🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and is not publishing new content. Learn more here and stay tuned for updates. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏

Seminar will answer “How do people choose a travel mode?”

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Interesting seminar coming to PSU this Friday:

Friday, May 6, 2011
Room 204 of the Distance Learning Center Wing of the Urban Center on the Portland State University campus. 12pm-1pm.

Speaker: Robert Schneider, UC Berkeley

Topic: How Do People Choose a Travel Mode? Factors Associated with Routine Walking & Bicycling

Abstract: Walking and bicycling are being promoted as transportation options that can increase the livability and sustainability of communities, but the automobile remains the dominant mode of transportation in all United States metropolitan regions. In order to change travel behavior, researchers and practitioners need a greater understanding of the mode choice decision process, especially for walking and bicycling.

This presentation will summarize dissertation research on factors associated with walking and bicycling for routine travel purposes, such as shopping. More than 1,000 retail pharmacy store customers were surveyed in 20 San Francisco Bay Area shopping districts in fall 2009, and 26 follow-up interviews were conducted in spring and summer 2010. Mixed logit models showed that walking was associated with shorter travel distances, higher population densities, more street tree canopy coverage, and greater enjoyment of walking. Bicycling was associated with shorter travel distances, more bicycle facilities, more bicycle parking, and greater enjoyment of bicycling. Respondents were more likely to drive when they perceived a high risk of crime, but automobile use was discouraged by higher employment densities, smaller parking lots, and metered on-street parking. Interviews suggested a five-step theory of how people choose travel modes. Walking and bicycling could be promoted within each step: awareness and availability (through individual/social marketing programs), basic safety and security (through pedestrian and bicycle facility improvements and education and enforcement efforts), convenience (through higher-density, mixed land uses and limited automobile parking), enjoyment (through street trees and supportive culture), and habit (through roadway and parking pricing).

Forgot your bike lock? Some businesses will loan you one

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

This sign greets visitors to the American
Red Cross in North Portland. It reads, “If you
need a lock, please contact security inside the lobby.”
(Photo © J. Maus)

You know the feeling… Just as you roll up to your destination, you realize you forgot to bring a lock for your bike. If you’re with friends, no problem; but if you’re by yourself, you’ve either got to make a change in plans or take a risk and leave your bike unlocked (not advisable).

Thankfully, a growing number of bike-savvy Portland businesses provide loaner locks. Among them are Portland Rock Gym, North Portland Wellness Center, Apex Bar, and the American Red Cross.

Read more

Alpenrose Velodrome cleaned up, ready for business

OBRA volunteer Stewart Campbell
helped pressure wash Alpenrose
Velodrome.
(Photos: David Boerner)

The word is in from Alpenrose Velodrome Director Mike Murray: track racing will start this week at the popular track nestled in Portland’s southwest hills (weather permitting, of course).

The announcement comes after a week and a half of weeding, scraping, patching, sanding, and sweeping Portland’s beloved concrete bowl to perfection (or close enough, anyway). The track cleanup effort was a labor of love by a crack team of volunteers.

Read more

Editorial: On Williams Avenue, a crucial test for Portland

“The… project has the opportunity to be a cycle-track the whole length if we don’t let the traffic engineers reserve too much space for cars… First, we have to have the guts to try it and then we’ve got to make it succeed.”
— Chris Smith

At a stakeholder advisory committee meeting later today we’ll learn how community feedback has — or hasn’t — changed the City of Portland’s perspective on the North Williams bikeway project (a.k.a. the North Williams Traffic Safety Operations Project).

Even though Williams is one of the busiest bikeways in the city and a hub of bike-oriented development, PBOT’s initial proposal for the busiest section of the street (from Cook to Skidmore) included no improvement to bike access. Fearing push-back from businesses about automobile access and on-street parking, PBOT was on the verge of caving to the status quo.

Read more

dark blue specialzed globe 2007

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2007
Brand: specialzed
Model: globe
Color:dark blue
Size:61cm
Serial: p6hb51681
Stolen in Portland, OR 97215
Stolen:2011-05-01
Stolen From: my garage
Neighborhood: se mt. tabor
OwnerEmail: tootallnunn@gmail.com
Reward: hugs and kisses
Description: Big bike for 6’8″ rider, front and back lights, bontraeger handlebars, kryptolok, aftermarket seat, black fenders.
Police record with: portland
Police reference#: 11-356-84
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Climbing aboard the bike train

The lot in front of Trillium Charter School (which used to be used for auto parking, but cars are now prohibited) on Interstate, bustled with bikes this morning.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Read more

Salem Watch: Bike signal bill passes House committee

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

SB 130 would make these official.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Senate Bill 130 (text), which would add bicycle-only signals to Oregon’s list of traffic control devices, passed out of the House Committee on Transportation and Economic Development on Friday.

SB 130 passed the full Senate back in February and it’s now poised for a House vote and eventual passage into law.

Paul Mather, a highway division administrator for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), testified on behalf of the bill on Friday. In response to a question from Committee Chair Rep. Cliff Bentz about what benefits the bill might have for automobile drivers, Mathers said,

Read more

Event: The People’s Coast Classic (9/11/11-9/16/11)

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Event Name: The Amgen People’s Coast Classic to benefit the Arthritis Foundation
Event Start Date: 11 Sept, 2011
Start Time: AM
Web Site: http://www.thepeoplescoastclassic.org/
Event Description:
The Amgen People’s Coast Classic is a multi-day charity event benefiting the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to improve lives through prevention, control and cure of arthritis.

Choose from:

  • Six-Day Classic: September 11-16, Astoria to Brookings
  • Two-Day North Coast Ride: September 11-13, Astoria to Newport
  • Four-Day Central-South Coast Ride: September 13-16, Newport to Brookings

This ride follows the Oregon Coast Bike Route as marked by the state Department of Transportation, which is graced with incredible scenery and fun attractions. Your vacation with a cause will touch the lives of over 50 million people in the United States, including 300,000 children living with Juvenile Arthritis.

TriMet says father/child separation incident is why bike trailers aren’t allowed

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
max and bike (old shot from archives)

(Photo © J. Maus)

On Saturday, a two-year old child was separated from her father at a MAX station because the father was trying to load a bike trailer onto the train.

Here’s more from The Oregonian:

“Transit agency officials said Kevin James, 39, loaded the girl and his bicycle onto the northbound train at the Albina/Mississippi Yellow Line station about 3:45 p.m. Saturday. He then stepped off the train and to retrieve a bike trailer, TriMet said.”

Read more

Event: Tour de Hood (6/4/11)

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Event Name: Tour de Hood
Event Start Date: 4 June, 2011
Start Time: 1:00:00 PM
Web Site: http://www.tourdehoodride.com/
Event Description:
Ride one of Oregon’s most beautiful and challenging recreational rides! Experience two of the same courses that challenge racers in the popular Mt Hood Cycling Classic stage race. This is a one-of-a-kind Oregon recreational riding experience!

UO will hold award ceremony for Silver Bike Friendly award

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

University of Oregon in Eugene was recognized as a Silver level Bike Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists. To mark the occasion, there will be a ceremony on May 5th featuring League President Andy Clarke and UO President Richard Lariviere.

Check out the details below…

May 5th ceremony will recognize UO as Bike Friendly University

What: UO Silver Bike Friendly University Awards Ceremony

Where: On the steps of Johnson Hall, 1226 University of Oregon, Eugene

When: Thursday, May 5th 3:15 -4:00 PM

The League of American Bicyclists has honored the University of Oregon with a Silver-level Bike Friendly University award. The designation places UO in the top 20 bicycle friendly universities in the nation. Although UO scored well, much work remains for UO to compete with platinum-rated Stanford, a fellow Pac-10 school.

On Thursday, May 5th, Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists, will visit Eugene to present University President Richard Lariviere with UO’s silver award and inspire us to reach for platinum!

Speeches at the Award Ceremony by Clarke, Lariviere, and Ted Sweeney, UO Bike Program Coordinator. The event takes place on the steps of Johnson Hall, the University of Oregon administration building, on 13th ave, beginning promptly at 3:15pm. The event will be bike-powered by the UO Bike Program. Refreshments will be served.

Clarke will additionally give a public presentation regarding how UO stacks up nationally as a Bike Friendly University and what role universities have as change agents. That event will be held in Lawrence 206, 6:30 PM.

More about LiveMove: http://pages.uoregon.edu/livemove/
More about the Bike Friendly University Program: http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/bicyclefriendlyuniversity/index.php
More about UO Bike Program: http://outdoorprogram.uoregon.edu/uo-bike-program/

For more information, please contact Ted Sweeney, UO Bike Program Coordinator. bikes@uoregon.edu, (503) 737-4419

###

Latest Headlines

What does our city need? And how can BikePortland help?

I’m going on hiatus

Come to BikePortland’s 20th birthday and beer collab release party!

Big day for PBOT budget as new revenue proposals head back to Council Wednesday

From the Archives

The 10 busiest bicycling spots in Portland