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Opinion: Why we should care about ODOT’s I-5 Broadway/Weidler report

I-5 south where it
goes under NE Broadway.
(Photo © J. Maus)

I hope you’ve read my post yesterday about a report from ODOT on how they see the “problem” and potential “solutions” to bottlenecks along I-5 near the Broadway/Weidler interchange. This area is a key hub in Portland’s bikeway network: We must get this right.

With the N/NE Quadrant planning process kicking into high gear, this I-5 bottleneck issue — which has been studied by ODOT since the early 1980s — has found new life. Without a strong community voice about how to — or if we should — move forward, some of the shockingly highway-centric concepts in that report could gain traction.

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Tonight: Free hot cocoa in East Portland and a carfree Peacock Lane

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Ahh the lights.
(Photo: PeacockLane.net)

In the depths of winter, you need all the encouragement you can get to keep on riding. Thankfully, Portland is full of fun people and events to help break your winter riding doldrums. Two events tonight (and a group ride to one of them) should help make your riding a bit brighter.

If you ride in East Portland, swing by the E Burnside overcrossing of I-205 (9400 E Burnside) tonight between 4:30 and 6:30 for free hot drinks, bicycling information, and more.

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Event: Carfree night at Peacock Lane (12/15/10)

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Event Name: Car free night at Peacock Lane
Event Start Date: 15 December 2010
Start Time: 7:00:00 PM
Web Site: http://shift2bikes.org/cal/#15-2
Event Description: Shift’s monthly meetup this week is a visit to two pubs near Peacock Lane‘s festival of lights. Peacock lane will be CAR FREE this wednesday night so go check out the lights. If you want company, shift folks will meet up at Belmont Station at 7pm, and ride to the lights (around the corner) nearer to 8pm. after a walkthrough or two of the street, we’ll repair to the Horse Brass for hot toddies and the like.
Contact Email: gently(at)gmail(dot)com

Silver Unmarked Tomasso Frame custom custom

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Year: custom
Brand: Unmarked Tomasso Frame
Model: custom
Color:Silver
Size:58 cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2010-12-14
Stolen From: My carport…SE 33rd and Washington
Neighborhood: Sunnyside
Owner: John Mayer
OwnerEmail: johnemayer@gmail.com
Description: Custom built up unmarked chrome frame…most visible is a mismatched black fork (spraypainted over a yellow that is visible through cracks). Built up with Shimano parts from 2006-2008 runs…mixing Ultegra and Dura-ace. Dura-ace cranks from the first year they were single solid pieces. Shift/brake handle on left side is ajar from previous accident.

Mavic Kyserium front wheel…handbuilt rear wheel (not matching).
Police record with: PPD
Police reference#: T10008518
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

ODOT eyes major changes to I-5 near Broadway/Weidler interchange

Detail from one of four concepts to widen I-5 near the Broadway/Weidler interchange taken from the I-­5: I-­84 to I-­405 Design Workshop Concept Report prepared for ODOT. For context, the buildings in the upper left are the parking garages for the Rose Garden Arena. Yellow lines are newly widened freeways, orange lines show changes to local streets, purple outlines show buildings that might be displaced and x’s show streets that would be removed.

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Survey looks at transportation costs to find best, worst commutes in U.S.

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BTA in Eugene

Riding in downtown Eugene.
(Photo © J. Maus)

A survey of U.S. cities shows that, when transportation costs are figured into the equation, moving out to the suburbs for a cheaper house isn’t as affordable as most people think. It also shows that our neighbors to the south, Eugene Oregon, have one of the best commutes in America.

While the analysis doesn’t mention how or if bike-ability plays into the equation, it should be noted that Eugene and Boulder, Colorado — two of the most bike-friendly cities in the country — ranked in the top ten on the “best commute” list (first and eighth respectively).

TheStreet and financial advice site Bundle surveyed what people in 90 different metropolitan areas spend on transportation each year and then ranked each city to see who had the best and worst commutes in terms of cost and traffic delay. When looking at data like average length of commute, miles traveled, annual hours delayed, auto expenses, and gas prices, the study found that Eugene was at the top of the “best” list. Dallas, Texas was on the bottom. Portland came in at 42nd.

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The Oregonian: Distracted driving by police officer costs city $338,477

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The Oregonian reported yesterday the City of Portland will pay $338,477 to settle a distracted driving lawsuit. The suit involved a police officer who glanced at his on-board computer and did not see an 80-year old woman walking across the street in front of his car. The woman suffered serious injuries and spent five days in the hospital.

In light of the settlement, The Oregonian reports that the city’s risk management supervisors have “asked the police bureau to examine its training to ensure other officers aren’t distracted by the in-car computers.”

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Event: Holiday bike ride (12/19/10)

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Event Name: Holiday bike ride
Event Start Date: 19 December 2010
Start Time: 5:00:00 PM
Event Description: It sure would be nice to see some Santa costumed and festively clad bikers handing out candy canes, right?

Meet at 67th and Division, by Warner Pacific College, for a mellow bike ride through the neighborhood then across to the waterfront.

5pm is when abouts it’ll be starting.

If you come with battery operated Christmas lights on your bike, you’ll get 10 points:)

bring your friends.

all ages.

bring wrapped candy canes if you wanna pass those out, or any other festive treat:)

503-481-9165

Julie

send your rsvp, questions, comments, suggestions, greetings, love to

julieiswriting(at)gmail(dot)com

Job: Website Copywriter (IndieBike.com) – FILLED

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Job Title
Website Copywriter
This position has been filled.

Company/Organization
Indie Bike

Job Description
The Website Copywriter will be responsible for writing copy for, but not limited to, cycling apparel products and content sections of our website. We are looking for someone that can take control of a situation and make it into their own. This person will help to establish a “voice” for our website and create a consistency for all published content. The candidate must have a writing background and be able to speak intelligently about cycling apparel; being a cyclist is a huge plus. It is expected that all submitted copy for the live website will be written without the need for further revision.

15-20 hours per week. This position has the possibility of becoming a full-time.

$12 per hour. Paid as an independent contractor for the first 6 months. Discounts on all products we sell.

This is a work-at-home position.

How to Apply
Send a resume, cover letter, and writing samples to roadie(at)indiebike(dot)com

Metro announces over $500,000 in ‘Travel Options’ grants

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Metro announced $533,000 in Regional Travel Options grants today. According to Metro, the federally-funded grants are given to projects that “reduce the number of people driving alone to improve air quality and address community health issues.”

Grant winners this cycle include a wide range of projects — from bike parking to “transportation mobility counseling.” One award that catches my eye is $53,000 for Sunday Parkways out in Wilsonville.

Check the full list of winners below.

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From the Archives

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