black fenders. Wired for odometer.
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: 12-14885
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Two bright bike light ideas on Kickstarter

The “Magnic,” (L) and the Gotham Bicycle Defense light.

In a place like Portland where darkness covers commutes for several months a year, two projects currently seeking funding via Kickstarter — a theft-resistant bike light and a wireless dynamo light — are well worth your consideration.

I shudder to think how much money I’ve lost in stolen bike lights over the years. That’s why the new anti-theft light from Gotham Bicycle Defense (love that name) caught my eye. The light locks onto your bars and its designers say “no tool from a hardware store can remove it.” It’s also waterproof, and it’s shaped like a revolver for good measure. Watch the video below and you won’t be surprised that this project has already gone way over it’s funding goal…

Secure bike parking might become an
employer-provided perk in San Fancisco.
(Photo: Will Vanlue/BikePortland)

Here’s the news and other cool stuff that caught our eyes this past week…

– Have you seen the “Magnic Light” over on Kickstarter? It looks to us like it could revolutionize the bike lighting world. It’s a wireless dynamo that’s super bright. Check it out.

– Tea Party members are pushing hard to eliminate federal funding for public transit and bike facilities under the notion that transportation projects are part of a plot by the United Nations to “herd citizens toward cities.”

Competitors in the Chariot Wars — including the eventual champions on the left — making their way around the course.

Year: 2008
Brand: Gary Fisher
Model: Tassajara
Color:Black
Size:?
Serial: wtu025c2307c
Photo: None
Stolen in Porland, OR 97212
Stolen:2012-02-16
Stolen From: N. Mississippi Ave.
Owner: Bryan Fitterer
OwnerEmail: bryfitterer@hotmail.com
Description: black gary fisher tassajara
Police record with: portland PD
Police reference#: 12-13892
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

PBOT counts show bike trips up 6.4 percent in 2011

An average of over 18,000
trips are made by bike over
Portland’s four main downtown
bridges every day.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

PBOT released their 2011 Bicycle Counts Report today (PDF). The numbers show that overall there were 6.4 percent more trips made by bike citywide in 2011 compared to 2010. On new neighborhood greenways, the jump in ridership was even greater. At the 11 newly-developed neighborhood greenways (a.k.a. bike boulevards), PBOT recorded a jump of 61 percent.

The Going Street neighborhood greenway saw a particularly large spike with a daily count of 1,585 bicycle trips at NE Going and 9th last year compared to 1,040 daily bicycle trips in 2010.

Overall, bike traffic in Portland is up 219% since 2001. In addition to trip data, the counts also shed light on the gender split (big news on that below), reported collisions, helmet use, and seasonal averages over time.

Bikes welcome here?
(Google streetview)

ODOT Region 1 Manager Jason Tell says a recent collision has led to an internal assessment of bike safety on the St. Johns Bridge and he has directed his staff to do something about it.

In a phone call today, Tell said ODOT will install new signs on the bridge to make people driving cars more aware of people operating bicycles in the roadway. “From a motorists perspective, I think we can do more to raise awareness that cyclists are in the road… since it’s a legal use there,” said Tell.

After a thorough evaluation process that included in-person interviews, a questionnaire and ride-along with all three major candidates, political action committee Bike Walk Vote has announced their endorsement of Jefferson Smith for Portland mayor.

Bike Walk Vote co-chair Evan Manvel said today in a phone interview that Smith’s “Commitment, record, and leadership on equity as well as his focus on not spending all of our money on new infrastructure and highways,” are key things that stood out for them. Manvel also cited Smith’s work to “engage the whole city and work with non-traditional power brokers” as traits that were important to their choice.

The City of Portland’s Transportation Options Division — the group behind such popular programs as Sunday Parkways and SmartTrips — no longer exists as a stand-alone section of PBOT. The consolidation of Options into a new “Active Transportation” group within PBOT’s org chart — and the $350,000 cut that comes with it — is just one of the steps being taken to tighten operations and cut over $15 million in their ongoing discretionary budget.

Sunday Parkways and Neighborhood Greenways are also slated for significant cuts and 27 current PBOT employees will lose their jobs (most of the positions are labor/maintenance workers).

Biking, walking access lags on Washington County bridges

Cargo bike builder Tom LaBonty subject of new documentary

black/orange Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc 2011

Silver MARIN San Anselmo 2005

Two bright bike light ideas on Kickstarter

The Monday Roundup

The faces and the glory of the Ben Hurt Chariot Wars

Black Gary Fisher Tassajara 2008

PBOT counts show bike trips up 6.4 percent in 2011

ODOT says they’ll add new signage, maybe sharrows, to St. Johns Bridge

Bike Walk Vote endorses Jefferson Smith for Portland mayor

PBOT budget update: Cuts, consolidation, and no more ‘Options’

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