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It's all anyone in the local bike and transportation scene has been talking about for the past two weeks — a plan hatched by an opaque city office to remove diverters on two neighborhood greenways in northwest Portland under the guise of making it easier for police to patrol the area. In this episode, BikePortland founder, publisher, and editor Jonathan Maus welcomes community advocate and former host of the the Sprocket Podcast, Joan Petit, into the Shed to hash it all out. Links: - BikePortland coverage so far - City Administrator Michael Jordan's Memo (PDF)- Central Precinct Commander argument for the plan - The historic 8/12 Bike Advisory Committee meeting- Portland Solutions org chart#portlandoregon #goodgovernance #portland #advocacy #urbanplanning #politics #policing #streetdesign
Welcome to the Shed! In this episode, we talk about:Eva's trip to BendPPS School Board electionsAll about Ainsworth (Eva got menaced) and what PBOT has in store for an upgradePBOT's new bicycle marketing effortHow to counter people who say, "But not everyone can ride a bike."Reasons for optimism at City HallCity budget stuffState transportation package update and cap and trade.Bike Summer rides in the Portland Mercury print editionHow'd she get there? A tough one from SE Woodstock and Cesar Chavez to Peninsula Park for the Kickoff Ride!SW Barbur. Ugh! Why?and more!Thanks for listening and for supporting BikePortland!
Rob Galanakis wants Portland Public Schools to see the forest and not just the trees outside classroom windows. His campaign for a seat on the PPS Board leans heavily on the idea that PPS goes about its business largely with its head in the sand while solutions to many problems can be found in the streets just beyond school grounds.Galanakis, a co-founder of BikeBusPDX and software company owner who moved to Portland in 2014, biked over to the BikePortland Shed on Wednesday to share more about his vision for Portland's troubled school district.This podcast is made possible by support of individuals like you. If you value BikePortland, please share a one-time contribution or become a monthly subscriber. https://bikeportland.org/support
We're back! Eva Frazier and I (Jonathan Maus) talked about all sorts of good stuff in this episode... from politics around I-5 Rose Quarter project to why the state's bike tax is so annoying. Here's a handy outline and links to stuff we talked about:Bike shop banter: My new Metropolis Cycle tie-dye t-shirt, latest shop closures.Thoughts on the I-5 Rose Quarter vote at Metro Council and why I'm disappointed in Lynn Peterson and Duncan Hwang. And the bad optics of white urbanists opposing the project while Black Portlanders support it. Ladds 500 is next weekend! (4/12)Protest season is here. Hands Off Rally is Saturday, 4/5Eva shares here Saturdays in May ride series.Why hasn't PBOT revealed downtown Sunday Parkways route?How you can eat and drink your way through the week with Portland bike events.New segment of the Green Loop through North Park BlocksNew bike lane coming to NE PrescottConvo with Candace Avalos and policingHow'd he get there? I share my route from North Portland (Peninsula Park) to SE 122nd and Stark (Midland Library).Legislative transportation package draft is out. Why the bike tax is so annoying.April 26th is carfree 82nd Ave Parade and a Cycle Oregon Block Party at Baerlic Brewing in Southeast Thanks for listening! Please become a paid BikePortland subscriber today!
Portland's Piedmont residents are surrounded by some of our city's best neighborhood business districts, but can they claim them as their own? We're continuing our neighborhood guide series with a trip through the restaurants, parks, and bikeways of this neighborhood straddling North and Northeast Portland. Today we're talking with longtime Piedmont resident and BikePortland publisher and editor Jonathan Maus. Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here. Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram. Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A special Thursday edition, since I'll (Jonathan Maus) be gone tomorrow!Such a fun chat with the wonderful Eva Frazier. Here's a taste of what we touched on this episode:Update on BikeLoud's Bike Buddy program (they hired someone!)Route finding from NE 156th and Halsey to Bike Happy HourTrump coming into office and what it means locallyThe need for more events to build a more resilient communityEva's visit to Lloyd Center (and Portland's skate culture)Fareless Square historyNew bike brand Primos Cycles Local media rant (and how KATU plagiarized a BikePortland story)Why I was annoyed by the Justin Timberlake on the Bike Bus thingWhat consequence for the Springwater drunk driver from last May?Cool event alert: City of Possibility and more!Thanks so much for your support and for listening. Please tell a friend and contact us if you've got something to say or want us to explore a specific topic.
I already did a story, video and photo gallery from the World Day of Remembrance event that took place in front of Portland City HAll this past Sunday, but there were some things said by incoming city council members and by a Portland Bureau of Transportation staffer that I really wanted to underscore. This episode includes audio clips from four speakers at that event with my takeaways interspersed in between.You'll hear from: Clay Veka, PBOT Vision Zero CoordinatorMitch Green, District 4 Councilor-electTiffany Koyama Lane, D3 Councilor-electAngelita Morillo, D3 Councilor-electSteve Novick, D3 Councilor-electLinks: World Day of Remembrance event coverage on BikePortland (11/18/24)Portlands new city council bodes well for bicycling (BikePortland 11/12/24)*BikePortland: Community Journalism Since 2005*Latest news on our website (aka "blog"): https://bikeportland.org/ Subscribe and support: https://bikeportland.org/supportFollow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bikeportland/ Follow us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bikeportland.bsky.social Listen to our podcast: https://bikeportland.org/cats/podcast
Notable bike bus leader and co-founder of nonprofit Bike Bus World Sam "Coach" Balto is our guest this episode. He and BikePortland's Jonathan Maus talked all things bike bus, including: Sam's motivation to get into this work, how his background as a camp counselor is such an asset to leading kids on bike rides, barriers faced by some bike bus leaders, how to respond to concerns about equity, the path toward bike bus global domination, and more.Links:Balto's "Red Cup Project" tactical urbanism work in Portland (BikePortland 2019)Video and recap of his first-ever bike bus in Portland on Earth Day 2022 (BikePortland)Bike Bus World Federal grant for bike buses in north Portland (BikePortland, 11/15/24)###*BikePortland: Community Journalism Since 2005*Latest news on our website (aka "blog"): https://bikeportland.org/ Subscribe and support: https://bikeportland.org/supportFollow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bikeportland/ Follow us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bikeportland.bsky.social Listen to our podcast: https://bikeportland.org/cats/podcast
*Note: The audio on this episode sounds different than usual because I'm exploring wireless mics to make the chats in The Shed more comfortable. Thanks for your patience as I iron out various audio/visual issues in our new recording space!*Eva Frazier and I (Jonathan Maus) are back on our Friday thing. I tried to stump Eva with a route and we had fun talking about the best way to get from Slabtown (NW 21st and Thurman) to Lone Fir Cemetery (SE Stark and 22nd or so). We also talked about a disturbing set of videos I've received from someone who lives on NE Glisan and documented Monday's fatal collision in addition to many others of drivers behaving badly on that same few blocks.What will it take to get drivers and the general public to wake the-fuck up about the need to drive safely? And we share the lowdown on some fun and spooky Halloween-themed rides this weekend and on Hallow's Eve Thursday.Have a great weekend and we'll see you back here next week. If you are filling out your ballot this week and want some help getting to know the candidates, here's all the BikePortland election coverage so far.Mentioned in this episode:Episode SponsorCity of Portland reminds you to Rank Your Vote! Ranked Choice Voting is here. Learn more at www.Portland.gov/vote
Hope you've had a great week. Eva just rolled away and we had a good ol' time chatting it up for this week's In The Shed episode. Check (mostly) all the fun stuff we mentioned in the links below.Cool solo art exhibition Eva saw at Director Park: Orquidia Violeta - Chalecos Protector ExhibitionHow'd She Get There?! segment: Eva's route from North Portland to Director ParkHow can you go negative about a Bike Buddy program?The brilliant interview video expert Aaron Parecki who's helping me set up a video studio in The Shed. By the way, please support BikePortland so we can continue to invest in the quality of our offerings.Seattle Bike Blog author Tom Fucoloro's critique of downtown bikewaysShould I ride a different bike bus every day of the week? Bike Bus PDXThe story of Gateway Green (And don't miss Saturday's big event!)Jonathan's latest politics updates and insightsRose City Reform Candidates page12 For PDX Voters GuideKATU TV - Your Voice/Your Vote Candidate Forums: District 1 - District 2 - District 3 - District 4BikePortland 2024 Portland Election coverageHow Eva scored a free sandwich at Sunday ParkwaysPBOT correctly shamed big truck drivers Thanks for listening! And we appreciate all the paid subscribers and BP advertisers that continue to make this podcast — and all the things BikePortland does — possible. Please become a paying supporter today at BikePortland.org/support.
Terrence Hayes wants to represent east Portland on city council (District 1). Some of you might know him as the guy who wrote that email to supporters titled, "Portland's war on cars." After that happened, I knew I wanted to sit down and chat with Terrence.I think you'll enjoy our conversation. It touched on his views about bicycling advocacy in Portland, transportation in general, race and policing, his political style, his support of mayoral candidate Rene Gonzalez and increasing the number of Portland Police officers (he's also endorsed by the Portland Police Association) and how he'll balance that with remaining an independent, trusted leader in his community.Terrence Hayes Campaign WebsiteTerrence Hayes Candidate Page on Rose City ReformThanks for listening. Please support BikePortland and our 19 years of dedicated, high-quality, independent community news and become a monthly subscriber today!
So good to be back the the Shed. Eva and I were up to old tricks with a wide-ranging chat about everything from riding bikes naked to Portland's new WNBA team. Here's a list of most of the stuff we touched on that I jotted down while I edited this episode:Eva's trade show schemeWorld Naked Bike Ride (drama here, 20th anniversary photo gallery)Correcting the record on trains and coalEva explains her preferred bike route from north Portland to Colonel Summers parkIBR SDEIS basic findings (Official project website)Eva's time at Cycle Oregon Rally ridePark(ing) Day, why isn't it year-round?CCC and their financial crisisNew path alongside Benson High School via NE Glisan?New WNBA team in Portland! Eva is in love with Philadelphia, PA.PDX Trophy Cup and if a Brompton would survive it.Thanks for listening! And we appreciate all the paid subscribers and BP advertisers that continue to make this podcast — and all the things BikePortland does! — possible. Please become a paying supporter today at BikePortland.org/support.
Learn more information about the CCC's dire financial situation in this interview with Executive Director Ruben Alvarado. Ruben was hired in July and didn't realize how bad things were until he'd taken the job. Now he's going all-in on a "Save the CCC" fundraiser and says if the storied, 30-year-old nonprofit doesn't raise $349,000 by the end of the year (and $115,000 by Oct 1st), they will be forced to shut their doors.BikePortland Founder & Editor Jonathan Maus is the host of the interview. Episode recorded at 10:00 am on September 9th, 2024. Also read the BikePortland story posted the morning of Monday, September 9th. "Save the CCC" FundraiserCCC Financial Overview (PDF)
Today on City Cast Portland, we're kicking off our series breaking down some of the big issues that could shape Portland's fall election — and the candidates who are driving the conversation. First up is transportation. BikePortland publisher Jonathan Maus is here to help us sort it all out. Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here. Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram. Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsor of this August 20th episode: BPN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Don't miss all the latest banter between BikePortland founder & editor Jonathan Maus (hi, that's me!) and BikeLoud PDX board member and retired bike shop owner Eva Frazier. Here are just some of the tangents we explored...Hating on planes and "freeways in the sky"... and are trains even eco-friendly?My trip to California and cul-de-sac life laments (and I'm leaving again on Tuesday for another family visit to Hungary).PBOT's hardening plan for paint-and-plastic bike lanes.Recap of the 2nd Annual Bike Happy Hour Show & ShineEva recaps the Future Sandy bike ride along, "the perfect hypotenuse of the triangle of Portland."My big personal and professional news about my exciting new job.That weird and wonky fake PBOT sign on NE 7th.The 82nd Avenue project and sharing the lane with buses.How all our (we, the community's!) work on candidates has made transportation a big campaign issue.BikePortland should bring back weekly political cartoons. (Here are the old ones)Why I left Twitter/X and moved to Threads.Eva's affinity for western wear and riding in a cowboy hat.The problem with salty chips and our favorite bike-camping snacks.and more!!Thanks for listening.
Was great having former BikePortland staffer and now Portland Mercury reporter Taylor Griggs join Eva Frazier and I (Jonathan Maus). This episode is chock full of great stuff. Fake bike lane citations - Underdesigned bike lanes - a green ribbon bike network - riding to Troutdale for ice cream - exercise and e-bikes - portland tennis courterly - prank calls - SK Northwest and Springwater trail saga - I-5 Rose QuarterLinks we mention:Deflating tires in the name of climate changeWhy e-bikes don't give you "legs of steel"New path in Troutdale that Taylor rodeNew Biketown e-scootersPortland Tennis Courterly home pageJonathan's op-ed on street racingThanks for listening!
Maria Sipin joined me in the shed this week (Eva Frazier is out of town). Maria is a transportation planner and community organizer with a long and impressive resume as a volunteer and agency staffer. She's currently the campaign manager for Portland City Council D4 (W/Sellwood) candidate Mitch Green, and in the past she's been a planner at Oregon Department of Transportation, has worked at Safe Routes National Partnership, was on the Portland Clean Energy Fund Community Advisory Committee, and recently worked on the campaign to get participatory budgeting on the ballot in Portland. We talked about all sorts of stuff, from bike valets to a renters' bill of rights to her Lectric bicycle, Bike Loud's Bike Buddy program, and much more. Links:Maria Sipin on InstagramBike Loud Bike Buddy ProgramBike rack rental from ShiftThanks to our paid subscribers. Please become one at BikePortland.org/subscribe
Eva Frazier and I (Jonathan Maus) are back with another bit of banter from The BikePortland Shed. Learn how Eva's Garden Bike Tour in the heat wave turned out, what I thought of Bike Play, why I'll miss all the Bike Summer rides this weekend (basketball!), what happened on City Cast PDX podcast today, why someone is really mad at Thursday Night Ride, the difference between a nice honk and a jerk honk, and much more.BikePortland is made possible by paid subscribers who believe in local media and a strong community. Please become a subscriber today!
Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about why you have to wait even longer for a MAX ride when it's hot out, the newest plan for the Lloyd Center, and the merger that might bring big changes to your local grocery store. Joining host Claudia Meza on this Friday's news roundup are BikePortland publisher and editor Jonathan Maus and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed in Today's Episode: Portland City Council District Map Tool Portland Music Org Founder Details Proposed Lloyd Center Venue [Portland Business Journal
WTH did Commissioner Mapps say? Why does Jonathan always have a different coach in the Shed? How's Eva's Spanish class going and what is she doing to prevent insects from destroying her backyard cherry crop? Bleeps and Bloops and what now? What happened to that guy who was protesting BikePortland at Bike Happy Hour this past week? You'll find the answers to all these questions at more in this episode.
Marshall Runkel is a Portland city hall veteran who has worked for three former city commissioners, most recently Commissioner Chloe Eudaly. He announced his bid for Portland mayor last week and visited the BikePortland Shed for his first in-depth interview on Friday, June 14th.Marshall and BikePortland Founder/Editor/Publisher Jonathan Maus talked about Marshall's approach to politics, his love of riding the bus, how he rode with Critical Mass as an advisory for Commissioner Erik Sten in the early 2000s, his experience working on housing and homelessness issues, how he will use his work experience in the clean energy sector to help Portland, why he loves the Portland Trail Blazers and wants to bring a WNBA team here, and much more! Links:Marshall Runkel campaign websiteCompanion post on BikePortlandThanks to Brock Dittus for our theme music. BikePortland is supported by individual subscribers and local advertisers. Please become one today and support this independent media outlet.
Happy Friday and Welcome back to The Shed. Retired bike shop co-owner and BikeLoud PDX Board Member Eva Frazier and I (BikePortland Publisher & Editor Jonathan Maus) had a wonderful chat and I can't wait to share it with you. Here's what we talked about:That awful bumpy section on NE Tillamook between Rodney and MLK.How I keep track of so many meetings.Why Mayor Wheeler is a PCEF superfan (related BikePortland story)Eva's report back from Future Sandy open house (related BikePortland story)Who's lying, Commissioner Mapps or business leader Andrew Hoan? Why I'm so mad about Rose City Recreation Trail project.PBOT budget quiz Eva walked 10 minutes from Union Station to find a charged Biketown PBOT should use PCEF money for Biketown upgradeSt. Johns Bridge photos and community discussion on BP Instagram.Thanks for listening, thanks to our paid subscribers, and thanks to Brock Dittus (of Sprocket Podcast fame) for our theme music.
With me (BikePortland founder and publisher Jonathan Maus) being unexpectedly away from Portland for two weeks helping my dad in the hospital (he'll be fine), my In the Shed co-host Eva Frazier got antsy and decided to record a conversation with our friends Armando Luna and Shawne Martinez. This trio packs a whollop of bike fun between them and this fun chat will have you smiling and looking forward to summer. Here's a taste of what they talked about...Why Armando insists he's the Bike Fun Mayor, not the Bike Mayor.How basketball can help you become a safer bike riderFender etiquettePedalpalooza ride memoriesWhy Armando isn't a Naked Bike Ride guyLeaf blower noise and how gas lawnmowers support kids riding bikes in Oregonand more!!
I met up with Portland City Council (D4) candidate Chad Lykins in Hillsdale today and we biked around southwest. In this episode you'll hear an interview-by-bike as we survey various bits of bike infrastructure and make several stops along the way. We talk about a lot more than just bike stuff! At a stop at a Safe Rest Village we talk about housing and homelessness and we talked about development and Portland politics while standing at the Alpenrose Dairy Site. Lykins is a leading candidate and sources say he's got a real shot at winning one of the three seats in District 4. He's got a PhD in public policy from Vanderbilt University and is currently the leader of a statewide chess organization, in addition to owning a business that runs afterschool chess programs throughout the region. You might have met him at Bike Happy Hour a few months ago, but to really understand him and his perspective, I highly recommend listening to this entire episode. Links:Chad Lykins Campaign WebsiteCouncil candidate competes for best transportation platform (BikePortland, 12/04/23)
Bend, Oregon-based nonprofit Dirty Freehub has become one of the best route resources on the web with its over 300 detailed ride guides. Its founder, Linda English talked to BikePortland founder Jonathan Maus about why she created the site over a decade ago, what Dirty Freehub offers, and the cool projects she's working on to make it even better.In this episode you'll learn how Dirty Freehub has become not just a great place to find gravel route information, but an economic development tool for rural Oregon towns, a partner for tourism agencies, and a spot where beginners and folks with disabilities can find "all access" routes that suit their needs.Gravel riding has exploded in the past decade, and the value of English's work has grown right along with it. Links:DirtyFreehub.orgBikePortland gravel riding story archivesSpecial thanks to Brock Dittus of Sprocket Podcast fame for our theme music and to all of our financial supporters and paid subscribers for making this podcast possible!
Sellwood neighborhood resident Eli Arnold is running for Portland City Council District 4 (Sellwood, Eastmoreland, West of Willamette). His day job is a Portland Police Officer on the Central City Bike Squad. He and BikePortland founder Jonathan Maus talked about a wide range of issues, including:His experience on the bike squad.Why he started a community garden in his Savannah, GA neighborhood in 2014.How he can be trusted to lead with only Army and police experience.What he thinks about Former City Councilor Jo Ann Hardesty's violence prevention tactics.Policing in Portland and Arnold's ideas for improving it.What he'd do to save lives on our streets.Why I'm skeptical of his candidacy and Portland Police in general.and much more!Links from the episode:Kickstarter for community garden project in 2014"Portland Police officer admits no traffic enforcement messaging was politically motivated" (BikePortland, August 8th, 2023)PPB Central Bike Squad on Instagram"Beloved Portland Police Officer Robert Pickett moves on" (BikePortland, May 10th, 2011)Arnold's campaign websiteEli For Portland InstagramThanks to Brock Dittus of Sprocket Podcast fame for our theme music. And thanks for listening.
Eva's back from Italy! She shares a bit about her magical time in the land of small cars, ancient roads, and wine tasting in Tuscany. Get this: Eva walked 98 miles in two weeks. That either sounds like a dream or a nightmare depending on if you have comfortable shoes.We talk about the latest Portland Bike Count report and I share the top 10 (actually 11) busiest bike intersections in the city. Eva shares her dream of operating bicycle vending machines on high traffic corridors and things devolved from there. We touched on tolling, freight lobbyists, my theory on what will happen with the I-5 Rose Quarter project, and much more.Links from the episode:BikePortland story on bike count report Gov Kotek scraps tolling in PortlandBike movie being shot in Portland right nowWhere freight advocates say they shouldn't pay for lower Albina because they didn't cause the harm. WTAF?
Few people in Portland know more about our city's bicycle parking policy than Chris Smith. In this conversation he shares a brief history of the issue and then explains why recent efforts by leaders in both Portland and Salem have rolled back recent bike parking code requirements. In this episode, you'll learn about the development of Portland's bike parking requirements from the inside, and we also talk about Oregon Governor Tina Kotek's big housing bills that passed just this week by the Oregon Legislature. One of them, Senate Bill 1537, included a relatively unknown provision that gives cities the ability to adjust their bike parking requirements to spur housing production.Links:Chris Smith personal website Developers say bike parking rules are biggest reason for housing delays - BikePortland, 3/15/23Bike parking versus housing debate presents a false choice - BikePortland op-ed by Chris Smith, 8/9/23Planning Commission votes to roll back bike parking code to spur new housing - BikePortland , 11/15/23 Wonk Night zeroes in on bike parking code update - BikePortland, 9/25/18Wonk Night kickstarts effort to reform Portland's bike parking code - BikePortland, 10/31/13
Sarah Risser is working on a project to erect memorial signs at the location of every fatal traffic crash in Portland. In this interview, she talks about that project and shares the story about how a 2019 car crash where she survived but her teenager son didn't, radicalized her into the world of road safety activism.Link: Article by Sarah for Grappling With Grief (September 2023)Sarah featured in BikePortland for her work on a ghost bike installation (February 2024)Photo of the memorial signs she's placing around Portland.Follow her on X at @henryz_mom
Timur Ender is a leading candidate for Portland City Council District 1 (East). He invited me on a 12-mile bike ride around his district to show me projects he helped implement in his previous job at the Portland Bureau of Transportation, to share why he's running for city council, and to explain his vision for how transportation infrastructure can be a vital part of making east Portland an even greater part of our city. This episode was recorded almost entirely as we pedaled on a loop from NE 102nd and Glisan to SE Powell and 162nd, then back north to Glendoveer Golf Course. We saw all types of infrastructure and had a really interesting conversation. Come along with us to learn more about Timur and the east Portland district he hopes to represent.Links:Timur's campaign website2013 Wonk Night event where I first met TimurAn article Timur wrote for BikePortland about the mobility options in his home country of TurkeyPBOT East Portland in Motion website (Timur worked on this as a PBOT employee)Thanks to Brock Dittus (of Sprocket Podcast fame) for our theme music. If you like this episode, please tell a friend and support BikePortland so we can continue to produce content like this in the future!
Eva Frazier and Jonathan Maus are back. This episode was recorded January 19th in the BikePortland Shed, as we just barely began to thaw from the Big Deep Freeze of the past week. As per usual, we had a fun chat about a wide range of stuff:The Deep Freeze of 2024Why are people still on the roads?Eva brought me an amazing beer she and a friend made (dubbed the "Overlooked") with hops and barley grown in their backyards!Jonathan has started reading the famous book on Robert Moses, The Power BrokerFood trucks in downtown PortlandIs Portland even a real big city?The best view to enter Portland fromWhy Eva loves freeway overpasses with peeling paintHow cities are like "free jazz" musicUpdate on Eva's "30 days of minimalism" challengeGetting the bike lane complaint tone right in light of PBOT crewsJesse Cornett interviewJohn the Johnster's wild ice rideBike Happy Hour One Year Anniversary is April 3rd!YouTuber urbanist Ray "CityNerd" Delahanty coming to Portland for a big event April 9thPortland Winter Light Festival is comingEva reads the excellent satirical Comment of the WeekWhat's it's like riding in southwestEva's opinion of the BikePortland comment sectionExciting new off-road trails in Cascade Locks in the worksThanks to Brock Dittus of Sprocket Podcast fame for our fantastic theme music. Listen in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening!
BikePortland's Jonathan Maus sits down in The Shed with Jesse Cornett to learn more about this intriguing candidate. Cornett worked with US Senator Bernie Sanders for two years, including one as his personal assistant. He's also held leadership positions at local nonprofits, was head of government relations for Portland State University, and was once almost elected to the Oregon State Senate. Links:2010 BikePortland interview with Jesse during his previous run for council.Jesse Cornett campaign websiteSpecial thanks to Brock Dittus of Sprocket Podcast fame for our theme music and to all our paid supporters who make BikePortland possible. If you aren't one yet, please sign up today.
Last Wednesday Glencoe Bike Bus leader was assaulted by a driver who was outraged that he had to drive behind Rob and a group of kids biking to school. I know, right?! Who does that?In this episode, Jonathan Maus and Rob talk about what happened on SE 61st & Burnside, and more importantly, how Rob de-escalated the situation. You'll learn what goes into leading a bike bus and why training for leaders is so important to making sure kids have a good experience. Rob's insights, advice, and general vibe are something I think all ride leaders should pay attention to.Links:Glencoe Bike Bus on InstagramVideo of this interview on BikePortlandThanks to Brock Dittus of Sprocket Podcast fame for our theme music and to all our paid supporters! If you want to become one, visit BikePortland.org/support today.Thanks for listening!
North Portland resident Perrin Smith has done something extraordinary. In a quest that was part of his life for nearly three years, he walked every single street and alleyway in the City of Portland. That's about 2,100 miles of pavement, gravel, grass, mud, and sidewalks.In this episode, BikePortland's Jonathan Maus sits down with Smith in The Shed for a chat about this extraordinary accomplishment. Links: Perrin's InstagramMore about the Every Single Street movement@Slipoker on Instagram, another Portlander working on the challengeBikePortland story on 72-year-old Alan Koch, who biked every street in the region!Thanks to Brock Dittus of Sprocket Podcast fame for our theme music and to all our paid supporters who make BikePortland possible. If you aren't one yet, please sign up today.
Jonathan Maus and Eva Frazier are back with another fun chat. Topics and links:Book: The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New YorkSnow is coming?!The legendary Devin Bailley, the guy who biked on Hwy 26 in a snowstormDe Ronde PDXLightning Round questions thanks to listener Paige!Jonathan on riding MTB trails at nightEva on riding in the city on july 4thAll types of Bike Happy Hour gossip and newsBike Loud looking to hire a bike lane ambassador?All 64 of BikePortland's stories on N Williams AvenueWhy Council District 2 candidate Joseph Emerson scored pointstony's stickers https://urbanist-online.square.site/ People who park badlyPBOT's daylighting promisesShould women drink free at Bike Happy Hour?Breathalyzers in carsStreet takeovers on NYE and an idea to prevent themComing soon: The Portland who has walked every street in the cityNew paved bike paths being built in Troutdale near Sandy RiverAnd more!Thanks for listening. And thanks Brock Dittus of Sprocket Podcast fame for creating our theme music!
We're back with one last episode of 2023. I think you'll love this one. Eva Frazier and I talk about all types of stuff, including:Historic photos of Joe Brown's Bicycle Shop and his Lloyd Center Field Day eventBikePortland's 1896 Bike MapEva's Book Recommendation: Two Wheels NorthShould Bike Happy Hour have a book club?Review of BikePortland's Top Stories of 2023Jonathan's ride with City Council candidate Angelita MorilloPeople camping on bike paths Jonathan's family Christmas costume party (see a photo!)The burden of unanswered emails and BikePortland's very long story idea listWhat Eva's new bike fragrance will smell like now that she's a retired moguland more!! This episode was recorded December 29th at the BikePortland HQ - aka "The Shed".Thanks to Brock Dittus of Sprocket Podcast fame for our fantastic theme music.Thanks for listening! Please tell your friends!
Sit back and chill with Eva and Jonathan as they ruminate on various topics. This episode was recorded December 7th in The Shed (BikePortland HQ). Sorry for the uncharacteristically slow turnaround, but I think you'll love this one. In this episode:Eva shares the big news about her involvement with Clever Cycles.Jonathan shares some behind-the-scenes of BikePortland.A rapid-fire gift-giving quiz game. What would you get a PBOT employee for Christmas? Jonathan and Eva share a memorable gift.How we raised money for a new bike for a complete stranger.City council candidate Joseph Emerson.Commissioner Rene Gonzalez's mayoral campaign launch.Why Portland needs an AI mayoral candidate.Eva and Jonathan's past love of roller-skating.Hope you enjoy it! Thanks to Brock Dittus for our wonderful new theme music!
The Portland Bureau of Transportation recently made the news for its plans to alter — and in some cases even remove — some major city bike lanes. Commissioner Mingus Mapps, who oversees the bureau, offered multiple explanations, none of them adding up. Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking with the editor of BikePortland, Jonathan Maus. He's not only been following the story since its inception, he broke the news himself when he published information from whistleblowers who work inside PBOT. Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram. Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: The Storm Large Holiday Ordeal at the Aladdin Theater Nov. 24 & 25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Routh is running for Portland City Council District 1 (East Portland). She's well-known in local bike and transportation advocacy circles for her role as a thoughtfully wonky, yet warm and approachable leader and organizer. She's also a member of the Portland Planning Commission and has a fascinating background that includes a degree in theater performance, stints as a cannery worker in Alaska, a skin-dive team leader in Thailand as part of 2004 tsunami recovery efforts, and she's lived in northern China and NYC. She's also an adjunct professor at PSU who teaches community organizing and social change. This interview was recorded in the public plaza on SE Ankeny between SE 27th and 28th on Wednesday, November 8th during the weekly Bike Happy Hour. Thanks to all BikePortland financial supporters and subscribers. If you are not one yet, please visit BikePortland.org/support and become one today. This is community-powered journalism that needs community to survive! ***Steph Routh Campaign WebsitePortland Planning Commission
Back for another chat in the BikePortland Shed, it's Eva Frazier and Jonathan Maus! Eva is a bike mechanic, art school grad, and bike shop co-owner. Jonathan is founder and editor of BikePortland. They sit in the shed and talk about random stuff. In this episode, they touched on:Portland city council race and candidate Angelita Morillo What's better: Fenders or rain pants?Why Eva doesn't ride an e-bike.Eva's latest "nerd overlap" Venn diagram and how it explains why Brompton riders love ponchos. A pedal-powered pipe organ (Jonathan's TikTok vid)Verboort Sausage FestReflections on Jonathan's NYC TripWhy Portland Trophy Cup is so amazing.and more!!
I'm excited to share the inaugural episode with new co-host Eva Frazier! Eva is a co-owner of Clever Cycles, a board member of the nonprofit BikeLoud PDX, and just an all-around quality person who cares about Portland and wants to see cycling thrive.In what I hope is the first of many "In The Shed" chats to come, Eva and I chat about a wide range of topics. It's fun, free-flowing banter between two bike and urbanist nerds — a change from the more formal interviews and event recaps this podcast has done in the past. I will still do those things, but will make "In The Shed" a regular feature.In this episode (recorded Thursday, October 12th) Eva and I talked about:Life in the shop (squirrels and cats!)Eva's preferred route from inner southeast to The Shed in NoPoThe Street Trust Alice Awards Automatic shifting bicycles (Trek's "Lime" bike in Portland 2007)Tapas Tuesdays (link to event)First bike on Mt. Hood (Mazamas story)PBOT SE Hawthorne Blvd Evaluation Report (PDF)Broadway Bike Lane Scandal (all BP coverage)The first bakfiets in Portland and subsequent Dutch bike invasion.and more!! Episode made possible by BikePortland advertisers, subscribers, and financial supporters. Please become one today at BikePortland.org/support.
In this episode, your host Jonathan Maus takes you on the 14th annual Bike Town Hall Ride that took place in southeast Portland on Sunday, October 8th. You'll hear remarks from Oregon Senator Michael Dembrow and House representatives Khanh Pham and Thuy Tran. In addition, you'll ride along and hear about community projects like the Arleta Triangle Square, 70s Greenway, and more. Jonathan Maus provides narration along the way.For a full recap and photo gallery from the ride, see this story on BikePortland.
In this episode, I share a video call I had with PBOT Commissioner Mingus Mapps about the Broadway Bike Lane Scandal. His office set up this 30-minute interview to respond to our stories about Mapps' involvement in a push from his PBOT Director Millicent Williams to make significant changes to the protected bike lane on NW/SW Broadway. Williams' email to PBOT staff on September 14th made it clear she was ready to move forward — with what she claims was Mapps' approval — on reversing the changes on Broadway and putting back to a less safe configuration.For more on this story, read the full coverage on BikePortland.
Even though Portland has recently seen a significant drop in cycling, our city still has the highest number of bike commuters in the country. But with 43 traffic fatalities this year and 70 last year, many cyclists say riding has felt more dangerous than ever. Today we're talking with BikePortland editor Jonathan Maus—he's giving us some tips on how both drivers and pedestrians can stay safe on our streets. Bike resources mentioned on the show: Metro “Bike There!” Map City of Portland Bike Map Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Your host Jonathan Maus (Editor & Publisher, BikePortland) went to the State Capitol in Salem on April 13th to cover the Transportation Future Day of Action. The event was a lobbying day organized by Just Crossing Alliance (a coalition of environmental and transportation nonprofits) as part of their "Right Size, Right Now" campaign that seeks to reduce the cost and footprint of the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program project.In this episode, you'll hear a range of interviews including:Adah Crandall, Sunrise PDXZachary Lauritzen, Oregon WalksAaron Brown, Office of Rep. Khanh PhamBrett Morgan, 1000 Friends of OregonKhanh Pham, Oregon House RepMark Gamba, Oregon House RepAnd several others!Links: Day of Action event pageBikePortland Coverage and photo gallery from the day
Take a journey into the heart of Portland's amazing cycling community in this episode where host Jonathan Maus and BikePortland reporter Taylor Griggs wade into the thick crowds at Ladds 500 to chat with the assembled characters.Links:BikePortland coverage of Ladds 500Ladds 500 page on the Shift website
In this episode, host Jonathan Maus welcomes members of Timberwolves Cycle Recovery into he Shed. Also known as the Sith Lord Vader Squadron Timberwolves, they're a grassroots group of Portlanders who are taking the law into their own hands to recover stolen bicycles. They are led by Royal Johnson, who is the main voice you'll hear in the episode. Royal and Jonathan were joined by Laura Dallago, the group's treasurer, and Rich Baker, who coordinates their events and rides. Royal started the group in Austin, Texas in 2011 and he maintains a chapter of the group there, as well as one in Los Angeles, Colorado, and Houston. Their MO is to enlist people to help them spot stolen bikes, research online to find out of it the bike is indeed stolen, and then if it is, they hit the streets and try to recover it. On March 18th, Royal went on a recovery mission in the South Waterfront district that was first reported as a robbery by gunpoint. Alarmed by the initial reports, we did a story immediately based on details from an OHSU campus alert and a police report that said someone flashed a gun and robbed someone of a blue electric bike near the intersection of SW Sheridan and Moody. It was only after we published that we figured out Royal was involved and that perhaps the person who reported the gun wasn't telling the truth. It all turned into a mess, so Royal and I agreed he should come over to the shed so we could hash everything out. Links:What really happened with that bike theft confrontation in South Waterfront? - (BikePortland, 3/22/23)Updated: Stolen bike recovery leads to confrontation in South Waterfront (BikePortland, 3/18/23)‘Timberwolves' look to hunt down and recover stolen bikes (BikePortland, 10/24/22)SLVS Timberwolves on Instagram
In this episode you'll get to know TriMet bus operator Dan Christensen. Known as "bus driver dan" to his many Twitter followers, Dan is more than just bus driver — he's a storyteller, a community builder and a big part of what makes Portland so special. And from his seat behind the windshield, watching what he calls "Portland on the big screen" — he's seen a lot since he started driving for TriMet 16 years ago.Host Jonathan Maus wanted to talk with Dan not just because of what he's seen on his bus over the years, but because of how he sees it. In this interview Dan shares stories from his bus and why he thinks transit is so much more than just a way to get from point a to point b. He and Jonathan also talk about whether TriMet's bad reputation has gotten to him, how he drives around bike riders, why he still remembers the name of his first school bus driver, why he only counts some of the "Thank yous" he gets from riders, and much more.If you love transit... Actually, if you love portland, you'll really enjoy this episode.Links:Dan Christensen on TwitterDan Christensen Archives on BikePortland (he's managed to get on our Front Page several times over the years!)This podcast is a production of Pedaltown Media Incorporated. Thanks to all the subscribers and advertisers who support our work. If you aren't one of them yet, please become one today. And if you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave us a review, and tell a friend about it.
In this episode, host Jonathan Maus shares clips from a recent meeting of the Metro Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT). He highlights an exchange between county commissioners that was spurred by the "reading the of the names" - an increasingly common practice at meetings where someone reads names of people killed in traffic crashes at the outset of a meeting in order to add urgency to road safety efforts.Jonathan shares why he thinks this practice is so important — and how it can gain even more value when it spurs an exchange like the one between two commissioners and a Metro staff person in this episode.Links:Nafisa Fai - Washington County Commission websitePaul Savas - Clackamas County Commission websiteJuan Carlos Gonzalez - Metro Council websiteMetro JPACT home pageDetails on Metro's $2.4 million road safety planning grant (BikePortland)
This episode is all about the headlines I'm sure all of you've seen — that the number of people riding bikes in portland has fallen sharply in recent years. It's a decline that started long before Covid, and it's something we've been stewing about around here for many years now. But now we've got hard numbers from the City of Portland, so it's time to dig in and confront this unfortunate reality.So sit back and hang out with BikePortland Editor Jonathan Maus and Staff Writer Taylor Griggs to hear their reactions to the news, reasons why it's happening, and what implications might be going forward. We'll also share a few reader comments and reactions from folks Taylor bumped into over the weekend. Links from the episode:Something has gone wrong in Portland - May 2014 BikePortland article that nails the start of the decline.2019 Bike Year in Review - PDF of presentation by PBOT Bike Coordinator Roger Geller where he makes the case that "hidden" neighborhood greenways" are partly to blame.City counts reveal data behind Portland's precipitous drop in cycling - March 15th, 2023 BikePortland article on the PBOT Bike Counts report.
In this episode, host Jonathan Maus will take you on a tour and ride with Tegan Valo from B-Line Urban Delivery. B-Line is a Portland company that was founded in 2008 and they have carved out a great little niche for their innovative approach to last mile freight logistics.If you're a BikePortland reader, you'll recall several stories we've written about them over the years because of this simple fact: they use pedal-powered electric cargo trikes for their delivery fleet. B-Line has replaced well over 320,000 truck miles with these trikes in over 42,000 deliveries in the past 15 years. And while they're much smaller and safer than a truck or a van, B-Line trikes can still carry up to 700 pounds of cargo. A few days ago, Jonathan met Tegan at their large warehouse in the Central Eastside to learn more about the company, get a rundown of what a typical day looks like. They then hit the road for a few deliveries.
For this episode, host Jonathan Maus rode down to City Hall and recorded an interview with Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps. Mapps has served as one of Portland's five council members since 2020, and was recently named the commissioner-in-charge of the transportation bureau. Mapps is a graduate of Reed College, he has a PhD in government from Cornell and is a former political science professor. Prior to ousting former Commissioner Chloe Eudaly from her seat in 2019, Mapps worked for the City of Portland's office of civic life.Jonathan and Commissioner Mapps covered a lot of ground in this interview. They talked about the type of person he's looking to hire as the next director of PBOT, how he thinks transportation policy and projects can help revitalize Portland, why he thinks the 2030 bike plan is outdated, his rationale for wanting more police officers patrolling Portland streets, his position on the I-5 Rose Quarter project, and much more.LINKS:LA Times article on Portland's problems and progressivismNovember 2020 BikePortland interview with Mingus Mapps
In this episode, I connect with Taylor Griggs, a BikePortland.org staff writer, for a firsthand account and reflections after her month-long trip to Europe. We're talking protected and separated cycle lanes, advisory bike lanes, also known as edge lane roads, and fietsstraats, also known as priority bike streets. We also discuss adding pop-up parks and bringing a bit of fun into our public spaces as well as the bike bus trend, with her visit to Barcelona to profile the Bici-bus, which happens every day. We also give a shout-out to Megan Ramey, who leads a bike train in Hood River, OR, and Sam Balto, who leads a bike bus in Portland, OR.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):- Taylor's BikePortland.org articles- BikePortland.org- My episode with Cathy Tuttle- The video version of this episode- The landing page on ActiveTowns.org of this episodeFour Easy Steps to Support My Efforts:1. Become an Active Towns Ambassador by "Buying Me a Coffee" or by pledging as little as $1 per month on Patreon2. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a "thumbs up," leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share it with a friend.3. Subscribe to the podcast on your preferred listening platform and the Active Towns YouTube Channel4. Pick up some Active Towns #StreetsAreForPeople Merch at my storeCredits:All video and audio production by John SimmermanMusic:Epidemic SoundResources used during the production of this episode:- My awesome recording platform is Ecamm- Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteFor more information about my Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit my links below:- Website- Twitter- Newsletter- Podcast landing pages- Facebook- InstagramBackground:Hi Everyone, my name is John Simmerman.I'm a health promotion professional with over 30 years of experience and my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization of how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.In 2012 I launched the non-profit Advocates for Healthy Communities as an effort to help promote and create healthy, active places.Since that time, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be, in order to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."My Active Towns suite of channels feature my original video and audio content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.Thanks for tuning in; I hope you have found this content helpful.Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2023Advocates for Healthy Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501c3 organization (EIN 45-3802508) dedicated to helping communities create a Culture of Activity. To donate, click here. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
On this midweek show, Ryan Packer returns for a round-up of regional transportation issues with Crystal. Ryan's efforts to raise public awareness around traffic safety issues through in-the-minute reporting of cars hitting pedestrians and bicyclists sparks conversation about the Legislature's aim of changing driver behavior through bills currently under consideration and their funding of bike and pedestrian safety improvements in last year's transportation package. They then address the issue of the Columbia River Crossing Megaproject being pushed forward with a decades-old scope, an uncertain funding plan, and non-consideration of climate change or equity. Finally, Crystal and Ryan highlight the disconnect observed in two regional planning bodies with the Puget Sound Regional Council adopting a transportation plan unaligned with our 2030 climate goals and the Sound Transit Board making decisions uninformed by transit rider experience. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available below and at officialhacksandwonks.com. Follow us on Twitter at @HacksWonks. Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Twitter at @finchfrii and find Ryan Packer at @typewriteralley. Ryan Packer Ryan Packer has been covering transportation and land use at The Urbanist since 2015. Their work has also appeared in the Seattle Bike Blog, BikePortland, and PubliCola. They don't own a bike. Resources “State Proposals Aim to Lower Traffic Deaths by Improving Driver Behavior” by Ryan Packer from PubliCola “Navigating the Move Ahead Washington Transportation Package with Ryan Packer” from Hacks & Wonks “Washington State Is Losing Control of the Columbia Interstate Bridge Replacement Megaproject” by Ryan Packer from The Urbanist “Adopted Regional Transportation Plan Isn't Aligned With 2030 Climate Goals” by Ryan Packer from The Urbanist “Elected Leaders Must Press Forward With Study of SR 99 and I-5 Everett Link Alternatives” by Stephen Fesler from The Urbanist Transcript [00:00:00] Crystal Fincher: Welcome to Hacks & Wonks. I'm Crystal Fincher, and I'm a political consultant and your host. On this show, we talk with policy wonks and political hacks to gather insight into local politics and policy in Washington state through the lens of those doing the work with behind-the-scenes perspectives on what's happening, why it's happening, and what you can do about it. Full transcripts and resources referenced in the show are always available at officialhacksandwonks.com and in our episode notes. Today, I am excited to be able to welcome Ryan Packer to the show, who's been covering transportation and land use at The Urbanist since 2015. Their work has also appeared in Seattle Bike Blog, Bike Portland, PubliCola. They don't own a bike, but they cover transportation and related issues as well or better than anyone else in the region - an absolute impactful reporter that we have here. Welcome to the show, Ryan. [00:01:07] Ryan Packer: Thanks so much for having me. [00:01:09] Crystal Fincher: So what got you interested in the first place in reporting on these issues in particular? [00:01:16] Ryan Packer: Basically it was being a transportation user in Seattle. I worked for a restaurant company close to downtown and lived in Capitol Hill, and basically all the ways to get to work that the City was trying to encourage people to use - walking or transit - were unpleasant or infeasible basically. And once you start picking at threads as to why that is, you quickly learn all the different elements of the transportation system that most people aren't aware of - what I like to call the government ecosystem around transportation - and all the ways that it's very broken. [00:01:59] Crystal Fincher: Definitely very broken. One of the things that you've become known for is the unique style of reporting that you have for pedestrian-involved collisions by cars and other vehicles. How did you get started doing that? And what is the kind of feedback that you've received about your reporting there? [00:02:22] Ryan Packer: Yeah, so I basically started noticing that there wasn't a lot of in-the-minute reporting on people getting hit by cars, basically - people walking or biking. Essentially The Seattle Times, or daily newspaper even - in Washington or elsewhere - is only going to cover someone getting hit when ultimately it leads to someone's death. And I started to think about how this leads to a disproportionate - started to think about how this leads to a wrong perception in public at large, in terms of how safe it is to walk around and bike around. Obviously it's not intended to scare people or make people not want to walk or bike, but just to give people an accurate read of how often this is happening. Because the information is out there and once I started pulling it out and realizing this is happening right around the corner from me - I might not have even known this had happened - the reception has been pretty positive in terms of people wanting this information, wanting to know what's happening particularly on their own neighborhood streets. [00:03:41] Crystal Fincher: And there's a lot of action being talked about in response to the crisis that is pedestrian and bike safety. What is being talked about - I guess we'll start off at the state level - just in terms of safety, and then we can talk about general, other transportation-related issues, but what's on the docket there? [00:04:04] Ryan Packer: This session is not a big transportation year, but the traffic safety crisis is the big transportation issue. And so there are a number of bills that are being considered and most of them are trying to directly go after driver behavior. And so we have a lot of bills that are aimed at, say, specific types of drivers. There's a bill to lower the blood alcohol content threshold for a DUI from 0.08 to 0.05 - making people think a little bit more closely about how much they're drinking when they get behind the wheel of a car. There's a bill to target 18 to 25-year old drivers who don't have to take a driver education course - 18-year old doesn't have to take a driver's education course that their 17-year old sibling does. It doesn't make a lot of sense and it shows in the data in terms of the crash rates for young adults like that don't end up taking that course. There's a bill to target older drivers - a little bit less prescriptive - but there's some data that suggests that once you hit a certain age, your capabilities behind the wheel should be assessed a little bit more frequently. A bill to give people a warning label on their car, before they purchase it, in terms of - This vehicle is large and more likely to severely hurt somebody walking or biking if you hit them. And that bill would also impose an additional fine if you were involved in a crash like that. And so all these bills are looking at individual behavior, what I would call bad driver targeting. Ultimately this is just one aspect of the sort of national best practices that everyone's moving toward in terms of what's called a safe systems approach. But the important thing to note - while everyone's talking about driver behavior this session - last session was the transportation investment year. And you actually had me on the program to talk about the Move Ahead Washington package last year. But just to go through what we know about it since then and what it's going to do, it includes a lot of money for cities to ask for for bike and pedestrian safety. The problem with that is it is relying on people to raise their hands and also doesn't require that the funds go to the most impactful areas. So for example, a city like Kent doesn't have to request funds for the intersection, say, that the most people are getting hurt at. They can say, Oh, we want to do a project over here. And there's not a lot that the state can say, Oh, you should do something different. They have to pick the projects people are asking for. But there's another very important provision in that bill, which is a new complete streets mandate for state highways. And so we're getting into a mandate - sort of a blanket change - it's going to be much more impactful. It basically says that any time that the State Department of Transportation goes out to fix, or repair, or maintain a state highway - they have to look at whether or not that state highway is up to current standards - whether or not it has sidewalks, bike lanes, and whether drivers are currently driving really the appropriate speeds on that highway. So the Legislature allocated $1.5 billion in Move Ahead Washington to overall highway maintenance, so it's a lot of money but it's also not a lot of money in terms of how much maintenance our state highways need. But since the passage of that law, the State Department of Transportation has announced that they expect to use about half of that amount to upgrade safety infrastructure for people walking and biking on state highways - about $750 million, which if it ends up coming to pass would be the biggest investment in safe infrastructure in statewide history - possibly in a lot of states. [00:08:42] Crystal Fincher: And that was some positive news, hedged positive news. Seems like we're making progress but there is so much to do that sometimes it feels like we're trying to mop up the ocean a little bit. You talked about some of the best practices and some of the bills going after one dimension of that, which is driver behavior. What are the other recommended best practices? What are things that legislators should be talking about? [00:09:12] Ryan Packer: One element that has not quite made it to the Legislature is vehicle design in terms of - I talked a little bit about that warning label - but in terms of actually requiring that cars not be designed to hurt people is one aspect of this sort of safe systems approach - the actual design of our vehicles. It's gotten larger over the past couple decades - the trend toward SUVs, which has led to negative direction in terms of the pedestrian and cyclist injuries and fatalities. And so when you're talking about that, you're talking about something that would impact everyone on the road as opposed to the so-called bad driver. Even if you're putting a warning label - that's putting the onus on individuals like - Oh, you bought this car so you should know what it's like, as opposed to this car is on the market and it's a systemic issue in terms of offering these for sale. And so, but once you start to get into sort of how many different drivers would be impacted, the political will to actually make the changes is diminishing. For example, in terms of driver's education - when you talk about making drivers age 18 to 25 do the driver's ed course, that's one change but a 24-year old who is tested in another state can also just go ahead and transfer their driver's license into Washington without having to do that driver's ed course. Or a driver who's 35 and maybe needs to have that driver course again. Roger Millar, the State Secretary of Transportation, likes to note that the last time that he was tested for his driver behavior was in the 1970s and that there's been a couple of changes in state laws since that time - and that's true for a lot of people on our roads. But once again, that would apply to a lot of people getting back in the queue for driver's testing. [00:11:10] Crystal Fincher: Does road design play a role in the safe systems approach? [00:11:15] Ryan Packer: Absolutely road design plays a role. It's a key component, and that's what I was getting at with the complete streets requirement doing a systemic look at whether our state highways are designed to standards. There's not really a requirement for local jurisdictions to do that - cities like Seattle have complete streets ordinances, but there's a lot of ways that they can get around those. But you're talking about the need to - number one, make sure that people are driving at the appropriate speeds - one of the biggest factors in terms of whether or not someone is likely to be hurt or even killed in a crash is the speed that they're going. And you often have cities lowering speed limits, but the design speed - the speed that drivers feel like they can appropriately go on a road - may still be a lot higher. And so you have a lot of streets where those speeds remain very high. And then you also have the issue of distance for crossings for pedestrians - whether or not someone is likely to be able to safely cross that street is a big determinant of how safe it is, and whether or not there's safe infrastructure for people to walk along it or bike along it. One thing I like to always notice is - one of the biggest impacts that adding protected bike lanes to urban cities is - is the impact on pedestrians. You're often - one, separating cars from pedestrians with another lane in between them which is always great and makes things safer, but you're also adding protected turns - making sure the drivers aren't turning across the bike lanes - also great for people walking. So these kind of have these compounding effect, where it improves everything for everyone on the street not just someone on a bike. [00:13:15] Crystal Fincher: Now there are a few other things going on in the Legislature, even besides some of these pedestrian-related and safety-related enhancements. One of those issues is one that they thought they dealt with and maybe mostly wrapped up last year, but that has come back with a vengeance - that a lot of people are looking at with concern - and that's the Columbia River Crossing Megaproject. Where does that stand, and what has happened that they need to tackle now? [00:13:48] Ryan Packer: So this project has been around for almost two decades - it's a needed project to replace the two spans of the I-5, between Washington and Oregon - one of which was built in the 1910s. The previous attempt to replace this bridge, which is called the Columbia River Crossing, included seven miles of highway expansion, five interchanges, light rail as a component - several sort of huge projects within projects - that made the project very expensive and expansive. Ultimately in 2013, it was the Washington State Senate that didn't want to pony up the money for that project - in part because of light rail's inclusion, in part because of a opposition to having tolls from the Washington side to go into Oregon. That project languished for several years until it was restarted by Governor Brown and Inslee in 2019, and has been moving forward - but the key thing to remember with this is that we're still using the federal approval from the Columbia River Crossing, even though we've now rebranded it with a very flashy campaign called the Interstate Bridge Replacement, or the IBR. It has the environmental approval of the Columbia River Crossing and that includes the scope - and so the seven miles of highway, five interchanges - it basically is still in there. And we went through a whole process to look at how we might tweak that, whether or not we might include climate change as an actual purpose and need to address with this project, or whether we might want to include equity as an actual thing to address. Ultimately they decided that that would disrupt the project schedule - they're very intent on replacing this, starting construction by 2025 - it's not entirely clear that's going to happen, it being 2023 already, but that's what they're aiming for. And at the end of last year they just came up with a new project cost estimate based on all the new tweaks that they want to do to this thing, and it could end up costing about - $7.5 billion is the high end estimate. It would ultimately be the most expensive single highway project in the Pacific Northwest and among the top 10 in the nation. And so the question is whether the scope is too wide and expansive for - what we're talking about is a very needed bridge, not a highway. [00:16:55] Crystal Fincher: Absolutely. And with that expanded cost estimate and the now inflated cost that we've seen, that puts them at least a billion dollars under budget - and there's a question about where that billion dollars is coming from. Where does that stand? [00:17:11] Ryan Packer: So they have a financial concept plan that assumes that they're going to get a lot of money from the federal government - the bipartisan infrastructure bill included a mega-grant program, kind of orchestrated by Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, that kind of had the IBR in mind when they were looking at this grant program. And so they're counting on an incredible amount of money from the federal government - around $2-3 billion - which is wild. They've already gotten $1 billion from the State of Washington in last year's Move Ahead Washington package, but they're banking on Oregon chipping in another billion dollars this year - which would get them to have that matching funds for the federal grants. Interestingly enough, new governor of Oregon Tina Kotek released her budget very early this year and didn't actually have a billion dollars in it for that project, which is very interesting because it was a very big priority of her predecessor, a very big priority of sort of her old colleagues in the Oregon Legislature - and so she clearly sees it as not one of the top priorities. She's currently allocating a lot of money for housing and not highways. [00:18:41] Crystal Fincher: Yeah, an interesting conundrum which has definitely been scrutinized and continues to be challenged - because of the broadness of the scope - does it require that many lanes, that much impact on the local area? You talked about equity being put aside in terms of - because they wanted to stick to their timeline. And certainly people in that region who are familiar with the impacts of the type of pollution that's created by cars being spewed in the neighborhood and what those health impacts, like asthma and other things, are for local communities and schools there in that area. [00:19:25] Ryan Packer: So that also gets into the issue of tolls, which I mentioned were a sticking point with the old project. They're banking on a lot of money also coming in from tolls. The first point with that is obviously we don't quite know what the actual impact on traffic volume on the bridge is going to be from those tolls, and so it has a - do we need to have all that capacity to - if we're going to put the tolling on the bridge, what is that relationship going to look like? But also, as we've seen in Washington with the SR99 tunnel and some of the other tolling programs that the state has undergone in the past couple years, sort of banking on a high number of toll users to pay back your project is not necessarily the most sound financial plan. [00:20:20] Crystal Fincher: It is not, as we have learned in those other situations that you referenced. I also wanted to touch on one of our regional bodies at the moment - the Puget Sound Regional Council. And we have a number of bodies that are involved in transportation planning, a number of regional bodies - this is one of them - but a number of these have also talked about their commitment to addressing climate change, to reducing greenhouse gases, setting targets and we have a 2030 target that they're attempting to hit. And recently they announced that they are not on track to hit the 2030 climate goal. Where do they stand on that, and are they talking about anything that will put us back on track to meeting those targets? [00:21:09] Ryan Packer: Yeah, so this is a body that not a lot of people pay attention to - it's the four county - King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Kitsap County - regional planning body. Its biggest role is figuring out where to allocate federal funds, and so it's a conduit for a lot of federal money - and so that's how it's how it gets the power that it does. Ultimately they have to approve a regional transportation plan that kind of looks at the entire region's goals around transportation. They did that last year, and originally it was just looking at the climate impacts by 2050 - sort of the long term goals around reducing transportation emissions. Thanks to a lot of the leaders on the regional council, including the president - King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci - they were like, Hey, we should actually be looking at 2030 to see if we're on track or we have to do a lot more work. And that analysis just came back and shows a pretty big gap in terms of where we're expected to be - 13%, which is a huge emissions gap. It doesn't sound huge, but it's - when you talk about the emissions of the entire region. And they also looked at sort of some models around how to fill that gap. And that's the frustrating thing about their models - which is basically they showed that transit, expanding transit, is not really going to close the gap. And in terms of - because our growth strategy as a region is not quite going to catch up to where we need to be by 2030 in terms of having actual people close to transit. First of all, should give some direction to our local leaders in terms of what they should be doing around transit access and station planning. But also the model seems a little bit behind the times in terms of being able to actually account for sort of the actual behavior of people. It also noted that if we put a hold on sort of the roadway expansions - which add capacity, add cars, add emissions - that it would - their models are showing that that wouldn't have an impact. And a lot of people are questioning that, including Claudia Balducci [00:23:48] Crystal Fincher: Yeah, a lot of us questioning that - with some of the justification that they're giving essentially being we add lanes but that's gonna help traffic. And if people spend less time in traffic, then that's going to neutralize the emissions that come from the increased traffic somehow. [00:24:05] Ryan Packer: The same arguments that we've been hearing for a couple of decades - just haven't borne out. [00:24:09] Crystal Fincher: Yeah - kind of challenging there. Also Sound Transit, another regional body that is very involved in our regional transit system - they operate our light rail and heavy rail Sounder system. Where do they stand in terms of climate goals and their kind of overall operation? [00:24:33] Ryan Packer: Ultimately, Sound Transit isn't really charged with making sure that the region's holding to its climate goals. They're being asked to build a regional spine to our transit network, which is - it's very expensive. It's gonna be a lot of years of work to get that sort of spine from Everett to Tacoma. And ultimately, it's not going to be as impactful as it could be if regional government - cities, counties - don't do the maximum to ensure that people are living by the stations, people can access those stations. And so that's one way that the sort of siloed system of our transportation ecosystem in central Puget Sound is not optimizing outcomes in terms of climate and also just all those other more immediate impacts - livability, air quality, things like that. Sound Transit is tasked with building the system, and the way that its political board is structured - the incentives are basically to make sure that your community is getting some transit and not that the region as a whole is set up for success. One way that that's epitomized is the planned deviation over to Paine Field in Everett - that a lot of people are questioning the sort of utility of making a detour on light rail to go to an airport that not a lot of people are really going to be able to utilize by the time it's done - and so, it's adding a couple like 10 minutes to every trip to Everett, as opposed to other ways to serve that. But it's seen as - taking away that would be seen as bad for Everett. [00:26:30] Crystal Fincher: And this is a challenge that we see with this board overall and some of the confounding decisions that are made. What is the composition of this board, and what kind of investment do its members have in - personal investment - in public transit? [00:26:47] Ryan Packer: The board is made up of local leaders from around the region, so ultimately you have people whose investment in transit is tied directly to their own performance as an elected official, not necessarily their own experience as a transit rider. It's not clear how many of our transit board members are actual daily transit riders or, in terms of their ties to the overall transit community. And so, like I said, it's all about making sure that you're delivering the projects for your city. And so there's just a lot of sort of bartering and siloing. [00:27:26] Crystal Fincher: Overall, with your perspective on transportation and transit in the region, what do you think are the most important things, I guess, on the docket for people to address and ways to address them? What would your words of wisdom be for those involved in the policy making? [00:27:45] Ryan Packer: I think the first thing I would say is that people involved in transit decision making should get out and ride transit - see what it's like - use that experience to actually make decisions. And get away from the map on the screen, in terms of looking at the actual impacts. I think a lot of people are getting very cynical about the decision making processes in central Puget Sound at all levels of government - from the City of Seattle to the highest echelons at Sound Transit - in terms of where the priorities of the decision makers are. I do think we see that party shifting a little bit, possibly - even at the City of Seattle level - toward people-centered projects, but ultimately the status quo bias is so embedded into - a lot of these - I don't want to say infrastructure, but the actual decision making processes - that it's very hard to turn that ship very quickly at all. [00:29:05] Crystal Fincher: Thank you so much, Ryan, for your time today. Thank you for just enlightening us - and your coverage - it's just been so impactful. I know that even for people who follow these issues and like you talked about - looking at the data, seeing maps on the screen and this happening - it's just impactful in a different way to see it reported in live time. And just the way that you get around our region and connect the dots on how what we do across the region impacts each other, and how we should be addressing transit and transportation overall. So thank you very much. [00:29:48] Ryan Packer: Well, thanks so much for all that you do, Crystal. [00:29:50] Crystal Fincher: Thank you all for listening to Hacks & Wonks. The producer of Hacks & Wonks is Lisl Stadler, our assistant producer is Shannon Cheng, and our Post-Production Assistant is Bryce Cannatelli. You can find Hacks & Wonks on Twitter @HacksWonks, and you can follow me @finchfrii, spelled F-I-N-C-H-F-R-I-I. You can catch Hacks & Wonks on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts - just type "Hacks and Wonks" into the search bar. Be sure to subscribe to get our Friday almost-live shows and our midweek show delivered right to your podcast feed. If you like us, leave us a review wherever you listen. You can also get a full transcript of this episode and links to the resources referenced in the show at officialhacksandwonks.com and in the episode notes. Thanks for tuning in - talk to you next time.
As a veteran of Metro Council (our elected regional planning authority) — including a seven-year stint as president from 2003 to 2010 — David Bragdon has been around the block when it comes to Oregon transportation politics. And for the past decade he's been executive director of TransitCenter, a nonprofit foundation that funds and conducts research and advocacy to improve public transit across the U.S. Before that he led a planning office for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.Suffice it to say, Bragdon has a mix of experiences in advocacy and government that I feel BikePortland readers could learn a lot from. So when I heard he was leaving his post at TransitCenter and was making a stop in Portland to visit family, I figured it was a perfect time to invite him into the Shed for an interview. We ended up talking about a range of issues including: how advocates can influence government, what PBOT should look for in their hiring of a new director, PBOT's budget woes, why he doesn't trust ODOT (which he refers to as the Oregon State Highway Department), TriMet and transit governance, and more.Links:David Bragdon Wikipedia entryODOT suffers from incompetence and dishonesty at highest levels, former Metro President says (BikePortland, 2015)A People's History of Recent Urban Transportation Innovation (Transit Center, 2016)Winning Transit (TransitCenter, 2019)
In this episode, host Jonathan Maus (BikePortland's publisher and editor) sat down for a chat about the Portland Bureau of Transportation with Kiel Johnson, a Portland bike advocacy veteran and current chair of the nonprofit BikeLoud PDX.PBOT is currently looking to hire a new director of the agency and Jonathan and Kiel have some thoughts about it! They share insights on the state of PBOT in general, why they feel this is a pivotal moment for the agency, what traits they'd like to see in a new director, and much more.Links from the show:BikePortland story about departure of former PBOT Director Chris WarnerOn paving vs bike routes, The Oregonian got it wrong (2012 BikePortland story about former PBOT Director Tom Miller's controversial attempt to reduce the paving budget)
When it comes to the goal of safer streets and "Vision Zero," how much of a focus should we put on individual driver behaviors and infrastructure design? The "systems versus people" debate is raging as cities and advocates grapple with record traffic fatalities. Tara Goddard, PhD, is an assistant professor at the School of Urban Planning at Texas A & M University. She earned her doctorate in urban planning from Portland State University and she's led several studies about car culture, "windshield bias" and more. Host: Jonathan Maus, editor and publisher of BikePortland.Links: Dr. Goddard Texas A & M Bio Page / @DrTaraGoddard on TwitterPSU Transportation Safety Culture Webinar with Dr. Goddard on February 16thThat driving-centric KATU-TV storyBook: There Are No Accidents, byJessie Singer (Simon & Schuster, 2022)Cars are rewiring our brains to ignore all the bad stuff about driving (Article on Ian Walker's "motonormativity" research in The Verge)
Host Jonathan Maus attended the Powell Blvd Community Forum at Cleveland High School on October 20th. For this episode, he has pulled out several powerful remarks from attendees. It's a rare opportunity to hear advocates speak out about the tragic collision that killed Sarah Pliner on October 4th just a few hundred yards from where the Forum took place. Among the voices you'll hear from in this episode is Bike Loud PDX Chair Kiel Johnson, who starts things off with a moving speech delivered on stage as ODOT Director Kris Strickler and PBOT Director Chris Warner sat just a few feet away. *** LINKS: https://bikeportland.org/2022/10/21/top-dot-brass-get-earful-at-forum-on-powell-blvd-safety-365897 (BikePortland's recap of the Community Forum) https://bikeportland.org/tag/sarah-pliner (BikePortland coverage of Sarah Pliner collision) Our Podcast music was provided by https://www.thepodcasthost.com/ (The Podcast Host) and https://www.thepodcasthost.com/try-alitu/ (Alitu: The Podcast Maker app).
BikePortland recently reported that a property owner in downtown Portland had erected a row of more than two dozen bike racks along a public sidewalk. Around the same time, Willamette Week reported that a group of residents in Portland's Laurelhurst neighborhood set up planter boxes along a street next to Laurelhurst Park, where people had been camping before a recent sweep. Both appear to be examples of hostile architecture, also known as defensive architecture, meant to deter people experiencing homelessness from camping on the sidewalk. Michael Mehaffy is a researcher and architect who focuses on public space. He says he sees hostile architecture as the end result of systemic failures. We hear from Mehaffy about how the accessibility of public space can reflect a city's values.
This week you'll get to know a rising star in local political and advocacy circles, Ashton Simpson. At just 34 years old Simpson is running for Metro Council, and with no challengers for his east Portland district seat, he's now Metro Councilor-elect Ashton Simpson. Simpson will be just the 2nd Black man to ever sit on Metro Council, following in the footsteps of Ed Washington in the early 1990s. It will be the start of his career as an elected official and the culmination of a whirlwind life journey that has seen him bounce through many life experiences, both highs and lows, that are on par with someone twice his age. After growing up in tough urban neighborhoods in Houston, texas and dropping out of college his first go-round, Simpson found work as a mall cop. When he declined a promotion in the mall security business, his boss urged him to join the Air Force and he served stints as a civil engineer at bases around the world before moving to Portland in 2015. In the relatively short time he's been here, Simpson has worked as a project manager with a construction firm, earned a community development degree from Portland State University, been a community organizer for a nonprofit in east Portland, and has had his current job as executive director for Oregon Walks for since January 2021. In addition to all that, in the past two years he's lost several close family members to Covid and other causes, navigated America's racial reckoning as a young black man and has been a doting father to his nine-year-old son, who he lives with in his home in east Portland's Russell neighborhood. Given his role with Oregon Walks and his volunteer activism on many transportation-related advisory committees around town, I've already interviewed Simpson several times for stories on BikePortland. So going into this one, I wanted to learn more about him and for the first half of the interview or so, you'll learn a lot about how his life has shaped his values and perspectives. The second half of the interview has more policy and project talk and we touch on issues like housing, I-5 freeway expansion projects, 82nd Avenue, Portland's tragic record of pedestrian traffic fatalities and more. But as you'll hear from him, Simpson doesn't see a fine line between projects and people. To him, you can't build up one without the other. I really enjoyed this interview and I think you're going to love getting know Councilor-elect Simpson. *** LINKS: https://www.ashtonformetro.com/ (Ashton Simpson for Metro campaign site) https://bikeportland.org/2021/09/16/q-a-with-ashton-simpson-who-just-announced-a-bid-for-metro-council-338176 (Q & A with Ashton Simpson, who just announced a bid for Metro Council) (09/16/21 - BikePortland) https://bikeportland.org/2021/02/16/oregon-walks-ed-ashton-simpson-on-hawthorne-aggressive-bike-culture-and-more-326159 (Oregon Walks ED Ashton Simpson on Hawthorne, ‘aggressive' bike culture, and more) (02/16/21 - BikePortland) Our Podcast music was provided by https://www.thepodcasthost.com/ (The Podcast Host) and https://www.thepodcasthost.com/try-alitu/ (Alitu: The Podcast Maker app).
This week we delve into the topic of carfree streets, plazas and great public spaces in Portland. You might have read our recent story about the big announcement Monday morning from the City of Portland that https://bikeportland.org/2022/03/14/pbot-wants-to-make-carfree-healthy-business-plaza-program-permanent-350236 (they want to double down on their outdoor dining patios, plazas and carfree public space programs). In this episode, host Jonathan Maus shares clips from remarks made at the press conference (which was held on Pride Plaza, a 2-block section of carfree street on SW Harvey Milk Street) as well as several interviews with people at the event. You'll hear from PBOT Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, PBOT Director Chris Warner, Portland restaurant co-owner Eli Johnson, Friends of Green Loop Executive Director Keith Jones, and others. Links: https://www.portland.gov/transportation/news/2022/3/14/pbot-news-release-pbot-extends-healthy-businesses-portland-public (PBOT press release about Healthy Business and Vibrant Community Spaces program) "https://bikeportland.org/2021/01/12/commissioner-hardesty-wants-more-carfree-streets-in-downtown-portland-324741 (Commissioner Hardesty wants more carfree streets in downtown Portland)" (BikePortland, 1/12/2021) Theme music: https://www.kevinhartnell.com/ (Kevin Hartnell)
This week we've got another installment in our Shop Talk series and I'm excited to welcome Splendid Cycles co-owners Barb and Joel Grover. This duo has been working in the local bike scene since the 1980s and came up through the ranks as employees of Bike Gallery, which was one of the largest bicycle retail chains in the country. Joel was a product analyst and buyer for many years at Bike Gallery and when cargo bikes first came on the scene in the U.S. in the mid to late aughts, he and Barb had a feeling they weren't reaching their potential being sold in traditional bike shops. So they decided to take a big risk: They left Bike Gallery in 2009 to create a shop that would sell only cargo bikes — and despite being laughed at by some of their peers, Splendid Cycles opened one year later. In 2014, four years after they opened, their business was so strong they moved from their tiny storefront on lower SE Belmont to a larger location in an industrial building in the central eastside right next to the SE 4th Avenue entrance of the Springwater Corridor path. That's where we recorded this episode (and just FYI you might notice from the audio that we did so with our masks on). Before we sat down for the interview, Barb and Joel gave me a tour of the shop and we talked about a few of the bikes they sell. We also went out front where Barb explained to me why they installed a fresh water spigot that's free and open for anyone to use 24/7. In our interview, you'll get to know a bit more about Barb and Joel, and you'll understand why they're so deeply appreciated in our community. You'll also learn how being located next to the Springwater has impacted their business, how the e-bike market has changed in the past decade, how they define the "cargo bike lifestyle", what type of people are investing it, why they only sell high-end bikes, what keeps them inspired to come into work every day, and much more. Links from this episode: https://www.splendidcycles.com/ (Splendid Cycles website) https://bikeportland.org/2022/02/07/oregon-legislator-will-propose-e-bike-purchase-incentive-bill-next-session-348197 (Oregon legislator will propose e-bike purchase incentive bill next session) (BikePortland, 02/07/22) http://www.badgerbikes.biz/about-badgerbikes.html (Badger Bikes) (wooden cargo box maker) https://blaqpaks.com/cargo (Blaq Packs) (cargo bike canopy maker) https://www.r-m.de/en-us/bikes/ (Riese & Müller) https://www.ternbicycles.com/us (Tern Bicycles) https://www.larryvsharry.com/ (Larry vs Harry) This episode was recorded on February 14th inside Splendid Cycles on SE 4th and Ivon in Portland. This podcast is a production of Pedaltown Media Inc., and is made possible by listeners like you. If you're not a subscriber yet, please become one today at http://bikeportland.org/support (bikeportland.org/support). You can listen to more episodes and find out how to subscribe at http://bikeportland.org/podcast (bikeportland.org/podcast). Our theme music is by https://www.kevinhartnell.com/ (Kevin Hartnell).
This week's guest is Bike Index co-founder Bryan Hance. Bike Index has listed over 730,000 bikes since it was founded in 2013 and has become a formidable force in the battle against bike thieves — and Hance is its heart and soul. In December 2021 Hance and the Bike Index team published a report on a case they'd spent 10 months working on that involved 100s of bike thefts in Colorado and a Facebook marketplace store based in Mexico named Alexander's Bikes. In our interview, you'll learn the sordid details of how Hance connected the dots from desperate victims in Denver and surrounding cities, to his expansive network of partners on-the-ground, to the online storefront in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Hance also shares why he got involved in this work, his thoughts on the state of bike theft in Portland, his frustrations with Facebook's inaction against fraudulent sellers, and much more. Links from this episode: https://bikeindex.org/news/closing-the-loop-a-deep-dive-on-a-facebook-reseller-of-bikes-stolen-in (Closing the loop: a deep dive on a Facebook reseller of bikes stolen in Colorado) via Bike Index https://bikeindex.org/bikes?stolenness=all (Search stolen bikes on Bike Index) This episode was recorded on February 10th in the BikePortland studio in north Portland. This podcast is a production of Pedaltown Media Inc., and is made possible by listeners like you. If you're not a subscriber yet, please become one today at http://bikeportland.org/support (bikeportland.org/support). You can listen to more episodes and find out how to subscribe at http://bikeportland.org/podcast (bikeportland.org/podcast). Our theme music is by https://www.kevinhartnell.com/ (Kevin Hartnell).
For this episode, host Jonathan Maus caught up with veteran advocate and recent Portland transplant Cathy Tuttle. Cathy has been an activist for climate change, transportation, and healthy cities for over 30 years and has long list of accomplishments and awards for her work as a community organizer, nonprofit founder (https://seattlegreenways.org/ (Seattle Neighborhood Greenways)) and city staffer. In 2019 she ran for a seat on Seattle City Council and tied for third in a crowded race. Last summer, this 65-year-old, self-described "climate warrior" decided to move to Portland, currently lives downtown, and uses a bike as her main way to get around. While some people in Cathy's shoes might consider slowing down after working so hard for so long on these issues, Cathy is just as committed as ever to make an impact and was just voted to the board of https://bikeloudpdx.org/ (Bike Loud PDX), a local nonprofit whose main goal is to push Portland into being a city where 25% of all trips are made by bike by 2030. In this interview, you'll hear why Cathy chose to move to Portland, how her bike has become her personal mobility device, and how she's avoided burnout after more than three decades of advocacy. We also talked about how being a bureaucrat has helped her become a better advocate. Cathy and I also traded thoughts about the state of bicycling and transportation reform in Portland, whether current PBOT Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty is — or can be — a real champion for the cause, and how Cathy's recently completed Car Master Plan unlocks important clues on how to help us reach that exciting 25% cycling goal. Links from the episode: Cathy on Twitter - https://twitter.com/CathyTuttle (@CathyTuttle) https://bikeportland.org/2014/07/30/seattles-friendliest-insurgent-group-visits-portland-eager-wisdom-dispensing-109485 (BikePortland coverage of a research trip to Portland with Seattle policymakers organized by Cathy in 2014). Car Master Plan Research Project: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H6il2Gh1-EEEKkKcFyqtevJHk4ZkI-zn/view?usp=sharing (Asphalt), https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ze4ipSn9QilPsi-9ydxW4FbP4yJnRkXB/view?usp=sharing (Car Budgets), https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rqW5zJVCQFtLPNF6V2YPwTTKqyA5cZ_W/view?usp=sharing (Parking Cars) This episode was recorded on January 11th. Due to Covid concerns, Cathy joined us virtually. This podcast is a production of Pedaltown Media Inc., and is made possible by listeners like you. If you're not a subscriber yet, please become one today at http://bikeportland.org/support (bikeportland.org/support). You can listen to more episodes and find out how to subscribe at http://bikeportland.org/podcast (bikeportland.org/podcast). Our theme music is by https://www.kevinhartnell.com/ (Kevin Hartnell).
In this episode we hear from Erik Tonkin, the owner of Sellwood Cycle Repair who celebrates his 30th anniversary with the shop this year. We first wanted to have Erik on the show as part of our Shop Talk series, but then realized there was much more to talk about than just running a business. In this interview, you'll learn how he got his start in the local bike industry, why he seriously considered running for a seat on Portland City Council in 2015, and you'll even hear him say there's a possibility he might run again in the future. We also talked about his advocacy work pushing for more trail access at River View, helping the City of Portland write new code to prevent fencing of stolen bikes, and working to find new bike race venues. If you love bike racing, listen closely for the big news about how Erik has been working with Commissioner Carmen Rubio's office and the Portland Parks & Recreation Bureau to bring his Bridge City CX event to Waterfront Park in downtown Portland. Jonathan also asked Erik for his thoughts on the exciting success of two-time US National Cyclocross Champion Clara Honsinger, a former Sellwood Cycle team racer and employee who's currently the best cyclocross racer in the U.S. and among the best in the world. Erik also shares his views on how e-bikes might play a major role in the future of his business. Links from the episode: https://sellwoodcycle.com/ (Sellwood Cycle Repair) https://bikeportland.org/2015/03/12/guest-article-personal-perspective-riding-river-view-k-cemetery-trails-135414 (Guest article: A personal perspective on riding River View) (BikePortland, 03/12/2015) https://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-33283-sellwood-cycle-owner-mulls-city-council-run-against-steve-novick.html (Sellwood Cycle Owner Mulls City Council Run Against Steve Novick) (Willamette Week, 06/02/2015) https://bikeportland.org/2019/11/25/portland-embraces-inaugural-bridge-city-cx-event-308031 (Portland embraces inaugural Bridge City CX event) (BikePortland, 11/25/2019) https://cyclingtips.com/2022/01/americas-best-clara-honsinger-is-counting-the-days-to-cx-worlds-in-the-us/ (Clara Honsinger is currently the best cyclocross rider from the United States) (CyclingTips, (01/02/2022) This episode was recorded on December 21st at Sellwood Cycle Repair. A full transcript will be available by January 7th. This podcast is a production of Pedaltown Media Inc., and is made possible by listeners like you. If you're not a subscriber yet, please become one today at http://bikeportland.org/support (bikeportland.org/support). You can listen to more episodes and find out how to subscribe to our podcast http://bikeportland.org/podcast (bikeportland.org/podcast). Our theme music is by https://www.kevinhartnell.com/ (Kevin Hartnell). Support this podcast
In this episode, we hear from Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty. Hardesty was elected in 2018 and became the first Black woman to ever sit on Portland's five-member city council. In January of this year Mayor Ted Wheeler put her in charge of the transportation bureau. It was a surprising choice, given that Hardesty had never expressed an interest in the bureau and up until that time was mostly known for her politics and activism around policing, government accountability, and racial and social justice issues. Now, with almost a year under her belt, she's gone from having no experience in city transportation policy to being - what she referred to in this interview as, "the big dog when it comes to the city of Portland transportation". This episode was recorded in the commissioner's office in city hall where we had a wide-ranging conversation about everything from automated enforcement cameras to the decline of biking in Portland, the role of police in transportation safety, her feelings about a new "civilian traffic force", what she considers an ideal street design, and much more. --- Links & Notes: Host Jonathan Maus (founder and editor of BikePortland, https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Maus (@jonathan_maus) on Twitter) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OZOg-_lcrLZykIGf9k0KG6xNvCfQ55LJ/view?usp=sharing (Full episode transcript) (PDF) https://twitter.com/JoAnnPDX (Jo Ann Hardesty on Twitter) (official account) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Ann_Hardesty (Jo Ann Hardesty on Wikipedia) https://www.portland.gov/hardesty (City of Portland official website) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BJBOaRlsoFs9YkIxDUOvIZThHjZJotAu/view?usp=sharing (2019 Bike Year in Review), report by PBOT Bicycle Coordinator Roger Geller https://bikeportland.org/2021/10/08/tools-to-address-gun-violence-and-traffic-violence-come-together-in-mt-scott-arleta-neighborhood-339642 (Tools to address gun violence and traffic violence come together in Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood) (BikePortland story 10/8/21) --- This podcast is a production of Pedaltown Media Inc., and is made possible by listeners like you. If you're not a subscriber yet, please become one today at http://bikeportland.org/support (bikeportland.org/support). You can listen to more episodes and find out how to subscribe to our podcast http://bikeportland.org/podcast (bikeportland.org/podcast). Our theme music is by https://www.kevinhartnell.com/ (Kevin Hartnell). Support this podcast
In this episode, we hear the story of Portlander Felipe Nystrom. Please be advised of this content warning: This episode includes mentions of physical and sexual abuse, suicide, and descriptions of excessive drug and alcohol use. We first first heard about Felipe's story in fall of 2019 and he and our host, BikePortland founder and editor Jonathan Maus, got together for an interview in July of that year. For various reasons, we never shared the story on BikePortland and it's been nagging us ever since, so we're very excited to finally bring it to you. We're also grateful that Felipe trusted us with personal details about his childhood he's never shared publicly before. Some of you might know Felipe as an elite competitor on the regional racing circuit whose had a meteoric rise through the ranks who in just a few seasons has gone from beginner in 2015, to Costa Rican National Champion in 2019 and a World Cup competitor this year. But his cycling success is just a tiny part of his life story. The first 30 years of his life were a struggle for survival. Before he went into rehab and ultimately moved to Portland in 2013, Felipe was hopeless and homeless, living on the streets of San Jose after after a life filled with traumatic experiences and after several attempts to commit suicide. Suffice it to say, Felipe's life has gone through a remarkable transformation. --- Links: https://www.instagram.com/puravida_watts/ (Felipe on Instagram) https://www.gofundme.com/f/lets-get-felipe-to-the-cyclocross-world-cup?utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet (World Cup fundraiser on GoFundMe) --- This podcast is a production of Pedaltown Media Inc., and is made possible by listeners like you. If you're not a subscriber yet, please become one today at http://bikeportland.org/support (bikeportland.org/support). You can listen to more episodes and find out how to subscribe to our podcast http://bikeportland.org/podcast (bikeportland.org/podcast). Our theme music is by https://www.kevinhartnell.com/ (Kevin Hartnell). Support this podcast
For this short and sweet episode, host Jonathan Maus (founder and editor of BikePortland) tried something new: On-the-bike interviews with random riders. He grabbed his recorder and a mic, hopped on his trusty Tern HSD e-bike and rode up alongside complete strangers to ask one basic question: What about biking in Portland are you grateful for? Almost every person stopped and smiled and was happy to chat. He talked to people of all ages and riding styles. "I've gotten pretty cynical from my work over the years," Jonathan said about this episode, "so it was great to get out from my activist and online Twitter bubbles to hear from folks in real life. Maybe it was just because both days I did the interviews the sun was out and it was absolutely wonderful biking weather - but there was no negativity to be heard. And there was lots of gratitude. It reminded me about the vital role bicycling plays in so many people's lives." All the interviews were recorded while biking on either N Willamette Blvd, NE Ainsworth, on the Eastbank Esplanade, or in Waterfront Park. If you have a question you want me to ask folks, please just get in touch. Speaking of which, please make sure to rate and review our podcast and tell your friends about it. This podcast is a production of Pedaltown Media Inc., and is made possible by listeners like you. If you're not a subscriber yet, please become one today at http://bikeportland.org/support (bikeportland.org/support). You can listen to more episodes and find out how to subscribe to our podcast http://bikeportland.org/podcast (bikeportland.org/podcast). Our theme music is by https://www.kevinhartnell.com/ (Kevin Hartnell). Support this podcast
For this episode, host Jonathan Maus (BikePortland Founder and Editor) sat down with Yamhill County Commissioner and candidate for Oregon Governor, Casey Kulla. We first met commissioner Kulla in December 2020 when he was embroiled in a debate about the Yamhelas Westsider Trail, a rail-trail project he pushed for strongly, only to see it stopped in February of this year when he found himself on the losing end of a 2-1 vote, with his fellow commissioners fueled by the opposition of dozens of local farmers. Kulla understands both sides of the issue, because he runs a farm himself. Being a farmer in rural Oregon who supports public land access and rail-trail projects is just one of many facets of Kulla's background that give him a legitimate claim to being that rare Oregon politician who just might be able to bridge the much talked about urban/rural divide. From growing up in an evangelical household, to working at a bike shop as a teenager on the Oregon Coast and living carfree during his college days in Bellingham, Washington — Kulla owns a diverse set of perspectives that have helped inform his collaborative and respectful approach to politics. We talked about how surfing defines his political style, the perils of "eco-fascism" when it comes to tackling climate change, the limits of being nice in the face of extremism, how the Yamhelas Westsider Trail is like critical race theory, his ideas for reforming the Oregon Department of Transportation, and much more. --- https://www.kullafororegon.com/ (Kulla for Oregon Campaign Website) Casey Kulla on Twitter https://twitter.com/CaseyKulla (@CaseyKulla) https://yamhelaswestsidertrail.com/ (Friends of the Yamhelas Westsider Trail) https://bikeportland.org/2020/12/11/amid-opposition-and-delays-yamhelas-westsider-trail-planning-effort-rolls-on-323801 (Amid opposition and delays, Yamhelas Westsider Trail planning effort chugs along) (BikePortland, 12/20/20) https://www.hcn.org/issues/53.7/north-extremism-how-a-trail-in-rural-oregon-became-a-target-of-far-right-extremism (How a trail in rural Oregon became a target of far-right extremism) (High Country News, 07/01/21) --- This podcast is a production of Pedaltown Media Inc., and is made possible by listeners like you. If you're not a subscriber yet, please become one today at http://bikeportland.org/support (bikeportland.org/support). You can listen to more episodes and find out how to subscribe to our podcast http://bikeportland.org/podcast (bikeportland.org/podcast). Our theme music is by https://www.kevinhartnell.com/ (Kevin Hartnell). Support this podcast
In this episode, BikePortland editor and publisher Jonathan Maus talks with Matt Glazewski about the politics of climate change in Portland. Matt is a climate expert with 15 years of government experience who's worked on disaster resiliency projects at the local, regional and federal levels. He's worked with the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and the National Weather Service where he once briefed a U.S. cabinet secretary. He also helped draft the first Climate Action Plan for Clackamas County, and most recently was a senior policy advisor for Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps. I wanted to share Matt's perspective because earlier this summer he left his position out of frustration with the lack of urgency at the City of Portland around climate change. And in his final days as a City Hall staffer, he shared his concerns publicly in testimony at a city council meeting ____ Matt's website - https://www.tamarackconsultingnw.com/ (https://www.tamarackconsultingnw.com/) Follow Matt on Twitter - https://twitter.com/sentencesrunon (@sentencesrunon) Matt's testimony at Portland City Council, 6/21/21 - https://youtu.be/0m0oxn7xEAI?t=882 (https://youtu.be/0m0oxn7xEAI?t=882) ____ This podcast is a production of Pedaltown Media Inc., and is made possible by listeners like you. If you're not a subscriber yet, please become one today at http://bikeportland.org/support (bikeportland.org/support). You can listen to more episodes and find out how to subscribe to our podcast http://bikeportland.org/podcast (bikeportland.org/podcast). Our theme music is by https://www.kevinhartnell.com/ (Kevin Hartnell). Support this podcast
In this episode I spoke to Ryan Packer, a journalist based in Seattle who covers transportation issues for The Urbanist. Their name might sound familiar, because Ryan is also BikePortland's special correspondent on the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project, or what we often refer to around here as Columbia River Crossing 2.0. Ryan recently visited Portland, so I thought it'd be fun to sit down, talk a little shop about what it's like to be an advocacy journalist in the transportation space, hear his latest thoughts about where the project is headed, ask him why — despite all signs showing that we should do otherwise — transportation departments continue to arrive at a "solution" that involves widening freeways, and much more. —— Follow Ryan Packer: https://twitter.com/typewriteralley (On Twitter @TypewriterAlley) https://bikeportland.org/author/ryanpacker (BikePortland) https://www.theurbanist.org/author/ryan-packer/ (The Urbanist) ———— The BikePortland Podcast is a production of Pedaltown Media Inc. and is made possible by listeners just like you. If you're not a subscriber yet, please become one today at BikePortland.org/support. You can listen to more episodes and find out how to subscribe to our podcast at BikePortland.org/podcast. Our theme music is by https://www.kevinhartnell.com/ (Kevin Hartnell). Support this podcast
In this episode, BikePortland's Maritza Arango takes over the mic for a conversation with Marley Blonsky and Kailey Kornhauser. Marley and Kailey are building a platform around All Bodies on Bikes, which is not only the name of their Shimano-sponsored documentary film that's been viewed over 230,000 times on YouTube, it's also the name of the nationwide nonprofit devoted to making the cycling world more inclusive of big-bodied bikers. Marley and Kailey are leading a "revolution of inclusion". What started out as a few tweets because they couldn't find rain gear that fit them, has become a national movement with a very bright future. Whether you identify personally with Kailey and Marley, or if you just don't get what all the fuss about this dynamic duo is all about, I think you're going to love this conversation. Host Maritza shares how she has struggled with her weight all her life and asks Marley and Kailey to explain fat phobia, how their work is connected to feminism, and much more. Our theme music is by Kevin Hartnell. Thanks for listening and a special thanks to the hundreds of BikePortland subscribers and financial supporters who make this content possible. If you aren't one of them, please become one today. Make sure to leave a review and subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss the next episode. ---- Links! Marley's website - http://marleyblonksy.com (marleyblonksy.com) Marley on IG - https://www.instagram.com/marleyblonsky/ (https://www.instagram.com/marleyblonsky/) Kailey's website - http://kaileykornhauser.com (kaileykornhauser.com) Kailey on IG - https://www.instagram.com/kornhausersauce/ (https://www.instagram.com/kornhausersauce/) All Bodies on Bikes - A film by Shimano https://youtu.be/JytAXpxmmQY (https://youtu.be/JytAXpxmmQY) All Bodies on Bikes Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/284599766719099/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/284599766719099/) Aero Tech - https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/ (https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/) Pearl Izumi - https://www.pearlizumi.com/ (https://www.pearlizumi.com/) Machines for Freedom - https://www.machinesforfreedom.com/ (https://www.machinesforfreedom.com/) Fat Lad At The Back - https://fatladattheback.com/ (https://fatladattheback.com/) Velocio https://velocio.cc/ (https://velocio.cc/) Support this podcast
In this episode we take stock of the Portland Bike Plan for 2030. Haven't heard of it? Well, that's not your fault. While it took a huge multi-year effort from hundreds of advocates, dozens of city staff, and several key elected officials to create it and get it adopted at City Council back in 2010, it hasn't lived up to its promise. Instead of making Portland a quote, "Healthy Community with vibrant neighborhoods and bicycles everywhere!" as proclaimed across the cover of the plan, it has been all but forgotten by city staff. And in at least one recent example, completely forgotten. Meanwhile, Portland's bike usage rates have remained relatively stagnant as the number of people driving cars has gone way up. To add salt to the wounds of bike advocates, in the past year or so, the plan has been snubbed several times. First, a presentation of a 10-year Bike Plan update at City Council was cancelled at the last minute in September of 2020, then never rescheduled. Then a newly appointed Transportation Commissioner told the city's bike advisory committee earlier this summer that she'd never heard of the plan. And then back in July, the Director of PBOT offered an anemic response when a member of the committee tried to pin him down on a commitment to dust off the plan. That committee member was Catie Gould. Catie was co-chair of nonprofit bike advocacy group Bike Loud PDX when the group tried to resurrect the bike plan in early 2020 — right before Covid changed everything and stopped their momentum. As made clear in her exchange with the PBOT Director (which you'll hear later in this episode), Catie hasn't forgotten about the plan. I caught up with Catie a few days ago to find out if she thinks Portland's once-vaunted Bike Plan is worth saving. -- Show notes: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/44597 (2030 Bike Plan Official PBOT page) https://bikeportland.org/2019/09/11/a-decade-in-pbot-shares-progress-report-on-2030-bike-plan-304557 (BikePortland coverage of PBOT's 5-Year Bike Plan Progress Report ) Catie Gould on Twitter https://twitter.com/citizen_cate (@Citizen_Cate) "https://bikeportland.org/2019/12/19/bike-loud-pdx-wants-to-make-portlands-2030-bike-plan-relevant-again-308988 (Bike Loud PDX wants to make Portland's 2030 Bike Plan relevant again)" Music is "Podcast Theme" (seriously) by https://www.kevinhartnell.com/ (Kevin Hartnell) Support this podcast
In this episode we hear from Oregon State Representative Khanh Pham. Pham was just elected to office back in November and represents House District 46 which stretches from Interstate 84 to Mt. Scott and from about Laurelhurst Park to just east of I-205. She's garnered several headlines on BikePortland recently for her https://bikeportland.org/2021/04/27/east-portland-state-rep-wants-emergency-interventions-on-82nd-avenue-330447 (leadership in calling on the state of Oregon to invest more in 82nd Avenue). Pham lives in the Jade District and brings a lot of personal understanding and urgency around 82nd Avenue's many problems to her job as a legislator. Known primarily for her work as an environmental justice organizer with the nonprofit Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) and the successful campaign for the Portland Clean Energy Fund, Rep Pham is becoming a leader on the transportation front as well. It's just the latest sign of how the tremendous challenge of fighting climate change is creating broad coalitions of activists that are connecting dots between the environment, social justice, energy use, and Oregon's largest source of greenhouse gases — transportation. On Wednesday September 1st, Pham spoke at a protest of youth climate activists who've https://bikeportland.org/2021/08/19/which-side-are-you-on-youth-activists-blame-odot-for-heat-wave-deaths-336865 (been rallying in front of Oregon Department of Transportation) headquarters in downtown Portland for 5 months now. Through her mask - emblazoned with a bike and the words "Viet Nam" in honor of her home country — Pham gave a rousing speech and then I was able to chat with her for a few minutes afterwards. First you'll hear her speech, which I've edited a bit for clarity, then you'll hear our short interview. __ Show notes: - Full episode transcript (via Rev) - https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/3gpRwpjwCZ-_lN5_OLwyJ7Jjjv7hUdfXwLDlkUaROtYhzugRqT_0UJV2dZ1dR3x-j_YEqZJ6u_MyAX9YDQ3UYarQGL0?loadFrom=SharedLink (https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/3gpRwpjwCZ-_lN5_OLwyJ7Jjjv7hUdfXwLDlkUaROtYhzugRqT_0UJV2dZ1dR3x-j_YEqZJ6u_MyAX9YDQ3UYarQGL0) - Rep Pham Official Website - https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/pham (https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/pham) - Rep Pham on Twitter - https://twitter.com/KhanhPhamForOR (https://twitter.com/KhanhPhamForOR) - An op-ed on House Bill 3055 - https://bikeportland.org/2021/06/21/guest-opinion-stop-the-freeway-widening-slush-fund-333961 (https://bikeportland.org/2021/06/21/guest-opinion-stop-the-freeway-widening-slush-fund-333961) Support this podcast
This episode is a conversation with Prescott Elementary School Principal Nichole Watson. I first met Nichole in June 2020, during the height of the racial justice protests and just a few months into the Covid outbreak. I was on the https://bikeportland.org/2020/06/11/last-night-we-rode-together-thanks-to-black-girls-do-bike-316668 (Black Girls Do Bike Ride) and Nichole was one of the co-organizers of the event. When I first met Nichole at that ride we had a great chat and I loved what she said about why it was so important for Black people — and especially Black women and especially "curvy" Black women as she described herself — to get outside and "take up space" on the street. I've talked to so many bike people over the years and I have sort of a radar for whether or not someone "gets it". Nichole definitely gets it. That's why I wasn't too surprised when several months after that ride in June 2020 she popped up again as the organizer of https://bikeportland.org/2020/10/05/bicycles-help-school-communities-stay-connected-during-the-pandemic-321397 (Prescott Pedal), a ride and community event she led as principal of Prescott Elementary School. When Watson and I spoke during that ride, she talked about cultivating a culture around bicycling at Prescott and the nearby Parkrose neighborhood and why she felt having the school community ride bikes together was such a vital part of her work. And that work has become even more relevant given that just over a week ago, https://www.opb.org/article/2021/08/23/portland-mayor-claims-victory-as-parkrose-residents-reel-from-unchecked-political-violence/ (violence between white supremacist groups and anti-fascist activists erupted in Parkrose). I asked Nichole about that violence and about why cycling is such a priority to her during a conversation we recorded from her desk at Prescott Elementary School. Thanks for listening. If you liked what you heard, please leave a review so others can find this podcast more easily. and make sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next one. Thank you to BikePortland subscribers who make this content possible. Until next time, you can find the BikePortland Podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, and wherever else you like to listen. Nichole is on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nyk_watson/ (@nyk_watson) ___ PDF of episode transcript available here https://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ep-05-nichole-watson-pod.pdf (https://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ep-05-nichole-watson-pod.pdf) Support this podcast
BikePortland's Jonathan Maus attended a recent protest in front of ODOT headquarters. In this episode he interviews several of the participants, one of whom is a 15-year-old activist and another is a candidate for Oregon governor. https://bikeportland.org/2021/08/19/which-side-are-you-on-youth-activists-blame-odot-for-heat-wave-deaths-336865 (Don't miss the full report and images from the event on BikePortland). Support this podcast
Welcome to the relaunch of the BikePortland Podcast. In our first episode since 2016 (!), BikePortland editor and publisher Jonathan Maus talks with Molly Cameron, the Portland-based professional cycling team manager and newly-minted transgender rights advocate who just founded https://www.ridegroup.org/ (RIDE), (Riders Inspiring Diversity & Equality). In this wide-ranging interview, Molly shares her views on anti-transgender legislation sweeping the US and how the cycling industry should respond to it. She also shares her personal story of being discriminated against when she first arrived in Portland, how she balances community expectations, and the deep sense of duty she feels to help transgender people and other marginalized groups. Support this podcast
Electric bikes shorten commutes, flatten hills and make cycling accessible to anyone who might need a boost. They're also great tools for replacing car trips and fighting climate change. Unfortunately, they're still a little pricey for some people. That could change thanks to a new bill in Congress: the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment Act. Co-sponsored by Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, the E-BIKE Act would offer a tax credit of 30% of the price of an electric bicycle, something that could bring the joys of e-bike ownership within reach of more Americans. Congressman Blumenauer joins The War on Cars to discuss the bill, why commuter benefits ought to apply to bicycle sharing systems, and the economic, environmental and social benefits of bike commuting in general. (Spoiler alert: cyclists typically don't murder each other over parking.) Plus, he offers his thoughts on Democratic control of the House and Senate and the recent appointment of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. ***This episode was sponsored in part by our friends at Cleverhood. For 20% off of stylish, functional rain gear designed specifically for walking and biking — and 30% off their new anorak rain jacket — enter coupon code WARONCARS at checkout.*** Support The War on Cars on Patreon and get cool stickers, access to exclusive bonus content and more. SHOW NOTES: Support the E-BIKE Act by contacting your representative in Congress using this handy tool from PeopleForBikes or look up your congressperson and get in touch directly. Get the full details on the E-BIKE Act via BikePortland.org Learn more about Congressman Earl Blumenauer's life and career. “E-bikes are expensive, but this congressman wants to make them more affordable” (Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge) “E-Bikes for Everyone!” (David Zipper, Slate) Get the official War on Cars coffee mug and other merch at our store. Rate and Review us on iTunes so more people can find The War on Cars. Sign up for our new newsletter, The Dispatch. This episode was produced and edited by Doug Gordon. Our music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo is by Dani Finkel of Crucial D. Find us on Twitter: @TheWarOnCars, Doug Gordon @BrooklynSpoke, Sarah Goodyear @buttermilk1, Aaron Naparstek @Naparstek. Questions, comments or suggestions? Email us: thewaroncars@gmail.com TheWarOnCars.org
BikePortland columnist Becky Jo gives us a rundown on her fascinating induction into low-car life and how she keeps herself rolling! Also, as always, thanks to our nationally recognized “top beer bar in Oregon” beverage sponsor, The Beer Mongers on SE12th and Division, now open for more than 4,000 days consecutively. They have a patio … Continue reading E542 – Becky Jo's Carfree Life! →
this week we're sharing a portion of an episode recorded with Dan Gebhart (who's a time traveler) in his memory. The Portland bicycle community lost Dan on September 22 according to an article on BikePortland.org, and we will miss him dearly. A ride in remembrance is planned for him on Sunday, October 18 at 2pm … Continue reading E536b – REBROADCAST E317 in memoriam to Dan Gebhart →
Christine, Lizette, and Serenity of the Civil Unrest Bike Club join the show to talk about unconventional wheeled personal mobility devices and how their club carves out a welcoming space for them. Find them on Facebook or Instagram, and read about the club on BikePortland. Calendar Shift2bikes.org has the Pedalpalooza Calendar posted already!! 2nd Thursday … Continue reading E462 – The Civil Unrest Bicycle Club →
The Path Less Pedaled Podcast - Contemporary Bicycling Culture
Jonathan Maus has spent the last 14 years covering transportation issues on BikePortland.org. Over the years it has transformed into a serious news site that has changed some aspects of cycling and transportation in Portland. We talk about how it started, how he keeps from burning out, what he would do different and whether or not bicycling is in decline in Portland. BikePortland.org: https://bikeportland.org Supple Patches! http://pathlesspedaled.bigcartel.com PATREON: http://www.patreon.com/pathlesspedaled Supple Shirts: http://pathlesspedaled.spreadshirt.com Support via PayPal: http://paypal.me/pathlesspedaled
Oregon’s unique tax on bicycle sales has not brought in nearly as much revenue as lawmakers expected. Projections show that the $15 flat tax on some new bikes will bring in less than half of the $2.1 million originally projected for this biennium. BikePortland.org editor and publisher Jonathan Maus joins us to talk about the politics of bikes.
Madi Carlson returns to the studio to talk about her bike's birthday, going camping by bike, bikes & dogs, and riding with the family. It's always a pleasure to have her join us! Check out her blog at familyride.us, and her column at BikePortland. As always, thanks to our drink sponsor The Beer Mongers & our generous Patreon … Continue reading E442 – Madi Celebrates Her Bike's Birthday →
Meet Aqua! Howdy Joyriders! On this episode of The Joyride, I meet up with Aqua Dublavee for a long-awaited coffee outside. On this super conversational episode, we talk about the magnetic pull of Portland Oregon, talk about tips for finding your tribe, I confess about passive aggressive responses to road rage, and we do LOTS of day dreaming about bike camping. This show is a little different folks - it's the first time I've recorded face to face as well as outside with all of the elements you might expect to hear in an urban park. You'll get some ambiance like birds and the sound of camp stoves, as well as some guy yelling in the background, and there's a fairly loud fountain nearby! I tried to clean it up to have our voices stand out as strongly as possible, but I apologize in advance if it's hard for anyone to hear. First time, ya know? Topics discussed in this episode: April is 30 Days of Biking May is Bike Month June is Pedalpallooza here in Portland (check out shift2bikes.org for a list of rides or BikePortland.org to explore archives) Surly Ogre The guy who went around the world on a Surley Ogre Single Speed State College, PA - Home of the Nittany Lions Velo Cult Path Less Pedaled Gladys Bikes (Hear Leah on the Joyride) JetBoil SnowPeak Collapsible Coffee Brewer Yellowstone National Park Car-free National Parks Info! (Thanks for the link, Aqua!) Stub Stewart State Park WomenBike by StreetTrust (formerly known as the BTA) Friends on Bikes - the Women of Color social ride in Portland hosted by a new group called Friends on Bikes. The ride is intended to break down barriers and claim space for Women/trans/femme/non-binary people of color in this overwhelmingly pasty-white biketown. Check out this fantastic write up in the Portland Mercury here. Check out their FB group here, and follow up on Twitter and Instagram. Dude, this was rad. Big thanks to Aqua for hanging out and sharing the bike love with us! Connect with her on the Instagram or on Twitter. Friends, you know I believe in the transformative power of the bike, in our personal lives, our communities, and the world at large. I would be super grateful if you'd leave a rating or review in iTunes, Stitcher, or via whatever method you listen. It helps more gals find the show, and I believe the more stories we share, the more women who ride, we make this world - both our internal and external worlds - better with every revolution. Ratings and reviews help with that, but nothing is better than a personal referral, it'd be rad if you would share the show with even just one woman who you think might dig it. Remember, life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Keep moving forward and until next time I hope you enjoy the ride. Forever Forward, ~C
Why on earth would someone want to ride for days on the side of a road in the middle of nowhere? That's the question this shameless city slicker and utilitarian bike rider wanted to ask BikePortland's podcast producer Lillian Karabaic and publisher Jonathan Maus. So as the Pacific Northwest enjoys its fleeting annual glimpse of autumn, the three of us devoted our https://secure-ec.libsyn.com/p/2/4/6/2467041ed0118b49/Country_Road_Adventures__Bike_Touring.m4a?d13a76d516d9dec20c3d276ce028ed5089ab1ce3dae902ea1d01c08532d9c959bc1f&c_id=6310641 (half-hour monthly podcast) to discussing the fun, economics and safety of bike adventures on Oregon's rural roads. What are the best nearby destinations? Why is it so great? Is it actually that important to our economy? And how can we make it better? Lily and Jonathan had lots of thoughts, stories and advice to share. “The way to get to know a state, a town, is really by, like, the curves of the landscape,” Lillian said. “When you've sweated up a hill, you have a way different connection to it than you do if you were just in a car passing by it. … I can tell you the name of each of those hills.” We talked about policy, too. “Now that the state scenic bikeways are officially recognized in state law, it's pretty simple legislatively to attach things to that, like we did with neighborhood greenways,” Jonathan said. “For instance, you could say that on state scenic bikeways, certain traffic regulations have fines doubled.” Support this podcast
NOTE: This isn't a new episode! This is the second of 18 old episodes we recorded between 2013 and 2016 when the BikePortland Podcast was co-hosted by Jonathan Maus (https://twitter.com/jonathan_maus (@jonathan_maus)), Lillian Karabaic (https://twitter.com/anomalily (@anomalily)), and Michael Andersen (http://www.twitter.com/andersem (@andersem)). ___ Two months ago, after returning from Amsterdam, Jonathan https://bikeportland.org/2013/06/19/editorial-so-much-carnage-on-our-streets-yet-so-little-response-88703 (kicked off) what he described as a “mini advocacy campaign” by BikePortland to raise awareness of the traffic carnage on our streets. This is a delicate line for our news operation to walk. People read posts about crashes because they find them relevant, but they're the opposite of enjoyable to read. We received emails and comments from people who thought covering collisions too closely was sensationalism and would only scare people away from riding. Also, there's a widespread misperception among non-bikers that, hour-for-hour, biking is a generally dangerous way to get around. It isn't. (See p. 27 of https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/448401 (this PDF) for Portland's latest numbers.) But carnage ruins lives, and coverage of carnage helps fix streets. So we write about it. This month, podcast producer http://anomalily.net/ (Lillian Karabaic), Jonathan and I devoted the full half-hour of our monthly podcast to discussing this decision and the factors around it. ___ >> Find more episodes and subscription links at http://www.bikePortland.org/podcast (BikePortland.org/podcast ) Support this podcast
NOTE: This isn't a new episode! This is the first of 18 old episodes we recorded between 2013 and 2016 when the BikePortland Podcast was co-hosted by Jonathan Maus (https://twitter.com/jonathan_maus (@jonathan_maus)), Lillian Karabaic (https://twitter.com/anomalily (@anomalily)), and Michael Andersen (http://www.twitter.com/andersem (@andersem)). ___ This episode came out on July 5th, 2013. We talk about three topics, the death of the Columbia River Crossing Freeway Expansion Megaproject, our views on how newly-appointed PBOT Director Leah Treat and Commissioner Steve Novick will lead the Portland Bureau of Transportation, and the psychology and practice of stopping at red lights. Music is They're Going to Build a Motorway by the great http://www.leonrosselson.co.uk/ (Leon Rosselson). ___ Find more episodes and subscription links at http://www.bikeportland.org/podcast (BikePortland.org/podcast ) Support this podcast
Portland, Ore. - Pinky Gets a Powder Coat is a short documentary/infomercial about how my sister got her tired looking bike repainted. Actually, the frame and fork were powder coated -- a different process than painting -- which involves baking a very durable plastic-like coating onto steel, aluminum, and other metals. Powder coating has become very popular option for giving new life to motorcycles, bicycles, car parts and other metal items like lawn furniture. Brooker Enterprises specializes in powder coating. Find out more at BrookerEnterprises.com or drop by 3714 SE Powell in Portland (503-236-2565 ). This video was produced by CrankMyChain.tv in association with BikePortland.org for Brooker Enterprises. Video and music by Dan Kaufman.
Excerpt of Representative John Boehner (R-Ohio) from "Face the Nation" - 1/11/09 See more on the story at BikePortland.org http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/12/rep-john-boehner-widen-highways-for-american-families/
Excerpt of Representative John Boehner (R-Ohio) from "Face the Nation" - 1/11/09 See more on the story at BikePortland.org http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/12/rep-john-boehner-widen-highways-for-american-families/
PORTLAND, Ore. - Jason Turner and Greg Freddette's much anticipated documentary about Portland's cycling scene will soon be making it's debut. In the meantime we can watch the trailer for the movie Veer. Sign up for updates about the movie and screenings here. Jonathan Maus of BikePortland got to sneak peak of the movie and has some more background at his BikePortland Blog.
PORTLAND, OR - If you have Airline ticket either into or out of Portland International Airport (PDX) then be sure to check out Exhibit of Handmade Bicycles showing through October 2008. The exhibit, local frame builders are highlighted in this Portland Development Commission (PDC) video is by John Cardenas. Alta Planning + Design and BikePortland.org also weigh in on this blossoming industry which is helping earn Portland, Oregon the title of "Detroit of the Bicycle Industry". It's great to see the PDC get behind this effort that really seems to be paying off. More information available at BikePortland.org.
ASTORIA, Ore. - It was another amazing Halloween Cross Crusade weekend. Sadly, though, we were missing avid Crusader and cyclist Brett Jarolimek who was run down and killed on a Portland street. Friends such as Kris Schamp and Brad Ross remembered Brett by speaking about him and his passions and then leading a memorial lap. There is a memorial ride 5PM today in Forest Park starting on Thurman Ave - more details soon. Story from BikePortland.org: Wearing white t-shirts emblazoned with the words “No Blind Spots”, Cross Crusade founder Rick Potestio and race director Brad Ross said losing Brett Jarolimek was like losing “a member of the Cross Crusade family.” Yesterday in Astoria, hundreds of cyclists took part in a silent memorial lap in Brett’s honor. The lap was led out by Brett’s friends and his Team Bike Gallery teammates, many of them weary from the road after driving to Idaho for his funeral yesterday. Some of Brett’s friends had made copies of his race number (800) and passed them out for all of us to wear in his honor. Below the number was a winged figure on a bike and the words, “Brett Jarolimek 1976-2007. We love you. We miss you.” The silent lap was a somber, yet powerful way to say goodbye to Brett and to remember what his life, and his death, mean to our community. These past two weeks have taken a toll on many of us. And, while some things will never be the same again, especially for the families and friends of those we’ve lost, the undeniable spirit of the Cross Crusade will live on. Brett, who dressed up as Captain Underpants at the Halloween Cross race last year, would surely have smiled at the abundance of spirit on display yesterday. See Jonathan Maus' excellent slide show of the event. More coverage of Cross Crusade IV, Halloween in Astoria coming soon!
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Patrick McHenry argues that promoting bicycles to help solve our energy crisis is naive and ridiculous. To me, he ends up coming across as a foolish tool. Thanks to Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org for catching this story. Let your congressperson know how you feel about bicycles as part of our nation's energy plan. Patrick McHenry is a Republican who serves the 10th district or North Carolina in the United States Congress. Sorry, the audio is not synchronized well.
Report by Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org PORTLAND, OR - Nearly 200 cyclists, well over twice the usual amount, joined city bike coordinator Roger Geller on his Bike Master Plan Ride last night. Riders of all stripes came out to show support for the embattled Master Plan, which Mayor Potter recently decided to cut from his proposed budget. As expected, Transportation Commissioner Sam Adams, flanked by his policy analyst Roland Chlapowski and his Chief of Staff Tom Miller, made an appearance. During interviews with the various media outlets he said, “I just think that this (the Bike Master Plan) is more important than some of the other items proposed in the Mayor’s proposed budget…It’s absolutely critical that we continue to be a leader in bike mobility and that comes by having a good plan…Bikes have never been more important to the mobility of this city. It’s an affordable way to get around; in some cases, it’s the most reliable way to get between two places; it’s good for your health; you burn fat instead of oil; and it’s good for the environment. The Bike Master Plan allows us to develop a bike system, not just do it piecemeal, but develop a system…As transportation commissioner I have a responsibility to get people around the city safely and bikes are a key part of my strategy. I think you can argue that we don’t spend enough money on bikes, not that we need to cut back on our spending.” After Adams’ remarks and brief words from Roger Geller, the ride began amid the chaotic cacophony of May Day Parade revelers, which passed by Terry Schrunk Plaza right as we rolled out. After a quick loop around the South Park Blocks, we made our way over the Willamette River (via the Hawthorne Bridge), up the Eastbank Esplanade, and onward through North Portland. As we made our way to our destination (Kenton Park), we experienced a diverse array of bikeways and environments; Bike Master Plan Ride #4 * We rode through the innovative, bike-only “scramble” signal near the Rose Garden Arena, * worked the sometimes tricky connection from Weidler to N. Williams, * enjoyed the serenity of residential streets near N. Ainsworth, * got a first-hand look at the new bike/ped refuge medias at N. Portland and Willamette Blvd., * shared a narrow bike lane with fast-moving motorists on N. Willamette near the University of Portland, * basked in the bucolic splendor and spring time aromas of the Peninsula Crossing Trail, * pedaled over the bike/ped bridge over the Columbia Slough, Bike Master Plan Ride #4 * rode next to nature along the Columbia Slough Trail while huge packs of lycra-clad racers careened through corners at Portland International Raceway, * and finally, we passed by Paul Bunyan at the entrance to up-and-coming Kenton. I talked to several people on the ride (unfortunately I can’t use the audio due to excessive wind noise), and they all expressed a deep concern about the Mayor’s decision to cut funding for the plan. Dave Sohigian was there with his wife and two kids. They live in Lair Hill, just south of Portland and as a carfree family, the continued improvement of Portland’s bikeway network is very important to them. Another women I spoke to said she moved to Portland (from Ohio) in large part because of it’s bike-friendly reputation and she wants to see that continue. Shamus Lynskey of St. Johns towed his young daughter along and said he has a vested interest in improving bikeway connections from that area to downtown. BTA volunteer Lee Hoffman lives in Tanasbourne and came out to show his support for the Master Plan. Once at Kenton Park, we re-assembled, filled out comment forms had a Q and A session with Roger Geller. It was a constructive, informative discussion that brought up a wide range of topics; from the potential of a bike-only lane on the Hawthorne Bridge (Geller said bikes were 16% of the total trips last summer), to problems with the new bike/ped refuge island at N. Willamette and Portland. It was inspiring to see both the large showing of support for the Bike Master Plan, and the high level of concern and engagement for improving the bikeway network.
Taipei, Taiwan - Video provided by QuickRelease.TV. This may seem like a typically dry trade show presentation. To cycle advocates though, Trek President, John Burke's, 23-minute video-taped speech is industry shaking. Burke's inspiring slide show (seen here at the Taipei International Cycle Show) earned him the title of the "Al Gore of the bike trade" from Jonathan Maus at BikePortland.org. He implores the bicycle industry to divert cash from marketing and R&D to help advocates and politicians create a 'bicycle friendly world' as a way to combat obesity, congestion, pollution and, of course, earn profits. Burke clearly shows how increased bicycle commuting has a direct impact on these issues and the bottom line of the cycling industry. Many thanks go to Carlton Reid ofquickrelease.tv for editing this video and adding graphs, photos and videos to the presentation.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Posted by Jonathan Maus at BikePortland.org Yesterday I got a sneak peak at how bikes mix with the gleaming and futuristic new Portland Aerial Tram. Built by a cooperative effort between PDOT and OHSU, the new tram carries people from a new OHSU health center on the South Waterfront up to OHSU’s Kohler Pavillion. I was joined by PDOT tram project manager Art Pearce, a rep from ODOT, PDOT bike coordinator Roger Geller, and volunteers from OHSU’s Bike Commuters Group. Read the rest of the story at http://www.BikePortland.org
PORTLAND, Ore. - Transportation Diversity, is short news colaboration of CrankMyChain! Cycle TV and Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org. It covers the dedication of three new pedestrian bridges and has interviews with transportation movers and shakers. Let me know if you are interested in more segments like this.
PORTLAND, Ore. – A revered Portland bicycle activist was injured Sunday while participating in the ZooBomb. The cyclist came upon the wreck of another Zoobomber and was forced to bail out on Fairview Blvd just below Canterbury lane. The wreck he was avoiding was reportedly caused by sabotage. Watch the interview and hear his reaction to the situation just hours after extensive bone surgery. For more infomation see Jonathon Maus' story at BikePortland.org. Video Coming Soon!
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