Check out the bike packages in Mercury’s charity auction

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The Merc’s Mirk on a bike.
(Photo: Portland Mercury)

For the second year in a row, the Portland Mercury’s annual Holiday Auction (and its saucy photo spread) entices would-be donors with several bike-filled gift packages. If you want to help a great local non-profit (Outside In) and show your true biking spirit, get over to their site and bid on one of them.

This year there are three bike-alicious packages to choose from:

  • Bike With The Mayor – Includes a ride and lunch with me and Mayor Sam Adams with a Patagonia messenger bag thrown in for good measure.

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Weekend Event Guide

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Snow Day!

Will it snow this weekend? Bring it on!
(Photo © J. Maus)

The forecast calls for a chance of snow and freezing rain on Saturday morning, and better chance of less-freezing rain for the rest of the weekend. Other than that it should be a great time to get out there for a ride (all night, at that). And this being Portland, there’s no lack of opportunity.

There’s also a sizeable Portland contingent down in Bend right now for the 2009 Cyclocross National Championships — good luck to them!

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gray Fuji Tahoe 29 comp 2008

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Year: 2008
Brand: Fuji
Model: Tahoe 29 comp
Color:gray
Size:21″
Serial: icf7l02059
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2009-12-3
Stolen From: Backpedal Cycleworks bike, 7126 SE Harold. along with cash and laptop which had the pictures of the bike on it.
Neighborhood: Arleta/Woodstock
Owner: Rick Shaputis
OwnerEmail: rick@bpcycleworks.com
Description: Dark gray paint with red lettering and red handgrips.
Police record with: Aaron Cole PDX Police
Police reference#: 09-107927
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Metro committee says no to Adams’ amendment, yes on RTP

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metro hearing on the CRC-2.jpg

Metro’s RTP contains a $20 billion
list of transportation projects.
(Photo © J. Maus)

This morning, Metro’s Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation voted 14-3 in support of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Portland Mayor Sam Adams had an amendment to the plan rejected 11-5 and was one of the three “no” votes.

The RTP contains a list of over 600 transportation infrastructure projects at a total price tag of $20 billion. The plan has come under fire from bicycle and environmental advocacy groups (it even earned a “Rogue of the Week” award from The Willamette Week) because, if the project list was built out, it would increase greenhouse gas emissions by 50% and run afoul of our region’s emissions reduction goals.

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Who might take the reins of the BTA?

BTA's new office

The door is open. Who will walk in?
(Photos © J. Maus)

As the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) readies to launch a national search for a leader to replace Scott Bricker, we thought it’d be fun to make a few guesses as to who might take the reins.

So far, we don’t have many specifics about the type of leader the BTA is looking for (they haven’t released a job description yet). However, it’s safe to assume they’re looking for someone who will take the organization to the next level. They’ve hinted at becoming a more “aggressive” advocacy organization, and, with an annual budget in excess of $1 million and a large staff, they’ll also need a sterling manager (of both people and pennies).

What follows, in no particular order, is a completely unscientific and unsubstantiated list of local, regional, and national bike superstars who might want to consider throwing their hat in to the ring (or not).

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Traveling for the holidays? Here’s how to take your bike along

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Separated cycle track, Baltimore

Riding in other cities can be fun
and fascinating — like this ride in Baltimore.
(Photo © Elly Blue)

The holiday travel season is coming up. If you’re leaving Portland, maybe you’ve thought about bringing your bike along for the trip this time.

A bike doesn’t make sense for every trip or every destination. But if it does fit in with your plans, the experience of traveling with a bike comes highly recommended. A bike can give you independence, flexibility, adventure, and a surefire way to meet people wherever you go.

How you bring the bike, what kind of bike is best to bring, and how much it costs all depend on whether you’re flying or taking the train. Here’s the rundown:

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Cities for Cycling officially rolling with debut event, website

The new logo

Cities for Cycling, a new initiative to push bike planning innovation in America with roots in Portland, was officially launched at an event in Washington D.C. last night.

Streetsblog was at the event and reported this from New York City DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan:

“Some of the most celebrated and popular [bike] improvements are not even in the national guidelines,” Sadik-Khan explained, adding that C4C ultimately aims to help develop “a new MUTCD, designed for cities, not highways.”

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An ‘adventure cyclist’ does Portland

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Mr. Weir.
(Photo: Kat Marriner)

Renowned two-wheeled explorer, travel writer, bike advocate, speaker and radio commentator Willie Weir recently took an unorthodox adventure. The man who has pedaled the most exotic locales across the globe loaded up his bike, joined his trusty companion Kat Marriner, and spent a week (short by Willie’s standards) exploring the bikeways in and around Portland. They camped in vacant lots, crashed on stranger’s futons, and soaked up all that is bike in Portland.

The result is a 2,000 word feature article in the current issue of Adventure Cyclist Magazine where Willie shares his adventures — from camping on Sauvie Island to a Zoobomb — with a national audience.

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Bike parking gets a boost on lower Burnside

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New bike parking on E. Burnside-4

New bike parking in front of Doug Fir.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Businesses on lower Burnside now have more parking for their bike riding customers. The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) just unveiled four new on-street bike parking corrals in the area, bringing their total citywide to 40 corrals and 780 spaces.

The latest corrals have gone in outside Rontoms on SE 6th Ave, on SE 7th Ave outside Grendel’s Coffee, on SE 9th adjacent to Doug Fir, and in front of Biwa Restaurant on SE Ash (at SE 9th).

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blk/red Schwinn Super le Tour 1983

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Year: 1983
Brand: Schwinn
Model: Super le Tour
Color:blk/red
Size:tall
Serial: 2Fo2439
Stolen in Portland, OR 97203
Stolen:2009-12-3
Stolen From: N Willamette Blvd & N Portsmouth Ave, Portland Or, 97203
Neighborhood: suburb
Owner: Alden Meade
OwnerEmail: aldo947@gmail.com
Description: Tall road bike, black and red, says super le Tour on frame. large light on handlebars with sticker on it. broken water bottle holder unit.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

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