BikePortland

Filmed by Bike rocks Clinton Street, and it’s not over yet

Big crowds inside and out at opening
night of Filmed by Bike.
–Photo Gallery–
(Photos © J. Maus)

Filmed by Bike‘s Opening Night Throwdown street party was the perfect way to kick of Portland’s bike season. On Friday night, nearly 1,000 people flocked to SE Clinton street to revel in the scene both inside and outside the theater.

Whether you were there as a film buff, a bike lover, as an excuse to party, or all of the above — chances are you weren’t disappointed. After six years of putting on this event (and countless others), bike event mastermind Ayleen Crotty put all the right ingredients together for another memorable opening night.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Ribbon cuttings, close calls with fame, Idaho Stops go viral, the importance of litter, Manifest Destiny, the bikestache

Your weekly news roundup, celebrity edition:

– Obama has announced a plan to invest billions of dollars into high speed passenger rail. The Oregonian’s editorial board, among others, wants more and faster.

– Last week, Obama also chose a ribbon cutting for a new highway expansion project to grace with his presence.

– The EPA has opened the door on regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

– So has Washington State, in a bill that also calls for transportation planning to reduce vehicle miles traveled.

Join the crowds at
Filmed by Bike
(Photo © J. Maus)

It’s going to be sunny and in the 70s, folks. Here’s a sampling of what you can do about it:

– Tonight is Filmed by Bike’s opening night! Party in the street, drink beer, win prizes, and watch bike movies with a raucous, costumed crowd. The party goes from 6pm to 1am, the show times are 7, 9, and 11. SE 26th and Clinton.

– For a mellower but no less fun evening out riding with the kids, tonight is also the monthly Kidical Mass. Join a friendly group of preschoolers as they take to the streets at a mellow pace. They aren’t blocking traffic, they ARE traffic.

[This article was written by Erin Greeson. You might remember her in-depth examination of the bike messenger industry.]

“Century” Steve Nelson
(1960 ~ 2009)

On the evening of Tuesday, April 14, Team Beer lost a beloved teammate, “Century” Steve Nelson after a battle with illness and a stream of hospital visits from friends and teammates.

Steve succumbed precisely in time to join his beloved Team Beer in spirit. As the call came and news was shared, heads bowed in quiet grief and meditation, and glasses were raised to quietly salute a teammate whose smile, wisdom and support would be sorely missed but never forgotten.

New surreys for rent in Waterfront park-102

Kerr Bikes manager Will Armistead
and one of his double surreys.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Traffic on the busy riverfront path in Waterfront Park will soon feature several new types of pedal-powered vehicles.

Yesterday I learned more about a new bike rental business that will be based inside the former McCall’s Restaurant building just south of the Salmon Street Fountain.

Time to rise up, Oregon cyclists!

Next week’s Oregon Bike Summit (4/21-4/22) in Salem could be the most important advocacy event of the year.

In previous years, the summit has been held in Eugene, Sisters, and Portland, but this year organizers are taking the bike movement straight to the lawmakers and pursestring holders in Salem.

The man behind the summit, Jerry Norquist, is the ride director of Cycle Oregon, Chair of the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and one of the state’s pre-eminent bike advocates. He’s decided to model the event on the National Bike Summit, held each year in Washington D.C..

“We as a society need to address and reinforce that driving and bicycling requires full concentration on the road, unfettered awareness of roadway conditions and instant attention to non-motorized roadway users.”
–Jerry Norquist, in a letter to ODOT

The Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (OBPAC) has sent a formal letter to the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC, a Governor-appointed body that advises the Oregon Department of Transportation) urging them to step up their efforts to educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving and to support a ban on the use of cell phones while driving and bicycling.

In the letter, dated March 16 and signed by committee Chair Jerry Norquist, the OBPAC “urges” the ODOT to support the agenda of the National Safety Council, a group calling for governors and legislators in all 50 states to ban cell phone use while driving. The OBPAC also wants ODOT to add information about the dangers of distracted driving to the DMV manual for both commercial and non-commercial road users.

Volunteers delivering meals on two wheels.
(Photo: Loaves & Fishes Center)

Loaves & Fishes Centers, “The Meals on Wheels People”, have launched a new “Meals on Two Wheels” program and they’re looking for volunteers in the Portland-Vancouver area.

Julie Piper Finley, the organization’s communications director, got in touch today to tell us about the new program. She said they’ve been delivering meals to homebound seniors throughout Multnomah, Washington and Clark counties for over 40 years using “conventional automobiles”, but beginning this month, the agency will be rounding up volunteers to deliver meals by bike.

Patrick Barber, vélocoutureist.

[Editor’s note: This article was originally published by Patrick Barber on his blog, Vélocouture, and has been re-published here with his permission.

On his blog, Barber writes about bike fashion with an urban flair. City bikes and fashion don’t even make news in Europe, but here in the states, they’re finally gaining serious steam (see our coverage of the Great Dutch Bike Invasion). Just yesterday, the New York Times published a piece about the popularity of high end Dutch bikes. But just what is a “city bike?” In the article below, Barber gives us his definition.]

As we reported a few weeks ago, the City Club of Portland’s Friday Forum event coming up on May 1st will be a bike lover’s bonanza. Today, the City Club announced the final list of 18 local handmade bike builders that will display at the event (see the list below).

The City Club of Portland is a local institution where usual guests include titans of industry, Governors past and present, and the like. But on May 1st, the local bike scene’s movers and shakers will take center stage.

In addition to a panel that will, “discuss bicycles and bicycling as an economic influence, an urban planning opportunity and a lifestyle” (and will include Cycle Oregon founder and former columnist at The Oregonian Jonathan Nicholas, bike planning superstar (and soon-to-be author) Mia Birk, and Bike Gallery owner Jay Graves) the May Friday Forum will include an exhibition of locally made bikes.

Filmed by Bike starts tomorrow with Clinton Street opened up for the Opening Night Throwdown.
Local bike event organizer/promoter extraordinaire Ayleen Crotty has clearly outdone herself this year. Crotty — whose Filmed by Bike event started in 2003 as a small, grassroots film fest — has blown-up into a major happening the likes of which have never been seen in the bike film world.

This year, Crotty has added tons of new features, screenings, and events into the mix. Tomorrow’s “Opening Night Throwdown” will close SE Clinton Street to cars for a street party that Crotty says will include the “largest bike parking setup Portland has ever seen.”

A community survey conducted by the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability as part of their Central Portland Plan update had good news for supporters of bikeways and carfree streets.

The survey was made available at more than 60 community events and locations throughout the city during a two-month period between August and October 2008 (it was also available online). 2,500 people responded to the survey and told the city how they currently use Central Portland and “what steps and activities they envisioned for its future.”

Filmed by Bike rocks Clinton Street, and it’s not over yet

The Monday Roundup

Weekend Guide and Open Thread

Guest Article: In memory of teammate and friend, Steve Nelson

Say hello to surreys and a new traffic mix in Waterfront Park

Have your say in Salem at the Oregon Bike Summit

Oregon bike/ped committee urges state to ban cell phones while driving and bicycling

Homebound seniors can now get meals on two wheels

Guest article: The city bike, according to a vélocoutureist

18 local builders will display at City Club Friday Forum in May

Starting tomorrow: Rock out and wonk out with Filmed by Bike

City survey says Portlanders want more bikeways, carfree streets

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