BikePortland

PDC says BMX facility near Burnside Bridge is a no go

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

The vacant lot at E Burnside
and 2nd that is slated
for an “interim site use” by
the PDC.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Advocates for a pump track and bike riding facility on a vacant lot adjacent to the Burnside Bridge are a bit miffed now that their idea has been scuttled by the Portland Development Commission (PDC).

There are several vacant parcels of land north of the bridge that are in line to be developed as part of the PDC’s Burnside Bridgehead project. While the project itself languishes for various reasons, there is an opportunity for a host of “interim site uses”. One of the interim uses under consideration was a bicycle pump track and skills area.

Back in February, the Portland Business Journal made it seem like a done deal when they reported that, “In the short-term, the site will be put to temporary use as a parking lot and bicycle motocross park.”

What: Laurelwood Brewery Block Party to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation

The Portland-based Land Rover-Orbea Professional Cycling Team is partnering with Laurelwood Brewery to present a fun afternoon of bikes, BBQ and award-winning beer all while raising funds to help the Lance Armstrong Foundation fight cancer.

All 10 members of the UCI Continental Men’s Cycling Team will be on hand to participate in the ride, meet everyone, shake hands, sign autographs, flex their quads and enjoy the festivities. Team Manager Norrene Godfrey said this will be the first time all the team’s riders — who hail from New Zealand, Canada, Oregon, Florida, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Colorado and California — will be in Oregon.

The day kicks off with a scenic 20-mile ride that will offer a bit of challenging terrain but reward participants with some of the best viewpoints of the city. Stick around after the ride for BBQ, beer, live music, a bike expo and more in the Laurelwood Brewery parking lot. All proceeds will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation to support cancer prevention and survivorship.

John Ohnstad, LIVESTRONG Challenge Region 8 Mentor, will be on hand to answer any questions about the Lance Armstrong Foundation and how people can get involved with the Seattle LIVESTRONG Challenge.

When: Sunday, May 24th at noon

Where: Laurelwood Brewery & Public House, 5115 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR 97213

More Info: Entry Fee: $20.00
All proceeds will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation
Register Online:
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=8470

Yoga For Cyclists

What: Yoga for Cyclists – A Special Workshop

Yes — yoga can complement your cycling! In this special workshop we’ll:

• Discuss the key muscle groups affected by bicycling, and how they are impacted during your ride. (30 minutes)
• Learn a sequence of simple yoga poses that can help stretch and warm your body in preparation for cycling. You’ll receive a hand-out of the sequence that you can use on your own next time you’re ready to get outside. (15 minutes).
• Move through a 1-hour (mixed-level) yoga class specifically geared to strengthening and stretching primary areas of the body relevant to cycling.
• Experience some ways to cool-down after your activity through yoga poses. You’ll receive a hand-out of the sequence that you can use after your next big ride. (15 minutes)

Come to yoga and get ready for your summer riding!

When: Thursday, May 21 6:30 – 8:30pm

Where: Yoga Shala – 3808 N Williams Ave., Portland

More Info: Instructor: Jennifer Hanson
RSVP: 503-963-YOGA (9642)
($20 in advance)

Town Hall Meeting On Two Wheels

What: Town Hall Meeting On Two Wheels. Rep. Dembrow, Sen. Dingfelder and You
A Bike Ride in Cully Neighborhood

When: Saturday, May 9th, 9:30am

Where: Wilshire Park (NE 33rd and Skidmore)

More Info: Anyone interested in joining the ride should RSVP to Rep. Dembrow’s office via email to rep.michaeldembrow(at)state.or.us or by calling (503) 986-1445.

Bicycle and Streetcar Open Houses Throughout May

What: Bicycle and Streetcar Master Plan Open Houses.
The public is invited to help shape this transportation transformation at a series of six May open houses around the city to showcase the two long-range plans. Visit the open house event in your community to learn more about the City’s strategic investment in green transportation:

Where: See schedule for nearest location.

When: 4pm-7pm. At each event, you may drop in anytime between four and seven, and there will be brief remarks by a member of Mayor Adams’s staff at 6:00 p.m. There will be bicycle parking, light refreshments, and certified childcare in English and Spanish.

More Info: http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=39132&a=239173

For more information on the Bicycle Master Plan update, visit http://portlandonline.com/transportation/BicycleMasterPlan, e-mail bicyclemasterplan(at)pdxtrans.org, or call 503-823-4638.

For more information on the Streetcar System Plan, visit http://portlandonline.com/transportation/StreetcarSystemPlan, e-mail portlandstreetcarplan(at)pdxtrans.org, or call 503-823-5611.

New friends and perspectives at the Outer East Get Together

I think it’s safe to say this
is the most bikes ever parked
in front of the Rumpus Room.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Last week we held our third monthly Get Together event. In previous months we’ve held them in North (St. Johns) and Southwest Portland (Multnomah Village) and this time we rolled to the Rumpus Room in Outer East.

The Rumpus Room is an old roadhouse bar on SE Division at about 105th (a few blocks east of I-205). Just getting there was an adventure for Elly and I. We rode out via the Clinton Street bike boulevard and it was interesting how the nature of the streets changed the further east we pedaled. Close in, I couldn’t help but smile as bikes were clearly the dominant mode. Several times, we were part of two-way, side-by-side bike traffic on quiet, tree-lined streets.

NE 106th and Weidler

This evening at about 5:30 pm, 49-year old Cary Bernick of Southeast Portland was killed while riding his bike on NE Weidler near the intersection with NE 106th in East Portland (map link).

The Portland Police Bureau say Bernick was riding against traffic on Weidler (which is one-way westbound at that location) and was “in a lane of traffic and not using the bicycle lane” when he was hit. It also appears from their statement that the man was riding on the south side of the street, opposite from the side with the bike lane. The PPB has also confirmed that the man was not wearing a helmet.

Vehicular homicide law press conference-2.jpg

Mary O’Donnell, shown here
at a press conference for
the bill last June, lost her husband
due to a careless driver.
(Photos © J. Maus)

At a work session of the House Judiciary Committee in Salem today, the BTA’s Vehicular Homicide Bill (HB 3399) was withdrawn from the agenda, thereby terminating its chances to become law this session.

According to BTA Legislative Committee Chair Doug Parrow, the bill was pulled because it has a fiscal impact (not good when the the state is facing a $4 billion budget gap) and there were “complications with the legal approach”.

House Judiciary Committee Chair, Rep. Jeff Barker (D-Aloha), made the decision, but not without first acknowledging the work of the BTA and Mary O’Donnell.

The Oregon City Bridge
(Photo: Wikipedia)

The historic arch bridge that connects Oregon City to West Linn will close for two years starting this November.

The Oregon City Bridge opened in 1922 and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) says it is in dire need of maintenance and rehabilitation work. The result of this major project is that the bridge will be completely closed to all traffic (that includes motor vehicles, bikes and pedestrians) for the duration of the work.

As the clock ticks in Salem on the 2009 legislative session, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) and other bike advocates are making last ditch efforts to make Oregon’s laws more friendly to bikes.

Today in Salem, work sessions (different from public hearings in that no testimony is heard) will be held for a bill that could increase funding for bike projects and a bill that would get tougher on people whose dangerous and/or illegal behavior results in the death of another person.

Anti-bike bias and the law; Job sprawl; Carfree Mayor; Wheelchair rights; Bike parking crunch; Shrinking cities; Paving the planet.

Time for the Monday Roundup. There’s a lot of worthwhile news this week, so take a deep breath, get another cup of coffee, and pace yourself.

– Exxon Mobil had a great 2008, earning over $45 billion dollars in profits (in other terms, that’s 45% of the total net profits of all Fortune 500 companies.)

– A major oil lobbyist was found to have knowingly spread false information about the human causes of climate change.

– On Earth Day, Transportation Sec’y LaHood wrote on his blog about the importance of bicycling in reducing carbon emissions and revitalizing downtowns and neighborhoods. LaHood has pledged to work closely with HUD, which oversees housing.

– Poland has passed a law criminalizing drunk bicycling, imposing the same penalties applied to drunk driving: up to two years in prison, depending on level of drunkenness.

An upcoming, one-hour long PBS documentary will take a look at how three American cities — Denver, New York City, and Portland — are grappling with today’s transportation infrastructure challenges.

The documentary, titled Road to the Future, is part of their ongoing Blueprint America series. It will be hosted by award-winning news anchor Miles O’Brien.

PDC says BMX facility near Burnside Bridge is a no go

Laurelwood Brewery Block Party for LAF

Yoga For Cyclists

Town Hall Meeting On Two Wheels

Bicycle and Streetcar Open Houses Throughout May

New friends and perspectives at the Outer East Get Together

Fatal crash in Northeast Portland

Vehicular Homicide bill dies in committee

Oregon City/West Linn bridge set for two-year closure

Down to the wire for vehicular homicide, funding bills

The Monday Roundup

PBS documentary “Road to the Future” will look at Portland’s path

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