From L to R: State Rep. Jackie Dingfelder, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, and State Rep. Ben Cannon.
Bike geeks welcome at Geek Fair this weekend
Just some of the bike fun
at Geek Fair last year.
(Photos © J. Maus)
at Geek Fair last year.
(Photos © J. Maus)
This Saturday is Free Geek’s annual Geek Fair, an event that is sure to be full of bike fun for the entire family.
Free Geek is a local non-profit that recycles and refurbishes computer equipment and operates a community technology center in inner Southeast Portland.
Media giant Clear Channel will promote benefits of biking
Janet Bain
(Photo © J. Maus)
(Photo © J. Maus)
The Portland arm of media juggernaut Clear Channel is in the process of developing an educational series of messages that will help educate Oregonians about the benefits of biking to our communities and encourage more positive behavior on the roads.
The effort is being spearheaded by Janet Bain of Southwest Portland-based Clear Channel Radio. Clear Channel’s local radio stations (which also have active web presences) include K103fm, 1190KEX, KPOJ 620-AM, KQOL-105.9 and Z100.
New bike lanes make key connection in Outer Southeast
Freshly installed bike lanes on SE 162nd.
(Photo by Jeff Smith/PDOT)
(Photo by Jeff Smith/PDOT)
The City of Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) has completed the installation of 1.6 miles of bike lanes in Outer Southeast Portland.
The new lanes are on SE 162nd Avenue from Powell to Stark and they create a continuous route of over three miles of bike lanes all the way from the I-84 path south to Powell. PDOT’s current bike map of Outer Southeast shows this portion of 162nd as a “difficult connection”, so these new lanes are a welcome improvement.
Sneak peek at new close calls/collision reporting tool
Screenshot of new crash and close call reporting tool.
(Click to enlarge)
(Click to enlarge)
Portland will take part in national bike/ped ‘documentation project’
Portland will be part of a
nationwide effort to document
bike use.
(Photo © J. Maus)
nationwide effort to document
bike use.
(Photo © J. Maus)
For the first time ever, Portland will take part in a nationwide effort to document the number of people biking and walking on our streets.
The National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project was initiated in 2003 by Alta Planning and Design (a nationally known bike and ped planning firm with nine offices around the country, including Portland). Alta compiles that data through a joint effort with the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).
Alta’s Mia Birk says they approached the ITE because they publish an important journal on vehicle counts known as the “ITE Trip Generation Manual” and Alta wanted, “a comparable document for bike and pedestrian counts.”
Metro trail committee headed to Amsterdam, Copenhagen
“The purpose is to increase our aspirations – to move from contentment at being the “best in the U.S.” to the ambition of being truly world-class.”
–Metro President David Bragdon
Members of a committee formed by Metro to focus on funding new biking and walking trails in the Portland region are packing their bags for a study trip to the world’s two most bike-friendly cities — Amsterdam and Copenhagen.
Metro’s Blue Ribbon Committee for Trails — created as part of President David Bragdon’s Connecting Green campaign — has been meeting since early this spring in order to, “propose a funding strategy to complete the region’s network of bicycle and walking trails.”
North Portland bikeway improvement project goes back to the drawing board
High speeds, freeway ramps, and a need for approval by ODOT have stalled a bikeway improvement project in North Portland.
This view is looking west on Rosa Parks at Missouri.
(Photo © J. Maus)
This view is looking west on Rosa Parks at Missouri.
(Photo © J. Maus)
I pledge allegiance to my bike…
The Salmon Street Fountain provided a nice
respite from Saturday’s sun.
Slideshow below
(Photos © J. Maus)
respite from Saturday’s sun.
Slideshow below
(Photos © J. Maus)
Despite scary-high temperatures last Saturday, the Portland stop of New Belgium’s Tour de Fat still drew an enthusiastic crowd.
Things kicked off with a bike parade and an estimated 300 people wearing all manner of silly outfits and freaky bikes took part. Before the parade rolled out, the event’s emcee had everyone raise their right hands and recite a Pledge of Allegiance to our bikes.
Press play on the slideshow below to hear the pledge and view some photos from the parade.
What does your “Pretty Portland” look like?
Does your dreamy vision of Portland include bikes (I know mine does)?
If so, check out My Pretty Portland, the Portland Mercury and the Art Institute of Portland’s short film contest.
They’re looking for a few shorts that showcase, “what you love, what you cherish, what makes Portland special for you.”
I know there are many talented artists and filmmakers that read this site and it’d be great to get some bikey content into this contest. The deadline is August 27th and the best 10 films will be shown at an event on August 30th.
Kidical Mass: A slideshow from North Portland
Ready to ride.
(Photo © J. Maus)
(Photo © J. Maus)
Kidical Mass continued to stoke the family biking revolution with several rides all over Portland tonight.
I joined a healthy group of families at Peninsula Park for a pleasant, few-mile ramble over to Arbor Lodge Park where the kids played, the parents chatted, and everyone nibbled on potluck offerings.
Did anyone join the main ride downtown? How were the root beer floats?! How about the Sellwood ride? Did anyone show up in Southwest?
Share your reports in the comments. I’m very interested to see how/if this new group ride takes hold.