(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
A lack of safe street space makes distancing guidelines hard to follow
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
Bike shops can remain open under Oregon Governor’s ‘stay home’ order
(Photo: Upcycles)
Amid a growing number of coronavirus infections and pressure from concerned Oregonians and public health officials, Oregon Governor Kate Brown has issued an executive order to encourage people to minimize physical contact.
The “Stay Home, Save Lives” order clarifies which type of businesses must close and how to go outdoors without violating the order. Bike shops are not on the list of businesses that are required to close. The Governor has also not prohibited or discouraged bicycling. In fact, “biking in your neighborhood” is among the things called out in her official statement — as long as you maintain six or more feet distance between yourself and other riders.
Portland bike business news roundup (coronavirus edition)
One of the focuses of our work so far during this outbreak is to monitor the health of our local bike economy and do what we can to help them survive. One of the things I’m doing is scrolling through social media and emails looking for updates about how local bike businesses are holding up and adapting to the strange reality of the times.
Here are a few things I’ve learned:
Breadwinner Cycles is offering bike repair and maintenance service. Breadwinner is a bicycle maker and not usually available as a bike repair shop. That has now changed. “We are offering our services to our Portland cycling community to showcase that bicycles are a better way to go,” say owners Tony and Ira. To drop off your bike give them a call at (503) 236-8511 to set an appointment.
Most local bike shops remain open, but many changed their protocols over the weekend. Appointment only and zero-contact practices seem to be the norm. Our bike shop status update spreadsheet has all the latest info, including links to (most of) the shops where you can buy online or purchase gift cards.
Component manufacturer Chris King wants your help to keep business flowing to local bike shops (who they rely on for orders). They’ve started the Bikes Build Us Up social media campaign that comes with the #SupportYourLocalBikeShop social media tag and a custom graphic you can place over your own image to promote the campaign online.
Bike delivery pros prove their value and mettle during virus outbreak
(Photo Cascadian Courier Collective)
Woman killed while walking on Barbur Boulevard was ‘brilliant’ PSU researcher
(Photo: Portland State University)
Iulia Hanczarek was coming into her prime as a chemist and researcher at Portland State University. She had dreams of a doctoral degree and missions to space. At just 39 years old, she had a lot of important discoveries ahead of her. Staff at the university describe her as “brilliant”.
But just after midnight on Tuesday her life was cut short when a man chose to drive his car while drunk and hit and killed her as she walked home in southwest Portland. According to police, Ivan Cam was driving approximately 50 miles per hour prior to hitting Hanczarek. Cam told crash investigators the window of his car “suddenly exploded” and he didn’t even know what he’d hit. He now faces charges of manslaughter, DUI, and reckless driving.
At night by bike, Portland’s streets are a surreal dream amid the nightmare
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
ODOT releases roster of I-5 Rose Quarter project community advisory committee
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)
Tonight was supposed to be the first meeting of the I-5 Rose Quarter Project Community Advisory Committee. Due to public health concerns, it has been postponed and will be rescheduled in an online-only format (public will be invited, see updated details below). This is the committee foisted upon the Oregon Department of Transportation by their bosses on the Oregon Transportation Commission to try and get a handle on the thorny public debates surrounding the controversial project.
Back in January we encouraged readers to apply and it appears that a least a few of you did. I noticed lots of familiar names among the 147 applicants. In the end, ODOT selected 24 people. Here are their names, with a selected blurb from their application (followed by several other important project updates):
5 questions for Metro Council candidate Mary Peveto
(Photo: Peveto for Metro)
It’s hard to know what the future holds, but we’re operating under the assumption that we’ll still have local elections on May 19th.
One of the hottest races in town is for a seat on Metro Council. District 5 is up for grabs because Councilor Sam Chase (who’s held the seat since 2013) is running for Portland City Council. In the past month or so we’ve shared posts from two other candidates in this race: Portland Planning Commissioner and transportation reform activist Chris Smith, and civic and nonprofit leader Cameron Whitten.
Today we’ll hear from Mary Peveto. She answered five of my questions.
First, some background. Peveto is known for her work in air quality activism. She founded and still leads Neighbors for Clean Air, a nonprofit that forced a big steel company in northwest Portland to install air cleaning equipment at their plant. Her group has also successfully lobbied the legislature to reduce diesel pollution. Peveto told me she has experience not only in going after big corporations, “But also ineffective and sometimes intransigent government agencies to hold them accountable for doing their jobs of protecting people.”
Ask BikePortland: Can we still ride in groups if we keep a distance?
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)
As I monitor the news and the BikePortland social media feeds, it’s clear that there remains confusion about whether or not it’s safe to do group rides. While many folks have cancelled them, I still see people out there (online and in real life) riding close together.
I’m not an expert, but I want to offer some guidance on making the right decision about this.
Here’s a question I just saw posted from a friend who hosts a weekly group ride in Portland:
PBOT improves greenway connection across North Interstate Avenue
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)