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National Bike Month Workshops

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

What: The Bicycle Transportation Alliance is offering several workshops throughout the month to introduce people interested in biking to the laws, skills, and gear that will help them be safe and confident on our city’s streets.
Topics covered include: safe and legal riding, what you need to know about lights and rain gear, carrying stuff – including clothes, groceries and kids, what to do about your hair, route planning and maps. All workshops are free and open to public. All you need to bring are your questions.

Where: Swan Island. Daimler, 4747 N Channel (at the corner of Anchor St)

When: May 6, 12:00-1:00 pm

More Info: http://bta4bikes.org/resources/commute101.php

Race Monday Night – PIR

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

What: River City Bicycles Monday Night Women and Master Race Series
Monday night summer bike racing for women (any age) and masters men (30+) on a flat, closed, car-free circuit. Fast, fun action with separate categories for beginner to advanced cyclists. New racers are welcome and encouraged, just show up with a helmet and road bike ready to race. Experienced racers are on hand to answer questions and provide tips.

Where:Portland International Raceway
1940 North Victory Boulevard
Portland, Oregon 97217

When: Every Monday night: May 4th to August 31st Racing begins at 6:15pm

More info: New this year is introduction to racing clinics for both Men and Women
Novice racers: Never tried bicycle racing and always wanted to see what it was all about?
Want to learn about the basics, and more? Meet other racers, coaches and
racing teams? Then this clinic is just for you!

The clinic will include basics of what bike racing is about led by Russell Cree of Upper Echelon Fitness (www.upperechelonfitness.com) (Men’s – 1st Monday), and Kendra Wenzel of Wenzel Coaching (www.wenzelcoaching.com) (Women’s – 2nd Monday)
http://www.racemondaynight.com

Race Monday Night – PIR

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

What: River City Bicycles Monday Night Women and Master Race Series
Monday night summer bike racing for women (any age) and masters men (30+) on a flat, closed, car-free circuit. Fast, fun action with separate categories for beginner to advanced cyclists. New racers are welcome and encouraged, just show up with a helmet and road bike ready to race. Experienced racers are on hand to answer questions and provide tips.

Where:Portland International Raceway
1940 North Victory Boulevard
Portland, Oregon 97217

When: Every Monday night: May 4th to August 31st Racing begins at 6:15pm

More info: New this year is introduction to racing clinics for both Men and Women
Novice racers: Never tried bicycle racing and always wanted to see what it was all about?
Want to learn about the basics, and more? Meet other racers, coaches and
racing teams? Then this clinic is just for you!

The clinic will include basics of what bike racing is about led by Russell Cree of Upper Echelon Fitness (www.upperechelonfitness.com) (Men’s – 1st Monday), and Kendra Wenzel of Wenzel Coaching (www.wenzelcoaching.com) (Women’s – 2nd Monday)
http://www.racemondaynight.com

Race Monday Night – PIR

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

What: River City Bicycles Monday Night Women and Master Race Series
Monday night summer bike racing for women (any age) and masters men (30+) on a flat, closed, car-free circuit. Fast, fun action with separate categories for beginner to advanced cyclists. New racers are welcome and encouraged, just show up with a helmet and road bike ready to race. Experienced racers are on hand to answer questions and provide tips.

Where:Portland International Raceway
1940 North Victory Boulevard
Portland, Oregon 97217

When: Every Monday night: May 4th to August 31st Racing begins at 6:15pm

More info: New this year is introduction to racing clinics for both Men and Women
Novice racers: Never tried bicycle racing and always wanted to see what it was all about?
Want to learn about the basics, and more? Meet other racers, coaches and
racing teams? Then this clinic is just for you!

The clinic will include basics of what bike racing is about led by Russell Cree of Upper Echelon Fitness (www.upperechelonfitness.com) (Men’s – 1st Monday), and Kendra Wenzel of Wenzel Coaching (www.wenzelcoaching.com) (Women’s – 2nd Monday)
http://www.racemondaynight.com

Race Monday Night – PIR

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

What: River City Bicycles Monday Night Women and Master Race Series
Monday night summer bike racing for women (any age) and masters men (30+) on a flat, closed, car-free circuit. Fast, fun action with separate categories for beginner to advanced cyclists. New racers are welcome and encouraged, just show up with a helmet and road bike ready to race. Experienced racers are on hand to answer questions and provide tips.

Where:Portland International Raceway
1940 North Victory Boulevard
Portland, Oregon 97217

When: Every Monday night: May 4th to August 31st Racing begins at 6:15pm

More info: New this year is introduction to racing clinics for both Men and Women
Novice racers: Never tried bicycle racing and always wanted to see what it was all about?
Want to learn about the basics, and more? Meet other racers, coaches and
racing teams? Then this clinic is just for you!

The clinic will include basics of what bike racing is about led by Russell Cree of Upper Echelon Fitness (www.upperechelonfitness.com) (Men’s – 1st Monday), and Kendra Wenzel of Wenzel Coaching (www.wenzelcoaching.com) (Women’s – 2nd Monday)
http://www.racemondaynight.com

Bike Ride and Community Budget Hearing

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

What: The BTA and community activists like you worked hard to get bike funding into the budget, but we need your help to make it stick! All five City Commissioners must approve the budget, so tell them why affordable transportation is important to you

When: Thursday, May 21, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Where: Family-friendly bike ride gathers at Sunnyside Elementary School at 5:15 pm and leaves at 5:30 pm. We’ll arrive at Mt Tabor Middle School (5800 SE Ash St) shortly before 6:00 pm. Testimony begins at 6:30 pm.

Attire: Green Tie. Show your support by wearing Bike Box Green to the hearing!

Preparation: Know what you want to say, in 3 minutes or less. Sign up starts at 6:00. Read additional instructions and tips for testifying at the Mayor’s website.

Can’t attend the hearing? Email your testimony to the City Council before May 27. 

laurelb(at)ci(dot)portland(dot)or(dot)us

Charity Ride – Food Drive for Oregon Food Bank

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

What: Underpants and Heavy Cans – A food collection ride to benefit the Oregon Food Bank. All bikes welcome. Multiple categories with winners judged on weight, not speed. Fabulous prizes including HOMEMADE UNDERPANTS OF GLORY!

Where: Start at Vera Katz under Hawthorne Bridge.

When: Sunday May 24. Registration from 12-1pm. Ride starts at 1pm.

More Info: Bring a bike, bag(s), lock, helmet. After party at Roots Brewing, 1520 SE 7th ave. Awards at 6pm.

Thinking about a carbon free Central City

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

With plenty of transit and
bike options, there won’t be any
reason to drive.
(Photos © J. Maus)

With the impending completion of major streetcar and light rail projects in Portland, sustainable transportation advocates are starting to think big.

Chris Smith, well-known for his work as a streetcar and bike advocate and for his run at a City Commissioner spot last year, stopped by our office yesterday to share more about what he calls a Carbon Free Central City Mobility concept (I mentioned it in a story last week).

Smith believes that Portlanders’ relationship to the Central City will change dramatically once the Streetcar Loop comes across the river and runs down to OMSI (that’s the line that secured $75 million from the feds last week) and when the new Transit Mall in downtown opens later this year.

Read more

Man in intensive care after hit-and-run in Northeast Portland

KPTV is reporting a hit-and-run that happened yesterday at the intersection of NE 21st and Columbia (map below) in Northeast Portland.

Here’s more from KPTV:

“A hit-and-run driver crashed into Dahren at about 10 a.m…

Linda Poppino, Dahren’s mother, said her son had been riding his bike through a crosswalk at the intersection when a driver in a mid-sized SUV slammed into Dahren’s front wheel.
…
Dahren suffered a broken nose and was missing four front teeth Monday. His face was also badly swollen. Despite her son’s injuries, Poppino said Dahren will recover.”

Read more

It’s Bike to Work Month: Here’s your guide to free breakfast and more

Bike to Work Day

City employees flip pancakes
for pedalers in Pioneer Square
during Bike to Work Day
festivities last year.
(Photo © J. Maus)

If the rain and wind has got you down…cheer up! It’s Bike to Work Month and there are free breakfasts and other events just around the corner.

The City of Portland’s SmartTrips crew, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), Portland State University, the Lloyd District Transportation Management Association, Shift, and other organizations and businesses have teamed up to host many special events throughout the month aimed squarely at the hearts and minds of two-wheelers.

Steve Hoyt-McBeth, a project manager with the City of Portland’s Transportation Options Division, sent over a list of the events (download PDF below) and pointed out that an enterprising bike commuter could find seven free breakfasts this month (that’s out of 20 weekdays). Check out details of where to eat and learn below the jump…

Read more

Mayor Adams headed to Brussels for Velo-city Conference

That’s a cool logo. I hope someone
brings me back a T-shirt.

Portland Mayor Sam Adams, his Chief of Staff Tom Miller, and Bureau of Transportation traffic safety specialist Greg Raisman will visit Brussels, Belgium next week for the 29th annual Velo-city Conference.

Widely regarded as the premier bicycle transportation conference in the world (the 2007 edition in Munich had 950 participants from 50 countries), this year’s Velo-city will take on added significance. The four-day conference will be held in the European Parliament building and on the final day, several cities — including Portland — will sign the Charter of Brussels.

Read more

For the love of lights, bus driver wants to throw us a party

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

TriMet bus operator
Dan Christensen.
(Photo courtesy
Dan Christensen)

[The following guest essay was written by TriMet bus operator Dan Christensen. You might remember Dan as the guy who started a petition among bus drivers in opposition to the new bikeways through the Rose Quarter Transit Center. Shortly thereafter, I shared a letter he wrote explaining his position.

If that episode didn’t tell you what an outspoken and candid guy Dan is, the essay below will. It came to me in an email from Dan last week and I got his permission to share it. It’s not earth-shattering, but it’s a nice bit of rare, positive vibes from the other side of the windshield.]

Read more

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