BikePortland.org is five years old today

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Bunny on a Bike Ride

At the Bunny on a Bike Ride
in March 2005.

Five years ago today I started an exciting new project. I had published about 150 posts in about four months on The Oregonian’s website, but I was itching to do more. I had all sorts of crazy notions about what a blog that focused on Portland’s bike scene could become and I wanted to do it on my own — without any editors or outdated blog software holding me back.

So, I grabbed a free WordPress theme, bought the BikePortland.org domain name, added the “To inform and inspire” motto, and off I went. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I knew I loved it.

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Electric vehicles, ‘The Portland Way’

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To say there’s momentum in our region for electric vehicles would be a major understatement. Last week, the Portland City Council voted to accept the recommendations in Electric Vehicles: The Portland Way, a report (PDF) on EVs that lays out a strategy for integrating more battery-powered cars into our city.

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Gold Trek 7.2fx 2009

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Year: 2009
Brand: Trek
Model: 7.2fx
Color:Gold
Size:Mens?
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2010-07-25
Stolen From: Waterfront pearl at 1260 nw naito parkway. Security guard found my cut lock in next to bike rack in the storage room of the garage.
Neighborhood: Pearl district
Owner: Glen Goland
OwnerEmail: Gjgoland@gmail.com
Reward: Yes
Description: Gold trek 7.2fx street bike, had a storage pouch under the seat, a pump mounted on the down tube and a water bottle holder mounted on the seat post tube. Black rims and tires, less than a year old.
Police record with: Portland pd
Police reference#: T10004814
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

After 3,700 miles, ‘Bike & Build’ riders work, then celebrate in Portland today

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After pedaling over 3,700 miles in the past two months, a group of 30 young volunteers will trade their bikes for hammers in Portland today. The group is part of Bike & Build, a non-profit group that organizes cross-country bike rides to support affordable housing projects across America.

The group in Portland rode the Central U.S. route, a journey that has taken them from Virgina Beach, Virginia and will end in Cannon Beach in early August. This morning, they’ll be working at Lents Landing (SE 97th and Woodstock) and there’s a reception for the riders tonight in southeast Portland.

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Weekend Event Guide

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Chris King’s Gourmet Century.

Our Weekend Event Guide is back, just in time to help plan your weekend of bike fun. Take a gander at all the fantastic events listed below.

Saturday, July 31st

Gourmet Century
This is Portland-based Chris King Precision Components’ signature event. With McMinnville as a base, riders enjoy a metric century and and an absolutely excellent feast all along the way. “The route is a worthy road course interrupted with just enough fun and epicurean interest to keep you moving ahead…” Read more at the event website.

Tour de Tillamook (All weekend)
Two days of mountain biking and camping in the Tillamook State Forest. What’s not to love? Hosted by the Northwest Trail Alliance, this family-oriented weekend event features guided mountain bike rides, kids skills clinics, food, trail rides, demo bikes, and more. Check out the website for more info.

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Green Diamondback Interval 1999

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Year: 1999
Brand: Diamondback
Model: Interval
Color:Green
Size:Medium
Serial: IA8L14055
Stolen in Portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2010-07-26
Stolen From: Apt. building basement N.E. Tillamook
street.
Neighborhood: Irvington
Owner: Bill Milam
OwnerEmail: benmilan@msn.com
Reward: 100.00
Description: Shimano componants
Police record with: Portland Police
Police reference#: 10-153431
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

black/tan se workhorse 2010

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Year: 2010
Brand: se
Model: workhorse
Color:black/tan
Size:52
Serial: icse09d01410
Photo: http://www.bikegallery.com/blog/2009/a-look-at-the-new-workhorse-bike/
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2010-07-20
Stolen From: 10th and Alder outside of Jakes
Neighborhood: downtown sw
Owner: jennifer wakefield
OwnerEmail: k.wakefieldest@gmail.com
Reward: $50
Description: it has black fenders, a clear plastic chain guard, got it in may so pretty new.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-153350
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Silver Miyata 5th Avenue 1984

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Year: 1984
Brand: Miyata
Model: 5th Avenue
Color:Silver
Size:Tall
Serial: I have the serial number
Stolen in Portland, OR 97223
Stolen:2010-07-8
Stolen From: My bike was stolen off trimet.
Neighborhood: Tigard
Owner: Ryan Willard
OwnerEmail: flyinghorsess@hotmail.com
Description: This bike has metal silver fenders, pulled back handle bars, chain guard, and when stolen it was very dirty.
Police record with: T10004797
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Control of speed limits high atop PBOT’s legislative hopes

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Scene of fatal at Willamette and Haven-9

PBOT wants the legal authority
to reduce speed limits on
neighborhood streets.
(Photo © J. Maus)

With funding-related legislation a non-starter in Salem this coming session, the City of Porltand Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) instead sees an opportunity to work toward major, statewide policy changes that would support its transportation goals.

High atop their list of priorities for the 2011 legislative agenda is a much-anticipated strategy to wrest authority of setting speed limits away from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and give it to local jurisdictions. Currently, ODOT sets speed limits, even on streets owned and managed by cities and/or counties.

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Alert: Steel Bridge lower deck closed until further notice – UPDATED

Riding the upper deck of the Steel Bridge.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Just got word from the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation that effective immediately, the gates on the lower deck of the Steel Bridge are closed, making the lower deck of the bridge inaccessible to both biking and walking traffic on both the east and west ends of the bridge.

This is a big deal because the Steel Bridge is the detour route for the Broadway Bridge, which is closed to all vehicles due to streetcar construction.

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From the Archives

With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike