July 7, 2010
The ORbike Challenge for East Portland Sunday Parkways
*Get ready for the ORbike Challenge and volunteer for Sunday Parkways. The first 100 volunteers to sign up will get a free pass to Tour de Lab!
The City of Portland is once again a leader of innovative transportation projects with Sunday Parkways, five events all summer long that give people an opportunity to enjoy traffic free streets. The first two Sunday Parkways for this year were a huge success with nearly 20,000 participants each, tons of activities in each park along the course and a wide variety of people rolling, strolling, wheeling and boarding.
But Portland magic alone does not make Sunday Parkways happen. 300 volunteers are needed to ensure a smooth event. We absolutely love this event so we're busting out the ORbike Challenge. We're tossing out 100 free passes for online registration on Tour de Lab (September 11) to the first volunteers to sign up as Intersection Superheroes for East Portland.
The next Sunday Parkways is July 18 and you have a unique opportunity to help bring Sunday Parkways to East Portland, an area of town where many streets are still in need of safety improvements. For a day, the City of Portland will open wide the streets of East Portland for a day of enjoying traffic free streets. Tons of volunteers are still needed, so spread the word to all your friends and sign up as an Intersection Superhero today.
There are plenty of cool perks that come along with being an intersection superhero, including a special volunteers-only lecture series with notable speakers, a free pass to Tour de Lab, a Sunday Parkways shirt, a chance to be a part of this groundbreaking event and the opportunity to get creative with your assigned intersection. Each intersection that is staffed by volunteers becomes an oasis of personality. Some superheroes bring their musical friends along to play live as people stroll by. Others set up tables and information to promote a cause. And all Intersection Superheroes are given a big supply of sidewalk chalk to paint their own personal flair on the intersection for the day. What a very fun way to spend a day in Portland!
Be sure to mention you're participating in the ORbike Challenge when you sign up to volunteer so that you will be awarded your free pass to Tour de Lab.
MORE INFO >>
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 11:40 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
February 4, 2010
BUILD IT! Rally + Public Hearing
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance hopes that City Hall will adopt their Bike Plan for 2030. That adoption is the first step in the long road to actually getting that plan built, so they've started the BUILD IT! campaign to help see the project through to fruition.
They've organized a rally for 1:30pm at City Hall today, February 4th, and they hope people will come out in droves with BUILD IT! signs. You can print out a sign here.
The hearing begins at 2:00pm and the organizers are hoping for a strong presence leading into that. There is no need to testify, as in standing in front of a mic, but you are encouraged to t e s t i f y ! as in holding your sign proudly and being one of the people in support of BUILD IT! If you can't make it to the rally, other ways to be involved are listed here.
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March 4, 2009
Honoring Awesome Bikers
How about donning a fedora while you wear your Lycra? Adding in a bow tie? I know, it sounds crazy, but if you've ever been to the Alice B. Toeclips Awards dinner, you know it's really quite possible. The annual awards dinner is an opportunity to honor the awesome bikers who help make Oregon a great place to ride.
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) put out the call and 34 of your fellow riders across the state were nominated for their impressive bike advocacy efforts. And, truth be told, cyclists clean up pretty nicely, making for quite a fun gala night.
Since 1995, Alice B. Toeclips, the tongue-in-cheek heroine of the BTA, and her coveted silver toeclip awards have crisscrossed the region from Ashland to Vancouver, WA. The awards are an effort to strengthen bicycle advocacy by recognizing individuals and community groups for stellar efforts that have improved bicycling conditions, encouraged children and adults to ride their bikes and made communities healthier and happier
Doors open at 5:00 PM for complimentary wine, hors-d'oeuvres, hobnobbing with the bicycle elite (and not-so-elite but equally honored) and a lush silent auction.
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February 23, 2009
Portland Transportation Budget Ignores Bikes
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance just released this important message:
Dear BTA members and friends,
The Portland Bureau of Transportation has published its Budget Request and we are very concerned about it. See what you can do to help.
The 2009-10 budget:
* Commits no revenue for building the Bike Boulevards called out in the Mayor's 100 Day List (about $300,000).
* Reduces the size of the Safer Routes to Schools program by about 40% (about $200,000).
* Fails to fund the demonstration cycletrack called out in the Mayor's 100 Day List (about $100,000).
Much of the public discussion around the Bureau of Transportation's budget has focused on budget cuts - but in fact, the Bureau is proposing millions of dollars in new meter, garage and fee revenue, sufficient to cover cuts and to pay for more than $5 million in new road paving. Cutting popular, successful active transportation programs and failing to support the Mayor's very affordable new bicycling initiatives when more revenue is on the table does not reflect this city's transportation or liveability priorities.
What you can do in 2 minutes:
1. Call or email Mayor Sam Adams and ask that he fund bike improvements and restore Safer Routes to Schools funding.
2. Mark your calendar: on Friday, March 20th, the regular Kidical Mass rides will also become rallies in support of Safe Routes. Both rides will gather at 5:30 pm and leave at 6:00 pm, bound for City Hall. One meets at the North Park Blocks Playground, the other at Sunnyside School. We'll let you know when we'll gather to make decorations, costumes and signs; and we'll also let you know if these turn into "Thank you!" rides as a result of our phone calls and emails to the Mayor.
3. Get ready to attend public budget hearings en masse in May - we will email you again to tell you when and where those hearings will take place.
Stay tuned for more information and updates.
Thanks for your help,
Michelle Poyourow
Advocate, Educator
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:40 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
January 29, 2009
Bicycle Commuters are Healthier
It seems obvious that bicycle commuters would be healthier, and now Dutch studies prove it.
According to David Hembrow's blog A View From the Cycle Path, "A new report from the Dutch employer's organisation the TNO says that cycling employees save their employers €27M per year due to lower sickness costs."
This photo is from Streets Blog, an incredible organization and online encyclopedia for transportation, urban environmental, and public space issues. Their site also hosts an impressive collection of videos.
Comments (2) | Posted by orbike at 2:05 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
January 9, 2009
Portland Bike Notables Photo Shoot
Every year, the Worst Day of the Year Ride poster features a group of people goofing around on their bikes and poking fun at Portland's fickle weather. Riding while wearing skis, holding umbrellas, flaunting bikinis, tucked within oversize parkas, etc. Coming on the heals of an amazing year for cycling, this year's signature photo features well known and not-as-well-known people who are driving forces in making Portland a great biking town.
Check out the extended play version of the photo shoot, featuring these dedicated folks having a blast on their bikes.
Click for a larger version and details.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 1:50 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
January 3, 2009
Party With Blind Pilot on the KBOO Bike Show
The KBOO Bike Show will celebrate the new year with a party live in the KBOO studios aired live on Wednesday, January 7th from 9-10am. The band Blind Pilot, a rock group that tours by bike, will perform live. Cyclists are invited to the station to share their wishes for a bikey new year, and reflections on the amazing year that we just had.
Cyclists have much to be thankful for and proud of from 2008. Some small mom-and-pop bike shops reported a 70% growth last summer. Portland was designated a Platinum-level city by the League of American Cyclists. Bikes became more accessible with a variety of styles for all body types. The city continued to make the streets easier to navigate by bike. There were more events than ever for people to participate in by bike. When the gas prices rose, more people got on bikes. And the list goes on!
Share your own stories of a great year for biking. Call the station during the program at 503-232-8187 or stop by and join the party. KBOO is located at 20 SE 8th in Portland. Tune in to 90.7 FM (live), KBOO.fm (live) or BikeShow.PortlandTransport.com (podcast + archive)
For more information, please contact Ayleen Crotty, Ayleen [at] Riseup.net.
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December 27, 2008
What Are You Thankful For?
The closing of the year is a great time to reflect on our recent past, something we're all so busy we don't often take time to do. When I think about this past year, the summer in particular, the growth that small mom-n-pop bike shops experienced (way to go!) and the rise in cycling, I am so hopeful for the state of the world. Here in Oregon, we're doing something right, we have been for a while, and it's actually catching on. The benefits of cycling, for the cyclists and for the environs in which he or she cycles, are seemingly endless. So I feel really good about devoting a major portion of my life to cycling, talking about bikes and helping more people ride. The stellar year that Portland experienced just made it all that much more rewarding.
So what are you thankful for from this past year? Share your thoughts here.
You can also share your thoughts live on the KBOO Bike Show on Wednesday, January 7th from 9-10am. Blind Pilot, a band that tours by bike, will perform live in the studios and cyclists are invited down to the station (20 SE 8th in Portland) or the phone lines to share what they're thankful for and wishes for the new year. The KBOO Bike Show can be heard at 90.7fm (live), KBOO.fm (live) and BikeShow.PortlandTransport.com (podcast + archives).
Comments (15) | Posted by orbike at 2:53 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
November 4, 2008
Help Pick Scenic Bikeways
How do scenic roads and routes get chosen? Well, in Oregon, our scenic bikeways will be chosen by real cyclists like you! This just in from Oregon Parks and Recreation:
Volunteers are needed to help pick scenic bikeways. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is recruiting volunteers to serve on a new advisory committee that will evaluate bicycle routes nominated for Oregon Scenic Bikeway status.
A partnership between Cycle Oregon, Travel Oregon, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and OPRD led to a recently adopted revised Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) creating the committee and the Oregon Scenic Bikeway program. The partnership had spearheaded a pilot project in 2005 that established the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway.
More information about the committee and how to apply is available by calling Alexandra Phillips, OPRD's state bicycle recreation coordinator, at 503-986-0631.
The committee will consider routes for the designation that bring bicyclists in contact with outstanding scenic, historic and natural settings. It will make its recommendations to the OPRD director.
A citizen "at large" member and a representative of a bicycle advocacy organization will fill two of 11 seats on the committee. Other members appointed by the OPRD director will represent ODOT, Travel Oregon, the Oregon Recreation Trails Advisory Council, a federal agency land manager, the Oregon Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the Association of Oregon Counties, the League of Oregon Cities and OPRD. The first appointees will serve two, three and four-year terms.
One of the committee's first tasks will be to help develop the scenic bikeway nomination process, which will likely be similar to the state*s Scenic Byways program for motorists. Once a scenic bikeway is designated, OPRD will enter into written cooperative agreements with landowners, other affected government agencies and private organizations to develop signing, arrange for maintenance, and define locations as approved in a route management plan.
"Oregon has long been recognized as one of the nation's premier bicycling states," said Phillips. "Now its best routes can be put on the map."
The rule states that routes can be linear or form loops, and can follow trails or low-traffic paved roads, or a combination of both.
Recognized as the first designated Oregon Scenic Bikeway, the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway will serve as a prototype, said Phillips. OPRD is now working with cities and counties on signs for the 130-mile bikeway, which was designed by Cycle Oregon.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 7:52 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
November 3, 2008
Election Party to Support BTA
From BikePortland.org, this election night party will benefit several non-profit organizations, including the Bicycle Transportation Alliance:
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:24 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
September 26, 2008
Jerks vs. Everybody Else
I'm one of the hosts of the KBOO Bike Show, and that combined with editing this blog means that people constantly speak with me about bikes vs. cars: things bikers should do better, drivers should do better, who is right, who is wrong and tension on the road. I struggle with this topic - constantly wanting to remind people that we all make mistakes and we could all stand to be more respectful on the road. I am exhausted from hearing stories of bikers running stop signs because it is not the fact that they are on a bike that is the problem, it's how they are navigating the road.
So I was grateful for Shelby Wood's article in today's Oregonian where she chronicled her experience starting as a bike commuter. Wood offers an authentic view of what it is like for someone to start commuting: the fear of crossing lanes to make a left turn, being sure she'll wipe out on a steep hill. And at the end of the article, Wood summed up road tension so accurately when she said, "It's not cyclists versus motorists. It's jerks versus everybody else."
No longer is the car the main way we all get around. There is more of a mix of transportation modes than ever before. So let's see what we can all do, personally, to share the road. We shouldn't need signage and regulations to remind us to be respectful of the other road users around us.
Read the full article here.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 6:35 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
September 16, 2008
Community Cycling Center Benefit
Russell St. BBQ is celebrating its 5th anniversary by throwing a party for the Community Cycling Center, a non-profit organization in Portland that helps provide bikes and programs to low-income youth. The BBQ will take place at Wilshire Park, NE 33rd and Skidmore on Saturday, September 20th from 12-4. Organizers say it's happening rain or shine, so bring a picnic blanket, friends and settle in for an afternoon of bicycle fun in the park.
Plates of the renowned Russell St. BBQ with all the fixins plus sweet tea or lemonade will be sold for for only $5, a steal of a deal if you know how yummy Russell St. is. Alan Singley and Pants Machine and Julia Dawn will perform live and there will be a bicycle photo booth.
Proceeds from the food sales will support the Community Cycling Center's Holiday Bike Drive, a program that provides bikes to children in need during the winter holiday season.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 11:45 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
September 10, 2008
Parents on Bikes Presentation
This month at PDOT's Bicycle Brown Bag series, the lunchtime free presentations, the topic is Parents on Bikes: Bike & Walk to School Day all year-round! School. Work. Shopping. Playdates. How do they do it? Find out from our panel of biking parents the secrets to cycle success with kids in tow. The presentation is Thursday, Sept. 18th, from 12:00-1:00 pm in the Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Avenue, second floor, Room C. Bring your lunch and get ready for a great discussion.
Bike + Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 8th. Parents and kids statewide are encouraged to join millions around the world who are improving their health, their community and having a ton of fun by walking or rolling to school.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:25 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
August 14, 2008
Bicycle Champions at the Brown Bag
Portland Department of Transportation has been running a lunchtime discussion series called the Bicycle Brown Bag. These lectures are a great opportunity to learn about bicycling topics while you have lunch. The lectures take place at the Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Avenue, 2nd floor. This month the series will discuss "Bike Champions: Turning the Bike-Curious to Bike Commuters" in celebration of the Bike Commute Challenge in September.
So bring your lunch and join in on the conversation on Thursday, August 21st from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. For more info on the Bicycle Brown Bag series, see the PDOT website.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 5:10 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
July 30, 2008
Celebrate Portland's Platinum Status
On Thursday, August 7th, the City of Portland will officially celebrate being awarded Platinum Status by the League of American Bicyclists. The event will take place at City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Avenue, from 5-7pm.
From Transportation Options Coordinator Linda Ginenthal: "Please join us in celebrating the City of Portland League of American Bicyclists Platinum Award for being the top Bicycling Friendly Community in the country at City Hall's First Thursday event. Bring your bikes. Dress in your Platinum Best. Bring your water bottles to get 'fueled' with root beer at the Platinum fuel pump. Step inside for the Platinum cake and the Picturing Portland's People, Places (& Platinum) 1st Thursday exhibit (with some great photos of bicyclists too)."
At the event, they will announce the first recipient of Portland Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community award for helping make Portland the #1 bicycling city in the US. The awardee will be the Providence Bridge Pedal's 1st Grand Marshall for the ride on Sunday, August 10.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 5:43 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
June 25, 2008
Exciting Times: More People on Bikes! (video)
It's summer, so naturally there are more people on bikes right now. But there are EVEN more people on bikes these days because of gas prices, economic woes and health concerns. We can also attribute the increase to more education, better infrastructure and the snowball effect. I'm pretty excited to see so many people riding. I love that I over hear conversations about bicycles every time I am out in public.
As cyclists, we are living in an exciting time. It's easy to become smug, knowing that many of us have been at it for years, but with this post, I encourage you (if you are prone to velo smugness), to instead don your ambassadorial helmet! Congratulate the new cyclists and offer your support. Let's work together to make that if sure that if gas prices miraculously go down or if the economy turns around these new cyclists continue riding their bikes - and have fun doing so!
Sunday Parkways last weekend in Portland was a great example of tons of people riding bikes. Read all about it here and continue on to watch the video:
Comments (3) | Posted by orbike at 12:32 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
June 15, 2008
Volunteer for Sunday Parkways
Sunday, June 22nd, will be a landmark day for Portland, this region and the United States when the City of Portland hosts the first authentic ciclovia, a Latin American tradition of closing city streets on Sundays for families to walk, bike and play. The City of Portland is the first in the country to give ciclovias a try. The event takes place in north and northeast Portland.
Volunteer shifts are four hours long and you get to be in the heart of the action. You also get a t-shirt, snacks and water. There are two training sessions from which to choose: June 17th, 6:00-7:30 pm, Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave., Portland or June 21st, 10:00-11:30 am, Kaiser Town Hall, 3704 N Interstate Ave., Portland. To volunteer, you can sign up here online.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 11:29 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
June 12, 2008
Get Your Sleep While you Can...
It's that time of year again - when you don't get enough sleep, when you plan your days based on a calendar of 200 free bike events, when the streets are constantly flooded with bikers and when you have a renewed faith in humanity. It's Pedalpalooza, Portland's annual two-week festival of bike fun that starts today and goes until the 28th.
From workshops and rides to competitions and bike-themed events, there is a little something for all types of cyclists during Pedalpalooza. Some days you have as many as 16 events to choose from. There are more than 200 events spread out over the course of a mere 17 days. And best of all...
events are led by cycling enthusiasts just like you, the festival is 100% volunteer powered and nearly all activities are free. Pedalpalooza, which started as BikeSummer in 2002, is the very best way to meet other bikers and celebrate cycling in Portland.
If looking through the calendar has your head spinning, try creating your own custom pocket size calendar. This neat feature allows you to pick the events you want to attend and print them in a small format - perfect for carrying around with you at all times. So while you're munching on a cruller at the Cruller Crawl and someone asks you what event you're headed to next, you can whip out your guide and consult your personal schedule. Get your sleep now while you can.... madness is about to ensue.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 10:17 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
May 14, 2008
Benefit for Hit and Run Victim
Jessica Osborne was struck by a hit and run driver on Rosa Parks Way where her injuries were so severe she nearly died. Jessica is recovering but now facing over 100,000 in medical fees. A benefit event is being helf for her on May 15th at Liberty Hall, 311 N. Ivy in Portland. The cost is $5 and there will music and fanfare.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 10:21 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
May 13, 2008
Portland on the Sundance Channel
Back in the fall, staff from The Green, a Sundance Channel, came to town to feature Portland as a bike friendly town. Mia Birk, a planner from Alta Planning + Design, played tour guide and showed them all around Portland as she spoke enthusiastically and eloquently about the benefits of cycling. You can watch a web episode short of the program featuring someone moving his household by bike. I got to make a brief guest appearance; I'm the one in the striped sweater.
Watch the episode here
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 7:18 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
May 8, 2008
One Milliion Bicycles
Joe Kurmaski, AKA the Metal Cowboy, is working on a new project called One Million Bicycles.
He describes it better than I do, so I thought I'd just include his video here:
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 6:20 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
April 29, 2008
Portland Awarded Platinum !
This just in from BikePortland.org:
"Portland has gone Platinum. The League of American Bicyclists will officially announce later today that Portland has become the first major city in America to be designated as a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community. (The only other city to have reached the Platinum level is Davis, California with a population of 63,000.)"
Some have argued that so long as cyclists are still involved in unsafe interactions with cars Portland cannot be designated a Platinum city. Others argue that there is still a lot of work to do a Platinum status will grant the planners a chance to slack off from their progressive work to make Portland more bike friendly.
Whatever your belief, there is no doubt that city planners, advocacy organizations (most notably the BTA), bike shop owners and the cyclists themselves have worked tirelessly over the years to make Portland a bike-friendly city to be admired. GO PORTLAND!
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 5:20 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 28, 2008
Oregon Bike Summit
Join Oregon's entire cycling community working to make Oregon the nation's premier cycling state at the Oregon Bike Summit. You'll have the chance to connect with industry peers, learn from inspiring case studies, and engage with public policy issues over a broad spectrum of cycling-related topics including: transportation, recreation, tourism, industry and events.
Keynote speakers include Congressman Earl Blumenauer; Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong; and Hill Abell, board president of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). There will be a number of breakout sessions geared toward specific topics ranging from event planning and creating successful partnerships to sustainable tourism, bike-friendly communities and how to affect policy at the local, state and national level.
The summit is April 4-5 at the Red Lion Hotel on Jantzen Beach in Portland. For more info, see their website.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 10:18 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 10, 2008
Seattle Bike Show Report
This past weekend was the Seattle Bike Expo. I don't have the official count, but the place was packed. At the VIP party on Saturday night they announced that over 5,000 people had come through the doors - way more than the previous years. Sunday was an equally packed house, but shorter hours, so I'd say at least 8,000 attended the festival this year. It was an impressive turnout. Check out these photos:
There were four huge rooms of exhibitors and no shortage of cool things to see. CompetitiveEdge.com was there to show off the Ironman Scale that measures body fat, total body water, muscle mass, physique rating, bone mass and other body features simply by stepping on a scale. This is not your traditional bathroom scale, that's for sure. They were offering free readings. I won't tell you what mine were, but let's just say I could stand to ride more often but I do drink enough water.
Alchemy Goods showed off their well-made bike bags that use recycled materials, including seat belts. Bike shops showed off their favorite bikes, like the hand made Signal bikes presented by the Bike Gallery. Riding clubs showcased their annual rides and plenty of companies showcased the latest bars electrolytes and other nutritional products.
Ciivia, a newly-launched builder, creates high end, slick commuter bikes. That simple description doesn't do them justice. Cables are tacked into the frame; racks, while not integrated, are designed to streamline with the bike; dynamo lights come standard; fenders wrap for more tire coverage (and they match the frame) and the bike, overall, is really easy on the eyes. Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org took a Civia for an extended test ride and had nothing but praise for this solid bike.
The Seattle Bike Expo is organized by Cascade Bike Club, an organization that is sort of a part Bicycle Transportation Alliance and part riding club. They host a daily ride nearly every day of the year, lobby for safer streets, teach adults to commute and offer programs for youth. And, apparently, they know how to pack waterfront cruise terminal with thousands of people.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 8:39 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
March 6, 2008
Seattle Here I Come
This weekend is the Group Health Seattle International Bicycle Expo, organized by the Cascade Bicycle Club. The expo is a complete celebration of cycling, with exhibits and presentations. It's a great opportunity to see what big rides are planned for 2008. Oregon's own Joe Kurmaski, aka the Metal Cowboy, will be there for special activities and info in the new Expo Youth Zone.
It's going to be a busy weekend for Team ORbike. Three of us are headed up to staff a booth and check out the scene. If I get a chance to break away from the action for a moment, I'll check in with you all to let you know some of the coolest stuff I'm seeing out there.
If you happen to be free this weekend, head up to Seattle. It's $8 to get in for a day, $10 for two days, and kids get in free.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 6:00 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
February 19, 2008
Brown Bag Lunch in Portland - Bike Lanes
Portland Department of Transportation's Bicycle Brown Bag series is a nice way to spend lunch in you're in the downtown area on you rlunch area. These free lunches happen once a month.
This month, the topic is Portland's First Bicycle Paths, 1896-1899. Historian Eric Lundgren will discuss early efforts to fund and build safe routes for cyclists. From do-it-yourself to public funding, a lot of effort went into making the area's first bike paths happen.
Bring your lunch, hang with other cyclists and enjoy this afternoon lecture followed by discussion.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 12:11 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
January 31, 2008
Sunday Parkways
The Sunday Parkways event is coming to Portland. Check out this cool video:
Sunday Parkways is a transportation and active living event patterned after Ciclovias, an event that first became successful in South America. Every Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. the city of Bogota, Colombia closes 70 miles of major roads so that people can bike, roller blade, run and stroll without traffic. The Ciclovia has become a major community activity with 1.5 million people enjoying the traffic-free boulevards on an average weekend. Another term for this concept is "Sunday Parkways", and they're coming to Portland this summer.
The City wants to hear your ideas for fun and healthy activities you would like to see in the four parks and along the six-mile looped route. They are also seeking suggestions on how to make this event successful and enjoyable for all participants and neighbors so they have put together two town hall meetings. The first meeting is February 6th at Kaiser Town Hall, 3704 N. Internstate, from 5:30 - 8:00 pm. The second is on February 7th at Chief Joseph Elementary School, 2409 N. Saratoga, from 5:30-8:00 pm.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:39 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
January 24, 2008
Bike Heroes
The Alice B. Toeclips is the Bicycle Transportation Alliance's way to award bike heroes across Oregon who are doing amazing work on behalf of cyclists. This year, 39 people were nominated, including Mark Ginsberg, who is nominated every year and has yet to win. We're rooting for Mark. He's a dad, an attorney specializing in bike law, a long-time local advocate and BTA supporter and in 2007 he won the Men's Masters series at the Portland Twilight Criterium.
Here's the full list of nominees:
Sam Adams, Portland City Commissioner
Hal Ballard, Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition founder
Bill Barber, Planner
Eleanor Blue, Advocate, activist and organizer*
Jim Bombardier, Inventor
Kacia Brockman, EnergyTrust workplace organizer
Bruce Buffington, NW Bicycle Safety Council founder
Cross Crusade, Race organizers
Kim Curley, Commute Options (Bend) outreach coordinator
Cycle Oregon
Jay Dean, Community Cycling Center teacher and volunteer
Karl Dinkelspiel, Portland Development Commission workplace organizer
Ann Donaca-Sullivan and Patty Verzani, "Lose the Training Wheels" founders
Mary Fellows, Bike commuter and activist
Jim Fox, Bike commuting coach
Susan France, leader of Oregon Randonneurs
Roger Geller, City of Portland Bicycle Program Manager
Mark Ginsberg, Attorney-at-Law
Norrene Godfrey, Team Rubicon captain, cancer and bicycling activist
Paul Gribbon, Willamette River CSO Tunnel Program Manager
Don & Sally Hopkins; Bill & Gail Bonniksen; Scott's Cycle & Fitness, sponsors of bike giveaways in Salem schools
Mel Huie, Metro parks planner
Steve Jorgensen, Bend Parks and Recreation planning manager
John Joy, Scappose trail advocate and volunteer
Greg, Antonia and Curtis MacNaughton, model biking family
Brian Manning, Youth bike instructor
Jonathan Maus, Reporter**
Robert Pickett, Portland Police Officer
Floyd Prozanski, Oregon State Senator
Tom Ralley, Volunteer for youth bike programs
Teri Redwolf, Bike commuting coach
Susan Remmers, Executive Director, Community Cycling Center
Stephanie Routh, president of Umbrella, Portland bicycle activist
Bill Stites, Advocate, activist and organizer
Sara Stout, Bicycle and car-free activist
Scott Weber, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center workplace organizer
Margaret Weddell, Bicycle advocate, educator and attorney
Jon Zeliff, Central Point Police Department Chief
* Eleanor Blue sits on the Alice Awards Committee and is therefore not eligible to win an award this year.
**Jonathan Maus won an Alice Award in 2007 and is not eligible to win again.
The awards dinner is in March. For more information see the BTA website.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:07 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
January 4, 2008
Bike Boxes for Safety Coming to Portland
According to an article in today's Oregonian, in April Portland will add bike boxes to 14 intersections. These painted street areas will allow cyclists to wait for stoplights ahead of cars. The Oregonian reported Portland will be the first city in North America to install the boxes, but they are already in use in Houston (see photo, courtesy of Streetsblog).
After two deaths in October as a result of a driver turning right into a cyclist, traffic engineers hope the bike boxes will help make cyclists more visible by positioning them legally out in front of cars. While the boxes may offer a sense of security for cyclists, they still won't prevent drivers from making right turns without looking. Cyclists will still need to ride cautiously through intersections and proceed with caution after being stopped at an intersection.
The bike boxes represent an awareness on the part of the City of Portland that cyclists are vulnerable road users and that drivers need to play close attention to the other vehicles traveling around them. Let's hope 2008 is a year of safer streets for all road users!
Comments (2) | Posted by orbike at 6:10 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
November 27, 2007
For Wonky Wonks : Great Presentation
On Thursday November 29th, 2007 Gordon Price will give a free presentation on the effective integration of transportation in high-density environments, with an emphasis on land use. Price is a former City of Vancouver, B.C. Councilor and current Simon Fraser University and University of British Columbia Professor who teaches, researches, and writes extensively on urban development and planning.
I attended this in the past and it was very interesting.
Thursday, November 29, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave, 2nd Floor Auditorium. Free
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November 20, 2007
Give Cyclists Three Feet
As part of our ongoing series on safety tips, I came across this great campaign from the Cascade Bicycle Club in Seattle that encourages motorists to pass cyclists with care. The Washington State driver's manual mandates allowing at least three feet of space when passing a bicycle.
Cascade embarked upon a public awareness campaign begging people to remember to give three feet. "Whether it's a Sharpie to the forehead, a tattoo on your knuckles, Give 3 Feet Buddhist chants for your 8-Track player, or "3 Feet" painted on your finger nails...thank you for doing whatever it takes to make the road a safer place for everyone."
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November 13, 2007
Get your Safety on
Sometimes we don't want to think about or, more so, talk about safety because it's not very sexy. Well, let me tell you about two events in Portland that are striving to make safety fun. Both are on November 15th. Here's more info from Transportation Options employee Timo Foresberg:
Bicycle Brown Bag: See & Be Seen and I Share the Road - we can all get along!, Noon to 1 pm, Portland Building Auditorium (1120 SW 5th Ave, 2d Floor).
Whether you walk, drive, bike, or ride transit, you're in the enviable position of traveling in Portland. Learn and discuss how we can all work to make the road safer for ourselves and our neighbors.
Presenters include: Judge Chris Larsen and Karl Rohde, Legislative Director for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. [ more info ]
See & Be Seen Bike Light Parade 6 pm, meet at W Burnside and SW Park Ave
Help kick-off the See & Be Seen safety campaign
[ more info ]
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November 1, 2007
A Renewed Vision for the CCC
The Community Cycling Center got its start as a community resource center in the most authentic of ways. Brian Lacy, a cyclist with mechanic skills, was fed up with seeing children on the street without supervised activities and without functioning bikes. He decided to combine those two needs with his skills by bringing a repair stand out onto the sidewalk and offering to fix the kids' bikes if they would stick around to watch and learn. That was over 13 years ago. The Community Cycling Center now has a large building (that's still not large enough), a community bike shop, 2,000 volunteers and programs that serve hundreds of kids every year. And after all this growth, the staff decided that maybe it was time to stop, take a breath assess where they were headed and how they should get there.
This intensive visioning process resulted in a refined mission statement, a renewed commitment to the community, a huge open house party and great hope for future growth. So what is their mission now?
The mission now states that "The Community Cycling Center broadens access to bicycling and its benefits through our hands-on programs, volunteer projects, and neighborhood bike shop. We believe bicycles are a tool for personal empowerment and a vehicle for social change." Instead of their former system of providing programs to youth and happening to have one adult program, the CCC has solidified their commitment to the entire community. "Getting kids on bikes is great" says Director of Development Alison Hill-Graves. "But getting the entire family on bikes is even better."
The CCC provides clubs and camps for kids and classes and clinics for adults. They integrate paying workshop attendees with low-income scholarship-funded participants to bring the community together in a learning environment. They will also be assessing what the community really wants and needs and working to create new programs. They will be providing programs for women and hope to develop programs for teens.
Alison says their open house was "a new chapter in the future of the CCC." 2007 was their most financially successful year in the bike shop. They're financially stable and have reserve funds to help them get through the winter season, a time that's always difficult for bike shops. "We're stronger than we've ever been" Alison says.
This article is part of ORbike's ongoing coverage of the Community Cycling Center's Holiday Bike Drive.
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October 22, 2007
The Freakanomics of Bicycling
Turns out that cyclists are 12 times more likely than car drivers to suffer a fatal accident. But then again, walking is 23 times more dangerous than driving. And on top of all that, a Danish study found that people who do not bike to work suffer a 39% higher mortality rate than those who do. And the more people out there on the road, the safer we all are. This comes from an interesting tid-bit on
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October 16, 2007
Money for Portland Bike Safety on the Line
The City of Portland is contemplating a transportation spending package that includes $54 million for pedestrian and bike safety, including route and intersection improvements that will make deaths like this one less likely. This is an UNPRECEDENTED amount of money. The BTA got it into the package; now they need your help to get it implemented because it's not a sure thing just yet.
City Commissioner Sam Adams is holding Town Hall meetings at which he'll be presenting the package and taking comments and questions from the audience. Whether you attend or not, you can comment online here.
Here's what the Michelle Poyrow at the BTA has to say: "The BTA supports this package one hundred percent because it will fund safety improvements holistically, for all road users, by improving bike routes, fixing dangerous intersections, paving crumbling roads, and funding educational programs. And it will be paid for by everyone, from a gas tax and a utility fee with discounts for "green" practices.
"I believe we are at a turning point in Portland's bike history. In twenty years, when we have cycletracks on all arterials and a full network of bike boulevards across our city and bike training in every school, we'll remember this decade as the time when we asked for change, and we got it."
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October 9, 2007
Help the Little Kids Ride Bikes
"We are looking for volunteers who know how to have fun," says Bicycle Transportation Alliance program leader Gregg Lavender.
The BTA's Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program teaches biking and walking safety to elementary school children in the Portland metro area. These important lessons include community walk and bike rides that need the help of volunteers. The program, now in its third year, is recruiting people to help walk and bike with kids and Gregg says it's a great opportunity for businesses and organizations to get involved.
"Help make walking and biking to school the best travel option for kids in your community!" Gregg says. For more information you can contact Gregg at Gregg@bta4bikes.org or 503-226-0676 x 20.
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September 18, 2007
Women: Get Ready to Race!
Janis McDonald runs the Women on Bike program and she has joined forces with Barb Grover (from the Bike Gallery) and Alison Hill Graves (from the Community Cycling Center) to get women talking more about issues related to women in cycling.
Janis send me this announcement today:
"Ever have that urge to try your legs at racing? Then your knees start to tremble at the sheer thought of getting on the course? We've all been there. The uncertainty of registering, training, the ability of finishing the race. Join our fabulous panel of racers from the I-just-want-to-have-fun to the I-am-the-champion. These ladies will talk about how to get started and their personal experiences in a variety of races - cyclocross, road, time trials, mountain, and track. Plus, OBRA will be there to demystify the rules and regulations of racing. Feel free to invite your friends - everyone welcome! Details: September 27th, Thursday, 6:30-8pm (doors lock at 6:40pm) Portland Building Room C - 1120 SW 5th Ave (Between Main and Madison) Perhaps heading out afterward to continue conversations - perhaps Lucky Lab."
Looks like fun!
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September 11, 2007
Portland Bike Advisory Committee Seeks Members
The City of Portland's Bicycle Advisory Committee is seeking new members. The committee is charged with advising the city on all matters related to bicycling. In the past couple of years, the group has been made up of forward-thinking, inspiring cyclists. City of Portland's Bicycle Coordinator, Roger Geller, relies on the group to help him shape the future of cycling in Portland.
This is an application process and all applications are due by Friday, September 28th. [ Application and more info ]
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August 15, 2007
Portland Traffic and Transportation Class
I recently got a message from Bicycle Coordinator Roger Geller about the Portland Traffic and Transportation class. I took this excellent (free) class a few years ago and found it fascinating.
Calling all transportation activists! Learn how the city that works, works! And how you can affect change in your neighborhood. Work with decision and policy-makers, planners, scholars and engineers to better understand how to get your neighborhood transportation project going. This interactive Portland State University class is open to all Portland citizens and full scholarships are available to qualified applicants.
Go to www.gettingaroundportland.org and look under the "What's New" section or contact Scott Cohen at 503-823-5345 or scott.cohen@pdxtrans.org. The class will take place at PSU's downtown campus, Thursday evenings, 6:40 - 8:40, beginning September 27th. the class is led by Rick Gustafson, transportation planning consultant and former Metro executive officer, and the class is comprised of presentations by local experts and an extensive tour of Portland.
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August 8, 2007
Chicago - Here I Come!
I'm about to head to Chicago for a wedding and I'm excited to spend some time in the city, observing all their bike advances. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and spent a lot of time in the city, but it was never much of a bike town.
For years, Mayor Daley, in office since 1989 and a bike commuter, has been encouraging Chicagoans to bike on the many miles of bike path he has funded. It's all part of Daley's goal to turn Chicago into the greenest city by 2008 (that's coming right up, and I'm not sure how close they are - they've had a steep hill to climb).
For the longest time I didn't notice a change. Sure, along the waterfront, like any busy city, people rode bikes, walked and enjoyed the view. But beyond that recreational area, cyclists were few and far between. And then, that last time I spent an extended time there I saw it: the indication of a solid, developed cycling scene.
While waiting for a light to change, a bike commuter rolled up next to me wearing street clothes... but also wearing cleats. To me, that's when you know a city has it's cycling rhythm down. You don't necessarily want to suit up to ride, but you can't resist the increased efficiency of cleats. You know how to easily get around by bike, but you know how to do it without Lycra (don't get me wrong, Lycra has a time and a place).
So I'm looking forward to heading back and seeing new advances. I just wish I could convince all my Chicago friends to get out of their cars and onto their bikes. We could cruise all over the city together. My five-year-old nephew Collin just got a bike for his birthday. Maybe he and I will go for a ride.
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July 22, 2007
Live From Mt. Bike Oregon
Jonathan Maus, of the very popular blog BikePortland.org, will be down in Oakridge for Mt. Bike Oregon. Jonathan is a long-time mt. biker, but with all of his urban reporting for BikePortland.org, he hasn't hit the trails much since he moved to Portland from Santa Barbara, California.
Here's where it gets really cool:
Jonathan will be reporting daily from Mt. Bike Oregon. If you're not signed up for this weekend mt. bike getaway, you can tune in to BikePortland and see what you're missing. It's also a bonus feature for the event participants who come from Canada and all parts of the US - their friends and family back home can virtually share in the adventure. Jonathan will post photos and recaps of each day on the trails.
BikePortland.org is a daily, online news magazine that covers the Portland, Oregon bike scene. Jonathan founded the site in 2005 soon after moving to Portland Santa Barbara. Jonathan got his start working on marketing and PR in the bicycle industry, but once in Portland it quickly became evident there was a need for fast-paced, relevant reporting on the quickly-evolving bike culture. Cyclists in Portland pull a lot of weight in local government and they have the potential to influence major decisions. Jonathan has been at the forefront of local-gone-national issues such as the story of a bike commuter punched by a bus operator, legislation and tickets for fixies not having brakes and a story about a radio DJ on Jammin' 95.5 who advocated road violence against cyclists.
BikePortland also features a forums section for discussion, stolen bike listings through which many bikes have been recovered, a calendar of events, bike industry job listings and other resources. Sure, it's Portland-based, but the breadth of bicycle information Jonathan covers is fascinating to readers from around the globe.
So why is Jonathan excited to head to Oakridge? " I used to to have great trails and epic riding right outside my door," he explains. "I used to do big, backcountry overnighters on the weekend right from from my front door. but when I moved to Portland I pretty much had to cut out that part of my life (I don't like driving to ride)... So I'm very psyched get dirty and get back in the groove of real trail riding. It's sort of like getting back to my roots... mountain biking is where my real obsession with bikes began. I smile just thinking about getting back out there...I hope I haven't lost all my skills but I'm eager to find out!"
And what is he most looking forward to? "Fast, narrow, technical singletrack with lots of turns and switchbacks (hope they have some of that) and I especially like technical singletrack climbing, it's like an anaerobic chess game, you have to think of your moves and strategy ahead of time while you can hardly breathe! And also just getting out into the woods, away from the noise of the city, and of course the camaraderie that riding always brings."
So from July 27-29, tune in to BikePortland.org and get your daily MBO fix!
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July 6, 2007
What are you Wearing to The Night Ride?
The Night Ride is Saturday, what are you wearing? The costume contest this year is going to be off the hook. They're giving away Amtrak Cascades tickets, passes to the Hottest Day of the Year Ride and Filmed by Bike DVDs. Biggest, brightest, best group costume and best pun are the judging points. Come prepared to strut your stuff!
Online registration is closed, but you may still register at the event or tonight at the Lucky Lab Brew Hall (NW Quimby at 19th) from 4-7 pm during Packet Pickup.
This ride is a benefit for the BTA, so it's not to be missed.
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June 12, 2007
Forums to Gather Bike Plan Data
The City of Portland's Office of Transportation wants feedback residents to help shape the city's Bicycle Master Plan. There will be three public forums this month. The first was last Tuesday. The next two are from 5-8 pm on June 12 at 1120 SE 5th, Room C and June 14, at 5210 N. Kerby in the Jefferson High cafeteria.
Portland is knows as one of the nation's most bike friendly cities. Portland has earned Gold Status from the League of American Bicyclists and numerous awards from Bicycling Magazine. Portland is hoping to acheive the League's Platinum Status through input from citizens. Platinum Status will assist the city in gaining respect nationwide, provide leverage to continue funding for successful bike programs and overall it is a rewarding acheivement for decades of hard work.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 10:24 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
April 30, 2007
Tour of North Portland
City of Portland bike coordinator Roger Geller says, "Ladies and Gentlemen, start your pedals." He wants you to hop on your bike and head out on a tour of North Portland on May 1. The two ride options are 11 or 15 miles. Here's the full message:
The 4th Bicycle Master Plan ride will focus on North Portland with a swing through the Park Blocks to get a bit of the Amsterdam feel. Be at Terry Schrunk Plaza at 5:15 sharp as we'll get underway as close to 5:30 as possible. BRING FOOD!! This ride will likely finish outdoors at one of two North Portland Parks so bring dinner!!
For more info, contact Roger. (503) 823-7671, roger.geller@pdxtrans.org
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April 25, 2007
Important Message From the BTA
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance just sent out this call for action to Portlanders:
"Mayor Tom Potter's office has released his draft budget, which includes many of the good things BTA members care about.
But the Mayor cut an essential item - the Platinum Bike Master Plan Update.
Please contact the Mayor's office TODAY and ask him to restore $150,000 in funding to make sure the Platinum Bike Master Plan Update can be completed. With cities like Chicago, Seattle, and New York setting aggressive goals to improve bicycling, Portland can't be using a 12-year-old master plan to compete. We've learned a lot since the plan was written in 1995, and we need to collect those lessons into a plan to make Portland a Platinum-level bike city, and to address key city goals around child and adult health, global warming, and affordable transportation choices. (503) 823-4120.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:37 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
November 30, 2006
ByCycle.org Fundraiser Apparel
ByCycle.org, the folks behind the awesome trip-planner tool for cyclists, has started selling apparel to help raise funds in support of their project. These folks are doing something revolutioary. Check out the great designs they have to offer, available on shirts, sweatshirts and dresses from American Apparel.
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November 29, 2006
Gordon Price Talk
Gordon Price, a land-use and tansportation speaker from Vancouver, BC, will be in Portland tonight. I've seen him speak before and he's quite interesting. The event is free.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS:
The City of Portland Office of Transportation and Portland State University welcome Gordon Price. Mr. Price is Director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University, a former five-term Vancouver, BC City Councilor and an entertaining speaker on land use and transportation.
He will speak on Wednesday, November 29, from 6:40 - 8:40 p.m. at the Portland Building Auditorium, 2nd floor, 1120 SW 5th Avenue, Portland. Attendance is free, but arrive early, as his presentation is popular. For more information call Peter Hurley, City of Portland Transportation Options, at 503.823.5345.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 6:51 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
November 20, 2006
First Day of the Year Ride
Details have just been released for the very first big ride of 2007 - the First Day of the Year Ride (not connected to the Hottest or Worst Day of the Year Rides). This ride is organized by the BTA and meets at Waterfront Park at noon on January 1st. For details, see our calendar.
Speaking of the Worst Day of the Year Ride, the ride is February 11th this year. 1,500 people came out last year to ride on what could have been terrible weather, but wound up being super nice. In fact, there has been good weather for this ride every year. Registration though our website will open later this month.
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October 31, 2006
New Yorkers Want Ideas From Portland
StreetsBlog is a daily source for news and information about New York City’s burgeoning livable streets movement. The blog is coordinated by the NYC Streets Renaissance organization. Clarence Eckerson, one of the coordinators, reports that the site will be a featured Portland video short every day for the next week. He also has this to say:
"We want to get a dialogue started, esp. from folks in Portland who'd like to inspire New Yorkers about what else is good/not so good, so PLEASE leave a comment if you so desire."
[ check out the site ]
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October 4, 2006
International Walk and Bike to School Day
Today is International Walk and Bike to School Day. The BTA was out in force at schools to help them celebrate the event which raises awareness about the feasibility and importance of helping children walk or bike to school. This morning I spoke with Robert Ping, the youth programs coordinator at the BTA, about the event. He was at Sunnyside Environmental School amidst a huge celebration. Robert told me that here in Oregon, the event has made a huge leap from having the involvement of 12 schools initially to this year having 90 schools participating in the day. Only 30% of all school children walk or bike to school, a drastic decline over the years. One reason for the decline is that parents are nervous about the safety of their children. The BTA is working hard to combat the misconception that biking is inherently dangerous for kids and they are working to make streets around schools safer. They're also in the schools educating children and parents about how to find safe routes to school and the benefits of the physical activity.
In addition to speaking with Robert, I also got to talk with some of the kids who had ridden their bikes to school today. These kids were awesome! Forrest told me that his ride to school is a healthy way to start the day and he likes that it's good for the environment. John told me that it's a good way to clear his head. These kids are definitely off to a great start!
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September 29, 2006
Walking and Biking Summit
The City of Eugene invites community bicycling and walking advocates to kick off a new pedestrian and bicycle strategic planning process for the City of Eugene. The summit is free and open to the public. The event is October 7, 8:30-1 at University of Oregon.
Called the number one “Green City” in America by the Green Guide and ranked “Silver” by the League of American Bicyclists, Eugene is highly regarded nationally as a great place to bike and walk. But, what can we do to make it even better? The City of Eugene desires your input on ways to make the community a safer and more inviting place to bike and walk.
Join us at the Eugene Walking and Biking Summit for a day filled with fun and informational workshops and engaging speakers. Your input at the summit will help guide the direction of the strategic planning process designed to make Eugene a better place for pedestrians and cyclists. Immediately following the summit, participants are invited to join City staff on walking and biking tours of Eugene.
[ More info ]
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September 28, 2006
BTA Urgent Call to Action
The BTA is seeking your support of bike boulevards and a project called the "70's Bike Boulevard". Bike boulevards are low-traffic streets that are engineered to create a safe, flowing path for cyclists.
Scott Bricker, policy director at the BTA, says, "We heard from ... hundreds of ... cyclists that you strongly prefer cycling on low-traffic bicycle boulevards. Here’s your first chance to help get a new Bike Boulevard funded! The City of Portland has requested $3.8 million from Metro to fund a new 7.8-mile north-south route in Northeast and Southeast Portland along the streets in the 70’s (71st to 76th, depending on the area). This project would run almost the whole length of the city, connecting the Springwater Corridor to NE Killingsworth."
MORE INFO FROM SCOTT:
A group of regional leaders is meeting TOMORROW MORNING to make some decisions on regional projects, including this project.
While one boulevard project in the East 50’s is likely to get funding, the 70’s Bike Boulevard project is slated to be cut – so we need YOUR help to get it back on the list for funding.
Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams and the City of Portland should be making sure this project gets funded – call his office and urge him to step up for bike boulevards!
ACTION
Call and email Commissioner Sam Adams TODAY (Thursday) and urge him to support the 70’s Bicycle Boulevard.
Phone: (503) 823-1121
E-mail: samadams@ci.portland.or.us
More about bicycle boulevards:
http://www.bta4bikes.org/at_work/bikeboulevards.php
Scott Bricker
Policy Director
Bicycle Transportation Alliance
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September 27, 2006
BTA Open House
Tonight is BTA's open house from 5-7 pm. Read this previous post for all the details.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 12:05 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
September 7, 2006
BTA Open House
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance has new digs and they want you to see them. Michelle from the BTA says, "We’re nearly settled into our new (fantastic) office with its (fantastic) local lunch options and the (fantastic) Park Blocks close by for shady walks and naps. So now it’s time to throw a party! Come to our Open House on Weds., Sept. 27 - we’ll have drinks and snacks, newly painted walls to admire and critique, and good bikey company. It’ll be a casual, stop-by-after-work kind of affair. All are welcome!"
The new office is at 1979 SW 5th (just north of the freeway near PSU) from 5-7 pm. I hope that this new spacious office will offer the BTA staff the support they need to continue to do great work advocating for the rights of cyclists in Oregon and SW Washington - if they're not too distracted by those delightful shady walks and naps.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 9:22 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
August 31, 2006
New Metro Area Adocate Needed
Sadly, Jessica Roberts is leaving her role as the Bicycle Transportation Alliance's Portland metro area bicycle advocate. Over the years, I have appreciated frequent e-mails from Jessica as she updates the biking community on her projects and progress fighting for safe, efficient, accessible bicycling facilities in Portland.
Jessica says, "After five great years at the BTA, I'm off to exciting new adventures, continuing my work to improve bicycling and walking conditions at Alta Planning + Design (a longtime BTA supporter and partner)." So as sad as her leaving is, the new position Jessica is taking on is great news. Mia Birk, the principal of Alta, is a former City of Portland bicycle coordinator. She was hired while fresh out of college in Washington, D.C. full of new ideas, and she (along with a team of others) brough extreme innovation to bicycle infrastructure in Portland. I don't think I'm being too over-the-top when I say that those of us who love bicycling in Portland nowadays are forever indebted to Mia and the former bicycle coordinator team (of which Roger Geller is still in position).
Jessica's departure leaves a hole at BTA that sorely needs to be filled. She says, "We're looking for someone with proven experience as an advocate and grassroots organizer, preferably with an understanding of transportation policy and bicycling issues. Obviously, we want someone who loves bikes as well!" The application deadline is Setpember 12. See this page for more information.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 2:26 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
August 15, 2006
Weigh in on KATU Survey
Cyclist Mike Wilberding killed when struck from behind by a driver while riding his bike on the road. The tragedy resulted in merely a $242 ticket for "failure to yield to a bicyclist" for the driver, according to an article on BikePortland.org.
Jonathan Maus has done an great job of following the story which has sparked outrage in the cycling community. KATU wants to know if fatal accidents involving vehicles and bicyclists automatically warrant a wrongful death investigation. You can weigh in on the survey here.
Comments (0) | Posted by orbike at 2:35 PM | Permalink | TrackBack
August 4, 2006
BTA Survey
A current BTA survey is trying to gather inforamtion from riders of all skill level and they hope to use the data to improve cycling in Portland. You can complete the survey here.
Comments (1) | Posted by orbike at 10:20 AM | Permalink | TrackBack
July 13, 2006
Cyclists Needed to Count Cyclists
From Jessica Roberts of the BTA
Portland bicycling friends,
Roger Geller, Portland's "bike czar," wants to increase the number of bike count locations this year so we can get an even better sense of how many Portlanders are biking and where they ride. He needs some volunteer help to make it happen.
Hopefully some of you will be willing to spend a couple hours helping him out. This data is essential when we're making the case that bicyclists are a real, growing and legitimate part of Portland's transportation system.
WHAT:
The City of Portland is seeking volunteers to spend two hours counting bicyclists at key bikeway intersections. It's easy, it's fun to watch the
cyclists stream by, and it helps provide us with great information about changes in bicycling activity. The City will provide a quick training and
pizza for volunteers!
WHEN:
Pizza and Training:
6 pm Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Portland Building (1120 S.W. 5th Ave.)
Broadway Room, 9th Floor
RSVP: To attend the training, please respond by Monday July 24, 2006 to Crista Gardner at: Crista.Gardner@pdxtrans.org (503.823.1088).
For more info, see the BTA blog.
Bike on,
Jessica
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