Work party will help repair illegal Forest Park trail

Illegal trail in Forest Park-18

Parks staffer Dan Moeller on
the illegal trail back in February.
(Photo © J. Maus)

A work party scheduled for tomorrow will work to decommission a rogue bike trail that was discovered in Forest Park back in February.

The event has been jointly organized by Portland Parks & Recreation and the Northwest Trail Alliance. Volunteers will restore the natural habitat around the trail in hopes of minimizing future damage due to erosion or the introduction of invasive species. On the trail itself, crews will cover up the surface with brush, take down jumps and stream crossings, and remove a cribbing wall that had been constructed.

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Safety concerns result in changes to new curves on Couch

Update on Burnside-Couch project-7

Sweeping curves on NE Couch are
causing a lot of safety concerns.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The new segment of NE Couch Street that leads onto the Burnside Bridge from NE MLK Blvd. raised red flags as soon as it opened. Sweeping curves make it difficult for people on bikes to avoid riding on slippery bike lane striping and people operating cars and buses encroach dangerously into the bike lane.

Many people who ride on the street feel the curves are not safe for bike traffic and they worry that the constrained space will lead to serious crashes and collisions. When we asked for feedback on the East Burnside Couch Couplet Project (which this new street is a part of) many people said the curves on NE Couch were a major concern. Below are just some of the reader feedback we received:

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Dark Blue Giant Sedona W 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Giant
Model: Sedona W
Color:Dark Blue
Size:S
Serial: C38D3921
Stolen in Hillsboro, OR 97124
Stolen:2010-04-27
Stolen From: Outside our apartment, was locked up with 2 U locks and a thick cable.
Neighborhood: Jackson School Village Apartments
Owner: Chris Anderson
OwnerEmail: chris.g.anderson@gmail.com
Description: Black bottle mount, front fender.
Police record with: Hillsboro
Police reference#: 10803630
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Light Blue Giant Boulder SE 2008

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2008
Brand: Giant
Model: Boulder SE
Color:Light Blue
Size:XL
Serial: C38G1409
Stolen in Hillsboro, OR 97124
Stolen:2010-04-27
Stolen From: Stolen from our apartment complex (Jackson School Village), was locked with 2 U locks and a thick cable. Frame may still have a U lock on it.
Neighborhood: Jackson School Village Apartments
Owner: Chris Anderson
OwnerEmail: chris.g.anderson@gmail.com
Description: Mens gel seat, black bottle mount, front and rear fenders, Bell bike computer
Police record with: Hillsboro
Police reference#: 10803630
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

blue Trek 1999

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 1999
Brand: Trek
Color:blue
Size:14-16 inch?
Stolen in Portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2010-04-30
Stolen From: garage, 17th and Hancock
Neighborhood: NE
Owner: Andrea McCarter
OwnerEmail: ajmccarter@yahoo.com
Reward: $50
Description: blue/silver women’s combination mountain/street bike
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Your Big Bike Weekend Guide

Grab some friends and head
north into Vancouver for the
Ride Around Clark County on Saturday.
(Photo: VBC)

Here you go folks. Some great things to do on a bike this weekend. We’ve got a themed ride, a century, mountain bike trail work parties, a time trial and a whole lot more.

Friday (4/30)

8:30 pm: Cycle Shrine Art Installation Ride
Portlander Becky Morton is opening up a new store called BIKEASAURUS (1337 SE MLK) next month. This ride is a “christening of the space to make it bike friendly.” Becky’s shop will sell bike accessories and locally-made crafts and she plans to put the Cycle Shrine in the window so folks can see it from the street. Meet at Naito Fountain under the Burnside Bridge and come wearing a dinosaur costume or the color green. Free spoke cards, cookies and punch, vegan dinosaur eggs, and more!

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It’s no joke: Portland Business Alliance honors bike advocates

At their Annual Meeting at the Oregon Center Ball Room on Tuesday morning, the Portland Business Alliance gave a special award of recognition to some unlikely members. The PBA — long a thorn in the side of city bike planners (and others) for their positions on bike projects — gave their Transportation Award to two of the city’s most high-profile bike advocates; former City of Portland bike coordinator and now CEO of Alta Planning Mia Birk, and owner of The Bike Gallery stores, Jay Graves. David Knowles of CH2M Hill, chair of the PBA’s Transportation Committee, received the award along with them.

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Getting schooled by lawyer Ray Thomas

Ray Thomas
(File photo from a news conference in 2008 © J. Maus)

“We have a mutant status on the roadway.” That’s one way lawyer Ray Thomas tried to describe the often confusing and misunderstood legal standing of people who walk and bike on the streets of Oregon.

His comment came during a special edition of the monthly legal clinic hosted at Thomas’ Swanson, Thomas and Coon law firm. This month’s clinic (put together by Thomas along with the BTA and the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition (WPC)) was intended to educate local journalists about biking and walking laws so we can do a better job on our stories.

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From the Archives

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