BikePortland

‘Bike Match’ connects used steeds with those in need

A local community group is helping fuel the local bike boom and make sure there are more people of color taking part in it.

At last night’s protest this man shared his story about his grandparents living in Vanport (which he said was “just like Katrina”), growing up in now-gentrified northeast Portland, and how apartments near his old home rent for $2,000 a month.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Screen Shot 2020-07-22 at 4.18.29 PM — (Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation says a metal fence and concrete barriers installed around the Federal Courthouse yesterday are illegal and they’ve sent a cease and desist letter to the United States General Services Administration demanding that it be removed.

As we reported Wednesday, the unpermitted fence blocks an entire lane on Southwest Main Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue — a section PBOT said in a statement is, “One of the busiest bike routes in the United States.”

“The City Attorney’s Office offered legal guidance that the installation blocking the bike lane and other parts of the public right of way are violations of City Code and Transportation Administrative Rules designed to protect the safety of the traveling public,” a PBOT statement said.

Screen Shot 2020-07-23 at 12.49.58 PM — Not ODOT-approved.
(Image: City of Hood River)

The Oregon Department of Transportation is trying.

The agency that’s pushing to expand freeways throughout the Portland region and has become Oregon’s de facto advocacy organization for car users, wants to be seen as innovative and nimble; but a situation in the city of Hood River shows the lengths businesses had to go just to use a few curbside parking spaces on one of the agency’s state highways.

Earlier this month businesses along Hood River’s main drag of Oak Street started building “street seat” installations to give customers more space to eat and drink. The efforts were part of a parklet permit program launched by the City of Hood River at the end of June.

Screen Shot 2020-07-23 at 11.01.41 AM — (Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Looking west on SW Main from 2nd Avenue. The fence covers a buffered bike lane.

People forced to walk in the street due to unsigned sidewalk closure.

The fence completely covers the bike lane. These two stripes are the outer buffer lines.

(The fence completely blocks a travel lane on SW Main and partially blocks a lane on SW 3rd. Photos by Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Screen Shot 2020-07-22 at 11.30.15 AM — Former Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and a PBOT staffer stand with former PPB Traffic Division Captain David Hendrie at a crosswalk enforcement mission in 2013.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has ended a 15-year partnership with the Portland Police Bureau that centered around the enforcement of Oregon’s crosswalk law.

Since 2005 PBOT has conducted “pedestrian crosswalk education and enforcement actions” with the PPB. But in recent years conversations around the enforcement of traffic laws and concerns about racial profiling by police officers have intensified.

At a meeting of the City of Portland Pedestrian Advisory Committee last night, PBOT Traffic Safety Section Manager Dana Dickman said City Commissioner Chloe Eudaly asked the bureau to stop working with police.

“There had been concerns about secondary violations,” Dickman told the committee. “People were being pulled over for failure-to-yield, but during the stop they are cited for lack of insurance or a suspended license. And then the citations rack up… There was a concern we are potentially bringing people into a much more serious situation, impacting them financially, and bringing them into a legal situation in a way we didn’t intend… Our commissioner and community members felt that was potentially punitive.”

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title

Experienced Bicycle Mechanic

Company / Organization

Kenton Cycle Repair

Job Description

Looking for an experienced bicycle mechanic to join our shop for the remainder of the season. This is a part-time position. Must be available Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Womxn and POC strongly encouraged to apply.