(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Portland Mayor Sam Adams just issued a statement about last night's fatal collision on SW 3rd and Madison.

Adams' office has posted the statement on his blog, under the headline: Statement from Mayor Sam Adams on Bicycle Accident at SW 3rd and Madison. Here it is:

Last night, a terrible tragedy occurred downtown: a bicyclist was struck by a motor vehicle and killed. My condolences go out to this young woman’s family and friends; I am deeply sorry for the anguish they are going through. This incident hit me particularly hard given my commitment as mayor to making our city’s streets safer for all users. While we’ve made great strides, losing even one life is too many. This incident is still under investigation and the Portland Police Bureau will work with the District Attorney’s Office to determine appropriate action.

The use of the "bicycle accident" in the headline is very unfortunate — especially coming from a Mayor that has such a deep knowledge of and sensitivity around bicycle issues. It's common knowledge in transportation circles to avoid using that word and instead use the word "crash" or, the one I prefer, "collision". "Accident" tends to make these tragedies seem completely unavoidable, when we all know there are things we can do to prevent them.

I appreciate Mayor Adams acknowledging this tragedy, but I hope he, or someone in his office, will edit that headline as soon as possible.

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Bike Walk Vote excited an
active (transportation) base of
Portland voters.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Tuesday night's elections were full of good news for Portland's re-energized Bike Walk Vote political action committee.

After being founded in 2004, then lying dormant for several years following the 2008 elections, Bike Walk Vote came roaring back last winter. Boasting some seriously smart and plugged-in new leaders (Evan Manvel, Peter Welte, Mike O' Leary just to name a few), they threw a highly successful launch party in December. When the likes of U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer and a packed crowd showed up, it was a clear sign that Portland's huge population of low-car advocates were just waiting to organize and make their voices heard.

With the votes counted from the May 15th primary, candidates supported by Bike Walk Vote did extremely well. In fact, five of the seven candidates they endorsed won outright and the remaining two — Jefferson Smith for mayor and Mary Nolan for City Council — finished very close seconds and will sail into runoffs in November.

Mike O'Leary.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The other candidates they endorsed were: Steve Novick for Portland City Council, Bob Stacey, Sam Chase and Craig Dirksen for Metro Council, Dick Schouten for Washington County Commission, and Jeff Reardon and Alissa Keny-Guyer for Oregon State Representative.

So, how did this scrappy, all-volunteer organization manage to choose so wisely and help push these campaigns to victory? From what I can tell, it was equal parts political savvy, passion, and hard work. In a message to supporters, Bike Walk Vote volunteer Mike O'Leary, shared a few more specifics.

At that party back in December, they began to poll members and supporters about their priorities. The results went into building their candidate quesionnaire's, which served as the backbone of their endorsement decisions. (If you're curious, opposition to the Columbia River Crossing project and promoting equity in transportation planning/funding polled at the top.)

For the next four months, they collected and reviewed all the candidate responses, conducted face-to-face interviews, and researched each candidate's public record. For their mayoral endorsement, Bike Walk Vote volunteers even did ride-along interviews with each of the top three candidates.

Once the election heated up, Bike Walk Vote's work really began. They gave over 2,000 hours of time, raised and spent $8,600 for their chosen candidates, and approached over 4,000 biking, walking, and transit-centric voters with endorsement pamphlets.

The biggest success story for all this work is probably Jefferson Smith. Not only did Smith come from way behind in the mayoral race to finish just four percentage points behind Charlie Hales, but a centerpiece of his campaign turned out to be his clear opposition to the CRC project.

Bike Walk Vote's work is far from over. They'll continue to work hard for their candidates and more events and actions are planned.

"But right now," says O'Leary, "we're gonna' turn off our phones, enjoy a nice bike ride and then go take a nap in the shade."

— Find out more at BikeWalkVote.org and get involved via their Facebook page.

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National Bike to Work Week: Day Four. And I didn’t commute by bike on days one through three. What!? You say. Tell us it isn’t true, Glorious Leader! Please stop calling me “Glorious Leader.” It’s embarrassing. But this is why I didn’t bike to work for three days: That majestic animal is Howard Bishop. I [...]

Most of N. Williams Ave will be converted
into this cross-section.
(Graphics: Fat Pencil Studios)

Finally.

This Saturday (5/19), PBOT will host the final open house for their North Williams Ave Traffic Operations Safety Project.

As we shared back in March, after 13 months of public process, a citizen committee finally made a decision last month about how to make the street safer. The open house will be the public's first opportunity to see detailed maps and drawings of what we can expect to see once PBOT implements the changes.

Those changes — as recommended by the committee on a vote of 22-3 — include a left-side buffered bike lane for most of Williams between Weidler and Killingsworth, with the busiest section of the street (between Fremont and Skidmore) to get what PBOT refers to as, "a novel shared left hand travel lane treatment." In that shared section, people on bikes and in cars will mix. People in cars will be required to turn left at the end of each block (or run into a concrete barrier), while people on bikes will be able to continue north.

Here's a drawing of how it might look mid-block:

And here it is at an intersection (note the concrete barrier at northwest corner):

The committee has also urged PBOT to:

• use "all available tools" to reduce the speed of traffic on Williams (there is talk of bringing it down to 20 mph);
• improve the visibility of people at crosswalks by removing parking and adding curb extensions;
• install new traffic signals at N. Cook and N. Stanton;
• consider the relocation of TriMet bus stops;
• embark on a project to honor the history of N. Williams Ave;
• undertake a safety campaign;
• "aggressively" pursue a neighborhood greenway on N. Rodney Ave as an alternative route for Williams;
• evaluate all public participation efforts to, "determine who in a particular community is not being heard in the process;"
• and develop an affordable housing strategy for N. Williams Ave.

That's a tall order, and not all of these things will happen. At least not right away. PBOT says they've got about $370,000 to spend on this project and they hope to begin rolling out some of the changes this summer.

While there was a super-majority that voted in favor of the recommendations, some members still voiced major concerns about certain aspects of the plans.

Committee member Jerrell Waddell, a pastor at Life Change Christian Center, objected to a recommendation that through traffic be encouraged to use "more appropriate arterials." In a footnote included in the final recommendation, Waddell is quoted as saying:

"Williams has been used as an arterial for more than 30 years. Demand has grown for vehicle traffic as well as bicycling, and overall use of the street should not dictate that we encourage traffic to use other streets."

Wadell also voiced a strong opinion to the committee's recommendation to honor the history of Willams Avenue through walking tours, photographs, and so on:

"Regarding honoring the history of Williams Avenue, I believe this decision to change the street is dishonoring the people who were historically engaged in commerce and who lived in this area, by creating a venue designed to be used by a particular population of younger, white professional people who bicycle."

Committee member Paul Anthony from the Humboldt Neighborhood Association, voiced concerns with the recommendation to allow City of Portland traffic engineers to, "determine best design speed" for the street.

Anthony said that he doesn't trust the City to lower speed limits to what the neighborhood wants:

"The Stakeholder Advisory Committee had heard a significant body of testimony to the effect that traffic engineers have not been honest brokers and have pursued an agenda radically at odds with the safety and livability of the community around North Williams... The speed limit on North Williams must be lowered to reflect the needs and realities of the schools, churches, social service agencies, businesses, and residents around the Avenue.”

You can download the final recommendation of the citizen's advisory committee here (PDF)

At the open house, PBOT will have detailed design drawings and 3-D animations of the proposed plans. Attendees will also be able to speak with committee members and ask questions about the process and next steps.

Here are more details:

Williams Ave Project Open House
Saturday, May 19th
1:00 - 4:00 pm (drop in any time)
Immaculate Heart Church (2926 N Williams Ave.)
*Licensed childcare, snacks and drinks will be provided

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Participants in the program pose in
front of Human Services Council
in Vancouver.
(Photos: Madeleine von Laue)

[This story was written by Madeleine von Laue.]

A Vancouver woman has a new job and a new bicycle to get there, thanks in part to a new program that helps job seekers and low-income adults in SW Washington access bicycles for transportation.

Vancouver and Clark County have had programs to help school children get bicycles and ride safely, but nothing for adults. That changed last year when the Human Services Council received a grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation for an innovative 'Bike to Work' Program.

"This was definitely a life changer," said Shari Brown, who moved to Vancouver a year ago from Texas. "It really opened up doors for me. Now I can feel confident and positive that I'll be where I need to be, like at my new job."

"I got a job! I made it to the interview, to the orientation and now to work. If it weren't for the bike, I wouldn't be able to do it."
— Shari Brown

The HSC is a community non-profit whose mission includes providing transportation services to low-income adults, seniors, people with disabilities and other at-risk populations in SW Washington. Its “Bike to Work” program was the first of its kind in Washington and received an award from the state last year. The program has also generated interest on the other side of the river, Portland, which is usually ahead on bicycling issues.

“It's been so exciting, having this program take off,” said Colleen Kuhn, HSC Executive Director. “Not only are we providing transportation to people, the bikes also help them get healthy and give them independence.”

HSC initiated the program at the urging of its community partners whose clients were asking how to get a bicycle for transportation. “People told them they 'would love to ride to work!'” Kuhn said.

Brown was one of those who learned about the initiative from a job counselor. "I told her I had a job interview that was a mile from a C-Trans bus stop. 'I'll walk,' I said. 'You can't do that,' the counselor said, and told me about the program.”

Michael Kelly helps Shari Brown with a flat tire fix.

“Bike to Work” gave away 20 bikes in its first five months. The bikes aren't just for the asking though; to get one, applicants must go through an extensive screening process. It starts with the referring agency which assesses whether the client would be a good candidate for a bike, such as his/her health, experience riding and sense of responsibility. The clients who fit the criteria then fill out an application with HSC.

For those who are accepted, the next step is a bike fitting. Clients are referred to Bad Monkey Bikes, a downtown shop that works closely with HSC on the program. “It shows a level of commitment if they make it there,” said Kuhn.

The bikes are 'foundlings' from local police, fire and sheriffs' departments. Many of them need work, which is where Bad Monkey's comes in, again. The shop repairs the bikes for free, charging only for parts and a safety inspection. The mechanics also provide follow-up maintenance for recipients. “They’ve been awesome to work with,” said Kuhn. “This wouldn’t be possible without them.”

Bad Monkey’s values the collaboration also. “It's a good use for bikes that people donate to us, and a great way for our interns to learn about bicycle repair,” says owner Wade Leckie.

Leckie remembers one man who had just moved here. “His life had fallen apart. He learned the city by bike and got back on his feet. He even donated his bike back to us after getting a job so someone else could have it.” Another recipient did odd jobs for the store in exchange for bike parts.

Shari Brown on a training ride last week.

In addition to Bad Monkey, the program has a number of other partners. The county sheriff’s department donates helmets, and local government agencies provide maps and reflective tape. “It's a great example of a true community program,” said Kuhn.

As for the potential bike owner, they must first attend a comprehensive five hour training that includes bike maintenance and repair, route finding and safe cycling. The training ends with a three-mile ride.

On the road, Michael Kelly and Maggie Lund, transportation specialists with HSC, lead the recipients first through a quiet residential neighborhood and then onto a busy road. They model signaling and practice turning left across oncoming traffic, lane changes and making eye contact with motorists.

At the end of a recent training, Brown mounted her new bike with confidence and rode off. Her last words that day were "This is great! Thank you!" But a few days later she called, even more excited. “I got a job! I made it to the interview, to the orientation and now to work.” Her shift begins at 5am, and buses don't run that early. “If it weren't for the bike, I wouldn't be able to do it.”

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Kathryn Rickson on May 3rd.
(Photo: Facebook profile)

Tomorrow night the community will gather at the corner of SW 3rd and Madison in downtown Portland to remember Kathyrn Rickson. Kathryn is the 29-year-old Southeast Portland resident who died late last night from injuries sustained from a collision with a truck while bicycling through that intersection.

Every time someone dies while riding a bike, it hits all of us very hard. When it happens on a section of bike lane that many of us here in Portland have ridden on hundreds of times, we feel it even more deeply.

Let's get together tomorrow night and remember this tragedy as a community.

The BTA and Swanson Thomas, Coon & Newton will host sign-making from 3:00 to 5:00 at their offices on SW 2nd (820 SW 2nd Ave, just a few blocks away). We will meet shortly after 5:00 pm at 3rd and Madison. Please consider being there. Thank you.

NOTE: I have closed comments on this post because I didn't like the back-and-forth that was happening. This is a sensitive time and a sensitive post. Thanks for understanding. — JM

On left/right

Spotted this LED turn signal prototype on a bike in a rack yesterday. It’s for bicycle running and turn signals.

Both on or left/right

The “Build It. Bike It. Be a Part of It.” campaign for the US Bicycle Route System is continuing with some generous gifts and contests.

The non-profit Adventure Cycling Association is sponsoring the campaign to raise $50,000 during National Bike Month to help offset its expenses in coordinating development of the nationwide bicycle route network.

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People don’t understand how much work it takes for a sprinter to get close enough and actually have a shot at the win. – Creed the Water Carrier

Lot of this, riding along looking at each other

People don’t understand what the sport takes, besides those ingrained in it, cause the sport is so poorly shown and managed these days. We’ve reached the epoch of boring, when we’re profiling the domestiques. It’s so predictable and played out, the last minute is all I’m watching of the Giro and the ATOC.

Just Tell Me Who Won and is Winning

There was a time, when there was a media drought and we’d lap up any cycling coverage. Now by the power of the Internets, we’ve got streams, live Twitter coverage, with countless blogs, sites, and coverage; including dedicated work like the quote above from Podium Insight.

More like this

Photo: amgentourofcalifornia

Post Lance we’re back to hour-long recaps that are more likely to get pre-empted by bull riding or an ESPN wannabe news hour. Watching the stage last night, Phil and Paul have either lost it or are calling it like Big Time Wrestling with an entirely scripted narrative. Zabriskie and his nuts are so bored, he did a little attack. While Paul bellowed about how Dave could win and Phil scrambled to put the words together, they cut to the rearward facing camera and you can see the peloton reacting. Dave wasn’t going to win, didn’t think he was, and he’s done that move since he was a junior; including at every ATOC he’s raced in.

So before this gets int a bitter old dude, snarking the sport, let me say that I love racing and the bike so much, I publish independent media about it. I’ve also spent decades racing.

In person, at the local level, the sport is a wonderful and engaging as ever; especially Cross because of the crowds. I’m sure the cities that the Tour rolls through are thrilled.

It’s on TV where we’ve got a problem and I blame the directors and management. Race radios and specialists like Cavs. How tightly Vaughters wears his argyle socks is more interesting than Zabriskie going up the road or Creed carrying water bottles.

Seriously, there’s more action at a Charity Fondo than the ATOC.

Faced with declining viewership or TV time, other sports would convene to figure out what to do, like a shot clock, to reengage or make it compelling. What cycling does, is just plod along, never the master of its own destiny and hoping for a savior like Lance. Also that their house of cards built out of lies doesn’t come crashing down from another set of subpoenas.

No More Lances

Tip: Lance is a yellow-banded, ascended hero, that viewers will never see again. We’ve got to enrich the sport and not the personas. Also take management and the directors to task for their performance. They’re not creating a drama on the road for us to watch. It seems like they’re just fulfilling contractual obligations for their sponsors and setting up VIP tents for old guys to fantasize that they’re connected to the sport with Chris Carmichael.

There was a time, when Pro racing was controlled chaos – 3 - 5 breaks on the road, a stud like DuDu (Google it) would go on suicide attacks and occasionally win. We had no f’ing idea what was going on, until the GC was announced by the officials.

The Columbian climbers would ascend like little birds, then crash on the descents, and a race was anybody’s game to win. Now at the Giro it’s about Cavs destiny to take a controlled sprint, show us his hot girlfriend, and demand apologies when he doesn’t win.

Second tip: Create a new narrative for us to latch onto by working to disrupt Cavs. As large as his ego is, you know he’s a fragile little manchild. Break his spirit on the next climb before the intermediate sprint by purposefully attacking the shit out of him and pronounce you’re going to do so. Call it Operation Cave In.

Finally, the ebb and flow of this sport and its popularity will continue, but not before we hit another low, if racing like we’re seeing continues.

A Sole bicycles in the window at Charley+May in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. Charley’s is a gift gallery “celebrating modern design for you and your home.” They’ve sold half a dozen and stocked them cause the owner thought they looked cool.

How much is that fixie in the window?

I spotted the Sole’s on a ride I do midweek in Seattle.

Couple of fixies and a pig

Meanwhile at the PSFK Conference a single-speed belt drive with a handlebar that flips sideways wows the crowd. Graham Hill says he designed it for Schindelhauer and it’s a folding bike. Speed lifters have solved the “awkward in a hall” problem for years in Europe, but the audience doesn’t know that or that they bike isn’t actually folding.

They just think the bike looks cool, like the buyer for Charley+May does.

Our Bikecentennial guidebook calls this the rolling Piedmont of Louisa and Hanover counties. Contemplating the issue of gravity on the porch of Kent's Store, I decided I'm carrying too much stuff.

These might be called rollercoaster hills, but they aren't as much fun as an amusement park. I speed downhill at top speed, cross a creek, then begin the uphill struggle. All that momentum is lost the moment the slope changes. Even

though I had installed a triple chainring, giving me 15 gears, I can't downshift fast enough to sustain any speed. I'm either jamming the chain or dropping down to the lowest gears, spinning the pedals furiously to make any progress....

A PRO like Mathowie rides then relaxes with flip flops.

Uploaded by Hugger Industries | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

Frame / Size / Year:
visp trx 790

On a regular route, passed a line of police on bikes. Their peloton continued around the next bend and out of the camera’s view. Didn’t ask what they where doing, but it was militaristic and precise.

Uploaded by Hugger Industries | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

Frame / Size / Year:
Cinelli S.C. Pista / 58/ 60-70s

Frame / Size / Year:
RIH-SPORT 54cm 70-80?

Frame / Size / Year:
Austro Daimler Vent Noir II / 53/ 1981

Frame / Size / Year:
LOOK AL 464 P / S (51CM) / 2010

Emergency crews at work.
(Photo: JoniPhoto.com)

The Portland Police Bureau have just released information about a very serious collision that happened downtown less than one hour ago.

It occurred at the intersection of SW 3rd and Madison at around 8:30 pm tonight. Police say it appears that the woman — now identified as 28-year-old Kathryn Leah Rickson — was riding her bike eastbound on Madison and the truck was attempting to make a right-hand turn from Madison onto SW 3rd. There is a green colored bike box and a bike lane at this location (as seen in the photo at right). It might also be worth noting that this intersection is just one block from City Hall and Madison is on a slight decline at this location.

The police say the woman's injuries "may be life threatening" have confirmed that the woman died last night.

Kathryn Rickson on May 3rd.
(Photo: Facebook profile)

Kristin Tufte was walking south on 3rd and came upon the collision right as it happened. She told me via phone a minutes ago that the truck was a large delivery truck and that it was, "half-way through its turn" when the collision occurred. The woman's body, said Tufte, came to rest between the cab and the rear of the truck. She also added that, "The truck driver was totally distraught."

I will keep you posted with developments as they come in. I'm sure all the local TV news stations will also have more details and live reports at 11:00 pm. Let's hope for the best.

UPDATE: I just got this eyewitness account from a reader via email:

"I was riding my bike home from a meeting when I came upon the accident just after it had happened. I came down S.W. Madison and saw the truck stopped part way through a right turn. When I got closer I saw the wrecked bike and then saw that the rider was down. The rear tires of the semi's cab were pinning one of her legs. Another cyclist stopped around the same time, and indicated he was a paramedic. We had the driver move the truck slowly back, and I got the young woman's leg out from under the truck tire. But there is no doubt she was severely injured. The bike frame was crushed, seemingly indicating the truck had rolled over it, and she was still on the bike.

The accident occurred right next to the Justice Center, but it seemed like an eternity before emergency services arrived. I'm sure it was only a couple of minutes, but for a few moments it wasn't clear if the victim was still alive.

As the news has reported, the truck driver was extremely distraught. For all the people at OLive [OregonLive] crowing about who "wins" when a truck hits a bicyclist, the obvious answer is 'no one.'"

UPDATE, 5/17 at 9:20 am:
A source at the Portland Police Bureau told me via telephone this morning that the woman died late last night. Her name has not been released yet. The PPB is currently investigating the collision; but they did tell me that it was a green light situation and that both vehicle operators were in motion when the collision occurred (thus rendering the bike box — which is designed to help in a red light situation — relatively moot).

The truck was a 43-foot, 18-wheeler (see photos of it just moments after the collision, here). The PPB says the truck had its signal on and that the woman was struck by the front portion of the cab. This is significant, because, according to the PPB, most right hook collisions involve the trailer and rear of the of the truck rolling over the victim. The PPB suspects that the cab of the truck likely moved to the left just prior to making the right (to go south on 3rd). "We're trying to ascertain why the driver of the truck didn't see the cyclist and why the cyclist didn't see the truck," said my source. The PPB are interviewing witnesses.

As is standard procedure, a citation has not been issued in this collision. The PPB will hand over the investigation to the District Attorney and the DA will decide if criminal charges are appropriate. The PPB has yet to release an update with the woman's name. Stay tuned.

UPDATE, 5/17 at 10:23 AM: The woman has been identified as 28-year-old Kathryn Leah Rickson. According to her Facebook profile, Rickson grew up in Rhode Island, when to art school in New York, attended both Oxford and Portland State University. She was employed by Madison House, a pregnancy resource and support center in Southeast Portland.

Here are a few photos I took at the scene this morning:

Approaching SW 3rd on Madison...

The corner (orange paint marks the tires rear tires of the truck):

This is still looking eastbound. The whitish area in the center of the crosswalk is where the woman's body came to rest:

For images from the scene just moments after it happened, see this blog post.

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Frame / Size / Year:
80' CIOCC