Positive Spin: Wheels stolen, faith restored

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

“I was totally shocked and amazed that they were willing to do this, and had the heart to help a complete stranger out.”
— Camille Hook

When 30 year old Concordia neighborhood resident Camille Hook got her high-end, custom wheels stolen off her bike earlier this month, she didn’t think she’d ever get them back. She didn’t. What she got was something much better.

Camille loves riding her bike. She tells us she’s raced and ridden it all over Portland for years and that it has led her to good friends and amazing experiences, so you can imagine how she felt when she came out of work and both her wheels had been taken.

“Everyone has had something taken from them at some point,” she wrote via email, “and it really, really sucks.”

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Bike safety among concerns with proposed 7-Eleven in Vernon neighborhood

Corner of 15th and Killingsworth.

Residents of the Vernon Neighborhood in northeast Portland are organizing opposition to a proposed 7-Eleven at the corner of NE Killingsworth and 15th (map). Among their list of concerns about the potential store are how it would impact traffic safety — particularly among people walking and biking.

In a newsletter emailed out on Wednesday, the Vernon Neighborhood Association said after an “overwhelming majority” of residents at a recent meeting expressed concerns about the store, they have decided to oppose the development. In addition to the fact that the new 7-Eleven would be within one block of three locally and minority-owned convenient stores, the neighbors say they are,

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Obama tourism initiative has Oregon (and biking) connection

Todd Davidson.
(Photo: PureTravelNW)

President Obama announced a new initiative yesterday aimed at boosting U.S. tourism. With an eye on job creation and economic stimulus, the White House unveiled a host of strategies to make it easier to visit the U.S. and encourage cities and states across the country to roll out the welcome mat.

The man picked to lead the effort is none other than Travel Oregon CEO Todd Davidson. According to a statement released today by Travel Oregon, Davidson has been selected for the post by U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson.

This news is not only validation for the work Travel Oregon has done to make Oregon a premiere travel destination, it also bodes very well for raising the profile of bike tourism in Oregon and beyond.

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BTA launches privately funded ‘Jump Start’ program – UPDATED

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Training for a lifetime of bike rides
(Photo courtesy of the BTA)

Remember the old saying, “If you give someone a fish, they will eat for a day. Teach a person to fish and they will eat for a lifetime”?

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) is applying the idea in their Walk+Bike Jump Start program by training teachers in bike safety curriculum and giving schools a fleet of bikes to use for a full year. What makes this new program even more interesting though, is that the equipment for the program is being purchased with private donations instead of the state and federal grants the BTA usually relies on.

The BTA has partnered with the Gresham-Barlow School District and other organizations for a pilot of the program which will launch in September.

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Video: East Portland pump track proves popular with kids

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Breathless and tired from riding,
this kid is why pump tracks rule.
(Still from video – Watch it below)

I just watched a video that, in just over one minute, makes the case for pump tracks better than anything I’ve ever read, seen, or heard. The video (watch it below) was shot by Northwest Trail Alliance President Tom Archer back in September and uploaded to the City’s website a few days ago. It shows a swarm of kids devouring the newly built Ventura Park Pump Track out in East Portland.

If you have a heart and you love bikes, I will guarantee this is the best thing you will watch all week…

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Lighter greyish blue Raleigh Grand Prix mid-80s

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Year: mid-80s
Brand: Raleigh
Model: Grand Prix
Color:Lighter greyish blue
Size:30″ stand-over height or 55cm seat-tub
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2012-01-19
Stolen From: From my front porch, in broad daylight, just east of SE 13th and Lambert
Neighborhood: Sellwood
Owner: Joe CLement
OwnerEmail: joe@oregonhunger.org
Reward: $50
Description: It’s a 10-speed road bike with drop-bars and “bar-end” shifters. There’s a aluminum Brayburn rack on the back, with a U-lock attached to it by a black bungie. Red/black handle-bar tape with gash on right side under brakes from a spill.
Police reference#: T12000605
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

City kicks off planning process for North Portland Greenway

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Bike Fashion Show_ride and afterparty-71

A few pieces of the future
path already exist.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The City of Portland Parks & Recreation bureau has announced the beginning of the North Portland Greenway Trail Alignment Project — launching a 14 month process similar to the one they’re doing for the Sullivan’s Gulch Project.
When complete, the process will (hopefully) turn a 10-mile long, non-motorized path that will extend the northern end of the Eastbank Esplanade to the Columbia River, from dream to reality.

This is big news for a big project that has been many years in the making. Over six years ago I recall attending the very first public meeting of this project. It was hosted by citizen volunteers calling themselves, “Friends of the Greenway.” That group morphed into the full-fledged non-profit “npGreenway” which is still going strong today. npGreenway did a ton of heavy lifting to advocate for this project and bring it to where it is today.

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From the Forums: Should I worry about rust on my bike?

[Note from publisher: Before Will shares a post from the Portland Bike Forums, I need to address a few things: Our server expert and I are currently working on issues with the forums related to spam user accounts. None of these accounts are visible, but hundreds of thousands of them have been created and they are taxing our servers. Because of that, I sometimes disable new user sign-ups. If you’ve signed up or would like to sign up, please be patient while we correct these spam/server issues. Thanks — Jonathan Maus]

For Sale, needs some work-2.jpg

Rust happens.
(Photo © J. Maus)

It’s been a while since we mentioned the Portland Bike Forums (We’ve got forums? Yes!); but a thread popped up which I think is relevant for a lot of people this time of year.

Bikes with steel frames will rust when they’re left out in the rain and snow. One small area of exposed steel can be a starting point for oxidation and once rust starts it can be tough to stop. Thankfully, our very smart and helpful forum members have discussed this issue and have some tips you might be interested in…

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‘Cross Up’ indoor cyclocross event coming to The Lumberyard

Sneak peek inside The Lumberyard-13-13

The Lumberyard is still a work
in progress, but you can catch a glimpse
of it at “Cross Up.”
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Winter weather got you down? Then perhaps “Cross Up,” an indoor cyclocross race being put together by Amanda Sundvor of Backyard Blam, will deliver you from the doldrums.

Cross Up will be tournament style races with two riders going shoulder-to-shoulder in each heat. Racers will ride customized Raleigh Furley singlespeed cyclocross bikes with flat bars, big tires and platform pedals. Amanda and her Backyard Blam crew have devised a course that will include some jumps, rollers, berms and barriers. Whether you like catching air or if you prefer to stay earth-bound, Amanda says the course will be a ton of fun for novice and experienced riders alike.

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Latest Headlines

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New plan to boost cycling would capitalize on existing infrastructure

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From the Archives

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