New business will help you ‘Pedal Portland’

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Pedal Portland logo

Kirk Paulsen wants to “get you psyched to ride your bike.” That’s the rallying cry of his new business, Pedal Portland. If you have a bike gathering dust in the garage and want to use it for more than just Sunday Parkways and Bridge Pedal, you can hire Paulsen to show you the ropes.

Paulsen’s idea is to offer personal, one-on-one consultations designed to take the guess-work out of riding bikes. Whether you have a bike and just aren’t confident to start riding it around town yet, or if you are completely new to riding, Paulsen wants to help.

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Reader photos: Cargo bikes rule the streets of Beijing

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

In Beijing, cargo bikes flourish for several reasons, including a city policy that prohibits large trucks from entering the central city. See and read more about Beijing’s cargo bike scene from reader Collin Roughton, an urban studies student who just returned from the city after a summer internship.

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Washington County roundup: Complete streets funding, Fanno crossing, and paved trails in North Plains

Riding on the west side-10

A fix is in store for this dead-end
of Fanno Creek Trail at Hall Blvd.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Several noteworthy bits of active transportation news from Washington County have come across my desk lately. The Board of Commissioners passed an important funding ordinance last night, an effort to improve the crossing of the Fanno Creek Trail at Hall Blvd is underway, and the small town of North Plains has unveiled plans for several paved biking and walking paths.

Learn more in the brief recaps below.

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GOLD KONA Muni Mula 1995

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 1995
Brand: KONA
Model: Muni Mula
Color:GOLD
Size:17-18"
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2007-09-07
Stolen From: Safeway, 10th & Jefferson. Stolen in 1995
Neighborhood: Downtown Portland
Owner: Gold Kona
OwnerEmail: urbansmoke@hotmail.com
Reward: Yes
Description: gold kona,hardtail
Police record with: No
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Brown/Tan Shwinn Varsity 1985

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 1985
Brand: Shwinn
Model: Varsity
Color:Brown/Tan
Size:45cm
Photo: http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/284055_1690455760622_1814605726_1138266_917220_n.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2011-09-6
Stolen From: Stolen from the corner of SE 14 and Yamhill, in front of my apartment building.
Neighborhood: Buckman
Owner: Brianne Burgess
OwnerEmail: honeyydo@yahoo.com
Description: This bike is a very small 1980s-ish Shwinn that was, at one point, a glossy blue, but I have since painted over it in tan and brown. The paint is from a spray can and should chip off easily to reveal the original blue color. The handlebars are drop bars with tan cork tape, and there are two new black brake levers on them. It has been converted into a freewheel single speed, and the back wheel is a new 24cm wheel with a new Continental tire.
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

ODOT looks to study safety impacts of streetcar tracks

Conditions on Lovejoy-6

ODOT wants to know more
about safety risks posed by
tracks before they sign
off on future streetcar
project.
(Photo © J. Maus)

In my continuing effort to bring more attention to the issue of how streetcar tracks impact bicycling conditions, a reader passed along an interesting tidbit.

Turns out that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is also concerned about the issue. The potential of a new streetcar line from Porltand to Lake Oswego on State Highway 43 has spurred ODOT to look into new research to determine how the presence of the tracks might impact vehicle users.

ODOT’s risk management department has requested a green light to go ahead with a research project titled, “Coefficient of Friction of Rubber Tires on Streetcar Tracks under Dry and Wet Conditions.” In the research problem statement (PDF here), ODOT lays out their concerns:

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Dark purple Trek 7.2 2011

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Year: 2011
Brand: Trek
Model: 7.2
Color:Dark purple
Size:Lady’s
Serial:WTU047C1501F
Stolen in Portland, OR 97219
Stolen:2011-09-06
Stolen From: OHSU South Waterfront campus, east bike stands
Neighborhood: South Waterfront
Owner: Robin Hertert
OwnerEmail: rhertert@gmail.com
Description: Headlight, cable bike lock
Police record with: OHSU Police
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Event: Gordon Patterson Memorial Bike Ride (9/17/11)

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Gordon Patterson Memorial Bike Ride (Vancouver, WA)
Sept 17th at 9:00 am

7-11 AM Breakfast at Burgerville: Fourth Plain and Ft. Vancouver Way (Fundraiser for scholarship fund)

9 AM Bike Ride Meet at Hudson’s Bay HS (1601 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98667): Choice of 4 mile or 10 mile ride. Helmets required

Suggested donation: $5 per person, $15 per family. (Proceeds go to the Gordon Patterson Memorial Scholarship Fund)

11:00 AM Groundbreaking for Memorial Garden, Hudson’s Bay Courtyard

Noon Lunch at Benny’s Pizza Cafe, 4219 NE St. Johns Road

More info: Carrie Patterson gpatter (at) juno (dot) com

Bike share demo puts future system within reach

Bike share demo-4-3

Checking out the B-cycle system.
(Photos © J. Maus)

When Portland last hosted a bike share demonstration, the concept was still just a twinkle in PBOT’s eye. But now with a green light to accept $2 million in federal seed funding, a similar demonstration held today in downtown Portland put the idea in a much different light.

Now, instead of wondering if bike-sharing will come to Portland, it’s a matter of getting it right when it gets here.

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Bike use helps OHSU avoid traffic crisis: Valet service extended

About 150 bikes are using the
temporary bike valet service at the base of
r the Portland Aerial Tram.
(Photo © J. Maus)

A bike valet service at the foot of the Portland Aerial Tram has proved so popular that Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has extended the service until the end of September.

OHSU began offering the service on July 11th while SW Sam Jackson Park Road — one of only two, two-lane roads to OHSU’s Marquam Hill campus (which also happens to be the City’s largest employer) — underwent a repair project. The bike valet was one of several measures undertaken to encourage OHSU staff, patient, and visitors to get up the hill in something other than an automobile.

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black Adam’s folder one 2006

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2006
Brand: Adam’s
Model: folder one
Color:black
Size:med
Serial:0610036125 bc-06
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2011-08-28
Stolen From: Sunday Parkways, SE Taylor and SE 20th ave, at Col Summers Park in Portland Oregon
Owner: Evan Ross
OwnerEmail: portlandbicycle@gmail.com
Reward: bike tour of your choice
Description: med size black adams tral-a-bike, third wheel attachment for kids. yellow stickers, quick release saddle and folding section in middle. complete with saeatpost coupler and cotter pin hitch.
Police record with: on line
Police reference#: 11-154864
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

blue/green Kona Paddy Wagon 2006

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2006
Brand: Kona
Model: Paddy Wagon
Color:blue/green
Size:49cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97216
Stolen:2011-09-03
Stolen From: Mall 205 Target bike rack
Neighborhood: SE Portland
Owner: Deidre Hardin
OwnerEmail: deidre167@msn.com
Description: Blue/green stock Paddy Wagon with origianl components, EXCEPT planet bike poly fenders(front mud flap is loose), and new neon green tires. there are front/rear light mounts installed
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 11-154861
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

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