BikePortland

At just $20,000, Ankeny Plaza is Portland’s cheapest “bridge” project ever

Cheap. Fast. Popular. Now let’s do another one.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

It’s the cheapest bridge project ever completed in the Portland region. For just $20,000, the city’s Bureau of Transportation has changed the face of an iconic and historic part of town. And they’re sort of bragging about it, which is awesome.

At the ribbon-cutting event for Ankeny Plaza today, City Commissioner Steve Novick delighted in how his Bureau of Transportation has radically transformed the streets between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in Old Town/Chinatown. “This is incredibly awesome,” he bubbled, before making a reference to Martha & The Vandellas’ classic tune, “Dancing in the Streets.”

Portland to Stub Stewart family camping trip-27.jpg

Leaving camp with a 10 mile descent through the forest on the Banks-Vernonia Trail.
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)

If you thought bikecamping was a new fad or that it was just for extreme adventure-seekers, consider this: This weekend I joined several other families on a two-night campout at Stub Stewart State Park. We rode 40 or so miles each way from north Portland to the park’s wonderful little cabins nestled in the woods of bucolic Buxton (about 10 miles south of Vernonia).

What gets me so excited about what we did this weekend isn’t about how “epic” the ride was. In fact it’s the opposite of that. I love how accessible and doable it is for just about everyone. Not only did we have kids as young as six riding their own bikes the entire way, we had adults with us that had never done anything like it.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Sorry, this job has been filled. Browse more great jobs here.

Job: Bike Builder – Sellwood Cycle Repair

Job Title *
Bike builder

Company/Organization *
Sellwood Cycle Repair

Job Description *
Sellwood Cycle Repair is seeking a well-rounded employee starting as soon as possible. The position includes–but isn’t limited to–new bike assembly. The ideal candidate already has experience with bike building and mechanical service in a bike shop. Further, the candidate is a self-motivated learner and able to be accountable to co-workers in a very demanding work environment. This year-round position can be part-time to full-time, depending on the candidate. The job could expand to a role more rigorously repair-oriented, focusing on the service of consignment bikes. Availability on Saturdays is a must. Pay rate is commensurate with experience; health benefits are available. Please contact shop@sellwoodcycle.com with an introduction and resume. Thanks!

How to Apply *
Please contact shop@sellwoodcycle.com with an introduction and resume.

The Monday Roundup: First aid tips, global road deaths, and Trump’s cycling trash talk

This week’s Monday Roundup is sponsored by Hassalo on Eighth, Portland’s new neighborhood in the Lloyd District.

Here are the best stories from around the web last week:

From the Department of Duh!: Research shows that if states adopt tougher driving license laws for teens we could save hundreds of lives.

Riding for life, saving a life: A man on his daily bike ride across a New York City bridge talked a suicidal man off a ledge and embraced him until help could arrive.

Be ready for anything: Ever wondered what you would do if you came upon an injured rider? Bicycle Times has this — and several other what-ifs — covered in their Ready for Anything feature.

A woman died today while bicycling in southeast Portland.

The collision with an auto user happened around 3:00 pm at SE 112th and Mount Scott Boulevard. This location is near the entrance of Lincoln Memorial Park, a popular area for riding.

When big things happen, good or bad, many Portlanders turn to the community for support. And since cycling is such a powerful and common way to connect with other people and with the city around us — group rides become an organizing principle.

Whether it’s for a bike-related cause or not, Portlanders ride together as a way to process emotions, support each other, and inspire change.

This Saturday there are two rides that perfectly exemplify this phenomenon: the 82nd Avenue of Death Ride, and the Immigration Ride.

The ever-evolving Ankeny Alley in downtown Portland.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

For the first time in over five years you can comfortably ride a bicycle through Ankeny Alley.

Prior to June of 2011 the short, one-block stretch of Southwest Ankeny between 2nd and 3rd avenues was a narrow street with auto parking on both sides. It wasn’t exactly a place you wanted to hang out and enjoy a meal, but if you were on a bike at least you could easily and safely pedal through it.

Then, when the City of Portland decided to ban cars from the block, they also essentially banned bicycle riding too. Instead of a true public plaza aimed at attracting everyone, they made a deal with the bars and restaurants on the street: You let us ban cars and we’ll give you a lot more space for your customers. Ankeny Alley was a huge improvement, especially if you wanted to sit down at one of the many tables and enjoy a beer or a box of famous Voodoo Doughnuts. If you wanted to pass through, you’d have to squeeze by on a narrow sidewalk (which is technically illegal in this section of downtown).

In about one month the City of Portland will break ground on a new carfree street and plaza at the east end of the Burnside Bridge that will be known as Couch Court.

New on-street bike corral at Pine Street Market.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Back in May we shared the sordid tale of how Portland’s newest downtown food destination, Pine Street Market, opened without any bicycle parking spaces.

Welcome to the weekly video roundup. The posting of this has been a little sporadic recently- sorry about that. I’m not promising it’ll be better, but at least I’m posting it now, right? After reviewing about 110 videos I’m starting this week with an old Tom Peterson commercial. He was a Portland legend in furniture sales and died recently. How does this relate to bikes? It doesn’t, really, but it’s “old Portland” and worth making an exception for. I remember him more from this era, “free is a very good price”. (hat tip to TB and MA for this)

At just $20,000, Ankeny Plaza is Portland’s cheapest “bridge” project ever

Why Stub Stewart State Park is (still) the ultimate family bike camping destination

Job: Communications & Marketing Manager – The Community Cycling Center – FILLED

Job: Bike Builder – Sellwood Cycle Repair

The Monday Roundup: First aid tips, global road deaths, and Trump’s cycling trash talk

Fatal bicycle collision at SE 112th and Mt. Scott – UPDATED

Rides this Saturday will protest unsafe streets and celebrate immigration

Ankeny Alley now has a promenade you can bike through

Here’s what Portland’s new carfree street and elevated bikeway will look like

As promised, bike parking (and a lot of it) arrives at Pine Street Market

Weekly Video Roundup: Right-hook PSA, Red Hook in London, local mountain biking, and more

Latest Headlines

Guest Article: Right turn on red laws and what they mean for cyclists

BikeLoud Stands in solidarity with Boston transportation advocates

Guest Opinion: PCEF e-bike rebate program should include traditional bikes

Guest Post: Yes, River View Cemetery is a critical cycling route. The data tells us why

From the Archives

The 10 busiest bicycling spots in Portland