BikePortland

Proposed code changes would strengthen bike parking rules

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Indoor bike parking at the Gallery
Condominiums in NW Portland.
(Photo: Dan Liu)

The City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is working on a package of eco-friendly building code changes that, if passed, would include an improvement to bike parking at apartments and condominiums.

The package of new code regulations — which also removes barriers to installing water-harvesting rain barrels, wind turbines, solar panels, and more — are part of the City’s Regulatory Improvement Workplan.

Currently, “multi-unit residential buildings” have a zoning code exemption that allows them to opt out of providing secure, long-term bike parking. This means residents and visitors have to find parking inside the units, on balconies, or near the building in potentially unsecure locations.

A scene from last year’s
Blessing of the Bikes.
(Photos © J. Maus)

For the second year in a row, The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (St. Mary’s) in Northwest Portland will host a Blessing of the Bikes — and it couldn’t come at a better time.

With summer bike traffic heating up, I’ve been getting a noticeable increase in emails and phone calls about bike-car, bike-bike, and bike-pedestrian collisions. It’s also a busy time for bike racers, who face perils of their own. And it goes without saying that June has by far the highest number of bike-related events of any month in the year.

An exercise equipment store.
(Photo © J. Maus)

A bill introduced by the United States House of Representatives in April would allow Americans to spend up to $1,000 in pre-tax dollars in a “flex-spend” account for the purchase of “qualified sports and fitness expenses.”

The Public Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act of 2009 (H.R. 2105, cleverly known as the “fit” bill) was introduced by Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) and lists 12 co-sponsors, including Portland’s own Rep. Earl Blumenauer.

According to Rep. Kind’s Press Secretary Leah Hunter, up to $250 of the purchase of a new bicycle would qualify for the deduction.

This just in from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance:

Children and Families Walk + Bike to Baseball to Celebrate a Month of Sustainable Success!
Monday, June 1, 2009 – The Bicycle Transportation Alliance announces the close of a very successful Walk + Bike to School Challenge Month which will be celebrated at PGE Park on June 12th with Walk + Bike to Baseball. Seventy-nine elementary and middle schools participated across the state with an estimated 6,000+ students and parents choosing active transportation to and from school in the month of May. Eight Portland-area colleges and universities also participated in a version of the Walk + Bike Challenge Month called the Bike To Campus Challenge.

Read more

Editorial: Bike boulevards aren’t just for bikes

Marcella Red Thunder on the way to
pick her daughter up from school.
(Photos © J. Maus)

There has been a lot of talk and action around bicycle boulevards lately.

The term is used to describe low-traffic streets where bicycles are encouraged and supported through a number of engineering measures. They’re all the rage in the bike planning world and they’re one of the top priorities of the City of Portland in moving forward with its “transportation transformation.”

But lately I’ve noticed more and more non-bike and non-auto traffic on our local streets (skateboarders mostly) and have realized that the bicycle-centric term doesn’t quite do them justice.

Dave McCabe

[This guest article was written by Dave McCabe. Dave is a resident of the Alberta Arts neighborhood and is a regular bike commuter into downtown. A relative newcomer to getting around by bike, he’s current taking repair classes at the Community Cycling Center.

McCabe is also editor of American Scooterist, a magazine of the Vespa Club of America and a frequent contributor to scooter magazines around the world.]

People on bikes have flocked to
the new King Neighborhood
Farmers Market.
(Photos: Dave McCabe)

While Saturday was Bike Day at the PSU Farmer’s Market, a biking phenomenon of its own quietly unfolded the next day at the new market in the King Neighborhood.

The King Farmer’s Market is the fifth one organized by the longtime non-profit, Portland Farmer’s Market (founded in 1992). This particular market is put on in collaboration with the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (whose office is conveniently right next to the market). It is one block south of NE Alberta Street on 7th and Wygant in the King Elementary School parking lot.

Portlanders point with pride at the new Zoobomb Pyle, the City’s latest public art monument.
(Photo: Brian Borrello)

We’ll have a lot more coverage of this exciting upcoming event in the weeks to come. For now, here’s the official press release from conference host, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA):

The 2nd Safe Routes to School National Conference will be held in Portland on August 19th-21st, bringing stakeholders from across North America together to champion walking and biking to school safely. Themed “Two Steps Ahead,” the conference will highlight how Safe Routes to School programs across the country are changing the habits of an entire generation of children and keeping thousands of families ahead of health, traffic safety, and environmental concerns.

Read more

The Monday Roundup

Mapes in the New York Times, carfree NYC, climate change and public health, a celebrity bike activist speaks up, BRT in Salem, and a self-balancing unicycle.

This week’s news of bikes, transportation, and livability:

– David Byrne reviews local author Jeff Mapes’ excellent book, Pedaling Revolution, in the Sunday New York Times. The book is destined for the best-seller list. Congrats Jeff!

– Obama has appointed Polly Trottenberg as assistant DOT secretary; Streetsblog quotes a recent speech where she laments that state requests for federal dollars are so heavily weighted towards highway projects, despite the federal government’s commitment to sustainability.

– The dream of a high speed rail line between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, BC inched forward last week when the mayors of Portland and Vancouver, BC signed an agreement to work together to make it a reality.

– In the meantime, Washington State is requesting $800 million in stimulus funds to significantly expand existing passenger rail service between Portland and Seattle.

Friday, May 29th

Pedalpalooza Kickoff Dance Party Construction and Clean Up Day
What more glorious way to spend a weekend than volunteering for a good cause?

The Pedalpalooza kickoff dance party (followed, per Portland tradition, by the world’s largest World Naked Bike Ride) is on June 13th this year. If you’re free this afternoon, drop in to help make the space magical! Ability to hold a hammer or broom the only requirement.

Many more volunteers are needed for the event itself. Shifts and signup info here.
12PM to 5PM
2181 NW Nicolai
RSVP to anomalily at gmail dot com

Zoobomb Public Art Unveiling
There’s a glorious new monument in town and it’s being officially unveiled and dedicated tonight. The Mayor will speak, the Sprockettes will dance, and bike lights will be given away.

“The transportation package passed today is the most environmentally progressive in Oregon’s history.”
— From a statement by the Oregon Senate Democrats

The Oregon State Senate has voted in favor of House Bill 2001 by a margin of 24-6. The bill, which backers say will create 4,600 jobs a year, did not include any changes from the House version that passed on Wednesday.

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) made a last-ditch call to action yesterday hoping that the Senate would strip out the $192 million earmark for the Newberg-Dundee Bypass project and instead add more funding for bike and pedestrian projects.

As the work intensifies on Capitol Hill to re-write America’s next surface transportation bill, the lobbying is heating up to make sure it includes more money for biking and walking.

As the prime pusher of pedaling in Congress, Rep. Earl Blumenauer will play an important role in making sure those who are writing the bill understand the value of investing in non-motorized transportation. On that note, Blumenauer — along with 38 members of the Congressional Bike Caucus — sent a letter to the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure on May 22 to make the case.

The letter was sent to the leading Members on the T & I Committee, Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) and Rep. John Mica (R-FL).

Proposed code changes would strengthen bike parking rules

Just in time for busy bike season: The Blessing of the Bikes

Public health bill would give tax incentive for new bike purchase

Walk and Bike Challenge winners will be recognized at Beavers game

Editorial: Bike boulevards aren’t just for bikes

Guest article: Bikes are ‘King’ at new farmer’s market

A monumental day for Zoobomb, and for Portland

Safe Routes to School National Conference coming to Portland

The Monday Roundup

Weekend Guide and Open Thread

Friday, May 29th

$960 million transportation bill passes Senate: Next stop, the Governor

Blumenauer, Bike Caucus members urge bike/ped funding in new transportation bill

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From the Archives

The 10 busiest bicycling spots in Portland