BikePortland

A few last-minute notes about BikeCraft

Nice huh? See more from Portland-based
Truce Designs at BikeCraft (Sunday only).

I’m about to head down to 15 NE Hancock to help JR and a crew of volunteers put the finishing touches on the BikeCraft venue (the big event starts tomorrow at 10:00 am). Before I sign off for the day, I wanted to share a few final notes…

New Vendors!
— Local bag maker Truce Designs. Luke’s bags are made from recycled materials (like old sails) and they have a waterproof “floating drop liner” which make them great for biking in Portland. NOTE: Truce will only be vending on Sunday.

— Also coming out to share his skills is John “Dutch” Paglia of Body by Bike (Facebook link). Dutch is a chiropractor who makes house calls and offers mobile bodycare from his tall bike. He’ll be giving free, 10 minute massages throughout the day.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Be advised and expect increased motor
vehicle traffic on SE Clinton (shown here)
and Lincoln due to a construction detour.
(Photo © J. Maus)

A re-paving project will close two blocks of SE Division for two weeks beginning ~~this Monday (12/6)~~ later this month. The work, which the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) announced today, means all vehicle traffic from Division (an arterial) will be detoured onto SE Lincoln and Clinton — both of which are key east-west bikeways.

The rules would mandate that people in
cars and trucks can see behind them
when backing up.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The US Department of Transportation wants to create a new safety regulation to help eliminate blind spots behind motor vehicles. The DOT says the proposal is aimed at preventing fatalities and injuries to people victimized by “low-speed back-up accidents” and it could also have an impact on people riding bicycles as well.

The proposal, issued today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “would expand the required field of view for all passenger cars, pickup trucks, minivans, buses and low-speed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 10,000 pounds so that drivers can see directly behind the vehicle when the vehicle’s transmission is in reverse.”

Year: 2006
Brand: Giant
Model: Yukon
Color:Orange
Size:17
Serial:CC5J2428
Stolen in Portland, OR 97201
Stolen:2010-11-25
Stolen From: Hamilton West Apartments, 1212 SW Clay Street
Neighborhood: Downtown
Owner: Nick Fox
OwnerEmail: djnickfox@gmail.com
Description: New city tires on bike, good shocks / suspension, bright golden orange color with black letters. Very good condition.
Police record with: Portland Police Bureau
Police reference#: 10-155960
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

BikePortland on the radio! Listen to the latest 94.7fm spots

As you may recall, back in spring we launched a partnership with 94.7fm to spread the word about bikes on the radio. Since then I’ve been hitting the airwaves daily with fun and informative 30-second messages. You can listen to all of them on our special BikePortland on the Radio page.

I just want to remind everyone that this partnership is alive and well.

The Portland Police Bureau are offering a $1,000 reward for help in solving a brutal assault and possible hate crime that occurred in Southeast over a month ago. Both the suspect and the man who was assaulted were on bicycles, according to police and media reports.

The PPB released a statement yesterday saying the assault happened just after midnight on November 1st near the footbridge overpass located at SE 16th and Brooklyn Street. According to KPTV, the man — who was severely beaten and spent weeks in the hospital recovering — says he was likely targeted in part because he was riding a “purple bicycle with Tinkerbell and Christmas lights on it”.

Fans cheer a rider during
the 2007 USGP stop in Portland.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The Greenware® U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross returns to Portland International Raceway Saturday and Sunday for the Stanley Portland Cup, the fourth and final round of the four-weekend, eight-race national series that started in September.

Since 2004, the USGP has featured the deepest, strongest and fastest professional fields racing on this side of the Atlantic, and ‘cross-crazy Portland has always provided a fitting finale. This year’s line-up will be another who’s-who of North American cyclocross stars, including a possible appearance by Euro road racing strongman Chis Horner, a Bend resident who finished 10th at this year’s Tour de France and has taken up ‘cross in his off-season.

Watch out thieves, there’s a GPS in there.
(Photos: GPS Track This)

[Via BikeBiz]

Word is quickly spreading on the Interwebs tonight about what many have considered the Holy Grail of bike theft — a GPS tracker for bicycles.

UK-based GPS Track This now offers (wholesale only at this point it seems) the “Spylamp Bicycle GPS Tracker”, a small device that is hidden in a rear light. They also offer a free smartphone/text/web service that can track your bike when it gets stolen. Here’s an excerpt from a story in BikeBiz.com:

Artist: Jason Hardy
(See more below)

According to artist and founder of The Canary Project Edward Morris, the Green Patriot Posters project was launched to “create stronger, more broadly appealing imagery for the sustainability movement”. When he and his partners set up a website and asked designers to submit posters, they were intrigued by how many of them included bikes.

Green Patriot Posters is now a book co-edited by Morris and published by Metropolis Books (order it here and support BikePortland). Morris will be in Portland next week to talk about the posters and he was kind enough to get in touch and share a few of them with us…

Two Metro councilors — Kathryn Harrington and Robert Liberty — traveled to Washington D.C. yesterday to accept a National Award for Smart Growth Achievement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Metro was one of five communities to be recognized. They received the award in the “Policies, Programs, and Regulations” category specifically for their 2009 Making the Greatest Place campaign. That effort helped spur action their regional 2040 Growth Concept plan.

This weekend is our 6th annual BikeCraft holiday gift fair and you’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t come and check it out.

For the first time, we’ll have the doors open for two days to accomodate your busy schedule. Swing by 15 NE Hancock (just north of Broadway and right off Williams) anytime this weekend between 10 am and 6pm to be a part of the BikeCraft magic. As if you needed more convincing, I’ve prepared a short list of why you should be there…

A few last-minute notes about BikeCraft

Re-paving project will bring more traffic to Lincoln/Clinton bike streets

NW Trail Alliance launches “Winter Ride Series”

US DOT wants to eliminate rear-view blind spot in motor vehicles

Orange Giant Yukon 2006

BikePortland on the radio! Listen to the latest 94.7fm spots

Police look for hate crime suspect who assaulted man on a bicycle

A USGP finale preview by Pat Malach

New anti-theft GPS bike tracker: What does our expert think?

Pedaling propaganda in new ‘Green Patriot Posters’ book

Metro wins national award from EPA for smart growth

A few reasons you don’t want to miss BikeCraft this weekend

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