A year later and amid controversy, Fish vows to keep Forest Park trail promise

Off-road trails roundtable discussion-100

Commissioner Fish in front of a map of
Forest Park at a roundtable
discussion last April.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Exactly one year ago today, newly elected City Commissioner Nick Fish made a bold proclamation about the future of mountain bike access in Forest Park. Following an unprecedented groundswell of community enthusiasm and activism calling more bike access in the 5,000 acre urban natural area, Fish told me, “I think there is a need and there is a demand and my job is to see how we can make that happen. I’m not interested in delaying this.”

Fresh off his election to City Council and as the newly appointed commissioner in charge of the Parks bureau, Fish said he brought a “fresh look” at the situation. He continued:

“My interest is not in studying this to death, it’s seeing what we can actually do. I assume everybody comes to the table in the good faith. I am committed to finding ways to significantly expand our current inventory of single track trails.”

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93-year old woman killed while walking across SE 39th near Powell – UPDATED

Location of collision.

The Portland Police Bureau are investigating a collision that claimed the life of a woman last night as she tried to walk across SE 39th near Powell Blvd at around 6:20 p.m. last night. The woman was struck by someone operating a motor vehicle.

Not many other details have been released yet, but according to witnesses on the scene, the woman was not in a crosswalk or at an intersection when she was hit.

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City of Portland adds a Sanyo e-bike to their fleet

Mayor Adams on the Eneloop.
– Watch video below –
(Screen grab from video taken by Mayor Sam Adams’ office)

On Tuesday, representatives from Sanyo North America Corporation gave Portland Mayor Sam Adams an Eneloop electric-assist bicycle.

The Eneloop made a big splash at the CES trade show in Las Vegas back in January, leading Treehugger.com to say it “might be the bike that transitions us to electric assist bikes as a more primary form of transportation than cars.”

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Black Scott 2009

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2009
Brand: Scott
Color:Black
Size:Med
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2009-08-24
Stolen From: My bike was locked and the Wyatt condo building in the Pearl.
Neighborhood: The Pearl
Owner: Kim Culver
OwnerEmail: kculver1204@gmail.com
Description: It is a black and grey womens bike with a light pink water bottle holder.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Copper/Ivory Jamis Aurora 2007

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2007
Brand: Jamis
Model: Aurora
Color:Copper/Ivory
Size:53cm
Serial: U6YU19814
Photo: farm3.static.flickr.com/2069/2100589753_a9639.
Stolen in portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2010-02-21
Stolen From: close in NE Portland
Owner: katy guetschow
OwnerEmail: katyguetschow@gmail.com
Description: All factory, except added front fender, some damage due to the wreck which resulted in its theft…
Police reference#: T10001008
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Oregon Senate, NASA scientists agree: Fewer car trips key to healthy cities

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
A (small) part of traffic-1

Awareness of transportation-related
greenhouse gas emissions is on the rise.
(Photos © J. Maus)

A new study by NASA and a bill passed by the Oregon Senate yesterday have at least one thing in common. They both sound the alarm that transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions (a.k.a. too many cars and trucks on the road) are harmful to the planet and they need to be curtailed.

The NASA study analyzed emissions based on economic sectors (as opposed to the more commonly studied individual chemical causes) and found that “motor vehicles emerged as the greatest contributor to atmospheric warming now and in the near term.”

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Transportation reporter Dylan Rivera laid off by The Oregonian

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Rivera’s Facebook profile pic.

Noted transportation reporter Dylan Rivera was among 37 employees laid off by The Oregonian today.

Rivera was The Oregonian’s main reporter on the complex and sometimes controversial Columbia River Crossing project. His most recent article (published this morning) focused on a report by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy that featured Portland’s downtown parking policies. Rivera has also written many bike-related stories — from bike parking at Portland State University to Sunday Parkways.

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People’s DOT issues call to action for 82nd Avenue event

People’s DOT logo.
– Watch video below –

As a follow-up to their video and reporting on a new wall erected by the Oregon Department of Transportation on 82nd Avenue in Northeast Portland, fledgling activist group The People’s Department of Transportation has issued a “call to action” and recruitment video (watch it below) to garner attendees for a follow-up event.

According to a statement just released by the People’s DOT, this Friday during the evening rush hour teams of volunteers will help citizens cross 82nd Avenue at crosswalks at and near the transit center adjacent to the new wall. PDOT is encouraging people to show up dressed in costumes. An email recruiting volunteers to help with the action said, “suggested attire is an orange jumpsuit, formal dress, or a chicken suit.”

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Introducing “Eugene’s version of BikePortland”

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Screen grab from WeBikeEugene.org.

Got some great news from Eugene-based bike advocate (and juggler) Mike Seager the other day. He and a few other volunteer contributors have launched WeBikeEugene.org, “a site that could be described as Eugene’s version of BikePortland.”

Mike’s the editor of the site and he’s also a member of GreyMatter Jugglers, “Eugene’s only bicycle powered circus troupe.” He’s joined by his wife Kendra Seager, the site’s copy editor, and noted bike advocate Shane Rhodes. Rhodes is one of the founders of Kidical Mass who won an Alice Award last year for his work on Eugene’s Safe Routes to Schools program. Alexander Hongo, a teacher and mechanic at the University of Oregon’s Bicycle Program, is also on the staff roster.

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NW Trail Alliance President Tom Archer responds to illegal trail

Off-road trails roundtable discussion-104

NWTA President Tom Archer.
(Photos © J. Maus)

In light of the discovery of an unauthorized bike trail in the northern reaches of Forest Park, I spoke about the situation this morning with Tom Archer, President of the non-profit off-road advocacy group the Northwest Trail Alliance.

Archer was clearly disappointed by the discovery and expressed hope that attention on this incident will not distract from the ongoing effort to increase off-road trail riding opportunities in the region. (Archer is a member of the Forest Park Single Track Cycling Committee formed by City Parks Commissioner Nick Fish.)

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North Portland gets three new on-street bike corrals

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
New on-street parking in North Portland-16

One of three new on-street bike corrals
installed in North Portland.
-Slideshow below-
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Bureau of Transportation has just installed three more on-street bike corrals in North Portland. These are just the latest in an ongoing effort to install more bike parking in front of businesses throughout the city.

The new corrals in North Portland are on Michigan Avenue, Albina Avenue, and Mississippi Avenue.

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