Today was going great—sunny and productive, like Fridays should be. Then a cab hit me. I was leaving the Bud Clark Commons—standing over my bike, waiting to turn left onto NW Broadway from Irving—as a gentleman from the New Rose City Cab Company was in apparent hot pursuit of a fare at the train station. […]
Bikes
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Here’s Us Next Spring
If Portland’s long-awaited bike share system actually emerges next spring as planned (it’s been delayed a number of times already, and a concrete corporate sponsor has yet to emerge), let’s make this town look a bit more like: You know, except for all the big buildings and street art. I’ll do my part if you […]
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PBOT Director’s Lucky Streak Continues—Stolen Bike Returned Once More
Beatrice! Transportation Director Leah Treat earned a fair amount of sympathy over the past few days after her cherished blue bicycle, Beatrice, was stolen from a bike rack outside the Portland Building last week. As she told BikePortland.org, it was the third time in three cities the bike had been stolen—meaning she’d gotten it back […]
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ExIT Shoes
Jeff Mandel, the IT expert-turned-shoemaker, has a new home for his ExIT Shoes business, and it’s pretty darn romantic: He is now ensconced on the second floor of Union Station. ExIT Shoes There he’s continuing to make handmade shoes—for cycling, in an early 20th century vintage style, as well as custom street footwear for men […]
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Levi’s, Bikes, and Some Pretty Darn Good Local Music
Levi’s is pimping their new bike-friendly Commuter line with a national tour of free local music showcases paired with also-free bike tune-ups/simple repairs/washing/valet, and tailoring, and the Portland stop is coming right the hell up on Tuesday at the Wonder Ballroom. Whether or not you’re interested in “performance fabric, functional details, and uncompromised style,” the […]
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Buy a Scratch-Off, Fund a Bike Trail
Bicycle Transportation Alliance Good news today for proponents of more bike and pedestrian trails throughout the region: more than $40 million in funding is about to become available. That’s because the Oregon House of Representatives this afternoon passed Senate Bill 260. The culmination of a years-long effort to win more money for bike trails, the […]
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BREAKING: Here’s Portland’s New Transportation Director
Portland’s new transportation director describes herself thusly: “Good government gal with a passion for change in the transportation industry. A Mom to 4 smarty-pants kids and wife to an artsy, intellectual, bike fanatic.” That’s the Twitter bio of Leah Treat who, after months of speculation, has emerged as Portland’s choice for director of the Portland […]
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Seriously, New York? Surely Not Seriously.
www.citibikenyc.com New York is expensive and that tends to inspire concessions in matters of comfort and dignity. But, damn it, I hope this isn’t really about to become a thing. Apparently a—hopefully basically nonexistent—subset of New Yorkers have taken to sitting on the city’s new bike-share bicycles, while they’re docked, and pedaling backwards to simulate […]
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The New York Times Offers its Own Look Into Portland’s Bike Future
In our Bike Issue this year, the Mercury offered you a glimpse into Portland’s future, soliciting tales of bike share around the country from folks who live with the system. It was helpful advice, no doubt, but it’s possible a more-thorough glimpse into a 750-bike system officials are hoping to set up here next year […]
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And Another Thing About Locally Made Cycling Gear: North St. Bags
Before our annual Bike Issue pedals off into the sunset, including a feature on subtly bike-appropriate options for women, one more thing about bike gear that’s designed and produced right here in town: North St. Bags. They make backpacks, panniers, tool rolls, hip pouches, reflective ankle straps, wallets, and so forth, all on SE Clinton […]
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Quick Study: The Future of (Female) Bike Fashion
I haven’t ridden my bike in almost a year, and I’m not ashamed to say that what I wear plays a small part in that. It’s not that I can’t ride in heels—I am so good at riding in heels. (It’s that riding in good shoes can mess up your shoes.) Then there’s the issue […]
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Pics from Last Night’s Pedalpalooza Kick-Off Party!
By all accounts, last night’s Mercury Pedalpalooza kick-off party was a goddamn kick in the pants (which is to say, “funnnnnn”)—and there’s more fun to come! For example: Tonight! Run-DMC vs. Beastie Boys Ride! Get out your flyest Adidas tracksuit (velvet preferable) and polish up your shell-toes. This one’s gonna bump. Saturday 8: World Naked […]