Portland Community

Mr. Armstrong gave us a personal
welcome and thank you at the
opening reception party.
-Slideshow below-
(Photos © J. Maus)

First day is in the books here at the 2010 National Bike Summit — and it was a big one. Lots of excitment, record attendance, the launch of a major national promotional campaign, big news from Google, a guest appearance (via video) from Lance Armstrong, and lots more.

Check out the slideshow below (or browse the gallery). It contains all my best shots from today, including a visit to Bikestation D.C., a few snaps of the local bike-sharing solution, Smartbike DC, and photos of advocates from around the country:

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

Bikes Belong executive director Tim Blumenthal.
(Photos © J. Maus)

As reported earlier, Bikes Belong revealed a major new campaign tonight aimed at unifying a million voices in support of bicycling across America. The People for Bikes campaign was launched to a room packed with bike advocates and industry leaders from across the country at the opening reception of the National Bike Summit.

During the announcement, Bikes Belong executive director Tim Blumenthal shared a bit more about the campaign. He also shared a video they used as inspiration for the campaign (watch it below). Blumenthal said the official public launch will take place at the Sea Otter Classic bike race and festival in California on April 15th-18th.

Andy Clarke as Wile E. Coyote.

During a slideshow presentation, Blumenthal illustrated the goal of the campaign by sharing a Photoshopped image of League of American Bicyclists director Andy Clarke as Wile E. Coyote jumping a bike over the Grand Canyon. One side was labeled “250,000 advocates” and the other, “50 million riders.” Blumenthal also shared one of the campaign ads and said, “You’re going to see these ads everywhere.”

Assisting Bikes Belong on the campaign was creative firm Colle McVoy . Blue State Digital, the database technology and online strategists behind Barack Obama’s meteoric rise to popularity are also involved. Bike parts maker SRAM also played a key role as a “special investor” in the project.

A video was also played during the launch presentation. Blumenthal said it was created during the development of the campaign and shows the kind of spirit they’re after. I recorded the video with my iPhone. Watch it below (and listen to the rousing ovation at the end!):

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

“Over the past two years, actual contract costs have come in much lower than the estimates on which rates were based. These significant savings mean we can make these Green Streets investments without impacting rate payers.”
— Mayor Sam Adams

Last week, the City released the ordinance language behind Mayor Sam Adams’ plans to find $20 million to “kickstart” funding of the 2030 Bike Master Plan. According to the ordinance, the $20 million would be allocated from the capital project budget of the Bureau of Environmental Services and directed into bike boulevards via BES’s Green Streets program.

Also released last week was a memo from BES stating where the $20 million would come from. That memo grabbed a lot of headlines because it said the $20 million would come, in large part, from funds set aside to fix old, leaky sewer pipelines. As you can imagine, that idea rankled some Portlanders.

But, as Adams pointed out via Twitter yesterday, that memo was from BES, not the Mayor’s office. In response to an update I posted that linked to an article in the Tribune titled, Swap sewers for bikes?, Adams tweeted, “this is Saltzman’s bike funding $ list not mine. Mine tomorrow.”

So, just where will Adams’ promised $20 million come from? According to a statement from Adams’ office, he’ll bring a proposal to council Wednesday (3/10) that will “re-allocate a portion of the unused contingency and contract savings that have become available within the Bureau of Environmental Services as a result of the recession.”

That idea is not new. Adams mentioned it at the Council hearing on the Bike Plan back in February 11th. What is new are the specific details behind the idea.

In his statement today, Adams calls Green Streets funding a “double-win” for Portlanders because of how they treat stormwater and calm traffic (learn more about Green Streets in this video).

Here’s how Adams explains the contract savings:

“Over the past two years, actual contract costs have come in much lower than the estimates on which rates were based. These significant savings mean we can make these Green Streets investments without impacting rate payers. As a result, millions of dollars in contract savings give us the opportunity to reprogram funding for Green Streets investments.”

And here is Adams’ detailed list of funding sources that account for the $20 million for each of the next three years (through FY 2014):

Grey to Green – $3.0 million
This funding is already slated for city-wide green street projects. It would be redirected to Green Streets projects to enhance prioritized bicycle boulevards through 2014.

Recession-related contractor bid/contingency savings – $15.4 million
As analysis from the City’s Office of Management and Finance shows, BES has experienced millions of dollars of contract savings over the past two years, providing the opportunity to reprogram funding for Green Street investments.

1% for Green – $0.8 million
Water, BES and PBOT pay 1% of construction costs for projects in the public right of way which do not trigger the Stormwater Management Manual requirements. Some of this money currently funds green streets. This would redirect all of it through 2014.

Innovative Wet Weather Grant $0.8 million
This is money received as a grant from EPA to build innovative stormwater facilities. Green Streets projects are an allowable use of these grant funds.

Total – $20 million

Adams also released a matrix of BES and PBOT projects prepared by the Office of Management and Finance that detailed contract savings amounts.

This proposal will go in front of Council on Wednesday. More coverage in the Portland Tribune.

There it is.

The League of American Bicyclists has just sent out a press release confirming what I speculated (and all but confirmed) earlier today — Google has turned on biking directions for Google Maps.

Google will publicly announce the big news at Wednesday morning’s Opening Plenary Session. About the announcement, the League’s Andy Clarke says, “… It is a game-changer, especially for those short trips that are the most polluting… This new tool will open people’s eyes to the possibility and practicality of hopping on a bike and riding.”

In addition to an option for “Bicycling” directions, Google also has a new layer view that include

A view of Portland with the “bicycling” layer turned on. Green shows bike routes (note for you non-Portlanders, the green line on Waterfront Park is an off-street, multi-use path).

According to Google, bike directions have been the most requested addition to Google Maps.

I tried out the feature using Portland as my base location (I’ll confirm tomorrow what cities the bicycling layer works in) and it worked well. With the “bicycling” layer turned on, I noticed it automatically found off-street paths like the Waterfront Park path and the Springwater Corridor Trail.

Here’s a blurb from the League’s press release:

“Simply enter a start point and destination and select “Bicycling” from the drop-down menu. You will receive a route that is optimized for cycling, taking advantage of bike trails, bike lanes, and bike-friendly streets and avoiding hilly terrain whenever possible.”

Read Gabe Tiller tried a route from Northeast Portland to Oaks Park via the Springwater and reports that it’s not the exact route he’d use. Another person via Twitter said it recommended riding on West Burnside, a very unsafe street for bikes.

I’ve got a demo scheduled with a Google rep tomorrow. If you have questions you want me to ask her, leave them in the comments. In the mean time, I’d love to know if the bicycling feature works for you. Give it a try and report back in the comments 1) if it’s turned on in your area and 2) if it works.

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

Screenshot from the just-launched
PeopleForBikes.org.

At tonight’s opening reception of the National Bike Summit, national non-profit group Bikes Belong will announce the People for Bikes campaign.

A tri-fold promo brochure being handed out here at the Summit reads:

“Millions of Americans ride bicycles and recognize the economic, social and physical benefits. But, only a fraction of those who ride have stood up to help advance the cause of bicycling in America.

The goal of peopleforbikes.org is to gather a million names of support, to speak with one powerful voice — to let policy makers, the media and the public know that bicycling is important and should be promoted.

Whether you’re a commuter, a roadie, a mountain biker or just a casual rider, by uniting your voice with a million others, you can help build a national movement to improve bicycling in our country.”

The campaign’s main icon (there are
different types of bikes).

This campaign has been in the works since November 2008 (we last reported about it in April 2009). Bikes Belong created the campaign with Minneapolis-based creative agency Colle+McVoy. The firm has previously worked on marketing campaigns for Caribou Coffee, the Minnesota State Lottery and others.

According to Bikes Belong executive director Tim Blumenthal, who I ran into a few minutes ago, People for Bikes will try to bridge the gap between the 250,000 bike advocates in America and the 50 million people who like to ride bikes, but who are currently not engaged with the movement. The tagline is, “Uniting a Million Voices to Improve the Future of Biking.”

At the People for Bikes website, people can sign a pledge, share the site with a friend, or upload their own bike story. The pledge states:

“I am for bikes. I’m for long rides and short rides. I’m for commuting to work, weekend rides, racing, riding to school, or just a quick spin around the block. I believe that no matter how I ride, biking makes me happy and is great for my health, my community and the environment we all share. That is why I am pledging my name in support of a better future for bicycling—one that is safe and fun for everyone. By uniting my voice with a million others, I believe that we can make our world a better place to ride.”

The aim of this initiative for Bikes Belong is to harness American’s love of bicycles and channel it into influence. It’s no accident that this effort is being launched just as Congress works to re-write our country’s transportation bill. The site’s Goals page reads, “Passion is nothing without a purpose. If we’re going to positively influence our country’s outlook on biking, we need to come together. We need your participation.”

I liken this effort to a MoveOn.org for bikes — which is something I’ve advocated for starting here in Portland. It’s something we sorely need in the bike advocacy movement and I hope it succeeds. Reps from Colle+McVoy that I spoke with said this is just an opening salvo and there is a lot more planned around this initiative. I’m headed to the official announcement now. I’ll update this story if necessary.

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

Bikestation DC has a location
that’s impossible to miss.
- Slideshow below-
(Photos © J. Maus)

Today I took a peek at the latest and most conspicuous addition to Washington D.C.’s transportation infrastructure — Bikestation DC.

Opened for business only since last October (it was under construction last time I was here), the facility is striking in stature and has a location that any bike planner would drool over. The modern, curved glass structure sits just a few yards from the main entrance of Union Station, a historic landmark and tourist attraction visited by 32 million people each year. The dynamic lines of the Bikestation create an interesting juxtaposition to the Classical-era inspired architecture of Union Station.

Zach Petry pulls a few rental
bikes from the racks.

With so much foot traffic passing by, shop manager Zachary Petry said about three out of five people that stop in are simply curious. Petry works the facility along with one other employee. Both staffers are with a local bike rental and tour company called Bike and Roll (formerly known as Bike the Sites).

Petry said most of the members of the secure parking facility are people who commute for work into downtown D.C. and want a bike for getting around the city. Another big chunk of customers comes from people doing the reverse-commute. They ride to the Bikestation and then hop on a Metro or Amtrak train to get work. A few members, Petry says, are just weekend warriors who need a secure place to park their bikes in between recreational jaunts.

With so much foot traffic nearby,
there’s a distinctly non-motorized
feel to the entire area.

Bikestation DC was built for about $4 million, 80% of which came from federal taxpayer revenue. The 1,600 square foot facility can store up to 100 bikes (it was about 70% full when I was in there today) and it also offers a changing room, lockers, and 24/7 access via a secure key fob. Membership costs $12 a month or $96 a year. Members also get discounts at the full-service repair and retail shop.

Petry said the winter season was tough. The modern structure didn’t insulate very well and it leaked, but business has been brisk of late with the onset of Spring. “Now we’ve just got to figure out how to serve all the people coming through — in this really small space.”

Watch the slideshow below:

Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

Morrison Bridge back in September.
(Photo: Elly Blue)

It’s been a very long time in the making, but according to The Oregonian’s Joseph Rose, Multnomah County is set to open the new bikeway on the Morrison Bridge by this Friday.

Here’s the blurb from The Oregonian:

“After months of delays, a 15-foot-wide pedestrian and bike path over the Morrison Bridge — as well as a new automobile off-ramp to Southeast Water Avenue — is expected to be open to the public by the end of the week.

“We’re finally going to be opening it up it sounds like,” Multnomah County spokesman Mike Pullen said with a chuckle and a sigh.”

Rose also put together this short video showing how it looks.

A tour of the Morrison Bridge bike, ped path

I’m in D.C. until late Friday night, but I’ll be hopping on my bike and riding across this as soon I can. How about a group ride over the weekend to properly break it in?

— Read all seven of our stories about the Morrison Bridge Project here.

Ted Wheeler, State Treasurer.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Earlier today, Jeff Mapes at The Oregonian broke the news that Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler has accepted an appointment by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski to be State Treasurer (filling the void left by the late Ben Westlund).

The news is a blow to our region, as Wheeler was an effective and well-liked politician who was tackling big issues with an all-too-rare-these-days combination of skill, charisma, and candor. Last week he left a comment on our story about studded tires.

I won’t get into who might take his place and what this means to our region’s and Oregon’s political landscape (I’ll leave that to folks at BlueOregon, Jeff Mapes, etc..) — but, just for the record, I thought I’d share a photo I snapped of Mr. Wheeler back in August.

Wheeler riding across the Hawthorne Bridge on a ride organized during the Safe Routes National Conference back in August.

Congratulations on your appointment Ted, let us know how the riding is down in Salem.

Finally?!
(Graphic: Peter Smith)

The League of American Bicyclists just announced record attendance for the 10th annual National Bike Summit. They’ve also announced a new speaker for tomorrow morning’s Opening Plenary: Shannon Guymon of Google, Inc. Could Ms. Guymon be here to make a big announcement about adding bike directions to Google Maps?

According to a press release from the League, more than 700 people from 48 states have already registered. That’s more than 100 more than last year (in 2001, the Summit’s first year, fewer than 150 people showed up). League President Andy Clarke says that more than 400 meetings have been scheduled with members of Congress during Thursday’s Capitol Hill lobbying day. “The Summit and bicycle movement is on the rise,” said Clarke.

That’s great news… but let’s get back to Google. A cursory search on Guymon shows that she does indeed work on Google Maps. She’s slated to present on “new features” at SXSW this Saturday in Austin..

Google has been working on bike directions for at least two years. Peter Smith, a citizen activist from San Francisco and author of the Google Maps Bike There blog reported in November that Google was actively seeking partners to help them gather data to launch the feature.

This is all speculation at this point, but it seems curious that the League would have Mrs. Guymon in the line-up (and she was a late addition). Also set to speak at tomorrow’s opening session are Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Delaware Governor Jack Markell, and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE: It now seems likely that Google will announce a “Bike There” feature tomorrow morning. I’m meeting with a rep from the company after what they referred to as “an announcement.” They’d like to show me a “demo” and a spokesperson for Google said I “won’t be disappointed with the news.”

2010 Bike Summit coverage sponsored by Planet Bike. More stories on ">our special coverage page.

D.C. here we come!
The Summit starts tomorrow.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Tomorrow is the opening day of the 2010 National Bike Summit in Washington D.C. (I hope on a red-eye flight tonight!). Last week I introduced you to the Oregon advocates that will make the trek to D.C. to attend. But, some of you may be wondering, what the heck happens at the Summit? Hopefully this post answers a few of your questions.

The Summit is, at its core, a lobbying event. The intention is to make the presence of bicycling felt on Capitol Hill, shake hands with members of Congress, and explain to them why bicycling is important and deserving of their support.

In addition to building strong relationships with our country’s most powerful politicians, the Summit is a chance to meet and network with other advocates and be inspired by their work.

Flip through an interactive version
of the official Summit guide!

The meat of the Summit happens on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, the opening plenary is usually anchored by Congressman Earl Blumenauer. He does his part to whip up the inspirational fuel that carries everyone through Friday. After that, there are three blocks of breakout sessions. Here’s the list of panels and workshops (some very interesting stuff!):

• Jump Start Your State and Local Advocacy Efforts
• Investing In Our Future – Will 2010 Be Our Year
• Energy, Global Security and Sustainability
• Best Practices in Youth Cycling Programs – IMBA Track
• Broadening the Movement in Underserved Communities
• Progressive Cities – When We Build, Will They Come?
• Promoting Livable Communities – Can we Remake America’s Communities?
• Mobilizing for a Healthier Transportation System
• Taking Public Transportation to the Next Level and How Bicycling Can Boost Public Transit
• Entrepreneurial IMBA-Growing Mountain Bike Participation
• Traffic Justice – Don’t be Driven to Distraction
• Maximizing the Role of Bicycle Retailers in Local Advocacy
• Strengthening Safe Routes to School in the Next Transportation Bill
• The Madison Story – Platinum and Beyond: How Do We Replicate it Nationwide
• Complete Streets – Building on Momentum at the Local, State and National Level
• Cycle Tracks to Pump Tracks – The Transportation-Recreation Connection
• Dollars, Partnerships, and New Riders – How Tourism can Play a Role
• Social Marketing – Real Potential for Advocacy

What sessions would you attend?

Team Oregon in full effect inside
Rep. Peter DeFazio’s office last year.

After a day full of information and inspiration, it’s time to hit the Hill. On Thursday, we rise and shine early for an 8:00 a.m. rally and continental breakfast on Capitol Hill followed by a day full of meetings with congressional representatives. This is the day when bike advocates take over the Senate and House office buildings to spread the good word. Each state visits their representatives to explain and build support for bike-related legislation. Sometimes the member of Congress will be present, but most of the time a legislative aide/staffer sits in and takes notes.

A very busy day on Capitol Hill is followed by a big party on Thursday night where triumphs are toasted and the real work of the Summit comes to an end. The next morning, advocates lead members of Congress and their staffers on a leisurely bike ride around the Capitol.

That’s a general view of how the Summit shakes out. I didn’t mention all the keynotes and other speeches by notable politicians, agency heads, and national advocacy luminaries that are sometimes the highlight of the event. Also, while the official agenda is full, much of the work of the Summit happens at parties and other, sometimes spontaneous meetings not on the schedule.

Also not on the official schedule are many lobbying and networking opportunities organized by each individual state. For instance, on Thursday night, all of us in the Oregon delegation will have a special dinner with Congressman Earl Blumenauer.

Stay tuned! I’ll be in D.C. tomorrow morning with camera in hand and notebook at the ready. Special thanks to Planet Bike, official sponsor of all our Bike Summit coverage. You can also follow my live updates and quick thoughts via Twitter.

Johnnie Olivan.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Johnnie Olivan of Portland-based Rejuiced Bikes has won a $15,000 commission to build a mini-fleet of “bike-cars.” Olivan has already been riding several of his bike-cars around Portland, but he’ll use the money to take the design to the next level.

The commission comes from a joint project by Seattle-based non-profits 4Culture and Great City. Olivan replied to a call for ideas through Great City’s aLIVe project, which “aims to spark interaction across disciplines, showcase ideas and suggest action around issues of energy, livability and design.”

A side-view of an early bike-car design.
(Photo: Johnnie Olivan)

The aLIVe project, which stands for A Low Impact Vehicle Exploration, was born from an event put together by Seattle artist Cheryl los Remedios. Here’s more about aLIVe from Great City:

“A Low Impact Vehicle exploration is an artist-initiated, multi-phase effort to re-imagine our transportation system as designed around the human body. Right now, we design vehicles to withstand high-impact collisions, and our roads move freight and people at high speeds. aLIVe asks, How can we make transportation safer for our own biology and use less fossil fuel, reduce vehicular emissions, and prevent unchecked growth of the transportation network?”

This version has a large shelf
for hauling and two speakers
in the back.

Olivan was one of eight recipients to win a commission. He has already built several bike cars and has been riding and testing them on the streets of Portland for over seven months. This funding will allow him to take the design to the next level.

When I met with Olivan over the weekend, he said he’s most excited about how the money will allow him to improve his design. He’s especially interested in a version of his bike-car that incorporates a hand-cycle that can be accessed and driven by someone in a wheelchair. A ramp flips out and the wheelchair rolls right into position.

Check out the schematic:

Other designs he’s working on are a bike-car that doubles as a rainwater catcher and a “mini school bus” Olivan says will fit up to six kids. In addition to getting high marks for utility, Olivan says riding one of his bike-cars is just a lot of fun. “People that have experienced the bike-car always say, ‘This is so much fun, I’ll go the store with this just because it’s fun to ride.’”

Another interesting aspect of Olivan’s work is that he builds out of used bikes exclusively. Olivan is a master at making useful products out of used bikes and parts. I profiled his cargo trailers a few months ago and he has kept busy of late doing custom work for Klean Kanteen, the Community Cycling Center, the Sprockettes and others.

A short film about the bike-car (produced by Olivan) will be shown at the upcoming Filmed By Bike festival.

(Photos © J. Maus)

Saturday was one of the most gorgeous days Portland has seen in recent memory. The warm sun and the spring blooms on trees all over the city combined for a nearly perfect day to be on a bicycle. Riding under Portland’s blossoming street trees this time of year is something I can’t get enough of. And I’m not the only one.

On days like Saturday, Portland streets come alive with people on bikes. I rode around north and northeast Portland for a bit, just taking it all in and snapping photos…

Did you get out for a ride on Saturday?

A stretch of SW Lombard in Beaverton where there
is no designated bikway.
(Photo: Jim Parsons/BikePortland)

Bikes advocates in Beaverton were shocked when a meeting of that city’s Transportation Commission on Thursday night ended in a 5-1 vote against putting bike lanes on SW Lombard Avenue.

On the agenda was a proposal to stripe bike lanes on a one-mile stretch of SW Lombard Ave between 1st Street and Denney Road. The Commission was also set to hear a related proposal to remove motor vehicle parking on SW Lombard between 7th St. and Allen Blvd.

The bike lanes were supported by the Beaverton Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) and the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District (THPRD). After the meeting last week, Barbara Chapnick, a member of the Beaverton BAC fired off an email to Mayor Denny Doyle and members of the Commission saying she had “some bewilderment and puzzlement” about their vote. She wondered, “Are we all on the same page in this community as to a Transportation Plan and a Community Vision?”

“I was very surprised [at the vote] and I was surprised that the Commission seems to think they don’t have any rules to follow.”
— Wendy Kroger, Trails Advisory Committee Chair, Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation Department

BikePortland West Side correspondent Jim Parsons was also at the meeting. His feelings echoed those of Ms. Chapnick. In a report he posted on the Portland Bike Forums, Parsons said, “Tonight was a real disappointment for me and other safety minded cyclists.”

According to Parsons (I don’t have official transcripts but they are recorded on cassette tape only and have not been transcribed yet), Traffic Commission Vice Chair Patrick Reynolds voiced some strong opinions about bicycling to go along with his no vote. “He went on that too tired rant about how bikes should be licensed and registered, and that too many cyclists are scofflaws.” Another attendee, Chair of THPRD’s Trails Advisory Committee Wendy Kroger, likened Reynolds’ comments to “a mean spirited lecture on bicycles and bicyclists.”

Other objections to the project brought up by the Commission were a lack of evidence that there is demand for bicycling on Lombard and that the property value of homeowners on the street would be lowered if their “rights to parking” were taken away.

Map detail from Beaverton’s
Transportation System Plan showing
Lombard as a “designated bikeway.”

Advocates feel the vote against the bikeway is not in line with Beaverton’s Transportation System Plan (a point made by Commission member Steve Harris, the only person to vote “yes” on the project). That plan labels Lombard as a “designated bikeway,” and it states Beaverton must accomodate for, “Connectivity for alternative means of transportation from city to city on safe routes by means of bike ways, bike paths and bike lanes.”

Kroger testified in support of the project because it’s an important connection between the Beaver Creek and Fanno Creek trails. After the meeting, she told me, “I was very surprised [at the vote] and I was surprised that the Commission seems to think they don’t have any rules to follow.”

BAC Chair Chapnick and a group of project supporters will testify at tonight’s Beaverton City Council meeting. Chapnick says she’ll present more data about traffic patterns on Lombard and she’ll request that Council delay any decisions about this project until more information is collected.

City of Beaverton spokesperson Amy Miner says there are two options to get this project back on track. The Traffic Commission’s decision can be appealed (there’s a $250 fee and it must be filed by 3/15), or the CIty Council could decide to hold a public hearing on the issue.

- Statistically speaking, what’s more distracting than talking on the phone while driving? Adjusting the radio while driving. And what’s even more distracting than that? Driving with children.

- Speaking of distracted driving, what about those digital billboards? The NY Times takes a look.

- In Washington, DC, the local transportation department, DDOT, has issued a bold “Action Agenda” that builds on the district’s existing bicycle and pedestrian master plans and goes much farther, calling for the creation of a new Progressive Transportation Services Administration.

- A bill up before the California Senate would extend the state’s handheld cell phone ban to people on bicycles.

- In Amman, Jordan, mass installation of sidewalks and benches is transforming the city, and residents are loving it.

- Rotterdam, the Netherlands is experimenting with a new kind of bike infrastructure called the Evergreen Wave—green LEDs embedded in the bike path show you how fast to approach an upcoming intersection in order to catch the green light.

- Yes, there is even an emerging bike movement in wintry Iceland.

- Trek Bicycles’ trademark lawsuit against Trek Winery has been dismissed by a Wisconsin judge.

- In Los Angeles County, Metro is the agency that provides public transportation. Besides bus and rail, it also helps pay for bike paths and, apparently, spends $27 million dollars a year towing private automobiles that have broken down on the freeway. (Hat tip to the Bus Bench)

- The history of bike polo is one of the few stories that include both Portland and Prince Philip.

- New inventions in bicycling: A grop of Yale students created a bike with a spokeless rear wheel, and a pedal powered lawn mower made a splash at NAHBS.

- A reader forwarded this excerpt from her local public radio station’s newsletter:

When the Washington Post editorialized in favor of building a highway atop the C&O Canal in 1954, Supreme Court Justice and environmentalist William Douglas challenged the authors to hike all 185 miles of it with him. They did, they changed their tune, and today the wild beauty of the C&O Canal is preserved as a national park.

- Finally, the video of the week is actually only an audio track: a hip hop ode to urban bicycling.

[Originally published on Thursday 3/4]

On Saturday, help Friends of Trees
plant by bike.
(Photo: Aaron Tarfman/Flickr)

Another warm and (hopefully, mostly) dry weekend on tap here in Portland. Check out the fantastic round up of rides and events below and plan accordingly. As always, feel free to plug events in the comments if I missed something. I’ll repost this to the top of the home page at the end of the news day tomorrow so you remember to share your weekend adventures in the comments.

Friday, March 5th

1:30pm: Mayor Adams Press Conference at SE Foster and 80th
Mayor Adams will return to the site of a tragic collision that claimed the life of two people trying to cross SE Foster near 80th last year. He’ll cut the ribbon on new Rapid Flash Beacons installed a few days ago. Leaders from the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition will also be in attendance.

5:00 – 6:00pm: People’s DOT Crossing Guard Action
Join transportation activist group People’s DOT as they help people cross the street at SE 39th and Powell.

5:30pm – 8:30pm: Art By Bike – First Friday
Pedal Bike Tours is leading a ride from their shop in North Portland to First Friday, “southeast Portland’s version of Last Thursday.” Art, food, community stretched over several neighborhoods… perfect for bikes!

6:00pm: Vegan Dinner Bike Ride
Group ride to dinner then to a bar or cafe for dessert and drinks. Not just for vegans, but please don’t bring meat. Follow them on Twitter @veganride.

Saturday, 6th

8:15am – 1:15pm: Montavilla/Mt. Tabor Bike Tree Planting
Help non-profit Friends of Trees plant by bike. From the organizers: “As always we’ll be hauling all of the trees, tools and people for three planting crews using bicycle trailers and cargo bikes. Breakfast and Lunch will be fed to all participants!”

10:00am – 5:00pm (Sat-Sun): Remodeled Homes Tour
A tour of remodeled homes in the Portland region. Mark McGregor is sponsoring a giveaway of a Showers Pass Double Century Jacket for folks that do the tour on a bike. The tour costs $17.50. See the website (click ride title above) for details.

10:30am: Wanderlust Men’s Ride
This week’s ride will explore the Alameda Ridge area.

11:00am: Ride to Community Budget Hearing
Evan Ross from Portland Bicycle Tours is leading a group ride to the City’s Community Budget Hearing in Northeast Portland. Speak up for bike funding and learn about how the City budget works.

Sunday, March 7th

9:00am: Women’s MTB Ride at Stub Stewart Park
Julia Bestland of River City Bicycles leads a mountain bike ride for women out to L.L. “Stub” Stewart State Park near Vernonia. Meet at the shop.

All day: Banana Belt Race Series, II
The second in the three-race Banana Belt series, brought to you by Rapha Racing.

Did I forget something? Fill me in via the comments or drop me a line and I’ll add it to the list.

Green streets; where bikes, fish
and plants coexist.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Portland Mayor Sam Adams has released details of his promise to find $20 million to “kickstart” funding of the 2030 Bike Plan. As expected, the money will come from the Bureau of Environmental Services budget and will be allocated toward “Green Streets projects on prioritized boulevards.”

As we pointed out last month, “Green Streets” is the name of a BES program that manages stormwater runoff through street designs that incorporate things like permeable pavers, vegetation, and bioswales. The Bureau of Transportation has worked in partnership with this program for years because some green street features — like curb extensions — are also used on bicycle boulevards.

The ordinance to be voted on this Wednesday will be considered as an “emergency ordinance” and will take effect immediately. According to language in the ordinance, an emergency exists because “the timeframe for completion necessitates beginning project development and outreach immediately.”

The projects prioritized for this funding have already been identified in the 2030 Bike Plan.

Here’s another blurb from the ordinance that explains Adams’ justification for using BES Green Streets money for bike projects:

“Investing in green street features and bicycle transportation has the potential to achieve the most cost-effective and rapid implementation of the concurrent goals of the Green Streets Policy, the Bicycle Plan for 2030, the Climate Action Plan and other City objectives.”

The $20 million would be available for projects to be completed by June 2013. After that date, the ordinance states that BES will work with the Bureau of Transportation to “identify $2 million per year in additional project opportunities” that would also be funded by BES beginning in July 2014 “and beyond.”

For more coverage, and to download a document that explains how the BES budget will be impacted by this reallocation of funds, read this story by The Portland Mercury.

Intersection of SE Clinton and 29th.

A group of parents in the inner-southeast Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood are fed up with what they say are people riding bicycles too dangerously down one of Portland’s busiest bikeways — SE Clinton Street. At issue is a school bus stop near the intersection of Clinton and SE 29th that services Abernethy Elementary.

“It is terrifying for me (and I think for all parents) to see cyclists continuing to move in potentially dangerous ways when my children are in such a vulnerable situation.”
— Liz Gatti, concerned parent

According to Liz Gatti, a resident and mom of two kids who use that stop, people on bicycles frequently do not stop when the bus’s flashing lights are on. Instead, they zoom around it while children are boarding and crossing the street. Gatti, and other parents who are mobilizing around this concern, are worried that one of their children will be struck and hurt as a result.

The parents have resorted to standing behind the bus “looking like a bunch of thugs” to try and encourage people to stop.

Below is an “Open Letter” written by Gatti and shared with BikePortland at the behest of Portland Police Officer Robert Pickett:

An Open Letter to all Cyclists in Portland,

I am a mom of two elementary school-aged children that attend a neighborhood school in Portland. Each morning, we walk about 7 blocks to a school bus stop at SE 29th and SE Clinton. We cross Clinton to the north side of the street and wait with other families for the bus. Each morning, as the bus stops, the red lights at the back of the bus are illuminated and it is clear that the bus is stopping to pick up children.

We have been going to this stop for almost two school years. During that time we have had several challenging incidents with both cars and cyclists relating to the safety of our children. I even heard today that a child was hit at one point (I was not there that day and cannot speak to the specific situation). Sometimes cars come speeding down the road, one once went into the oncoming traffic lane to swerve around the bus. I think that we can all see that that is unsafe behavior and should be stopped. With cyclists, we’ve, sometime frequently, seen them swerve around the bus when it is stopped, sometimes in large numbers.

When a school bus stops, all traffic is required to stop from all directions. Children are permitted to cross in front of the bus to get on and to get off. If the bus does not stop at the curb, the children must walk into the road to the door of the bus. It is terrifying for me (and I think for all parents) to see cyclists continuing to move in potentially dangerous ways when my children are in such a vulnerable situation.

So, I’m writing to ask that you always stop for a stopped school bus. And that you do it as cordially as possible. We stand behind the bus looking like a bunch of thugs for a reason. We want to ensure that our children are safe and we have reason to have concern.

Thank you for your consideration. And thank you for all that you do to make Portland a great place to live.

Gatti tells me that she and other parents have tried verbal warnings to people on bikes and there has been talk of handing out flyers. One parent has called in a complaint to the Portland Police Bureau and Gatti says the officers have been out three times this week giving citations to people who do not stop when the bus lights are flashing. “We hope to continue to have police presence until the issue is resolved.”

Oregon law clearly states that vehicles must wait behind a school bus when lights are flashing. Gatti says the bus stop is just east of where Clinton crosses 29th and that their “biggest fear” is that someone on a bike will veer to the right of the stopped bus and hit a child waiting to board the bus.

Are custom, personalized U-locks the next big thing in bike fashion here in Bike City, USA? After all, U-locks are pretty much ubiquitous on the urban biking scene and they’re not exactly easy to conceal. So, why not add some flair and make a fashion statement out of them? Seems reasonable to me.

Check out these examples of the latest must-have bike fashion accessory seen on the streets of Portland…

First, there’s the very clever re-use of an Oury grip (hat tip to Dustin Hubbard):

And of course, the knitted “U-lock sweater” is a Portland fave (thanks to Justa):

And, the grand finale, a custom paint-job (found via Molly Cameron on Twitter):

If this continues, are limited edition “street series” u-locks from the likes of Kryptonite far off?

You’ll be riding in no time.
(Photo © J. Maus)

I’ve really enjoyed all the helpful advice shared in response to our new Ask BikePortland column. Several people said they’d like to read a follow-up post with the most popular answers summarized, so here goes…

This week’s question was from a reader who said she never learned to ride a bike as a kid, but wants to learn. Where/how can an adult learn to ride a bike in Portland? Below are some of the top answers.

By far the most popular bit of advice was to check out the classes offered by Gracie’s Wrench, a local company that teaches people how to fix and ride their bikes. Reader “Tess” said, “Especially for women nascent riders, a female instructor can be more comfortable. And Tori [owner of Gracie's Wrench] is way awesome.”

Several people said that whatever you do, bring a friend along for support (both moral and physical).

I loved the suggestion of learning like many kids do — by scooting around on a bike with a low seat and without pedals to master your balance. Reader “Laura” had this great story to share:

“I watched a 50+ year-old woman in our SE neighborhood learn to ride last summer. She had a Breezer, had lowered the seat and removed the pedals, and was using it like a Skuut. After a week or so of Skuuting around, she was pedaling with the seat at a correct height, and grinning like the rest of the riders on Clinton St.”

If you’re feeling wobbly, another tip was to take your bike to a running track where the soft surface will keep your speed down and absorb your body if you fall.

One reader recommended a City of Portland run program called Women on Bikes targeted at women new to biking.

Another excellent resource to check out are the courses offered by Northeast Portland-based BIKEmpowered, a business started by Brian Lacy, the man who founded the Community Cycling Center.

Stephanie Reynolds, who works with the City of Portland’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement also chimed in with a suggestion. She pointed out that the police often hold “bike rodeos” for kids and she was “surprised” when a recent survey revealed, “multiple requests for bike rodeos for adults.” Perhaps there’s a possibility for a City-funded adult biking program?

These are just some of the tips and advice offered by our stellar community of readers. Thanks! For the full rundown, check out the comment thread on the original story.

Stay tuned for next week’s Ask BikePortland column. If you have a question, let us know.

“We just think this is an unnecessary ordinance and is really unenforceable.”
— Randy Schoen, Medford police chief in the Mail Tribune newspaper

In the southern Oregon city of Medford, local lawmakers have decided to repeal an ordinance that required bicycles to have a license.

According to a story in the Mail Tribune yesterday, the ordinance was lifted by Medford City Council because it was difficult to enforce and it lacked a clear community benefit. The paper also reported that in the past 15 years, only one or two of the $195 citations had been issued.

Medford police Chief Randy Schoen supported the Council’s decision. He told the Tribune:

“It was rarely enforced… There are so many people commuting on bicycles who don’t live in Medford… We just think this is an unnecessary ordinance and is really unenforceable. It really doesn’t work in the best interest of our community.”

The ordinance was meant to help police track stolen bikes. They still encourage the licensing for that reason, but now it’s a voluntary, opt-in system.

Licensing — to track bikes or their operators — is a commonly suggested idea by people who want more accountability and regulation for bicycles. However, I have yet to hear of any city with a successful bike licensing program. I wasn’t aware of Medford’s law, but perhaps when the idea comes up again, we can use their experiences to educate people about this issue.

Read the full article here.