New stickers ordered

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Just ordered new stickers (below). They’ll be available for sale at the BikeCraft Faire. I went through my first batch so quickly that I’ve decided I can’t give them away for free any more (sorry). I’ll still give some away around town, but officially they’ll be 3-for-a-buck from now on. Hope you like ’em!

Check out all 5 designs and make sure to check out the photos people have sent of my stickers in action

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Time to speak up for bikes

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

There are two urgent issues that need input from Portland cyclists.

First, please submit your comments on the River Plan Concept draft before they are due December 1st. The River Plan includes the Willamette Greenway Trail and city planners need to hear that you want this new trail that will connect Cathedral Park to the Eastbank Esplanade (wouldn’t that be amazing!?).

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My first bike move

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Elicia's bike move

After hearing about them for months I finally got a chance to partake in a bike move. Me and 20 or so others helped a friend move her stuff about a mile across town.

The day started with nice chit chat over pastries (donated by Grand Central Bakery!) and coffee . We then loaded our baskets, panniers, and trailers with stuff. Lamps, books, stereos, a wok, bookshelves, dressers, you name it, we loaded it.

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Critical Mass does the tree lighting

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Critical Mass - November

On Friday’s Critical Mass we timed the tree-lighting ceremony in Pioneer Courthouse Square just right. After creeping up Broadway we ended up stopped just outside Starbucks on the west side of the square when the countdown began and the big tree was lit. It was kind of a cool moment. Our bike bells mingled nicely with the cheers and claps of the Black Friday throngs.

After a short loop around the square, we headed back to the Park Blocks and met up with more riders. I peeled off at this point but I heard that the group ended up spreading the cheer on NW 23rd, bombing down Burnside (that’s always fun) and then doing a “mini-Mass” up MLK en route to a “furious dance party”. (Read Elly Blue’s recap for more details).

As for the cops…they seemed much more relaxed than usual. Must be the holiday spirit!

CBS News to feature Portland

Lawyer's Ride and CBS News

Portland will get 2 minutes of national TV time this Sunday.

Producers from CBS News Sunday Morning (the one with Charles Osgood) flew into Portland last Thursday to tape footage for the upcoming show.

The episode will feature good news from around the country and when the producers got wind of Portland cops giving out lights to cyclists, they thought it’d make a good fit. We’re sharing the limelight with a boy who raised money to adopt a dog and a guy who left corporate life to be a cook.

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BTA chosen for Willy Week “Give! Guide”

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wweek_giveguide

Our beloved BTA is one of the 24 non-profits chosen by the Willamette Week for a special issue called the Give! Guide. So just what does that mean?

Basically, it means there’s never been a better time to donate a bit of cash to the BTA. Here’s why:

Everyone who gives anything (!) gets:

  • One coupon good for a free cup of coffee at Stumptown
  • One box of Powell’s After Reading Mints (stocking stuffer or Hannukah gift)
  • A chance to win the $300+ Johnny Cash deluxe box set, and two chef’s meals at clarklewis

People who give more than $250 get:

  • 6-pack of beer, bottle of wine, and a pound of coffee

If the BTA gets the most number of gifts, even the $5 variety, they get a $1000 bonus.

So here’s the link to to donate…happy giving!

NoPo Greenway Trail meeting

nopomeeting

Take a second to imagine this: A paved trail that connects Cathedral Park (under the St. Johns Bridge) with the Eastbank Esplanade! Monday night, 30 people put that image into motion by attending the first public meeting of the Friends of North Portland Willamette Greenway Trail.

The “Friends of the Greenway” told us about their vision for the trail and asked for our feedback and input. We heard that northern sections of the trail could be funded “sooner rather than later” and that with enough involvement and participation from the public, additional portions of the trail (which would help fill a large gap in the 40 Mile Loop) could become a reality.

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More thoughts on Hawthorne

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

(**For anyone sick of jabbering about the Hawthorne Bridge, stop reading right now and wait for my next post. It will be fun, I promise!).

I feel like I’ve opened a can worms. My posts about the the new bike/ped markings on the Hawthorne Bridge have gotten many comments and I received an email from someone on the County bike advisory committee who said my recent post, “frivolously demeans the efforts of everyone on the County bike and ped Committee.” Then his email was CC’d to all sorts of prominent folks whom I have much respect for. Ouch.

Given all this, I want to clarify a few things.

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