Good Sport Promotion, the folks behind Reach the Beach, the downtown Twilight Criterium, Mt. Bike Oregon and other local bike events have announced their new Hottest Day of the Year Ride for August 6th.
3-foot rule passes in Southern Oregon
I don’t usually cover news from other cities, but since road safety issues are a very hot topic in Portland right now, I thought I’d pass on some news from Grants Pass. Grants Pass is a town of about 25,000 just north of the California border.
According to Mark Lansing, a bicyclist and lawyer from Grants Pass who also writes a monthly column in Oregon Cycling Magazine, just last night their City Council adopted the following ordinance by a 6-1 vote:
Volunteer: Pedalpalooza Dance Party
[From Jasun Wurster]
There are still a few open slots that could really be filled for the PedalPalooza dance party. Please look at:
http://www.pnxcorp.com/PP/
and send an email to jasun [at] pnxcorp.com if you are interested in helping out.
Also, feel free to print out as many of the fliers as you want and pass them out to anyone or tape to any bicycle. We can legally have 500+ people at this party. The place is HUGE!!!
Oh-yea, if anyone knows of food or beer/wine donations please email me as well.
Thanks,
jasun
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BTA benefit BBQ at New Seasons this weekend
This Saturday and Sunday from 11 am til 5 pm, all New Seasons Markets will be hosting a BBQ benefit for the BTA.
They’ll be serving up grilled quesadillas with gourmet salsa and guacamole, a drink, and a slice of melon for dessert…all for $6. 100% of the proceeds go to the BTA so bring your family and friends and fill up for a good cause.
Find your local New Seasons Market here.
BTA staff and volunteers will work the BBQ, but they could use a bit more help. If you’d like to take a shift email Michelle Poyourow at michelle@bta4bikes.org for more info.
The bike move that never ends
Lately I’ve been seeing more and more bikes being used by Portland’s homeless population. I’ve started to get to know a few of them and hear their stories and experiences about their nomadic, rolling existence.
Sometimes I won’t meet the owner of the bike, I’ll just observe its load and marvel at the bungee cording skills that it takes to carry everything they own, everywhere they go.
CCC looking for Cycle Oregon Volunteers
For the past three years, the Community Cycling Center has sent a volunteer crew on Cycle Oregon to detail (yes detail) bikes after each days ride. All the proceeds from the bike detail service (I think it’s around $30 a bike) go directly to the CCC’s Holiday Bike Drive. Last year this money helped 250 low-income kids get a bicycle, a helmet and a holiday party.
Goods BMX doing well on MLK
[Owner Shad Johnson.]
The other day, while looking for the BMX Museum, I happened upon a new bike shop in Northeast Portland called Goods. Goods specializes in high-end BMX parts, frames, and clothing.
The shop was started about a year ago by 10-year Portland resident Shad Johnson. While Shad says there’s a great BMX scene in Portland, most of his sales come from his website at GoodsBMX.com.
In typical BMX’er fashion, I received the glaring stare-down by some too-cool shop regulars when I rolled up on my dorky road bike. They looked at me and said, “You must be looking for Cyclepath.” Cyclepath is a shop that sells custom road and mountain bikes and is in the same building as Goods.
Eggs, sun, and smiles at Bike to Work celebration
This morning Pioneer Courthouse Square was more than just Portland’s living room, it was our kitchen! In honor of Bike to Work Day, City of Portland Transportation Options crew cooked up and served breakfast to bunches of bike commuters. I expected the same old boring bagels and bananas, but Options staffer Jeff Smith manned the camp stove and made fresh eggs for everyone!
Volunteer: Ride with kids for the BTA
[From Anna Scalera, BTA]
Do you have any free time during the school week? Or would your employer be willing to let you out for a good cause?
BTA needs adult volunteers to ride bikes with kids in the Bicycle Safety Education program. The rides are fun and memorable, with a few kids bound to make your day with their show of excitement for biking. Grade levels include 4th-6th grades.
To sign up for a shift or for more information, contact Anna Scalera, BTA Youth Programs Coordinator at 503.226.0676 x19; anna@bta4bikes.org
BTA Bike Safety Community Rides:
MAY 18 (Thursday)
Sellwood Middle School, 8300 SE 15th, PDX
Morning shift: 9:05-12:10
Afternoon shift: 12:45-2:45
May 19 (Friday)
Sellwood Middle School, 8300 SE 15th, PDX
All-day ride to OMSI trip: 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Bring bicycle, helmet and lunch!
Volunteers get free admission to OMSI.
MAY 26 (Friday)
East Sylvan Middle School, 1849 SW 58th Ave., PDX
Morning shift: 9:10-12:15
Afternoon shift: 1:45-3:30
MAY 26 (Friday)
Metzger Elementary School, 10350 SW Lincoln St., Tigard
Morning shift: 10:15-12:30
Afternoon shift: 1:15-2:30
JUNE 5, (Monday)
Creston Elementary School, 4701 SE Bush, PDX
Morning shift: 8:50-12:00
Afternoon shift: 12:50-2:00
JUNE 13 (Tuesday)
Buckman Elementary School, 320 SE 16th, PDX
Morning shift: 8:50-11:15
Afternoon shift: 12:25-2:45
JUNE 9 (Friday)
Vose Elementary School, 11350 SW Denney Rd., Beaverton
Morning shift: 8:00-11:00
Afternoon shift: 12:00-2:20
Back-to-back bike events at Pioneer Square
[He’ll be there in spirit.]
Portland’s “Living Room,” will be packed with cyclists on Wednesday. Pioneer Courthouse Square will be the venue for two big bike related events.
First up will be the City of Portland’s Bike to Work Day celebration. From 7:30 to 9:00 you can sample fine (and free) continental breakfast (must have your bike to eat!), and revel in the sunrise with other cool commuters. The BTA’s Executive Director Evan Manvel and Bike Gallery owner Jay Graves are both scheduled to speak.
Swap Meet, Sprockettes sizzle in Southeast
Last Sunday was Dumpster Dave’s Bike Swap Meet at Free Geek in Southeast Portland. The sun was hot and the so were the deals. There were all sorts of crazy bikes and interesting people on display.
I set up a table and joined the fray alongside Joe Biel of Microcosm Publishing. I saw lots of old friends including Sacha and Ben from Vanilla Bicycles. Sacha has an amazing limited edition poster that I hope to share with you soon.
Update on OHSU bike parking and tram design
A few days ago I received an email from Rachel MacKnight, the Media Relations person for Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU). She got in touch because of a post made last week that brought their bike parking facilities into question. She also included more information about how the new tram will handle bicycles.
According to MacKnight, bicyclists are encouraged to use the tram and it was actually designed with cyclists in mind. She adds: