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Transportation wonks take note: Two big events Tuesday night

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What an AROW meeting looks like.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Portland is transportation wonk central. You know what a transportation wonk is right? The type of person who is always spouting acronyms like VMT, MUTCD, and RTP and who have passionate discussions about crossing treatments, traffic calming, signal timing, and so on. If this sounds like you or someone you know, get ready for this coming Tuesday (1/4) when two of the most wonktastic events in recent memory happen on the same night…

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Streetcar construction comes with detour, closure of bike lane on Weidler

A traffic advisory has just been released by Portland Streetcar Inc. and the City of Portland warning of traffic detours and a bike lane closure due to Streetcar Loop Project construction on Weidler, MLK, and Grand that is set to begin this Tuesday (1/4) and last for four weeks.

The work zone will be on NE Weidler from N. Ross to NE 1st Ave (see detour map below)s. For four weeks, NE Weidler will be narrowed to two vehicle lanes and, according to Portland Streetcar, “Due to the narrow roadway conditions, the bike lane on NE Weidler must be removed.”

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66cm ? yellow handlebars? : ) ?

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Year: ?
Brand: ?
Model: yellow handlebars? : )
Color:66cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2010-12-18
Stolen From: Killingsworth MAX station
Neighborhood: hmm
Owner: nick littlejohn
OwnerEmail: nicklittlejohn@gmail.com
Reward: xlnt karma
Description: red and silver 66cm mens road bike with upturned yellow handlebars and cool loca stickers : )
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: T10008904
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Frans Pauwels: Founding Father of Portland Bicycle Racing

[This article was written by Kelly Dodd. It first appeared in the June 2010 issue of Jan Heine’s Bicycle Quarterly magazine and is being published here with the author’s permission. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to share this historical account of a Portland bicycling pioneer, devoted advocate, and legendary bike racer.]

Frans Pauwels
Founding Father of Portland Bicycle Racing

by Kelly Dodd

Frans Pauwels and his father Rudolph after he won a
100-mile road race in Antwerp, Belgium.
(Photos courtesy Kelly Dodd)

Inside the front door of the bike shop is a wall of old photos, many depicting a handsome racer covered in dirt and sweat, holding a victory bouquet. There is a glass case displaying medals, ribbons, plaques, and awards – evidence of a long and successful bike racing career. “This is just a tiny fraction of my Dad’s trophies,” says Dirk Pauwels.

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PBOT’s ‘SmartTrips’ program results in fewer drive-alone trips in East Portland

Detail from SmartTrips Green Line mailer.

The Transportation Options Division of the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), has released the final report on its SmartTrips Green Line target area.

The SmartTrips program (in its eighth year) aims to educate Portlanders about their travel options with a goal to encourage more biking, walking, and transit trips. The latest target area was along the Green Line MAX corridor in East Portland, on both sides of I-205 from NE Sandy Blvd in the north to south of SE Foster Road and between NE 72nd Ave and NE 122nd Ave. About 8,200 households in the target area (about 25 percent of total households) took part in the program and PBOT spent $213,270 to carry it out.

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Event: Pedal Nation – PDX Bicycle Show (4/9/11-4/10/11)

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Event Name: Pedal Nation – PDX Bicycle Show
Event Start Date: 9th and 10th April 2011
Start Time: 10:00:00 AM
Web Site: http://www.pdxbicycleshow.com
Event Description: SEE. RIDE. LEARN – April 9-10, 2011. Bicycles are taking over the Oregon Convention Center April 9 and 10 for the Pedal Nation Bicycle Show presented by Drive Less/Save More. There will be LOT’S of fun activities for everyone, plus check out Portland’s largest display of bicycles, gear and apparel under one roof.

Don’t Miss: Little Nutty Kids Zone by Nutcase, Pro Trials Rider – Ryan Leech, Test Ride Demo Area, Pro Freeride & BMX Jam Session, Urban Riders Fashion Show, Gold Sprints Roller Races, Oregon Handmade Bicycles, Pimp’d Bike Showcase, Workshops by Local Bike Experts, and MORE! All Ages Event! Kids 12 & under are FREE. More details can be found online at www.pdxbicycleshow.com

Contact Email: aaron(at)pedalnationevents(dot)com

Event: Multnomah County Sustainability Film Series Presents “FOOD FIGHT” (1/30/11)

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Event Name: Multnomah County Sustainability Film Series Presents “FOOD FIGHT”
Event Start Date: 30 January 2011
Start Time: 6:00:00 PM
Web Site: http://www.multnomahfood.org
Event Description: Multnomah County Sustainability Film Series presents “Food Fight” on January 30th at 6 pm as a part of the Multnomah Food Action Plan celebration. A panel discussion about transforming our local food system to follow. The film is a fascinating journey into the industrial-agriculture food complex and the local food movement revolution. Free to the public. www.multnomahfood.org
Contact Email: chanah.sheldon(at)multco(dot)us

Event: Multnomah Food Action Plan Celebration! (1/27/11)

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Event Name: Multnomah Food Action Plan Celebration!
Event Start Date: 27 January 2011
Start Time: 10:30:00 AM
Web Site: http://www.multnomahfood.org
Event Description: Multnomah Food Action Plan Celebration: Join us as we celebrate the release of our community’s 15-year road-map to a healthy, equitable, and prosperous local food system. Food, door prizes and more. January 27th (10:30-Noon) Multnomah County Board Room, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd (97214). Sign the Declaration of Support at www.multnomahfood.org.
Contact Email: chanah.sheldon(at)multco(dot)us

See PBOT’s latest tweak to Broadway/Williams bike signal

Broadway Williams Bike Signal-1

PBOT crew at work this morning.
(Photos © J. Maus)

A Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) signal operations crew was out at the new Broadway/Williams bike signal this morning. The new signal was installed on October 13th to try and decrease the amount of right-hook collisions that have plagued the intersection for several years.

After over two months, even after some initial tweaks to make it work better, some motor vehicle operators are still not complying with the “no right turn on red” sign.

At issue is a curbside bike lane that is to the right of two right-turn only lanes. PBOT’s new bike signal gives the bike lane its own green light, but the problem is that people in the right-turn only lanes would see the green indicator and assume it was for them — and then make an illegal turn that put non-motorized traffic in danger.

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