Snapped this photo on the way up Interstate today.
Pedalpalooza Kick-off Parade!
Wow, seems like everybody was downtown tonight. Lots of bikers all over the place, people walking to the Rose Festival fun zone, gridlocked cars all over the place, bridges shut down, huge battleships on the river…summer is finally here.
And what better way to kick of a bike summer than with a parade! We had a great time and I must say the police escort was quite nice. There’s something amazingly invigorating and inspiring to me about rolling through the city streets and legally running read lights with a bunch of happy cyclists, decorated bikes and funny costumes.
Check out more great photos here (thanks Severt!)
And boy do I love to see cops stopping cars so we can pass! That feels really good. So, all you Portland cyclists, get your Pedalpalooza on and check the calendar for all the fun.
I’m a member of the BTA!
I’m happy to report that after meeting with the BTA‘s Jessica Roberts yesterday, I am now a full-fledged member! I even put the cool little yellow sticker right here on my laptop.
It was great to tour the office and put faces to the names floating around my inbox.
The BTA is really doing some great work for Oregon cyclists. They’re pounding on doors in Salem and making sure that no infrastructure decisions are made in this state without consideration given to bicyclists needs and rights. They’re working with kids to teach them how to ride safely. They’re making our neighborhood more livable with their Safe Routes to School program.
They need support from everyone who thinks that our lives would be better if more people felt safe enough on the streets to ride a bike.
Riding in the Grand Floral Parade
Guess who will be leading this year’s Grand Floral Parade on an old Schwinn Collegiate 3 speed? Yep, you guessed it, me!
This year’s parade will include Kids Pedal…a bunch of kids on bikes showing Portland how to pedal. I’ll be one of two highly-skilled, banner carriers at the front of the procession. I’d like to say this honor was bestowed upon me by my bikey peers…but in all honesty, I just happened to be a fast emailer and I was the first to respond to the invite.
I’m looking forward to representin’ and hopefully they’ll let me bring Eleni along.
See you out on the streets!
Painting abandoned bikes
Josh Hallett just sent me info about a cool bike project based in Toronto called, “Pedals and Paint“. It’s group of folks going around the city painting abandoned bikes.
Here’s how they describe it
In 2004, we gathered 20 people in Trinity Bellwoods Park and taught them how to decorate an abandoned bike and a bike rack. We handed out maps of the downtown area that indicated where all of the locked up abandoned bikes were located. We split into three groups and visually liberated these neglected vehicles that same night.
This is our way of bringing life and colour to the streets with no other motivation than trying to make your stroll down the street that much more enjoyable. Instead of rusting junk, they become a special, imaginative, and integrated part of the streetscape.
Pedalpalooza Kick Off Parade
Don’t forget this Thursday night is the official kick-off event of Pedalpalooza 2005. Meet at Jamison Square (810 NW 11th, by Johnson St.) at 5:30 to decorate your bike and the ride starts at 6:00.
Help kick off 17 days filled with bike-related events and rides!
If you haven’t grabbed the calendar from around town, check out the online version.
Miller beer commercial promotes bikes
Who would have thought that the Miller Man would be into riding bikes?
This might just be the best commercial I’ve ever seen.
Too bad Miller decided to end that campaign.
Kids on bikes to lead Grand Floral Parade!
This year’s Grand Floral Parade will be led by 1,000 kids on bikes. Does it get any better than that? The Community Cycling Center is coordinating the event (can you imagine how much work this must take?!).
The kids will be riding the same bikes given to them at last year’s Holiday Bike Drive (also put on by the CCC)…and I bet they’ve been itching for summer so they can enjoy their new rides (haven’t we all!).
If you want to be a part of the action you can volunteer and/or sponsor a child.
More info on the Kids Pedal here.
Adaptive Bike Day on Saturday
This looks interesting…
Saturday, June 4th
Adaptive Bike Day with Portland Parks and Recreation
“Portland Parks & Recreation’s Disabled Citizens Recreation Program is co-sponsoring an adaptive bike day at the Eastbank Esplanade Plaza parking lot. Volunteers will help people use the bikes by following alongside or riding tandem on an adaptive bicycle. Volunteers will also promote safe biking by emphasizing the 10 things needed for safe biking (provided by PP&R). Light breakfast will be provided during the training, and water & snacks will be provided during the project. Come help us spread the joy of bicycling to a population that doesn’t always have access.”
“The Tour Baby” coming to Portland
A great new bike film about life behind-the-scenes of the Tour de France is coming to the Bagdad Theater for two nights, June 22 and 23rd. More info on this website.
Here’s a blurb:
The Tour Baby! chronicles Scott Coady’s amazing journey following the entire Tour de France. Watch as Scott embarks on an adventure of a lifetime armed only with a Sony digital camera, his passion for cycling, and a beat up Avis rental van he called home for a month. Experience first-hand the excitement and drama of the world’s most difficult and grueling sporting event.
Last I heard the raffle will include some pretty stellar prizes. Tickets just went on sale and will probably sell out quick. Get yours here
A local Portland resident put all this together in memory of a friend lost to cancer. All the money raised at these showings will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation to fund cancer research. Learn more about The Tour Baby on the website.
Bike law handbook
Just caught wind of this info from the BTA:
“The Bicycle Transportation Alliance and bicycle lawyer Ray Thomas announce the release of the new, revised 4th edition of “Pedal Power: A Legal Guide for Oregon Cyclists.”
For over ten years, lawyer and bicycle activist Ray Thomas has been teaching a “cyclists’ legal clinic” to interested cyclists. In his clinic, Mr. Thomas translates vehicle code from “Legalese” into English, clarifying the rights and responsibilities laid out for cyclists under the Oregon law. Since 1999, the information has also been available in book form.”
To purchase your copy call 503.226.0676, email info@bta4bikes.org or stop by the BTA office at 717 SW 12th Ave in downtown Portland. More info on the book and other BTA goodies can be found here.