Frame / Size / Year:
Pinarello/53/2002

Frame / Size / Year:
Tange Prestige Steel Schwinn Prologue, 58cm, 1988

Frame / Size / Year:
Bianchi EL/OS, 59cm, 1995

Last week was not a great week for bike advocacy here in the United States. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure released a bill that was far worse for biking and walking than anyone had expected. Representatives Petri (R-WI) and Johnson (R-IL) proposed an amendment that would have restored funding for biking and walking [...]

Frame / Size / Year:
Scapin RS Grand Prix / 55cm / 2000

Frame / Size / Year:
Allegro / 55cm / 90s (?)

Frame / Size / Year:
Mikkelsen, 57cm (fits like a larger frame though)

The thief (thieves) made out
with a Surly LHT.

Southeast Portland bike shop Seven Corners Cycles was broken into this morning. The thieves (or thief) made out with one new bike (a large, black Surly Long Haul Trucker), seven Chrome messenger bags, and some lights and locks.

According to shop owner Corey Cartwright, they entered the store by carefully removing a glass panel next to the front door — using the same method as the "window pane bandit" that hit several bikes shops back in November.

In that month alone, six Portland businesses (including three bike shops and one bike rack retailer) were broken into via the same method. Following that crime spree, police offered a reward for tips leading to a suspect, but so far no arrests have been made.

Cartwright says the police that responded to his case determined that this, "fits the pattern of the other thefts"; but they were reluctant to say that it was the same suspect.

Seven Corners is a small neighborhood shop with a stellar reputation. Keep your eyes peeled around town and on Craigslist for a 60 cm Surly Long Haul Trucker with 700c wheels and new Chrome bags showing up on Craigslist.

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Frame / Size / Year:
Croll Custom Cycles, Reynolds 853, 61cm, late 90's?

If you believed in Lance Armstrong through all the mud-slinging, government leaks and "60 Minutes" disclosures, I suppose you feel vindicated today.

Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles told the Associated Press that they've closed a criminal investigation into doping allegations against the 7-time Tour de France winner.

A statement from the U.S. attorney's office said Armstrong would not be criminally charged, but did not explain why. This is a breaking story as I write this; I expect more explanation will follow at VeloNews or CyclingNews.

Apparently Armstrong isn't free and clear yet, however. US Anti Doping Agency head Travis Tygert said they are still pursuing ...

Frame / Size / Year:
Cannondale sr600 3.0/60cm/1991

Blumenauer does not take attacks
on bicycling lightly.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

As arguably the most bike and transit-sensitive member of the U.S. Congress, Earl Blumenauer has had a trying week.

Yesterday, the widely-maligned House transportation bill, a bill that eliminates the Safe Routes to School program and basically strips out all of the pro-bike provisions, moved through a marathon hearing and was passed out of committee this morning. Also this morning, Blumenauer saw the House Ways and Means committee debate — and then pass — a bill that severs the 30-year link between gas tax revenue and transit funding.

"If we do it right I think we'll come out of this stronger. If not, it could really complicate the next two years."

Reflecting on the actions of his Republican colleagues over the past two days, Blumenauer said, "I don't think they had a clue about what they were doing." While he was understandably baffled at what has transpired, he's already thinking ahead to what this means to the national bicycling movement.

The way Blumenauer sees, the direct threats to bicycling and transit should galvanize a nationwide response. "We're going to see if the networks we've been building around the country translate into something," he said.

"If we do it right," he added, "I think we'll come out of this stronger. If not, it could really complicate the next two years."

What does "doing it right" mean exactly? I asked...

"Now's the time to put the hammer down."

While the news from the Hill was troubling, Blumenauer pointed to the vast coalition of support that came together on very short notice to oppose the transit funding provision. He sees that as a very good sign:

"We had representatives of over 600 individuals and groups from the Chamber of Commerce to the Sierra Club... For the first time in history we are part of a very impressive, broad coalition that is all pulling in the same direction. We've got an administration that has been the most supportive in history and we've got facts on the ground. The work that has been done with the cycling community, to broaden the base, to deal with things like economic development and Safe Routes to School, it's all there...

It's a chance for us not just to beat back this bad legislation, but to educate elected officials."

Blumenauer then told a story (as politicians often do):

"I was in North Carolina a few weeks ago to do some events around livability... In the middle of the morning and with just one weeks' notice, there was a packed room in Durham for a talk about transportation and bicycling... There were business people, local officials, cycling activists... I think it's safe to say it really impressed my colleague [House Rep David Price (D-NC)]... He was really taken aback. He couldn't believe the energy and the interest, and this happens nearly everywhere we go.. it's gone viral."

Now Blumenauer says it's the perfect time to take that support and put it into action:

"This is the time! This is the time to take our game up a step, to make people realize that bashing cycling and pedestrians activities isn't a freebie but there are costs and consequences... That a community doesn't work without transit, walking, and biking."

Blumenauer is already strategizing, meeting with stakeholders, and prepping for a possible vote on the House transportation bill which he says could come within the next weeks. When it does come up for a vote, he figures, "There's an outside chance we could defeat it on the floor."

What's at stake for the U.S. bike movement? "This is chance to prove that the movement is real," said Blumenauer, "There have been a couple of times when they attacked Planned Parenthood and public broadcasting and they got their nose bloody. I think there's an opportunity for us to come out stronger. I think it's a springboard."

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Frame / Size / Year:
1975 UO-8

Frame / Size / Year:
Cannondale R600 / 60cm

Crown Point is a popular biking destination.
(Photo: Carye Bye)

For four months beginning this fall, a Federal Highway Administration project in the Columbia River Gorge will come with a road closure that will prohibit vehicle access — including bikes — to popular bicycling routes on the Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH).

The Crown Point Viaduct Project will replace the aging, 600-foot long "half-bridge" that supports the sidewalk around Vista House, a popular viewpoint and destination. The project area also includes restoration to portions of the HCRH between Larch Mountain Road and Crown Point, and between Crown Point and Latourell Falls. (Fun trivia: The HCRH is one of only two roads in the United States designated as a National Historic Landmark, a National Scenic Byway, and a National Historic District.)

The viaduct.
(Photo: ODOT)

Due to construction, a portion of the road will be closed to all vehicles (that means bikes too) from September 4th through December 31st of this year. Here are the specifics on the two closures that impact bike access:

September 4 - September 30, 2012: From Crown Point to Latourell Falls, the historic highway will be closed to all vehicles, including bicycles

October 1 - December 31, 2012: From its intersection with Larch Mountain Road to Latourell Falls, the historic highway will be closed to all vehicles, including bicycles.

The project is slated to begin in August, so stay tuned to the official project website for the latest info about road closures and other issues.

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Screenshot

I've got some exciting news about the continued evolution of the annual BikeCraft event.

You'll recall this year I formally handed over the event to Aaron Kaffen and Amos Hunter after running it for six years (sniff, sniff). Amos and Aaron took it to a whole new level and the event was really solid. Now they're moving forward on the next evolution of BikeCraft — turning it into a curated online marketplace.

Taking the people and product that have made BikeCraft a success through the years and putting them online is something I've wanted to do almost since Day One. Since BikeCraft started in 2005, Etsy has redefined the online marketplace for small, independent makers. Doing something similar (but better!) with BikeCraft is a natural fit.

Here's how Aaron describes it:

"The new site will be an online marketplace where folks everywhere can browse, learn about and buy the kind of unique, high-quality, handmade bike-related goodies that Portlanders have been finding at BikeCraft events for years."

Aaron and Amos haven't revealed many details yet; but they're busy developing the new site and refining their list of vendors. A new URL, BikeCraftOnline.com has been established and they will announce an official launch date in the next few weeks.

They're still interested in hearing from potential vendors. Drop them a line at info [at] bikecraftonline [dot] com if you'd like to be one. You can also sign up via the new site to get the latest news about the launch.

Knowing Aaron and Amos, this news makes me excited about the future of BikeCraft. Stay tuned!

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SW Broadway in downtown Beaverton might soon look like this.
(Conceptual rendering by the City of Beaverton)

The City of Beaverton and the Beaverton Downtown Association are in the process of redesigning SW Broadway, the street that runs through the heart of downtown Beaverton. The goal of the redesign (one element of their larger Civic Plan) is to make Broadway "more pedestrian, bike, and business friendly."

Last month, the city held two walking tours of downtown and collected thoughts on what should be changed. Next week they're having a workshop to showcase specific design elements developed using those ideas.

The redesign focuses on the section of Broadway between Watson Avenue and Hall Boulevard. It includes improvements to pedestrian and bicycle access and may create a plaza or another type of car-free public space.

The full list of potential improvements includes:

• Sidewalk improvements
• Pedestrian crossings
• Street furniture
• Pavement treatments
• Curb extensions
• Landscaping and street trees
• Bollards
• Public plazas

Anyone interested in the project should plan to come to next week's design workshop. It takes place on February 6th from 6pm to 8pm at the Beaverton History Center.

More information about the project is available at:
BeavertonOregon.gov/Broadway

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Later today, the application period opens for the "Green Lane Project," a promising new initiative funded by national advocacy org Bikes Belong.

The project's aim is to help build "world-class cycling networks" in a select group of U.S. cities that are "poised to make significant progress over the next two years in installing cycle tracks and related improvements." To spur the development of high-quality bikeways, Bikes Belong will funnel 70% of their annual grant budget (about $140,000) and provide technical assistance and other resources to the selected cities (study trips are scheduled for Denmark, New York City, and the Netherlands). Cities that are chosen will sign a contract with Bikes Belong committing themselves to the partnership.

Only six cities will be chosen to participate, and you can bet the competition will be fierce.

"We have had conversations with Portland transportation folks and the mayor's office, and look forward to a strong application from the City of Portland."
— Martha Roskowski, Green Lane Project

In order to be selected, Bikes Belong says a city must "have a plan or vision that is supported by elected officials, leading staff, and the community." It's also not just about which city is #1 when it comes to biking. The team behind the project says the cities chosen will range from "known leaders" to ones that are "just embarking on making space for bikes."

Will Portland get a spot on this train? We're certainly a "known leader," but we've stalled when it comes to building world-class urban bikeways. Also, with a new Mayor and new City Commissioners set to take the helm, we need all the momentum and support we can get.

I haven't heard back from Mayor Adams' office or sources at PBOT, but Green Lane Project director Martha Roskowski says they've had conversations with them and that she's, "looking forward to a strong application from the City of Portland."

BTA Executive Director Rob Sadowsky says his organization is "excited about the potential" of Portland becoming one of the focus cities. "The BTA strongly urges the City to get on board," he shared via email this morning. "We need leadership at the local level, now more than ever, to showcase the changes that safe protected bicycle lanes bring to cities."

Other cities sure to vie for a spot will be Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, New York City and Minneapolis.

Roskowski says they'll make decisions by the end of March. Learn more about the project on the official website and watch the video below...

Green Lane Project from Bikes Belong on Vimeo.

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Carol Barker lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she enjoys bicycle commuting and joy riding year round. She is a tutor and school crossing guard who shares her bicycle love and general rebellion against the wife-and-mom-of-suburbia stereotype at her blog AbbyNormal. It was the first thing I saw and the only thing I remember from [...]

New markings to warn people of the harsh bump as you roll onto the floating ramps on the Eastbank Esplanade.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Portland Parks & Recreation has added new pavement markings on the Eastbank Esplanade floating ramps to warn people on bikes to prepare for a bump. The new markings are part of a larger campaign aimed at improving safety of path users.

Back in July of 2010, we brought attention to these jarring bumps after hearing about a friend who had crashed after hitting them. Shortly after that story ran, Parks vowed to evaluate the situation and six months later they installed a less severe "transition strip" to flatten the bumps.

Now Parks has put down a series of pavement markings with the word "BUMP" along with white stripes across the path. I took a closer look at them yesterday and they seem to have an impact. People were noticeably grabbing brakes and slowing down as they approached...

Parks spokesman Mark Ross says the new markings were installed in response to "concerns raised by the Portland bike community," and are part of a larger effort to improve traffic safety on both the Esplanade and in Waterfront Park.

New signs coming soon.

"We are working in collaboration with PBOT on all of these improvements," said Ross via email this morning. He added that Parks is collaborating with bike safety experts at PBOT along with a traffic engineer to make sure the markings are consistent with what folks see on the street."

Other elements of the biking and walking safety effort will include new signs targeted at people on bikes and more pavement markings at "a few key intersections." The work is expected to be completed by this spring.

Have you seen the "Bump" markings? We'd love to know what you think about them.

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