Comment of the Week: 43 words that perfectly define good bike parking

Bike parking at Franklin High School-2

Dear America: It’s not actually that hard.
Just ask Franklin High School.
(Photo: J.Maus/BikePortland)

Good bike parking: it’s not that hard but it’s not that common, at least in North America. Except in Portland, where we really do know how it’s done.

The explanations don’t get any shorter and sweeter than this one from BikePortland reader Jessica Roberts, who shared it beneath our story Tuesday about the city enforcing its bike parking code on a North Portland Home Depot in response to a resident’s complaint. (As we wrote, anybody can report potentially out-of-compliance bike parking in Portland by calling (503) 823-CODE (2633) or using the BDS online form.)

Here’s Roberts’ simple definition, plus a couple examples of rack designs that don’t cut it:

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Parks bureau adds $350,000 Off-Road Cycling Master Plan to budget

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Newton Rd in Forest Park

Plan now, ride later.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

2015 is shaping up to be a great year for off-road cycling in Portland.

We have just learned that the PP&R requested budget for 2015/2016 (PDF) includes $350,000 for an “Off-Road Cycling Master Plan.”

This is nothing short of huge news for mountain biking advocates in Portland who see the lack of such a plan as the last remaining hurdle to more local trails, building more pump tracks, and so on. Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz called for the plan one year ago and just last November the NW Trail Alliance started an online petition to persuade Parks to fund it.

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Define ‘compatibility’: Ben Ross on the evasive language of zoning

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N-NE-SE Portland Good-Bad-Ugly Houses 84

Which is incompatible with which, and why?
(Photo: Mark McClure)

Why does Portland require every new house to have a driveway big enough to fit two cars?

Why do we forbid most lots from having two separate dwelling structures unless one is 25 percent smaller than the other and has a roof with an identical slope?

Why do we ban second kitchens within a single home unless the owner essentially pinky-swears that only one household will be living in the building?

In a city where a chronic shortage of housing in walkable and bikeable areas has driven prices up and up, driving major changes in the culture, these aren’t trivial questions.

The most familiar answer to all of them is one of the most-used words in urban zoning: “compatibility.” But what exactly does that mean?

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Weekend Event Guide: Worst Day, Powell, King Kong and more

Worst Day of the Year Ride 2011-24

“Worst” ride, best costumes.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

Welcome to your menu of weekend rides and events, lovingly brought to you by our friends at Hopworks Urban Brewery.

Once again it looks like the “Worst Day” ride will have pretty OK weather — but at least there’s no risk of cancellation like last year! There are some great rides this weekend, no matter if you want to get zany or dirty, or just ride fast on beautiful country roads.

Have a great weekend!

Saturday, February 7th

Stub Stewart Park Freeride Trail Work Party – 8:45 am at Park Welcome Center Parking Lot
Join the NW Trail Alliance for this great volunteer opportunity. They’ll supply you with tools and instruction so you can help maintain and shape one of the areas best mountain biking areas. Learn more here.

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Job: Mechanic / Sales – Allegro Cyclery (Walla Walla, WA)

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title
Mechanic / Sales

Company/Organization
Allegro Cyclery

Job Description
Allegro Cyclery, a full service bicycle shop located in Walla Walla Washington is looking for an experienced mechanic / sales person. This is a full time position that includes Saturday’s; heavy emphasis on road riding with a strong presence of cx and mtb riding. Women and others under-represented in the cycling industry are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply
Please email Michael Austin at mike@allegrocyclery.com, with your resume and/or questions about this position. Position needs to be filled by March 1st, 2015.

Youth Bike Summit will bring Portlanders to Seattle next week

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pasqualina-youth

Youth Bike Director Pasqualina Azzarello
speaking at the 2012 National Bike Summit.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

If you think about it, there’s little question about which disenfranchised minority has the most to gain from good bicycling: kids.

A national conference for people interested in the education, advocacy and organizing of young people who are interested in bicycling is about to kick off just up the road from Portland.

The annual Youth Bike Summit has taken place in New York City for the last four years, but this year Seattle will host its first year “on the road.” Portlanders will be presenting on three of this year’s panels: one by publishers/creators Elly Blue and Joe Biel called “Making Change,” and one from the Multnomah Youth Commission called “Youth Advocacy Initiatives: Transit Justice through Youth Organizing” and one by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and MYC called “Getting What You Want: Advocate.”

The City of Portland is sending Janis McDonald as a representative of their Safe Routes to Schools program.

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Cycle Oregon is going to Hell

hellonwheels

Cycle Oregon Ride Director Steve Schulz at tonight’s route announcement/kickoff party.
(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)

Cycle Oregon kicked off their 2015 season with a big party at the Portland Art Museum tonight. Hundreds turned out for the bike lovers’ version of an Apple product launch to learn where the 28th edition of the ride will venture this year.

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City preps to cut speed limit on four mid-sized streets

First look at NE Multnomah project-4

Slower.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation is ordering slower traffic speeds on four streets, three of which have recently been redesigned to be more neighborhood-friendly.

The four are Southwest Vermont Street from Capitol Highway to SW 45th near Gabriel Park, which will go from 35 to 30 mph; SW Multnomah Boulevard from Interstate 5 to SW 31st, going from 45 to 35 mph; NE Glisan Street from 27th to 79th, going from 35 to 30 mph; and NE/SE 47th Avenue from NE Tillamook to SE Oak, going from 30 to 25 mph.

All four streets have bike lanes for some or all of those segments.

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From the Archives

The good, the bad, and the ugly on the Oregon Coast Bike Route