BikePortland

City engaged in battle against speeding epidemic

PBOT has asked the state for a trial of new speed limit zones they say would reduce collisions.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Of all the ingredients that make up a dangerous roadway environment, most pundits and policymakers agree that speeding is one of the biggest threats. At a meeting of transportation advocates hosted by Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and Bureau of Transportation Commissioner Steve Novick earlier this month, the scourge of speed was a constant thread through the discussion.

Green dots are locations where the 2013-2014 average bike count was more than 10 bikes higher than the 2011-2012 bike count. Red dots are locations with a drop in 10 or more bikes. Yellow dots showed relatively little change.
(Data from Portland Bureau of Transportation, geocoded by SteveLeathers and mapped using Google Fusion Tables)

If the last two years of city bike counts tell any coherent story about biking in Portland, it’s this: Biking keeps rising in Portland’s bike-friendliest neighborhoods, but not fast enough to make up for declines in the parts of Portland where biking is often unpleasant.

A low mountable curb like the one on NE Cully
is among designs being seriously debated for
SE Powell east of I-205.
(Photo: J.Maus/BikePortland)

It’s looking as if the Oregon Department of Transportation might become one of the first state transportation agencies in the country to build a raised bike lane into an urban highway project.

It’s just a possibility and it’s still years away, but it’s the upshot of a meeting Monday in which several biking advocates urged the state to consider the design as part of its Outer Powell Safety Project.

David Hampsten of the East Portland Action Plan bike committee and the Portland Bicycle Advisory Committee said in an email this week that he attended to urge ODOT “to consider modifying the planned 8-foot bike lanes into either raised cycle-tracks or adding barriers between the roadway and the bikeway users (bikes and mobility devices).”

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

PUBLIC Bikes, a San Francisco-based brand launched in 2010 by Rob Forbes (of Design Within Reach fame), will open a showroom in Portland tomorrow. Their new space (shared with an apparel company) is tucked inside an old commercially-zoned Victorian on the hot retail strip of NW 23rd street.

This is the company’s first retail space to open outside of the Bay Area and it’s another example that — despite our stagnation on the political and infrastructure front — Portland remains an epicenter of bicycle industry talent and bike-related economic development.

Check out PUBLIC’s announcement below for more info on the space and what to expect:

Best wrenches in the west will compete at Saturday’s Bike Mechanic Challenge.
(Photo Charles Edelson/Community Cycling Center)

This menu of delicious rides and events is brought to you by our friends at Hopworks Urban Brewery. Their support makes BikePortland possible.

Whew. We have survived the worst of the heat wave and temps should be much more bearable this weekend. And good thing too, because Pedalpalooza is in full swing!

Whether you want to get silly or spin fast with your spandex on (I will probably do a bit of both), it’s going to be a great biking weekend. Have fun!

[NOTE: From Friday to Sunday alone there are dozens of rides on the Pedalpalooza calendar. I’ve chosen just one ride from each day for this week’s guide, so please check out the full official schedule on the Shift website.]

Friday, June 12th

PUBLIC Bikes Showroom Grand Opening – 11:00 am at 828 NW 23rd
San Francisco-based PUBLIC Bikes has a new retail space in Portland! It’s their first-ever showroom outside the Bay Area. I’ve already seen these bikes around town and it seems locals love them for their practical features and fun mix of modern and Euro-styling. More info here.

A decision to prohibit biking at River View
Natural Area sparked large protests.
(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals has dismissed a case that sought to reverse a decision to prohibit bicycling at River View Natural Area.

The case was filed back in March by the Portland-based non-profit Northwest Trail Alliance.

In their 12-page decision published on June 3rd (PDF here, scroll down for embed) LUBA explains that the case does not fit within the bounds of their jurisdiction because the City of Portland’s actions did not constitute a land use decision. LUBA said that local governments, acting in their capacity as “custodian and manager of public lands,” are withing their legal right to make decisions that restrict public access.

Jasz Morgan rides SE 122nd Avenue between Stark and Market.
(Photos: M.Andersen/BikePortland)

East Portland’s most important north-south street is about to get much easier to cross on bike or foot, and also its own frequent-service bus line.

TriMet is preparing to improve its No. 71 bus to run every 15 minutes or better almost all day, every day, between Parkrose and Lents, transit agency spokeswoman Mary Fetsch said this week. It’ll happen after an $8 million City of Portland investment in 122nd Avenue pavement, sidewalks and crosswalks that’s expected some time in the next year.

This dreamy hoop awaits you.

Wondering what Pedalpalooza ride to do today after work? How about joining us for some bikesketball?

Western Bikeworks’ gleaming new store in Tigard aims to boost the area’s bike culture.
(Photos: Western Bikeworks)

Portland-based bike retailer Western Bikeworks (part of the Velotech stable of brands) has opened a large new store in Tigard at 7295 SW Dartmouth Street. This comes just over four years after their first store in the Pearl District opened in 2011.

Scroll down for more about the store via an official statement and several photos of the interior…

Southeast Division Street has rapidly shifted from an auto-oriented corridor to one designed for more walking and biking, including four-story apartment buildings with sidewalk shops. Some residents support the changes; others don’t.
(Photo: M.Andersen/BikePortland)

One of the neighborhood groups that has been a focus of opposition to denser development in Southeast Portland has three new leaders.

But the board chair thrown out in Monday’s election is calling foul play, saying that many Richmond residents showed up and voted against him without getting to know him.

Your move guys.
(Photos J. Maus/BikePortland)

It’s been one week since an “urgent” street safety meeting was called by Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and Commissioner Steve Novick. City PR staff insisted the meeting was “multimodal” but it happened only because a scary spate of collisions involving people on bicycles was dominating the news cycle and social media. That meeting didn’t bear much fruit and was referred to later by the Mayor’s office as nothing more than a “listening session.”

Not surprisingly, the urgency around bike safety that existed two weeks ago among the local media and the greater Portland community is gone. The only people still focused on this issue (at least publicly) are the dedicated activists that played such a large role in putting the issue on the Mayor’s radar in the first place.

(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland.org)

Sorry for not warning you sooner but a portion of Leif Erikson, the main road for bicycling in Forest Park, is closed through the end of this week.

The closure is due to a City of Portland project to replace several culverts between mileposts 8.0 and 9.0. Since the road is completely closed, bicycle riders must detour around it. Portland Parks & Recreation is recommending two different detour routes. The shorter detour (1.9 miles) includes a very steep uphill/downhill where Parks recommends walking your bike for 1.2 miles. The other detour is five miles long and puts you on Highway 30.

Here are the maps (provided by PP&R):

City engaged in battle against speeding epidemic

Portland bike counts up in eastside grid, down in east and southwest

State seems ‘very receptive’ to a raised bike lane on outer Powell, advocates say

Industry Ticker: PUBLIC Bikes opens Portland showroom

Weekend Event Guide: Mechanics battle, memorial ride, space wars, and more

Friday, June 12th

Challenge to River View biking ban dismissed by State Land Use Board

City’s $8 million for 122nd Avenue will aid crossings and trigger new frequent bus line

Tonight’s Pedalpalooza pick: Let’s play some bikesketball!

Industry Ticker: Western Bikeworks opens new 8,500 square foot store in Tigard

Bikelash backlash: Richmond neighborhood ousts board chair, elects growth advocates

What next? My suggestions for actions City Hall should take on bike safety

Route advisory: Leif Erikson closure means major detours through Friday

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