Enraging (yet common) bike lane encounter

This is a tame incident compared to many, but it was worth sharing. The (very old) man driving this SUV was clearly looking for somewhere to park and didn’t care about the bike lane. The driver had been hugging the bike lane even before the right-hand turn shown in the video, but that’s when things really started going wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwTEy3c5xmk

What would you have done in this situation? How should we address this in public policy? Certainly more bikes on the street helps. I’m curious what else.

Steel Bridge homeless camp update, Feb 17

The last update I posted was two weeks ago (Feb 3). The mayor’s homeless policy was nine days ago (Feb 8), so I was curious what it looked like. I’ve been through there since the policy, but I didn’t have any good photos/video until today.

One thing I see in that video is that I need to ding my bell much sooner. One group moved aside after I dinged the bell, but realistically I didn’t give any time. It’s also clear that nobody was aggressive in any way. “Blocking the sidewalk” is something we all do- go look at Screen Door or any other hotspot on a weekend during brunch times and you’ll see a different subset of the population engaging in the same behavior.

Also, over the weekend (Saturday night, I think) there were four police cars (and at least four police officers) attending to the camp. I don’t know why or what happened, I thought perhaps they were clearing the camp out.

Wednesday Video Roundup: Pikes Peak, bike lanes in Berlin, and more

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward


Welcome to this week’s roundup! We’re starting with my favorite video (so far) that I’ve posted. This is a great little documentary about a bike shop in Amsterdam. There are many great quotes (“without a bike, you’re nowhere in Amsterdam”) and sweet moments. I love seeing all the “working bikes”.

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Better Block will unveil its four 2016 street demos at Thursday event

Better Block demonstration project on 3rd Ave-16

Better Block’s 2014 demo on SW 3rd Avenue got results.
(Photo: J.Maus/BikePortland)

The volunteer street transformers at Better Block PDX are kicking off what they call “a transformation moment for our organization” at a “volunteer appreciation party” Thursday night.

It’ll be a starting gun for the first full year of what the group hopes will be an ongoing conveyor belt of new ideas for Portland streets, with help from Portland State University’s pipeline of aspiring planners and engineers.

The event is 6 p.m. at 1805 NE 2nd Ave.

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Job: Bicycle Mechanic – Santiam Bicycle

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title *
Bicycle Mechanic

Company/Organization *
Santiam Bicycle

Job Description *
Santiam Bicycle is hiring a full time Bicycle Mechanic for year round employment for our Tigard location with excellent full medical benefits after 90 days. Come and join the Santiam family!!!

We are a Rider/Trail Builder owned shop, that sells and works on every type of bikes with focus on high end full suspension mountain bikes. Experience in hydraulics brakes and suspension basic services a must, but should be able to work on anything from BMX to high end road bikes as well.

Qualifications:
Ideal candidates should have 3 to 5 year experience as a bicycle mechanic or current certification.
Hydraulic brakes and suspension basic service knowledge a MUST!!
Strong customer service skills.
Basic computer literacy a must.
Detailed component knowledge is required.
Must be enthusiastic and ride bikes often.

Duties will include but not limited to:

Assisting customer by addressing and influencing their wants and needs.
Operating register and point of sale system.
Assisting with bike sales if need it.
Creating service repair special orders.
General cleaning.

How to Apply *
send resume to: raul@santiambicycle.com

Cycle Oregon grant funds new Wallowa Lake State Park hiker-biker camp

Wallowa Lake Zumwalt Loop to La Grande-3.jpg

Great news for anyone planning an adventure in this spectacular part of our state. And speaking of which, I was just out there last summer!

Here’s the official statement from Oregon State Parks:

Joseph OR — The Cycle Oregon Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation has awarded a $10,000 matching grant to develop a new hiker-biker camp at Wallowa Lake State Park. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will contribute an additional $10,000 to complete the project.

The current camp for people who hike or bicycle into the park is in an open area along the main camp entrance. Over the next year, park staff will build the new 8-site camping area in a more secluded spot by redesigning the park’s former amphitheater. The new camp will include covered and uncovered sites, lockers, tables, and charging stations. Park staff created a new area for park presentations in a more central location, freeing up the old amphitheater for this project.

From 2009 to 2014, visits to Wallowa Lake State Park have increased 10 percent, from 348,000 to 381,000. As curious travelers from Oregon and around the world discover the Wallowas, the park is interested in encouraging less polluting, less congestion-causing forms of transportation such as hiking and bicycling.

“This is a tremendous gift from Cycle Oregon,” says Park Manager Nancy McLeod (mih-CLOUD). “They’ve always supported the region, but this goes beyond goodwill. They’re investing in the community, and we’re grateful for it.”

The project should start this spring, finish a year later, and be open for its first season in April 2017. The park will work with the Eastern Oregon Visitor Association and the Wallowa Chamber of Commerce to promote the improved service as it opens.

Southeast neighborhood group says city should ‘reopen conversation’ on 20s Bikeway

reed college place

Reed College Place would be better than 32nd
for a neighborhood greenway route, some say.
(Image: Google Street View)

The coalition of neighborhood associations that represents inner Southeast Portland is pushing for some 11th-hour changes that it says would improve the planned 20s Bikeway.

In a letter signed by its president, backed by a 14-2 vote of its board and circulated Wednesday, Southeast Uplift makes three requests of the city.

First, it proposes moving the southernmost leg of the route one block east to Reed College Place south of Tolman Street, avoiding the No. 19 bus line on 32nd Avenue.

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Respected Portland bike rider Ken Pliska suffers major stroke – UPDATED

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
pliska-lead

Ken Pliska leading a ride at Sandy Ridge.
(Photo: Ken Pliska)

Ken Pliska, known to many people for his involvement with cycling in the Portland area since the 1970s, is currently in the hospital recovering from a major stroke.

Pliska, who just celebrated his 50th birthday (at The Lumberyard Bike Park of course) on February 8th, was found unconscious in his home three days later. He was rushed to Oregon Health and Science University where doctors performed considered brain surgery to relieve hemorrhaging but were able to get it under control with non-invasive methods. After several scary days, friends and relatives report that he’s doing much better now although he faces a very long road to recovery.

Pliska is most well-known in the BMX scene where he’s been a competitor for decades and now helps introduce young riders to the sport. He’s a beloved figure among BMX promoters, riders, and the industry — many of whom are flooding the Internet with positive thoughts and prayers for their friend. He has also raced mountain bikes at the Short Track race series at Portland International Raceway, completed century rides on the road, and has also ridden his bike to work. According to The Oregonian he rode in the first Portland New Year’s Day Ride in 1978 when he was 12 years old.

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GOP candidate promises to end gridlock forever by adding a lane to each freeway

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bud Pierce says he’s hit on an idea for solving the problem of people sitting in traffic on freeways: more travel lanes.

“Our current governor and government has no solution to our current gridlock,” he says in a new ad. “When I am governor, I will make sure we have added freeway lanes on all our major freeways. I’ll ensure that we have a new Columbia River Crossing bridge with added lanes. … Vote for Bud Pierce for governor and end gridlock once and for all.”

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What bike questions should Portland political candidates answer?

Mayoral Candidate Jefferson Smith ride-17

Talking politics.
(Photo: J.Maus/BikePortland)

With a big local election coming up, two biking advocacy groups are getting ready to ask politicians where exactly they stand.

On Monday, political action committee Bike Walk Vote released the 2016 candidates’ questionnaire that it’ll use to hand out endorsements. Next week, the advocacy nonprofit Bicycle Transportation Alliance is hosting an evening event to write a platform, make a list of questions and start organizing a get-out-the-vote effort for people who care about good biking.

Here’s the seven-question Bike Walk Vote questionnaire:

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Latest Headlines

First Look: Exciting progress on SW 4th Ave protected bike lane

PBOT kicks off project to improve bike lanes and crossings on SE 148th

Heads up: Bridge inspections mean Tilikum Crossing bike path closures this month

Transportation bill released: Here’s what you need to know

From the Archives

Oregon’s rogue freight advisory committee might have finally overstepped