Opinion: Thinking about carfree space in downtown Portland
(Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)
While riding from the South Park Blocks to Pioneer Courthouse Square with my daughters and several other families and kids on Saturday, a recurring thought popped up: Despite all our livability accolades, Portland lacks carfree streets — places where people can move around, shop, linger, and socialize without being harassed by the threat of cars, trucks, trains and streetcars running them over.
Hillsboro welcomes Oregon’s first Bikestation
L to R: Karl Dinger (City of Hillsboro Intermodal Transit Facility Project Manager), Toni Plunkett (City of Hillsboro Controller), Bob Reitmeir (City of Hillsboro Fleet and Facilities Director), Colin Cooper (City of Hillsboro Planning Manger), Steve Krautscheid (Director of Facilities for Tuality Hospital), Aron Carlson (City of Hillsboro City Council President), Andrea White-Kjoos (CEO of Bikestation/Mobis), Jim Wilcox (Bikestation Northwest Rep). Laying down: John Southgate (City of Hillsboro Economic Development Director)
(Photos: Colin Cooper)
Green Novara (REI’s house brand) Transfer 2008
Year: 2008
Brand: Novara (REI’s house brand)
Model: Transfer
Color:Green
Size:19″ (medium?)
Photo: http://images.craigslist.org/3n33k73p75O45W45P3aare48016bb30e21217.jpg
Stolen in Sumner, WA
Stolen:2010-10-26
Stolen From: Near the platform of the Sumner Sounder Train Station in Sumner, WA.
Neighborhood: DT Sumner, WA
Owner: Chris Barnes
OwnerEmail: cbarnes@rentonwa.gov
Description: Bike pretty much stock (rear 7-speed Shimano internal hub gearing, fenders, front hub dynamo for headlight, 26-inch wheels and tires, Tektro brakes) and the owner believes it was a medium (19 inch?) frame.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike
Cyclocross on the Hawthorne Bridge – Updated
(All photos by Eric Stachon)
Weekend Event Guide – Halloween Edition!
(Photos © J. Maus)
The end of the month is fast approaching, and with it All-Hallows’ eve. This weekend’s guide features a festive handful of gourds and goblins, and of course plenty of fun in the mud.
Bike canvassers will help get out the vote on Halloween
and get out the vote!
(Photo © J. Maus)
Local non-profit The Bus Project is gearing up for the annual “Trick or Vote” event and this year they’re putting the power of pedals to work for democracy.
The event is a get out the vote effort on the “one night when everyone expects a knock on their door.” Event organizer Mollie Ruskin says the biking volunteers will meet up at the Wonder Ballroom on Halloween night (Sunday) for a quick training session. After being armed with voter packets, addresses and maps, they’ll roll out in teams of two. “We have selected specific areas for bikers to knock on doors, that are along easily accessible bike boulevards.”
Bike Science: Keeping the rubberside down
(Photo © J. Maus)
[This is our latest Bike Science column by Shawn Small. Read previous entries here.]
With cyclocross season in full swing and the rainy season upon us, it’s likely that tires have become a part of your bike gear conversations of late. And it’s no surprise; tires have a huge impact not just on the quality of your ride, but on whether you get home in one piece.
So let’s talk about tires.
Wash. DOT settles bike crash lawsuit for $8 million
This Associated Press story (which I found via BikeHugger on Twitter) from Seattle got my attention for a variety of reasons (which should become apparent after reading the excerpts below)…
WSDOT to pay $8 million over Montlake Bridge bike accident
The state Transportation Department has agreed to pay $8 million to a bicyclist who was paralyzed after his tire got caught in a gap between two steel grates on the Montlake Bridge.… Gendler sued over the design of the bridge, citing a gap between two steel panels on the bridge deck. At a half-inch, it was wider than his bike tire. The lawsuit uncovered another accident eight years earlier involving a bicyclist that resulted in less serious injuries.
… The gap was similar in size to the flange gap in light rail or streetcar tracks, Milton said.
Officials also assumed it wouldn’t be a problem since most bicyclists use the sidewalk or the right lane when crossing the bridge, Milton said.
Cyclists are legally entitled to travel in the bridge lanes unless a sign prohibits them, Kessler said.
WSDOT has since filled the gap with an epoxy to prevent more accidents, Milton said…”
Portland has a lot of gaps in the road — and lots of streetcar and light rail tracks — that are more than 1/2-inch wide.
Q & A with Washington County’s Director of Land Use and Transportation
I get the feeling that there’s a lot of momentum around planning for the future of active transportation in Washington County. The Bicycle Transportation Alliance, the Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition, 1000 Friends of Oregon, the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition, and other advocacy groups have been turning their attention westward in recent months, not to mention the $2 million federal grant recently given to the community of Aloha-Reedville (between Hillsboro and Beaverton) to develop a livable community plan.
Event: Art by Bike (11/5/10)
Event Name: Art By Bike – Free Guided 1st Friday Ride
Event Start Date: 5 November 2010
Start Time: 6:00:00 PM
Web Site: http://www.pedalbiketours.com
Event Description: Join Pedal Bike Tours on November 5th for a free, guided 1st Friday bike ride from 6 – 9 pm. After departing from our shop downtown, we’ll be visiting three Southeast Portland 1st Friday Events to view art, taste wine and enjoy the evening.
Join the ride at our shop downtown at 6 pm or meet us anywhere along the way! We’ll be returning to the shop at the end of the night. Questions? Call 503-877-2453.
Red Schwinn Loop 2010
Year: 2010
Brand: Schwinn
Model: Loop
Color:Red
Size:20 inch
Serial: GO9J14236
Stolen in 97232, OR
Stolen:2010-10-26
Stolen From: Under Morrison Bridge
Neighborhood: Downtown
Owner: Michael Brooks
OwnerEmail: xaymaca9@gmail.com
Description: 206-769-8082
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike