BikePortland

Control of speed limits high atop PBOT’s legislative hopes

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

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.

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.

Year: 2007
Brand: jamis
Model: coda
Color:yellow
Size:14.5
Serial: U67U39321
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2010-07-27
Stolen From: NE morgan (dekum)/NE 15th
Neighborhood: woodlawn neighborhood/northeast portland
Owner: erin beery
OwnerEmail: ekbeery@gmail.com
Reward: yes
Description: yellow with white and black trim, with a black rack over the rear wheel.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-153395
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Teal Raleigh ? 2008

Year: 2008
Brand: Raleigh
Model: ?
Color:Teal
Size:women’s
Serial: U66K08931
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2010-07-27
Stolen From: NW 21st and Johnson. Between midnight and 3 the 27th.
Neighborhood: NW
Owner: Rebecca Owen
OwnerEmail: rowen78532@aol.com
Description: Teal women’s Raleigh with disc brakes. Rack on the back. Rear Mirror. Crummy seat.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-153404
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

National trail user count effort needs local volunteers

Make ’em count!
(Photo © J. Maus)

Metro is coordinating a regional effort to count the number of people using local trails and they need volunteers to help make it happen. The effort is part of the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project and the counts will take place in mid-September.

Here’s a excerpt from the documentation project site about why these counts are so important:

One of the greatest challenges facing the bicycle and pedestrian field is the lack of documentation on usage and demand. Without accurate and consistent demand and usage figures, it is difficult to measure the positive benefits of investments in these modes, especially when compared to the other transportation modes such as the private automobile. An answer to this need for data is the National Bicycle & Pedestrian Documentation Project, co-sponsored by and Alta Planning and Design and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Pedestrian and Bicycle Council. This nationwide effort provides consistent model of data collection and ongoing data for use by planners, governments, and bicycle and pedestrian professionals.

Year: 70’s
Brand: Peugeot
Model: Super Sport
Color:Pearl White
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2010-07-01
Stolen From: 1509 NE 10th AVE, Portland 97232
Neighborhood: Lloyd Distric
Owner: Mark Hitchcock
OwnerEmail: slostang@lycos.com
Description: Pearl white with yellow decals. Brown seat and grips. Dark wheels with brown wall tires. Not a bike fantic, so I’m not sure about components, but it thought it was semi-unique that the derailers were on the very end of the downward curving handlebars.
Police reference#: T10004690
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Blue/White Scott Speedster 2008

Year: 2008
Brand: Scott
Model: Speedster
Color:Blue/White
Size:Meduium
Serial: H7KZ8F8T
Stolen in Portland, OR 97204
Stolen:2010-07-25
Stolen From: Waterfront Park – Brew Festival
Owner: Robert Kodadek
OwnerEmail: robkodadek@gmail.com
Reward: 250
Description: Excellent condition blue/white; S&M 101 black pedals; mounts for lights, mounts for U-Lock; small rust scratches present on top of frame between handle bars and seat.
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

With ‘Equal Footing,’ an attempt to spark a national walking movement

Equal Footing campaign logo

A partnership of national advocacy organizations, led by North Portland resident and former executive director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, is attempting something that has never been done in America: galvanize a powerful grassroots walking movement.

An excellent volunteer opportunity just came in from our friends to the south: Clackamas County Commissioners need eight volunteers to serve on their Pedestrian/Bikeway Advisory Committee.

Here’s the press release with more information:

Promote safe bicycling and walking by serving on the Pedestrian/Bikeway Advisory Committee

Clackamas County Commissioners are seeking eight volunteers to serve for three year terms on the Pedestrian/Bikeway Advisory Committee, which advises them on policies and sections of the Comprehensive Plan affecting pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

Read more

Oregon’s first High School Cyclocross Series off and running

The Oregon Bicycle Racing Racing Association (OBRA) has announced details of the first-ever High School Cyclocross race series. The new series will consist of five races and will be run under the existing Junior Cyclocross Series, which is in its second year.

OBRA has named seven regional coordinators who are available to answer questions and to help organize High School teams. Prizes will be awarded to the top team, “Best Girl,” and “Best Boy” from throughout the state. The series begins in Eugene on September 25th and makes stops in Dayton, Hillsboro, Salem, and possibly Portland (exact venue is TBD).

Following a public meeting last week, Rick Bradford, the man behind a grassroots effort to get PBOT to remove the new buffered bike lanes on SE Holgate Blvd., remains unswayed in his opposition.

Bradford has posted an update on RestoreHolgate.com where he accuses PBOT of spinning the issues and facts at the Thursday night meeting that drew a standing room only crowd at Holgate Baptist Church. Saying the lanes are an “Adams sponsored blunder” (a reference to Portland Mayor Sam Adams) that have been “forced upon” their neighborhood, Bradford also calls into question the baseline data PBOT brought to the meeting.

Year: 2009
Brand: Gary Fisher
Model: Genesis 2.0
Color:white/blue
Size:large
Serial: wtu62c0412e
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2010-07-24
Stolen From: Stolen from in front of Pok Pok thai restaurant at 3226 SE Division Street
Neighborhood: SE
Owner: Will Hallett
OwnerEmail: WillHallett08@gmail.com
Reward: $200
Description: I had a Gary Fisher Genesis 2.0 mountain bike stolen. It is white and dark blue, and says wahoo on the side of it. It had slick tires, and on the frame near the bottom was a sticker from the store I bought it at: JAX Bicycles. It is a southern california store. Also, the bike had a pouch under the seat with a cable lock and a couple pad locks.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-153356
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Control of speed limits high atop PBOT’s legislative hopes

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

yellow jamis coda 2007

Teal Raleigh ? 2008

National trail user count effort needs local volunteers

Pearl White Peugeot Super Sport 70’s

Blue/White Scott Speedster 2008

With ‘Equal Footing,’ an attempt to spark a national walking movement

Clackamas County seeks biking/walking advisory committee members

Oregon’s first High School Cyclocross Series off and running

Despite PBOT data, opposition to Holgate bike lanes remains

white/blue Gary Fisher Genesis 2.0 2009

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