🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏

PBOT sweepers to put ‘focused attention on bike lanes’ this weekend

City will focus on sweeping
bike lanes this weekend.
(Photo © J. Maus)

As the comments pouring in on our story yesterday has made crystal clear, bike lanes throughout the city are inundated with wet and slippery leaves right now. The issue isn’t simply a sign of disrespect by PBOT — the unpredictable weather has posed some serious challenges — but we wondered if PBOT had a set policy for dealing with bike lane obstructions and/or if they planned to do anything specific about it.

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To reduce right-hooks, City turns on illuminated bicycle sign at Couch and Grand

New sign went up yesterday.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) turned on an illuminated bicycle sign on NE Couch at Grand Avenue. As we reported last month, the intention of the sign is to reduce the risk of right-hooks at an intersection where several injury collisions have taken place.

A bike box has already been installed at the intersection, but collisions have continued. The problem is that, even though there’s no right turn on red allowed, that law — and the presence of the colored bike box and lane — don’t work as effectively to deter right-hooks during green lights. This sign is an attempt to address that issue.

The new sign was turned on yesterday and it’s the first of its kind in Portland. I observed it in action as people streamed down Couch during this morning’s rush hour.

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Would more bike cops and fewer riot cops lead to peaceful protests?

The face of a front-line officer at yesterday’s protest.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Our story about cops on bikes at the Occupy Portland protests yesterday has sparked a dialogue (that’s happening citywide, not just on BikePortland) about the size and style of force the City of Portland is bringing to these events.

In a comment on our story yesterday, former PPB bicycle liaison officer and noted community advocate Robert Pickett explained the reason for riot gear. “Jonathon [sic],” wrote Pickett, “the officers in riot gear are not there to respond to people like you, or most of the protesters at any demonstration. That is one of the reasons why this critique comes so often, I believe — most of the protestors are not there to attack or injure officers, so it is hard for them to understand the need for heavily armored officers.”

Pickett went on to share that police are prepping for the “small minority who mingle among the peaceful protestors.”

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charcoal Trek 7.2 FX 2010

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2010
Brand: Trek
Model: 7.2 FX
Color:charcoal
Size:20″
Serial: SWTU327C2811F
Photo: http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/fitness/fx/7_2_fx/#
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2011-11-17
Stolen From: Stolen from the back of my car in my driveway–was locked to rack
Neighborhood: South of Woostock area /48th & Ogden
Owner: Tom Johnson
OwnerEmail: tmjbrody@gmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: Dark charcoal, has plastic fenders, black metal rear rack, had front and rear light mounts, in like-new condition.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 11-099832
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Blue Bianchi Strada

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Brand: Bianchi
Model: Strada
Color:Blue
Size:medium
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2011-11-17
Stolen From: Central Library downtown. 10th and Yamhill. Locked to the bike rack.
Neighborhood: 10th and Yamhill
Owner: Mark Todd
OwnerEmail: blackcherrypurple@yahoo.com
Description: Blue w/white lettering. Black fenders,aluminum rear rack,black kickstand, air horn,rear tail light
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 11-156596
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Leaves in bike lanes: Open thread to report locations

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Leaves in the bike lane
on Naito this morning.
(Photo © J. Maus)

After the burst of fall was followed by stiff winds and rain last night, leaves are covering many bike lanes in Portland. For cars, leaves aren’t a big deal, because the mass, velocity and tires on a car act like sweepers to keep lanes clean. But bikes aren’t big enough to have that same effect, so the leaves pile up.

The dangers of leaves are two-fold: Ride in them and risk slipping out in the slimy muck; ride around them and risk getting hit by other traffic in other lanes. Add in the early darkness of the evening commute and it becomes even more important to keep bike lanes free of debris and hazards.

I noticed nearly all of the northbound bike lane on Naito Parkway was completely covered in leaves this morning. I’ve also heard of major leafing up on N. Willamette on the bluff overlooking Swan Island.

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Westside Transportation Alliance says “Thank You” to Washington County

People gathered at a bar in
Beaverton to give thanks to
those who help make projects
happen.
(Photos: Will Vanlue)

Earlier this week the Westside Transportation Alliance (WTA) gathered a group of advocates and citizens from around Washington County to write thank-you notes to people who have helped promote and improve conditions for bicycling, walking, and public transit in the region.

The WTA hosted the event at Billy’s Bar, a new locally-owned business in Beaverton.

The focus of advocacy work is often on activities before a project takes place: letter writing, testifying at meetings, calling elected officials, and etc. After a project is complete it’s easy to move on to the next big thing while forgetting to take the time to thank everyone who made past projects successful.

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5 questions with ‘Occupy’ supporter Dan Kaufman

“I see a greater need for civil disobedience and believe the success of the movement will mean long term safety for all vulnerable uses of our streets.”
— Dan Kaufman

Sellwood resident Dan Kaufman is no stranger to BikePortland. The man behind Crank My Chain! CycleTV has helped us with video projects in the past like coverage of the Aerial Tram and a video ad. His most recent project is a new video about the effort to ban studded tires in Oregon.

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Blue/Black MOTIV Stone Grinder 1990?

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 1990?
Brand: MOTIV
Model: Stone Grinder
Color:Blue/Black
Size:19″ farme
Stolen in Portland, OR 97233
Stolen:2011-10-15
Stolen From: fenced back yard, SE 130th and SE Lincoln
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Owner: Chris Salter
OwnerEmail: kitnlib@comcast.ney
Description: MOTIV MTB: Stone Grinder, 21 speed, Blue and Black frame, 26″ wheels, City Slicker Tires, mud guards black, rear rack black, bar ends black, computer and light mounts, bottle cages.
Police record with: PPD
Police reference#: T11008336
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

‘Bike Train Lessons’ is subject of free talk Thursday

Kiel “Bike Train” Johnson.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The City of Portland’s excellent monthly “Bicycle Brown Bag” discussion series continues tomorrow with a presentation titled ‘Bike Train Lessons’.

Kiel Johnson, who has spearheaded a flourishing local bike train movement will give the talk. Johnson will talk about, “his successes and struggles in building a bike train movement and how his experiences can be applied to other efforts to promote active transportation.”

Kiel is the consummate citizen activist who took a passion for making a difference and turned it into a sustainable program that has gotten widespread notoriety not just for himself, but for bike trains in general. And the amazing thing is that he did it almost completely DIY-style, with very little funding or resources.

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