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People driving out of control: Daycare damaged, schools delayed, bike rider burned by downed power pole

What happened this morning. Be thankful you weren't in that car, in that daycare or under that power pole. (Images: Portland Police, Tigard Police)
What happened this morning. Be thankful you weren’t in that car, in that daycare or under that power pole.
(Images: Portland Police, Tigard Police)

The amount of daily destruction and disruption in our region caused by peoples’ inability to control their cars and trucks is staggering.

Between 2:00 am and 6:00 am this morning there were two incidents that illustrate what has become an all too common occurrence on our roads.

Around 2:00 am on Hall Boulevard in Tigard (adjacent to the skatepark and Burnham Street) a man who had been drinking while driving failed to maintain control of his van and he struck a large power pole. According to the Tigard Police Department, the power pole fell over and a woman riding a bicycle became entangled in the wires. She sustained life-threatening injuries and burns and was taken via ambulance to the hospital.

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ODOT and the St. Johns Bridge

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Only subscribers can post in this section, but everyone can read and comment. Learn more about our subscription program here.

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I was contacted by Don Hamilton of ODOT today regarding some thoughts I had expressed to them about addressing pedestrian/bicycle safety on the bridge. In particular, the west end.

As a practitioner of urban design, I brought up specific tactile striping; bicycle-only diagonal crossing signalization (ala Springwater corridor and Europe); possibly green box havens; and directive signage as a stopgap way to improve conditions, in the least possible time, with lower initial costs. This was my effort to counter major re-engineering would take a long time in ODOT’s world.

He was very responsive (for ODOT) and said that he is supporting these actions to the engineers that are now looking at the current conditions. I only hope he is right.

I explained that the memorial ride we had as well as the other fatalities of late were a deep catalyst for action.

He said he may have these engineers contact me for further user discussions, which we can hope will happen. With ODOT, I’ll cross my fingers.

I’ll let you know what I hear.

Mike Gilliland, BikePortland Subscriber

Mychal Tetteh leaves Community Cycling Center for new position at PBOT

Mychael Tetteh, executive director Community Cycling Center

Tetteh in front of the CCC offices in northeast Portland on Monday.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Community Cycling Center CEO Mychal Tetteh will leave the organization later this year for a new a position with the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation. Tetteh, 34, has been hired by PBOT to manage the Fix our Streets program.

Tetteh has been with the CCC since 2005 when he got his start in the organization’s retail bike shop on Alberta Street. He was hired as CEO in August 2013. In his new role with PBOT Tetteh will oversee the implementation of a four-year, $64 million transportation infrastructure funding program that resulted from the 10-cent per gallon gas tax increase voters approved back in May.

In an interview yesterday, Tetteh said he’s proud of what the CCC has accomplished during his tenure. On the top of his list were the organization’s refreshed brand, stronger partnerships, a “deep commitment” to equity and inclusion, and increased investments in underserved communities. Tetteh said their summer bike camp program for east Portland youth will grow from 20 to 125 scholarships next year.

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A new campaign aims to make helmets available for Biketown users

Aaron Feiger in the news.
Aaron Feiger in the news.

There’s a new effort to increase the rate of helmet use on Portland’s Biketown bike share system.

35 year-old Woodlawn neighborhood resident Aaron Feiger has launched an online petition, Facebook page and guerrilla marketing campaign aimed at persuading the Portland Bureau of Transportation and Biketown operator Motivate to make helmets available at bike share stations.

As first reported Sunday night by KATU, Feiger says he’s motivated by a simple goal: making riders safer.

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City of Portland boosts network with 5.6 miles of newly buffered bike lanes

A few of the streets recently striped by PBOT to narrow standard lanes and provide more space for cycling-only lanes.(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)
A few of the streets recently striped by PBOT to narrow standard lanes and provide more space for cycling-only lanes.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Have you noticed all the new white stripes on Portland streets? In the past few weeks, several key bike lanes across the city have been beefed up with an additional bike lane stripe. These buffers create more breathing room between bicycle riders and automobile drivers.

After coming across several of them while riding around recently, I asked PBOT what was going on.

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As traffic deaths spike, ‘Remembrance Day’ reminds us of human toll

Despite all the technology; despite all the vigils; despite all the “safety campaigns”; despite all the promises from road agencies and elected officials that “safety is our number one priority” — people continue to die at an alarming rate while using Oregon roads.

To help stem this tragic tide, a small but dedicated group of bereaved family members wants us all to feel their pain — and then use those feelings to change ourselves and our streets. That was the goal of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, which was observed yesterday in Portland’s Waterfront Park.

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Roundup of bike-related Black Friday sales in Portland

unnamedSeveral local bike businesses will have special deals this Friday — a.k.a. “Black Friday”. We got the details below…

Sales

Clever Cycles, 11-6pm – demo and former rental Bromptons plus some parts on sale, gift for first 15 in line. Any remaining bikes will be available for sale online Saturday. (see the youtube promotion)

Holy Spokes (3070 SE Division), 8am-8pm – 15% off of all kids bikes and balance bikes, plus a $10 gift card for with purchase of $100.

Blaq Packs, Friday through Monday get 20 percent off everything in store and online. Check them out at 2505 SE 11th.

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The Monday Roundup: Blaming apps, Black Lives Matter, pedaling patent, Trump’s plans and more

mru-11-21

Happy Monday everyone.

I don’t make promises very often, but I have one to make this morning (can’t believe I even have to say this): BikePortland will never publish or link to “fake news” — a.k.a. propaganda. The lack of media integrity and media literacy in America has reached a dangerous level so I promise this will continue to remain a conspiracy and bullshit-free zone — just like it has been for nearly 12 years now.

An informed and engaged community that knows how to respectively discuss important issues with each other is the bedrock of our democracy and I will do my part in this tiny little corner of the world to contribute to that.

So with out further adieu, commence your acquisition of knowledge and perspective with the best stories we came across this past week…

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Opinion: Using our strength in an uncertain time

Sunset on Broadway Bridge-1

10 days after the election, as Trump and his cast of characters take the reins of power in Washington, I’m still having a hard time focusing on cycling news and policy. As I’m sure some of you are too.

I oscillate between thinking I should work even harder here on BikePortland and thinking I should add my voice and energy to other groups who need help resisting what look like ominous times ahead. Then there’s the stress, frustration and disappointment that make it hard to focus on anything at all.

But don’t get me wrong. I’m not looking for sympathy. In fact, I’ve come to the realization that I’m lucky.

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Man charged with death of Mitch York is back in custody facing new manslaughter charge

Schrantz booking photo.
Schrantz booking photo.

Joel Schrantz, the man with a long driving record who was driving on a suspended license when he failed to control his car and allowed it to slam into and kill Mitch York on the St. Johns Bridge last month, is back in custody.

After being initially arrested and charged with criminally negligent homicide, Schrantz posted $2,000 bail (10 percent of total bail amount) and was set free pending trial. We confirmed with residents in his St. Johns neighborhood that he was indeed back at home. We also confirmed with the District Attorney’s office that Schrantz was under court mandate to check-in with law enforcement everyday and was not allowed to drive a car.

This past Tuesday, Schrantz was back in court to face formal charges in the case. According to Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Elisabeth Waner, the Grand Jury returned an indictment for the enhanced charge of manslaughter in the second degree (ORS 163.125). This is significant because manslaughter is a much more serious crime than criminally negligent homicide.

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