PBOT might have to look elsewhere
to pay for five Sunday Parkways this year.
(Photo © J. Maus)

[Hat tip to the Willamette Week]

The City’s Financial Planning Division is recommending that the Bureau of Transportation scale back their planned five Sunday Parkways to just three, the same number held last year.

According to the City’s budget office, the five events planned this year will cost a total of $475,000. PBOT put in a budget request in hopes that $217,000 of that amount could be paid through the City’s General Fund.

Here’s the excerpt from FPD’s analysis of that request:

“While Sunday Parkways is a popular event and great public relations for the City, FPD cannot support funding for this program when basic services are being cut. FPD recommends maintaining the current program level (three events instead of five) rather than expanding beyond current funding availability.”

If PBOT accepts FPDs recommendation, the total cost for three Sunday Parkways would be $285,000, of which all but $27,000 is already accounted for. To fill that gap, FPD says, “The bureau is encouraged to work toward additional sponsorships/donations and to evaluate the program’s marketing and outreach costs for efficiencies in order to cover the difference.”

Since the event’s huge success in 2008, PBOT has struggled to pay for the event from traditional sources. They’ve put out calls for individual donations they’ve scoured grant sources (like the state’s Business Energy Tax Credit) and institutional donors (like Kaiser Permanente).

This year is the first time they’ve requested funding from the General Fund. In January, PBOT spokesperson Cheryl Kuck said they feel Sunday Parkways is an “excellent candidate” for General Fund support because the program, “provides and enhances neighborhood livability, economic vitality, and neighborhood connectivity.”

FPD has also decided to not recommend using any City resources to fund traffic control and other expenses involved with the carfree Last Thursday on Alberta event. Instead, they encourage “neighborhood gallery owners and other stakeholders” to establish a non-profit to “solicit contributions and start charging vendor set up fees to pay for all necessary traffic and safety controls.”

Reached today, PBOT spokesperson Dan Anderson said, “PBOT is following the budget process closely and raising private money and planning for five Sunday Parkways — as directed by the Mayor’s office.”

The Mayor has final say on the budget, but he isn’t expected to release his budget until June. Learn more about the City of Portland’s budget process here.

Commissioner Fritz
(Photo © J. Maus)

Commissioner Amanda Fritz, known as a watchdog of the City’s coffers, especially when proposals have potential to impact citizen’s pocketbooks, has published a blog post stating her support for Mayor Adams’ $20 million plan to fund bike-boulevard specific components of green streets.

Fritz points out that the average residential sewer ratepayer in Portland would save just 7.5 cents per month, or 90 cents per year if the $20 million was given back to them instead of being used for this purpose. “The alternative of returning about one dollar to each ratepayer does not seem wise to me.”

One of the key reasons Fritz thinks Adams’ use of the $20 million is the best idea is that she estimates the projects built with the money would create 280 jobs. Here’s an excerpt from her statement:

“… Some say the savings should be returned to the ratepayers. I believe most Portlanders if asked whether they would rather have 90 cents returned to them for the year, or help to create 280 family-wage jobs during a recession, would opt for the jobs. Particularly, if the jobs are providing infrastructure improvements in neighborhoods.”

And, after a long and detailed statement that shows an impressive attention to this issue, here is Fritz’s conclusion:

“After asking all these questions and considering the answers, I believe it is prudent use of rates and contract savings to prioritize spending $20 million in sewer rate money on the Green Streets identified by BES to address storm sewer backup into private properties while simultaneously supporting implementation of portions of the Bicycle Master Plan as implemented by the Bureau of Transportation.”

City Council is set to vote on the proposal this morning. Read Fritz’s full statement here.

Green street at SE 12th and Clay.
(Photo: PBOT)

Today, Mayor Sam Adams and his colleagues on City Council will vote on whether or not to allow $20 million from the Bureau of Environmental Services budget to be funneled into the City’s Green Streets program and be specifically tagged for use on bike boulevard projects.

The money would bolster a program that has been a part of the City’s planning goals since 2004 and it would be a shot in the arm to the Bureau of Transportation’s efforts to create a citywide network of safe streets. The proposal is expected to pass, but the road to the vote has been anything but speed-bump free.

A conceptual drawing of one possible green street/bike boulevard project.
(Graphic: PBOT)

At the core of Adams’ idea is a plan to use $15 million, out of a total of over $40 million, which has been saved by BES due to projects that have come in under budget over the past two years. In a statement released yesterday, Adams said, “These significant savings mean the City can make these Green Streets investments without impacting rate payers or Council-approved Capital Investment Plans.”

Despite these assurances from the Mayor, using money from a bureau that ostensibly provides “environmental services,” and is the home bureau of our sewer system, to pay for projects that will make biking more pleasant has been a bit of a logical leap for some.

The local media have likened this to a “swap” from sewers to bike lanes, and not surprisingly, the sentiment of many Portlanders has not been positive.

The Oregonian letters section on
March 14th. All seven letters were against
Adams’ idea.

Much of the early criticisms of the plan stemmed from a memo written by BES (not Mayor Adams or PBOT staff) about where the $20 million would come from. A big chunk of the money, BES wrote, would come directly from sewer projects.

When Adams released his plan of where the money would come from — making it clear that it would not impact rate payers or projects — some were still skeptical.

Even commenters here on BikePortland are wary. When I reported on details of Adams’ plan on March 9th, commenter Gil Johnson wrote:

“As a home owner, landlord and daily bike commuter, I definitely have mixed feelings about the diversion of sewer fees to bicycle projects. It may be a small victory for biking in the short run but result in a nasty backlash that scuttles the bike plan in the future.”

According to an analysis by BES, the impact of not spending $15 million on capital projects would cut next year’s expected sewer bill increase by 0.15% (from 6.99% to 6.84%). Based on that calculation, the Office of Management and Finance estimates the savings to ratepayers would be about 7 cents per month.

Portland Mercury news editor Matt Davis, who gets around town on a bike and who has always been supportive of bike-related policies, didn’t mince his words when he wrote a story with the headline, I’m Uncomfortable With Bikes Plan Kickstart.

The same day, Anna Griffin, a sensible and respected columnist for The Oregonian, likened Adams’ actions around this proposal as “on the fly budgeting” that “doesn’t serve taxpayer interests.” Griffin criticized Adams not for the merits of his idea, but rather his approach to seeing it through. She wrote that, instead of the usual process involved with these types of proposals, Adams’ actions are illustrative of what happens when city leaders, “chuck the process, declare an emergency and do whatever they want.”

I share some of Griffin and Davis’ discomfort with all this.

While I think the idea is solid (read why below), it’s a shame that the PR around it has been so mishandled. Once again, some people feel that Mayor Adams is pushing a hastily formed idea on them at the last minute just to appease the “bike community.” This isn’t good for Adams or for people that care about bikes and it’s reminiscent of his handling of the Sauvie Island/Flanders Street Bridge proposal.

That idea was nowhere near as solid as this one, but it also seemed rushed, it was heavily criticized, and it raised anti-bike sentiment in the City. Like the proposal they’re voting on today, the Flanders Bridge project was put to vote as an “emergency” ordinance, and, despite the project’s merits, it turned into a PR debacle that was ultimately shelved by Adams at the last minute.

Hopefully, this proposal won’t see the same fate. Despite what all the letters to the editor and headlines say, there is a clear connection between sewer pipes, stormwater runoff, green streets and bike boulevards. And it’s not just Adams and bike and environmental advocates who see the connection. The City of Portland has officially embraced the concept since 2004.

The City adopted its Stormwater Management Plan in 2004. That plan required green street features on many public works projects and it identified the connection between infrastructure that meets environmental and transportation benefits.

Three years later, the City adopted their Green Street policy, which solidified the role of transportation infrastructure projects in reducing the stormwater runoff. It directed City staff to “Seek opportunities to leverage the work and associated funding of projects in the same geographic areas across Bureaus to create Green Street opportunities.” And for all the detractors who see this as some sort of hare-brained idea, Green Streets are officially defined in that document as streets that meet, “Broader community goals by providing pedestrian and where appropriate bicycle access.”

Integrating stormwater treatment into bike boulevard features is also referenced several times in the City’s 2030 Bike Plan, which passed City Council by a unanimous vote just last month.

Some have also argued that the $15.4 million in BES “contract savings” that Adams wants to direct into bike boulevard treatments should go back into ratepayer’s pockets. Commissioner Fritz asked Mayor Adams to clarify this at the Council meeting last week.

According to an analysis by BES, the impact of not spending $15 million on capital projects would cut next year’s expected sewer bill increase by 0.15% (from 6.99% to 6.84%). Based on that calculation, the Office of Management and Finance estimates the savings to ratepayers would be about 7 cents per month.

If this idea of re-greening our streets and simultaneously making them safer and more accessible for everyone is fully embraced (and judging from the internal politics going on between Mayor Adams and BES, that remains to be seen), it could have a transformative effect on our city.

Stay tuned for updates on today’s vote from City Hall.

Mr. Burkholder.
(Photo © J. Maus)

This Thursday night a fundraising party organized “by and for cyclists” will look to boost Rex Burkholder’s campaign for Metro president.

From the event description:

“Put together by and for cyclists, it’s a great way to help one of Oregon’s cycling pioneers, Rex Burkholder. Enjoy excellent wine and delicious food, try your luck in a grand raffle, and hear Rex talk about his vision for the future of our region — especially where and how bikes fit in!”

So far, the raffle includes a private wine tasting and dinner for eight at event host Grochau Cellars (owner John Grochau is a Burkholder supporter), two season passes for the Cross Crusade, the Short Track MTB series, and other local races.

Notable bike scenesters behind the $25-a-plate event include: Community Cycling Center board member Augusto Carneiro; bike lawyer and veteran bike activist Mark Ginsberg; Bicycle Transportation Alliance board member and co-owner of Team Estrogen, Susan Otcenas; architect and Cross Crusade founder Rick Potestio; bike builder Ira Ryan; race promoter Kris Schamp; Portland Bicycle Advisory Committee member
Kathryn Sofich, and others.

Burkholder, even with his impressive bike credentials, has come under heavy fire for his support of the controversial Columbia River Crossing project in his capacity as a Metro councilor.

Here’s the event flyer:

The event is at Grochau Cellars (2621 NW 30th) this Thursday (3/18) at 6pm. Full details at Rex4Metro.com.

A new video (watch it below) created by David Osborn from the Stop the CRC Coalition in collaboration with Coalition for Livable Future says that it’s time to “push back” on the Columbia River Crossing project.

The video tells their version of the recent history of the project. It features a July 2008 Portland City Council exchange between Oregon Department of Transporation (ODOT) Director Matt Garrett and Portland Mayor Sam Adams where Garrett promises that the DOTs would not move forward without consensus.

Then, after showing a recent letter by the governors of Oregon and Washington that said, “We value your advisory role… We feel strongly this project must move forward without delay,” the narrator of the video says, “We’re getting rolled… The DOTs have not kept their word and it’s time to push back.”

Watch the video below:

[Note: I'm going to try and start doing more product reviews. I'll post quick "On Test" updates as I get interesting things to try out. Then, depending on your interest and the quality/relevance of the product itself, I'll follow-up with a more thorough review. To keep this going, I'm looking for a product review intern. Get in touch if you're interested.]

Urbana, a new bike (and company) from Montreal.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The Urbana, which debuted at the Interbike trade show last fall, is an interesting bike. With its design roots in downhill mountain biking, it aims to be a fun, versatile, one-size-fits-all urban commuter.

The bike’s creator, Jerome Roy of Balfa Bikes fame, puts it this way, “The Urbana was conceived the same way [as his full-suspension mtbs]; utilitarian and always ready for fun, it can go through potholes or jump over them!”

A rep from the company, Haniya Hussain, recently took a swing through the Pacific Northwest and gave me an Urbana to check out. The things I noticed first were; the pothole-eating, 2.6-inch tires, beefy, step-through frame, BMX-style handlebars, and sturdy rear rack. It’s definitely ready for urban assault.

The bike, which retails for around $1,200 (depending on drivetrain), was designed to fit a range of sizes from 5 to 6 1/2 feet tall. “That way,” Haniya says, “If you have two people living in an apartment, you only need one bike between then.” (I like the versatile size idea for fitting a variety of house guests). It’s also built with interchangeable dropouts to accept a range of gearing options (most common being 3 or 8-speed internals). (Full specs here)

The primary goal of the Urbana is fun. “We noticed there were many a-to-b bikes, but none of them were actually fun.” In addition to making a bike that is fun to ride, Urbana is trying to build community. On their website, you can register your bike and then check a Google map to see if anyone else in your neighborhood has one. Another nifty feature is the unique, laser-cut serial number on each frame. If the bike is stolen, Urbana wants to hear from you. They’ll send out an email to all their dealers to look out for it.

My initial impressions: Given its comfortable angles, upright riding position and big tires, it seems like a great bike for people just starting out (rental companies should be all over this thing), or for someone who needs a sturdy grocery-getter/neighborhood errand runner. It’s also perfect for keeping around as an extra bike that will work for anyone. It’s a bit too relaxed and slow for my tastes, but the big tires are awesome. I have been tearing up my yard and riding over all sorts of stuff without issue.

Because the sizing of this bike is so versatile, I’m considering it for an idea I’ve been stewing on for a while now — a community test ride. I’m thinking about hanging out on a busy bikeway and letting folks stop to give it a spin.

Given what you’ve seen and heard, what do you think? Is this the kind of bike that can get people excited to ride? Will it do well in Portland (Haniya says at least one local shop is very interested in it)?

Just another sign of life on N. Williams Ave.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Bike-oriented development on N. Williams Avenue isn’t reserved for bricks and mortar businesses. Yesterday while biking home I met Dan Sloan, a man who is offering free bike repairs and advice to anyone that stops by. His business consists of a hand-painted sandwich board sign, a bike repair stand, and some tools.

Do you work for tips? I asked. “No, although I took some Skittles one time.” Sloan says he’s written off the workaday world and just wants to do something good for people — perhaps in exchange for something good in return. “Everyone’s time is worth the same as everyone else’s… If everyone just did something they were good at for others… I mean, $15 to adjust a headset, that’s like two hours of work at a job you hate for a lot of people.”

Dan Sloan, happy to help.

Besides his sign, which reads, “Free Bike Help and Advice,” Sloan’s main marketing tool is the big smile he flashes at the steady stream of bikes rolling by. In the few minutes I was there, he got a lot of thumbs-ups and appreciative yells.

Sloan says he plans to stay at that spot, adjacent to a vacant lot just north of Cook Street, during the evening commutes. “This is a good location,” he says, “lots of traffic.”

This week’s questions comes from reader Joe W.

Joe has a problem. His friend is a “car addict” and Joe wants to help him quit, but it’s a sensitive subject. Can you help? Here’s Joe’s question:

“I’m trying to figure out how to help a car addict quit, or at least use responsibly. I’ve found, at least with this person, that conversations around this topic quickly get personal, and end up accomplishing nothing. A lifetime of using has intertwined mode of transportation with self, much like with diet choices (or lack thereof) in many people.

Question(s):

What are some well written, tasteful books, literature, movies, etc. that might help this person? I’m especially interested in things that are less “bike are the best” heavy, and focus more on the overall picture of an un-balanced transportation system. I feel like those would be best received.

I really care about this person, and don’t want to make them feel that they must change; but they’re so addicted it’s sad.

Do you have any tips on how to help someone make that first step towards getting the blinders off? What has worked for you? What hasn’t worked?”

Great question Joe. If your friend likes to read, choose something from the Cars and Alternatives bookshelf in the BikePortland Bookstore. Specifically, you might try How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life by Chris Balish.

For educational and inspirational videos about cars, bikes and their respective impacts on our lives, browse around the Streetfilms collection. They just posted a great profile of a regular NYC celebrity who’s been biking around on a old used bike for over 20 years.

Another great first step might be to accompany your friend on a ride. Check the Shift calendar for regularly scheduled, free and fun rides.

I’ve found that just leading by example tends to work. If your friend sees you riding, having fun, staying fit, and enjoying all the benefits of biking, chances are they’ll eventually join you.

What other tips do you have for Joe’s friend? Have you ever tried to wean a friend off car overuse? What works? What doesn’t?

— Learn more in the Ask BikePortland archives and submit your burning bike question to jonathan[at]bikeportland[dot]org.

Mark your calendars and buy your tickets, because Bike to Blazers is going to be awesome this year. On April 14th, the bike and basketball worlds will collide, resulting in a fun community event that will (hopefully) become an annual Portland tradition.

Why bikes and Blazers? Why not? Both are a major force for good in our city and by tying them together, great things can happen. The Blazers want to be the “greenest” team in the NBA and a big part of their effort is to encourage more biking to games. From an advocacy perspective, putting bikes front and center at the Rose Garden, and tying biking more closely to the Blazers organization, is a great way to reach a lot of folks who don’t usually hear about how fun and useful bikes can be.

Here we go Bla-zers!

At the event, we’ll kick things off with a rally at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Then, we’ll retrace Bill Walton’s bike commute to practice (for the uninitiated, Walton led the Blazers to a championship in 1977 and he was known for his love of bicycling). Once we get to the Rose Garden, we’ll join a mini bike expo at the commons area near the arena’s main entrance. As fans enter the game, they’ll get a healthy dose of biking: free maps and other goodies, custom bikes to gawk at, and more. We’ll make signs (gotta be ready for our big moment on the jumbotron!) and hang out before filing into the game where 100 lucky people will sit together and cheer on the Blazers from the official Bike Section. Whew!

We’re planning a bunch more stuff for this event, but those are the basics. This is a family-friendly event and the great folks at the Bicycle Transportation Alliance are on board to help make sure the little ones on bikes have a great time too.

This is their last home game of the regular season and it’s against the Golden State Warriors.

If you’d like to join us in the Bike Section, visit our Bike to Blazers event page for ticket buying information (or, cut to the chase and visit this Blazers link and enter promo code “bikeblazers”). Stay tuned for more details (did I mention one lucky person will win a Bill Walton autographed helmet!?).

Bike to Blazers
April 14th
Pioneer Courthouse at 5:30, ride at 6:00, game at 7:30
Tickets: $22
Full details at BiketoBlazers.com

Portland resident Daniel Fleischer will
host a slideshow and video presentation
of his 2,900+ mile mountain bike ride at
The Mountain Shop tonight.
(Photos: Daniel Fleischer)

Portland realtor Daniel Fleischer turned the big 4-0 last May, “So, instead of buying a red Camaro,” he told me recently, “I thought I’d take a bike ride.” But not just any ride. Fleischer set out to conquer the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. And conquer it he did.

Over the course of 48 days, he rode 2,934 miles from Mexico to Canada with an estimated 200,000 feet in elevation gain. Tonight, Fleischer will share a video and slideshow presentation of his journey that will let you “live the trail through images and sounds.”

By the numbers:

• Total Distance: 2934.4 miles
• Total Riding Days: 41.5
• Avg Distance/Riding Day:
  70.7 miles
• Longest Distance In
  One Day: 103.5 miles
• Avg. Speed:10.9 miles/hr
• Highest Speed: 42 miles/hr
• Total Time Spinning:
  276.8 hours
• Total Elevation Gain:
  ~200,000 vertical feet
• Average Elevation Gain/Riding
  Day: ~4810 ft

Fleischer is no stranger to epic trips: In 1994 he through-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail; in 1996 he hiked around Asia; in 1998 he biked coast-to-coast; and in 2000 he hiked the entire Continental Divide Trail.

After that, Fleischer took a break: “I had two children and put my adventuring on pause for a few years.”

So, why start up again? What motivates him to ride 70-plus miles a day for 41 days over rocky, hilly terrain on his mountain bike? I asked Fleischer this and a few other questions via email:

“This trip, like the others, was a great way for me to re-establish priorities in my life. It allows me to breathe in a way that I am unable to in my daily urban life. When on the trail, moments seem like days, days like months, and months like lifetimes. Most long distance adventurers would agree that you have to experience it to truly appreciate it.”

Not a bad place to camp for the night.

What was the most unexpected part of the trip?

“I don’t think I went with a ton of expectations, so I wasn’t too surprised. I guess I expected it to be more difficult than it was (I trained really hard and hit the dirt rolling). Also, as lovely as much of the area is, I feel like i am absolutely blessed to live and bike in Portland every day. There is no place like it in the U.S. for cyclists.”

What was the most difficult part of the ride?

“The hardest part undoubtedly was the mud. Last June was the wettest in 30 years for the Rockies. I got rained on every day in Colorado. The rain itself isn’t the issue. It’s what happens to the dirt roads and trails. Many of them become un-passable by bike, so I ended up hauling my 75 pound, mud-laden bike up and down muddy mountains on foot. I threw my back out really badly on one such episode and had to take four days off to heal. The mud also wreaked havoc on my drive train.”

With summer approaching, I know many of you have epic journeys planned. Check out Fleischer’s presentation tonight to stoke your fire, or get inspired to take that trip you’ve been dreaming about. Read Fleischer’s blog for updates from the trail.

The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route Slide/Video Show
Monday, March 15th
The Mountain Shop (Corner of NE 7th and Broadway in Portland)
7pm
Free snacks to those who ride a bike or take public transportation.

View images below

New still images taken from surveillance video nearly one month ago show 22-year old Tyler Brady — who has been missing since February 27th — riding his bike in Northeast Portland. As reported two weeks ago, Brady was last seen riding his bicycle in Southeast Portland.

Today, the Portland Police detectives have released five images taken from surveillance video. View them below (along with descriptions provided by the PPB):

Depicts Brady and his missing bicycle outside the NE MLK/Ainsworth Safeway store on February 17th, 2010, at approximately 10:00AM. Note, Brady’s yellow knit cap, which he is believed to have been wearing when last seen, and the white, bull-horn handlebars which distinguish his black, fixed-gear Schwinn road bike. Depicts Brady riding his bicycle, also unaccounted for, away from the NE MLK/Ainsworth Safeway store, February 17th, 2010, just after 10:00AM. Detectives believe Brady stopped at the store enroute to work, and then worked a full day at his job in the Delta Park area. Depicts Brady leaving the Lloyd Center Safeway store, February 17th, 2010, at approximately 7:30PM. Detectives have confirmed Brady stopped at the Safeway store after leaving work that evening, before later returning home. Depicts Brady entering the Couture Ultra Lounge, located at NW 4th/Couch, February 17th, 2010, at approx 11:00PM. Detectives have confirmed Brady stopped by the lounge with a friend, an employee of Couture, where they visited briefly with another employee. Depicts Brady leaving the Couture Ultra Lounge, a short time later. This is the last known video of Brady before he disappeared without explanation.

A description of Brady:

Brady is described as a white male, 22 years old, 5′10″, weighing 150 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes, a scruffy beard and mustache, and has tattoos on the back of his neck and on one of his arms, and a pierced nose. Detectives have determined Brady was last wearing a dark-colored hoodie with a large white design on the back, dark-colored pants and a yellow knit cap.

Anyone who knows of Brady’s whereabouts is asked to immediately call 9-1-1. Anyone with additional information about Brady is asked to contact Detective Mike Weinstein, 503-823-0446.

- Nationwide, traffic fatalities were at a record low last year, but are still 34,000 too many, according to Sec’y LaHood’s blog. Could a national Vision Zero campaign be in the works?

- In Los Angeles, zoning policies encourage building apartment complexes right next to freeways. But it turns out that this is terrible for residents’ health, particularly causing lung problems for the thousands of children who live a block from a freeway.

- The end of 2010 is slated to see a mass market rollout of electric cars in the Pacific Northwest.

- A low-budget row of jersey barriers carves out space for bikes on a major road—and marks the debut of separated bike lanes in Vancouver, BC.

- In the UK, an elderly, blind woman has to take a 14 mile bus trip to get to the store across the street from her house.

- Reed Bates, a Texas man who was arrested and jailed for riding his bicycle in the center of the road rather than on the shoulder, has been tried and convicted. He’s appealing the case.

- In Idaho, new legislation could require that all bicycles have brakes—stirring up the age-old debate of whether stopping your fixed-gear bike with your legs counts as braking.

- Email dealt quite a blow to the bicycle messenger industry…could carbon credits be bringing it back? Maybe in Paris.

- In Cleveland, advocates have been rallying to get pedestrian and bicycle access added to a new bridge project—and may just get their way.

- The city of San Luis Potosi could become to Mexico what Portland is to the US. The city core is being pedestrianized, and it’s a bike manufacturing hub.

- Sydney, Australia has been dubbed “The City That Hates Bikes.” Some thoughts (and data) here about why that might be.

- LEED certification could soon apply not just to buildings but to entire neighborhoods.

- From San Francisco to Portland…to Louisville! The Car-Free Happy Hour trend is sweeping the nation.

- Finally, listen to what one person thinks are the ten best songs about bicycles and judge for yourself.

“This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.”
— US DOT Sec. Ray LaHood

US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced a new set of pro-bicycling and walking policy recommendations meant to inform transportation planning at the state and community level.

He announced them on his blog this morning, after the “dust settled” on his enthusiastic speech at the National Bike Summit Thursday night. Why didn’t he announce them in front of 700-plus bike advocates? “The crowd’s enthusiasm was so contagious, the idea of introducing a major policy revision in that setting quickly evaporated.”

Here’s how Sec. LaHood introduces these policy revisions:

Today, I want to announce a sea change. People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.

We are integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects. We are discouraging transportation investments that negatively affect cyclists and pedestrians. And we are encouraging investments that go beyond the minimum requirements and provide facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

Sec. LaHood (L) and Rep. Blumenauer
at the National Bike Summit.
(Photo © J. Maus)

rAnd here are Sec. LaHood’s “key recommendations for state DOTs and communities”:

* Treat walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes.
* Ensure convenient access for people of all ages and abilities.
* Go beyond minimum design standards.
* Collect data on walking and biking trips.
* Set a mode share target for walking and bicycling.
* Protect sidewalks and shared-use paths the same way roadways are protected (for example, snow removal)
* Improve nonmotorized facilities during maintenance projects.

The official document behind Sec. LaHood’s recommendations has just been posted online and is titled, United States Department of Transportation Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations. The purpose of the memo is to officially amend the United States Code and the Code of Federal Regulations.

The summary of the revised policy statement, which hasn’t been updated in almost a decade, states:

“The new policy statement indicates the Department’s strong commitment to accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians as an integral part of the transportation system by: Ensuring that the accommodation of walking and biking is addressed throughout the planning process.”

About the new policy languange, Sec. LaHood says, “This is a start, but it’s an important start,” and he adds that, “These initial steps forward will help us move forward even further.”

Read the full policy statement on the Federal Highway Administration’s website.

At last week’s National Bike Summit, national non-profit Bikes Belong launched their “People for Bikes” campaign to galvanize the nation around support of bicycling. The video they used to illustrate their approach, and the one they showed during the campaign’s launch at the Summit, was produced by North, a Portland-based creative brand agency.

The video, “If I ride,” was shot in and around Portland (if you’re a local, you’ll notice many familiar faces). Austin Ramsland, co-owner of Sweetpea Bicycles, former North employee and current board member of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance helped recruit talent for the film. It was conceived and produced by Jim Carey, Dana Bruington, Mark Ray, and Steve Rauner.

Watch a slideshow of our best images below or view the full gallery.
(Photos © J. Maus)

I came into the National Bike Summit this year feeling pessimistic about national politics and not feeling very attached to the national cycling agenda. Now, as I recall the events of the past few days, my energy and inspiration has been renewed.

“We have a good chance of prevailing if we can mobilize the full breadth of our movement and make our voices heard.”
— Keith Laughlin, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

At the Opening Plenary session, Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s remarks seemed to lack the usual fire and brimstone that had whipped the crowd into a fervor in years past. This year — instead of bemoaning the “weasels” in power or gushing about the hope of a new administration — he spoke of political gridlock and pleaded, almost desparately, for the help of the 700-plus advocates in the room.

“I’ve been here all my life and have never seen anything like we’ve had over the course of the last year… We need your energy, your vision, your blueprint for how to make things better.”

This would become a recurring theme at the Summit. Not only is politics uglier than usual these days, but, with a re-authorization of the federal transportation bill hanging in the balance, that energy and vision is needed immediately.

Oberstar spoke of a “critical year” for bicycling. Keith Laughlin, president of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, said during a breakout session that the Active Communities Transportation Act is the “most important bike legislation in the last 20 years,” and that, “we have a good chance of prevailing if we can mobilize the full breadth of our movement and make our voices heard.” A Congressional staffer in the same session said, “We’ve got to get going now… We don’t have time.”

It was clear, our champions in Congress can no longer break the gridlock on their own; they need an assist from the people, and they need it right away. I’m happy to report that the people delivered.

[The slideshow below features a selection of photos from the Summit. Browse the full gallery here.]

A record number showed up for this Summit. During a speech Thursday morning, Congressman Jim Oberstar recalled jokingly, “We used to be able to do this in a phone booth!” There were less than 100 people at the first Summit; that’s about the same number of Trek dealer reps that showed up this year.

That rise in Summit attendance mimics a rise in federal spending on biking and walking projects. In 2000, $296 million was spent. In 2009, that number had jumped to $1.1 billion. But it takes more than sheer numbers to get what you want in D.C. It takes the right issue (which we have) and a multi-pronged attack.

The power of the pin.

Wednesday night, the political action committee Bikes PAC hosted a dinner and reception. 10 members of Congress showed up and a record amount of money was raised (six members showed up last year).

That party was just one of many that took place each night after the official Summit came to a close. If an increased number of nightly shindigs is any measure of the bike movement’s progress, than it’s safe to say we’re doing pretty well.

Unfortunately, it takes more than fancy parties to influence politics — especially when such a pall hangs over the Capitol. But the bike movement, because it’s rooted in fun (no matter how wonky you try to make it), has the power to lift spirits even in the most cynical of towns. The sausage making in Washington is hard to stomach, but when 700 smiling and positive bike advocates come to town — each one of them armed with a bike pin on their lapel and a sack of them to give out (thanks League!) — amazing things can happen.

US DOT Sec. Ray LaHood. On a table.

When US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood — who Blumenauer credited with “pushing back the forces of darkness on the Hill” — hopped up onto a table in a packed room of advocates at the closing reception Thursday night, it was the bike movement that lifted him up. When Republican Congressman Tom Petri hopped on a pedicab and pedaled down 1st Street, it was the power of 700 bike pins at work. When 10 members of Congress left a fundraising dinner with a smile on their face (an unprecedented thing on Capitol Hill, as reported by one of the restaurant staff), it was because bicycling — in all its forms — is one of those rare issues that has the potential to appeal to a vast spectrum of political perspectives.

Or, as Congressman Blumenauer put it during an intimate dinner with the Oregon delegation on Thursday, “You might not have signed everyone up, but no one is negative about the bike agenda.”

The idea of bicycles, and the people that deliver its message, lifted the clouds over Washington last week. Now our challenge is to remind politicians that as long as they’re on our side, they can expect sunny skies ahead.

That concludes our 2010 National Bike Summit coverage. Thanks to everyone who followed along both here and on Twitter. And a special thanks goes out to Planet Bike for their generous support of our work.

You can browse all 19 of our stories from the Summit and find a link to our photo gallery on our special coverage page.

UPDATE: Check out this excellent video wrap-up from Streetfilms:

The Oregon advocacy team on
the steps of the Capitol.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The 26-person Oregon bike advocacy team stormed Capitol Hill on Thursday, armed with cycling stats, stories, and a strong sense of purpose. It was lobbying day at the National Bike Summit and Team Oregon joined 700 bike advocates from all over the country to flood the Senate and House office buildings to make every Congressional representative aware that the bike movement is a force to be reckoned with.

The day started off with an inspirational pep rally that featured Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar. Oberstar said this will be a “a critical year” and reminded advocates that big things are possible and that, “It happens one member [of Congress] at a time!”

Portlander Austin Ramsland, a native of Minnesota,
relished the chance to meet his former
congressman, Jim Oberstar.

After the inspiring speech by Oberstar — who in many ways is the architect of the modern bike movement — the Oregon contingent made their way to a Congressional panel presentation.

Roger Geller shared advice and information
with Zack Fields, a legislative aide that
works with Virginia congressman Gerald Connolly.

Organized by Scott Bricker and Earl Blumenauer’s legislative aide Tyler Frisbee, the purpose of the panel was for Congressional staffers to learn how Portland got on the road to being a world-class biking city. Panelists included PBOT bike coordinator Roger Geller, Veronica Rinard from Travel Portland, Bike Gallery owner Jay Graves, Community Cycling Center executive director Alison Graves, and myself. Busy schedules on the Hill meant there wasn’t quite the turnout we’d hoped for, but the discussion was helpful nonetheless. Zack Fields, a legislative assistant for Virgina House Rep. Gerald Connolly, said the presentation by Roger Geller could help him inspire and motivate traffic engineers in Northern Virginia to be more bike-oriented.

After the presentation, the Oregon contingent split up into two teams and held a total of seven meetings with Oregon’s congressional representatives. The day started off with a bang when Senator Ron Wyden (D) spent over 20 minutes discussing bike legislation and other issues. Travel Oregon’s Scott West, a veteran of lobbying on Capitol Hill, said this amount of face-time with Sen. Wyden was unprecedented in his experience. West reported that Wyden spoke about the value of bicycle recreation and the economic impact of bicycle tourism. He also said he would take the Active Community Transportation and the Complete Streets acts into consideration.

David Wu listens intently.

Another highlight was a meeting with House Rep. David Wu (D) that took place on the steps of the Capitol. Wu was on his way to work on the health care bill, but stopped and talked at length with the group and seemed to enjoy the casual environment.

Jerry Norquist in a meeting
in Rep. Greg Walden’s office.

Rep. Greg Walden (R), Oregon’s only member of Congress not currently signed on in support of key bike legislation, wasn’t able to be at the meeting (he flew back to Oregon for Ben Westlund’s memorial service). Advocates instead had a discussion with his able assistant, Nathan Rae. Rae shared that he loves to ride and he listened and took notes about all the bills presented to him. Cycle Oregon manager Jerry Norquist led the meeting and was able to tell Rae that 2,000-plus Cycle Oregon participants will be rolling through Pendleton this fall. Pendleton is in Walden’s district and it’s home to the famous Pendleton Round-Up rodeo. Cycle Oregon has purchased 2,000 tickets to the rodeo’s 100th anniversary festivities this year.

The biggest advocacy breakthrough of the day came during a meeting with Senator Jeff Merkley (D). Merkley told the group he would introduce a companion bill to Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s Active Community Transportation Act and he also said he’d join the Congressional Bike Caucus (full story here).

After a fitting conclusion to the official National Bike Summit’s official agenda that included US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood jumping up on a table and shouting a thank-filled speech, the Oregon advocacy team hosted a dinner for Congressman Blumenauer.

Blumenauer chats with Randy Dreiling
from Oakridge and David Lowe-Rogstad
from Portland.

The dinner, funded by Cycle Oregon, was held in a stately, private banquet room just steps from the Capitol. The night was an opportunity to thank Mr. Blumenauer for his hard work on behalf of bicycling. Prior to eating, we enjoyed a candid Q and A session where Blumenauer spoke candidly about the state of transportation politics (I took only a few notes out of respect the evening’s informal nature). He remarked at one point that the presence of bike advocates had lifted spirits on the Capitol. “You might not have signed everyone up,” he said, “But no one is negative about the bike issue.” He also offered some sage advice for advocates: “In Washington, you create your own reality.”

As conversation continued among attendees after dinner, Blumenauer walked around to each of us, wanting to hear our questions and taking time to offer answers. It was a very special evening, and it will stand in my mind as something of a coming-of-age moment for the bike movement in Oregon. Thanks in large part to the leadership of veteran advocates like Jerry Norquist and Jay Graves, we have assembled and trained-up an impressive standing army of advocates ready to make the Oregon bike dream into a reality.

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

If you were not already convinced by the blossoming trees, this week’s job listings are another sign that Spring is here and Summer is near.

If you know your way around a bike repair stand, one of these opportunities as a bike mechanic may be for you. Good luck!

For detailed information including duties and how to apply, here are the links:

• Bicycle Mechanic — Lakeside Bicycles, Lake Oswego
• Bicycle Mechanic — The Bike Gallery
For a complete list of available jobs, click here. If you’d like more information about the BikePortland Job Listings, contact us, or visit the Job Listings page.

You can sign up for the all the latest job listings via RSS, email, or by following us on Twitter.

These are paid listings, so when you apply, please remember to tell them you saw the ad on BikePortland.

Portland’s Retro is making a name
for themselves in the jersey business.

Southeast Portland-based apparel company Retro, has inked a licensing deal with The New Yorker to release two cycling jerseys based on the magazine’s iconic cover art. It’s just the latest licensing deal for Retro, a company that has found success by designing and marketing bike jerseys to a global market.

Retro, formerly known as Retro Image Apparel, says the jerseys will be available June 1st as part of The New Yorker’s 85th anniversary celebration. The two designs are based on art by American artist Theodore G. Haupt and Spanish artist Ana Juan. Check out the designs below:

By Ana Juan, based on March 10, 2008 issue cover. By Theodore G. Haupt, based on March 9, 1929 issue cover.

Retro set up shop in Portland in early 2009, after moving here from Seattle Washington. CEO Roger Mallette started the company in 2002 and has grown it from a home-based operation to a major concern. Retro has secured licensing deals with many microbreweries (including Portland’s Lucky Lab) and other brands including Whole Foods, Urban Outfitters, JetBlue Airways, and more. Their jerseys are available in 450 stores across the country.

Check them out at RetroImageApparel.com.

New on-street bike corral.
(Photo: Jennifer Campos/City of Vancouver)

Back in October, we brought you news of an on-street bike parking facility that was planned for installation on Main Street in Vancouver, Washington (just a short hop over the Columbia River, north of Portland).

I’m happy to report that it has been installed! Leah Jackson, owner of Angst Gallery — which is adjacent to the new bike parking — sent in this photo:

(Photo: Leah Jackson)

The new bike corral is located on the east side of Main Street, just south of W 11th Ave. More information about bicycling in Vancouver here.

A new Bikestation is coming to Hillsboro.
(Photo is of Bikestation DC).
(Photo © J. Maus)

If all goes according to plan, Hillsboro (about 20 miles west of Portland) will be the first city in the Portland region to have a one-stop bike storage, shower, and locker facility — also known as a Bikestation.

While at the National Bike Summit I ran into Andrea White-Kjoss, the President and CEO of Bikestation (a division of Mobis Transportation Alternatives), who confirmed the news. I have since heard from City of Hillsboro Planning Manager Colin Cooper, who gave me more details on the project.

Cooper, a self-described “avid cyclist,” says the opportunity to build a Bikestation arose when the City of Hillsboro partnered with Tuality Hospital and Pacific University to garner funding for an “Inter-modal Transit Facility” (ITF). The ITF will be a five-level parking garage with 20,000 square feet of street-front retail, 15 electric vehicle charging stations and, what Cooper refers to as “a significant amount of bicycle parking.”

“Someone could ride in from the hinterlands and shower here prior to jumping on MAX to go to downtown, leaving their bike behind.”
— Colin Cooper, City of Hillsboro Planning Manager

Initial plans called for the bike parking to come in the form of wave racks and bike locker/boxes — but Cooper wasn’t satisfied. “I said that wasn’t enough,” Cooper recalled, so he pushed City staff to consider the Bikestation concept.

According to Cooper, the plan is to build a bike parking structure within the ITF facility that could hold 80 bicycles. The bike parking would be accessible 24/7 with an electronic key-card, it would have a men’s and women’s restroom and two shower rooms with changing areas.

According to an article in The Hillsboro Argus last fall, the complete facility will be built for $4.2 million which came through a combination of stimulus funds and Oregon State Lottery bonds.

The ITF is located on SE Baseline Road between 7th and 8th streets — just steps from the MAX Blue Line, Tuality Hospital and Pacific University’s Health Professions campus. That location makes it perfect as a multi-modal hub says Cooper. “Someone could ride in from the hinterlands and shower here prior to jumping on MAX to go to downtown, leaving their bike behind.”

From Cooper’s perspective, this project is just one piece of a puzzle he’s putting together that will vastly improve bicycling in Hillsboro. “You heard it here first… We are Holland,” says Cooper as he explains that, like Holland, the Tualatin Valley is flat and has moderate temperatures year-round. Cooper adds that he’s aligning the people and resources to “really start effecting some excellent change here in Washington County.”

Bikestation’s White-Kjoss says the new facility could help in that effort. “The leadership from the City of Hillsboro on this will help serve as a catalyst for even more bike-friendly improvements, as we’ve seen from other cities with these facilities.”

Construction of the ITF begun last fall and a grand opening is expected to happen this August. The Bikestation piece of the project does not have a solid timeline because the City is still ironing out some budgeting issues related to its operation.

Portland has flirted with a Bikestation for years. Back in March of 2007, Andrea White-Kjoss said she was in “advanced discussions” to partner on one with the Bike Gallery as the operating partner. A few months later, White-Kjoss was “encouraged” by a visit to Portland to discuss potential locations. After that visit, Mayor Adams’ (then Transportation Commissioner) Chief of Staff Tom Miller told me a Bikestation is, “… a likely next step en route to making Portland’s transportation infrastructure as accessible as necessary.” Despite that early momentum, a Portland Bikestation has yet to materialize.