Novick asks Santa for $1.3 billion for streets and talks of new fee for infrastructure

Transportation Commissioner Steve Novick took his message about the city’s need for
transportation funding inside the Lloyd Center Mall on Thursday.
(Photo by M.Andersen/BikePortland)

Saying that “repetition, repetition, repetition” is the way to get the message to voters that Portland needs more money for street repairs and improvements, Transportation Commissioner Steve Novick held a press event Thursday to formally ask Santa for help.

“We know that people are tapped out, and it’s going to be a big lift to ask people for more money,” Novick said. “So we want to demonstrate in both serious and playful ways that we’re doing everything we can to avoid having to ask people for more money.”

So Novick stopped by Lloyd Center Mall Thursday to mail a letter to Santa Claus with a wishlist of $1.3 billion in street projects, about $1 billion of it for paving and maintenance and the rest for a combination of improvements to multimodal transportation and freight mobility.

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Biking the Big Easy: A guest series

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Bikes are part of New Orleans’ rebirth.
(Photos by Erin Greeson)

Welcome to the first installment of a three-part series on bicycling and street culture in New Orleans by former Portlander and BikePortland contributor Erin Greeson. Erin currently lives in New Orleans.

Part I: Rebirth City

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PBOT unveils “compromise option” for Foster bike lane connection to 52nd

Intersection of SE Foster and 54th. A new proposal by PBOT would route
bicycle riders north at this location to use neighborhood streets in order to connect to SE 52nd Ave.
(Google streetview)

At a meeting of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee for the Foster Road Streetscape Plan last night, the Portland Bureau of Transportation rolled out a new proposal for how to connect the new bike lanes planned for Foster Road to the future bikeway planed on SE 52nd Ave.

PBOT’s proposal for Foster Road — to re-allocate lane space and provide six-foot bike lanes — disappointed some who wanted a more robust bike facility, but it has been met with a strong majority of support. In results of a survey (both online and from an open house earlier this month) released today (PDF), PBOT reports that about 78% of 437 respondents said they are “very supportive” or “supportive” of the cross-section.

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Bicycle rider hospitalized after northeast Portland collision

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

View northbound on Mallory at Skidmore.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

Just before 9:00 pm last night a person riding a bicycle was involved in a collision in northeast Portland that resulted in what the Portland Police Bureau say are “non-life-threatening” injuries.

The bicycle rider (we’re awaiting confirmation of the gender) was taken to a local hospital for treatment. An early news alert about the collision stated that the person on the bicycle was knocked unconscious.

According to police, the collision took place at the intersection of NE Mallory and NE Skidmore. In a statement, the PPB say their preliminary investigation shows that the person in the car was driving eastbound on Skidmore “and struck the bicyclist” who was heading northbound on Mallory while attempting to cross Skidmore. The PPB statement also stated that, “There is a stop sign on Mallory at Skidmore.” Despite mentioning the stop sign, we haven’t yet heard if the PPB suspect that the person riding the bike failed to stop prior to the collision.

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Black Redline Conquest Pro SS 2011

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2011
Brand: Redline
Model: Conquest Pro SS
Color:Black
Size:56cm
Photo: http://distilleryimage1.ak.instagram.com/a766e7dc68da11e3b9b40e9c7b1acf11_8.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2013-12-18
Stolen From: The Circuit NE, 410 NE 17th Ave
Owner: Justin Tutor
OwnerEmail: justin(A T)crankpdx.com
Description: Pink Bartape/ cable housing
Tufo Flexus Primus Tubular Tires
Ergon Saddle
FSA Wing Pro Compact Handlebars
Crank Bros Candy 3 Pedals
Pink Chris King headset spacers
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Three local agencies just endorsed these visions for better streets (Images)

The NACTO Urban Street Design Guide’s suggestion of a healthy downtown roadway.
(All images by NACTO)

When it comes down to curbs and crosswalks, a great street is as much a product of design as a great mobile app: the process of moving safely through a city needs to be as intuitive as sharing a photo with your phone. If it isn’t, people won’t.

That’s why it’s exciting that a new urban street design guide has been getting big attention.

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black Trek 7.1 FX 2010

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2010
Brand: Trek
Model: 7.1 FX
Color:black
Size:small
Serial: WTU070C0841F
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2013-12-17
Stolen From: In front of Clyde Common on SW 10th and Stark
Neighborhood: Downtown
Owner: Dorothy Mitchell
OwnerEmail: dorothy.a.mitchell(A T)gmail.com
Reward: $60
Description: Black with yellow fenders, a back rack, straight handlebars, and slanted women’s style top tube. Also has a small bell on the right side.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 13-105081
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Holman Lane makes key connection through Forest Park, but only in one direction

Holman Lane (red line) in relation to northwest Portland (to the right), Forest Park (shaded green), NW Cornell Rd (at the bottom) and Skyline Blvd (bottom left).
(Graphic: RideWithGPS)

Holman Lane is an unpaved fire lane in Forest Park. It winds uphill from northwest Portland almost a mile and nearly 500 feet in elevation from the corner of NW Aspen and Raleigh (map) before it meets with the quiet and tree-lined NW 53rd Avenue. Holman is open for cycling, and for those who know about it, provides a beautiful and safe connection between downtown and the West Hills, Skyline Boulevard, and points beyond.

But there’s an important detail about Holman Lane: bicycling is permitted only in the uphill direction. That’s too bad for people like Mike Owen, a Portlander who recently discovered Holman’s charms and utility.

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Local riders team up to help families have a merrier Christmas

Hammer Velo Pay it Forward ride-11

Members of the Hammer Velo Cycling Team rolled
out in the chilly night to deliver presents
to a family in need.
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)

Last night a few dozen spandex-clad Santas loaded Christmas gifts into their backpacks and panniers and pedaled into the homes and hearts of three local families. It was the fourth Pay it Forward ride, an annual tradition started in 2010 by Portlander Jeff Tedder.

To help him deliver the presents, Tedder, a fit 53-year-old who owns an athletic training business, enlisted the help of three local cycling teams. Each team adopted a different family, which they found through a partnership with Doernbecher Children’s Hospital at OHSU. The families were selected by the hospital because they have children suffering from major medical issues and are of modest means. In total, about 300 people chipped in to raise over $6,000 dollars for the families.

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Blue Windser 1980

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 1980
Brand: Windser
Color:Blue
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2013-12-17
Stolen From: Terminal Sales Building 1220 SW Morrison S
Owner: Alan Wasem
OwnerEmail: alan(replace with at sign)alanwasem.com
Description: Orange Fenders, Organge Bar Tape with a rack on the back, black seat, 12 speed
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

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From the Archives

With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike