🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏

Portland (and the world) needs more scraper bikes

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Baybe Champ, the Scraper Bike King.
(Still from video by California is a Place on Vimeo)
-Watch video below-

“I’m a big shot. Scraping on my bike. I don’t need a car gas price too high… Blue, yellow, orange wit bling, scraper bikes is on the scene.”

That’s a line from a rap by Baybe Champ, the Scraper Bike King, who started the movement from his hometown of Oakland, California. Champ, his friends, and his growing legions of fans spend their days painting, decorating, and riding their bikes through the streets. They prove it’s possible to have fun and get attention and respect by cruising on two wheels instead of four.

Read more

Catching the Beach Elementary School ‘bike train’

A good sign.
(Photos © J. Maus)

This morning on my way to the office, a sign at the corner of North Michigan and Alberta caught my eye; it read “Beach Bike Train meet up spot – 8:30 – Join Us.” It was about 8:25, so I decided to wait around and see if anyone showed up.

A few minutes later I saw a line of kids and parents pedaling toward the spot. One of them was Laurie Paulsen, a Beach parent who I’d met last summer at a nearby farmer’s market.

As kids (and kid-like parents) zoomed in circles around a parking lot waiting for others to show up, I chatted with her for a minute.

Read more

Black Specialized Hardrock 2010

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2010
Brand: Specialized
Model: Hardrock
Color:Black
Size:15
Serial: D9J6F02337
Photo: http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/7317/hardrock.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2010-05-21
Stolen From: 75th and Crystal Springs Blvd. near Whitman school and Flavel city park.
Neighborhood: Brentwood Darlington
Owner: Gregory Suran
OwnerEmail: suranation@yahoo.com
Description: Black Specialized Hardrock w/Rack. It has clear stickers where the cables rub on the frame. The rack is mounted with a custom modified seatpost ring.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-041857
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Yellow Diamondback Insight 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Diamondback
Model: Insight
Color:Yellow
Serial: 22939502
Photo: http://www.diamondback.com/bikes/womens/2008-womens/insight-1-08/
Stolen in Ashland, OR 97520
Stolen:2010-03-19
Stolen From: My dorm at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Or.
Owner: Addie Morrow
OwnerEmail: adelaise@frontiernet.net
Description: no accessories on it, thief left front wheel behind
Police record with: Reported to Campus Security which should have reported to Ashland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Yellow Diamondback Insight

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Brand: Diamondback
Model: Insight
Color:Yellow
Serial: 22939502
Stolen in Ashland, OR 97520
Stolen:2010-03-19
Stolen From: My dorm at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Or.
Owner: Addie Morrow
OwnerEmail: adelaise@frontiernet.net
Description: no accessories on it, thief left front wheel behind
Police record with: Reported to Campus Security which should have reported to Ashland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Black with Red writing Iron Horse Warrior LE 2007

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2007
Brand: Iron Horse
Model: Warrior LE
Color:Black with Red writing
Serial: 618305916317
Stolen in Portland, OR 97216
Stolen:2010-05-22
Stolen From: 94th/Lincoln in SE Portland.
Neighborhood: Montavilla
Owner: Jason Kemmerich
OwnerEmail: tech4all@live.com
Reward: $100 depending on condition
Description: At time of theft the bike had street slicks on it. It also had a silver flashlight attached by zip ties to the handle bars and a grey cycle computer.
Police record with: Portland police
Police reference#: 10-041413
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

champagne/white Specialized Roubaix Compact 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Specialized
Model: Roubaix Compact
Color:champagne/white
Size:56
Serial: WUD70737168B
Photo: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEquipPopup.jsp?equipimage=/OA_MEDIA/2008/bikes/9083-55_l.jpg&equipmodel=Roubaix%20Triple
Stolen in Portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2010-05-19
Stolen From: my garage at 22nd and Thompson, across the street from Irvington Tennis Club
Neighborhood: Irvington
Owner: Roger Martin
OwnerEmail: joy.roger@comcast.net
Reward: yes
Description: Unique color scheme. One black water bottle cage. Seat pack,computer. Look black pedals
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-040734
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

grey covered in stickers Mtn Tek PANDA STICKER!!!

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Brand: Mtn Tek
Model: PANDA STICKER!!!
Color:grey covered in stickers
Size:14
Serial:D50200513
Photo: http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8861/bikepic.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2010-05-20
Stolen From: It was stolen from Beverly Cleary middle school Fernwood campus at NE 33 and Hancock in th Hollywood district.
Neighborhood: Hollywood district
Owner: Milana allen
OwnerEmail: breakdancingbunny@gmail.com
Reward: yes
Description: It is grey covered in stickers. there is a panda sticker on the front and a sticker that says "KINDA" on the side.It is a Mtn. Tek bike and it has a 14" frame and a 26" wheel.
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Feeling the Bike to Work Day love in outer East Portland

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

A rare haven for bike riders in East Portland.
(Photo: Elizabeth Craig/ODOT)

It’s not everyday that people in the eastern parts of our city feel Portland’s legendary bike love. But this isn’t everyday; it’s Bike to Work Day!

On that note, I thought I’d share an email I got from reader Michael Mann, who was setting into his usually lonely commute this morning when — lo and behold — he was greeted by coffee, pastries, and smiles:

Read more

Portland company will operate largest bike-share system in U.S.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
SmartBike DC-5

A SmartBikeDC kiosk in D.C.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Alta Bicycle Share, sister company of Portland-based Alta Planning + Design, will operate the largest bike-sharing system in the United States when Washington D.C. expands their SmartBikeDC program into Arlington, Virginia later this year.

Plans announced today by D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and other regional officials say the system will launch with roughly 1100 bikes at 114 stations. D.C. was the first city in America to test the bike-sharing waters when they opened a few kiosks in April 2008.

Read more

Join us to ‘Get Your Shift Together’

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

(Photo © J. Maus)

We’re excited to announce Get Your Shift Together, our latest social gathering that will feature some awesome folks from Portland’s (in)famous grassroots bike group, Shift.

This Thursday (5/27), join us at Plan B (1305 SE 8th Ave) to learn more about what Shift does, how you can get involved (they need help!) — and most importantly — get the lowdown on the huge plans for bike fun Shift is cooking up for June. Yes, I’m talking about Pedalpalooza, that crazy 17 days of bike madness has well over 200 events already, including the world famous Naked Bike Ride, a kickoff parade, and of course the Multnomah County Bike Fair.

Read more

Latest Headlines

‘Better Sheridan’ project brings safer street to South Waterfront 

Your guide to finding the ‘Wildwood’ crows by bike

My journey to that ‘Hard Rock glow’

Off-Road Cycling Master Plan: A decade later, what has changed?

From the Archives

The 10 busiest bicycling spots in Portland