BikePortland

Goods BMX doing well on MLK

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

[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.

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!

[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.

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.

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:

[Click to super size.]

In light of last week’s post about the new downtown development that will include a 3,000 square foot “bike hub”, I have obtained a drawing of the proposed ground floor layout.

These plans give you a more detailed look at how the developer will situate the bike facility.

I’ll definitely keep track of this exciting project so stay tuned for more developments.

[Thanks to Jesse Beason for the image.]

Lieutenant gives his perspective on stop sign enforcement

Last week, there was a lot of discussion about a stop sign enforcment mission by the Traffic Division of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). In response to a citizen complaint, they sent several officers out to SE 23rd and Salmon Streets to nab law-breaking cyclists.

Until now, the one group we hadn’t heard from was the Traffic Division. I am pleased to have gotten permission from Lieutenant Mark Kruger to publish his thoughts from an email correspondence we had last Friday.

[Photo: Paul Souders]

Portland’s very own Springwater Corridor Trail is the subject of a beautiful cover photo and feature story in the Summer issue of Rails to Trails Magazine. The magazine is available to members of the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

They called the Springwater, “a stunning and well-planned urban connector” that “embodies the spirit of Portland.”

[Thanks to Paul S. for the tip!]

Preliminary Share the Road mural design unveiled

As I reported back in March, a group of community activists and artists are working on a new “Share the Road” mural that will soon adorn the side of Hawthorne Auto Clinic (4307 SE Hawthorne) in Southeast Portland.

[Posted by “BoultonBike”]

On Friday May 12 my custom built road bike was stolen while chained to a bike rack at the corner of NW 13th and Kearney.

The bike has a Boulton Frame maroon in color. Boulton frames are extreemly rare so I am hoping this makes the bike easy to spot. Shimano Ultegra components and Cane Creek wheels with red tires (unsure brand).

This is the first time I had a bike stolen so any other info needed or tips is greatly appreciated. Any and all information can be sent to chrisj0619@mac.com or by cell at 503-680-1512.

Thanks to everyone that reads this and the people behind this site!

New development to include major bike facility

Today’s Oregonian has the story of a major new downtown development that will include, “a regional bike facility grander than anything Portland has ever seen.”

It’s a very exciting proposition. Not only would this 3,000 square foot “bike hub” be the centerpiece of Portland’s commitment to sustainable transportation, but something like this could inspire other developers to consider similar facilities. This hub would likely include a ton of bike parking, showers, and some retail space (similar to a BikeStation)

However one problem with this proposal remains. Last Wednesday, I saw the drawings of the proposed building with Jessica Roberts of the BTA and Sam Adams staffer Jesse Beason. The issue is with how cyclists coming off the Hawthorne Bridge would safely access the entrance of the facility, which is planned for the western side of the building, on SW 2nd Ave.

Goods BMX doing well on MLK

Eggs, sun, and smiles at Bike to Work celebration

Volunteer: Ride with kids for the BTA

Back-to-back bike events at Pioneer Square

Swap Meet, Sprockettes sizzle in Southeast

Update on OHSU bike parking and tram design

A closer look at the “Bike Hub”

Lieutenant gives his perspective on stop sign enforcement

Springwater Corridor in Rails to Trails Magazine

Preliminary Share the Road mural design unveiled

Stolen: Boulton Road Bike

New development to include major bike facility

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