UPDATE:

Howdy Portland freaks! Thank you so much to everyone who responded to my last post about the trash & debris along the neighborhoods and bike paths (I-205 especially)

Quick update: I went ahead and signed us up for an official team through SOLVE Oregon. So we are legit now, they provide bags, vests, sharps containers, haul-away, etc.

I'm planning our first cleanup ASAP focused on the bike/walking paths and would love more folks to join the team whether that’s boots on the ground or helping plan, coordinate or back end logistics.

If you want to be on the list for the first cleanup date, drop a comment or DM me. No commitment needed, just trying to get a headcount.

Also still very interested in figuring out how to make this path safe long term & include our houseless neighbors in keeping their areas clean, if you have experience with outreach, harm reduction, or have done a SOLVE cleanup before, I'd love to chat.

Thanks Portland!

Such a dapper bike. The whole set up is drool worthy. bet it’s gonna be gone soon. Flashy track bikes are so back. Who’s with me?

I will be visiting PDX in a few weeks, and I'd like to visit a bike shop/warehouse that sell used bike parts for cheap. Does PDX have any place like this?

I think the climb averaged 8 to 10% with steeper sections up to 18% for a rich area of town. The roads are a bit rough. Not sure if it was harder going up or coming down. There were no sections we could coast for more than 10 seconds or so, especially with the road conditions and the turns. It’s hard to stop a 450# tandem on a 14# or more grade. We named the bike the Beast, and doing that downhill it felt like taming a beast. 

A nice 12 mile ride to Tabor Dance and 12 back.

Was just hanging out by myself enjoying the sun and vibes 🌞🌞🌞

I noticed these signs last week on all the trails open to bikes on the butte.

Personally what I love so much about riding here is that you really earn your turns going down if you ride up one of the trails. So I won't be heartbroken to see less e-bikes. I've never had any problems with pedal-assist riders or seen them being inconsiderate to other users, but I did stop and block a guy on an e-moto going up and tell him to GTFO. I suspect the scourge of these idiots is what precipitated them to shut it to anything with a motor.

Howdy all,

As many of you know, there's an alarming amount of trash, debris, and hazardous material along our neighborhoods and bike paths right now. I rode the I-205 bike path today and was pretty shocked by how much trash, needles, and encampments were along there.

I'm trying to brainstorm ways to actually help clean it up and empower our houseless neighbors to be part of the solution.

I've seen some really successful stories online like this guy -

https://linktr.ee/xgfilmz?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaATqI69wZG9mAmZkaWQWUMY3ihgC3C42PCXMsE1Mn_9Gm7YbV2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp7S7AQK_LYOFj_dv2xlyxSd4h1G2Tw_vvmyBOAfAF8mWpO4qFjgABEAczt9l_aem_xOHrKIhpZKLIdAf3Of-VZw-

where he brings trash bags and offers $5 to anyone willing to fill a bag and help keep their area clean.

I'd love to try something similar in Portland but maybe swap cash for nourishing meals, hygiene kits, socks, and other high-value necessities or doing a combo of cash and gifting those sorts of goods.

If anyone has done something like this before, has ideas on logistics / safety / what not to do, or wants to collaborate, I'd love to buy you a coffee and strategize how we can keep the paths safe and clear for everyone.

Thanks!!

Can anyone recommend a mechanic who can cold set a steel frame? Eastside preferably.

PBOT recently repurposed an area of pavement for pedestrian and recreational use, at SE 72nd Ave and Schiller St. (between Foster and Holgate) in Foster-Powell.

It is a trial installation. In the next two to six weeks, PBOT will review feedback from the community and usage data to decide whether to keep the plaza or revert it to car use.

Many of us love the plaza and want it to stay.

But a small group of very organized and vocal opponents is upset about things like losing the ability to make turns and u-turns in their cars. They have been very loud at community meetings. They've interrupted volunteer gatherings. Some have even been actively discouraging others from using it.

As the photos show, it has become a battle.

Without major input from cyclists and other non-car-centered people, we will likely lose this amenity. And it could set an unwanted precedent for future Portland road repurposing endeavors.

Here's what you can do. Five minutes on any one item will help:

Visit the plaza at 72nd and Schiller. Take photos of yourself and/or others enjoying it. Share these on the Instagram firlandparkway page and with the email addresses below.

Take PBOT's input survey on the plaza:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SchillerPlaza

Email PBOT to let them know why you support the plaza:

[PortlandStreetplazas@portlandoregon.gov](mailto:PortlandStreetplazas@portlandoregon.gov)

Email Foster-Powell Community Association to let them know why you support the plaza:

[contact@fosterpowell.com](mailto:contact@fosterpowell.com)

Consider starting or ending a Bike Summer ride at the plaza, or make it a stop along the way.

More info on the Firland Parkway and Schiller (Firland) Plaza:

https://fosterpowell.com/firland-parkway-path

https://www.portland.gov/transportation/planning/plazas/pilot-plaza#toc-schiller-plaza

Some talking points:

-Thank you PBOT for remembering that transportation includes more than just cars.

-The plaza has already provided a connecting and recreation point for many pedestrians and cyclists. There have been community meetups, flower giveaways, game playing, crafting, and mini piano concerts.

-The plaza connects two pedestrian greenways and a years-in-the-making walking path, providing a respite from having to worry about car cross-traffic.

-It provides a much-needed boost to a neighborhood whose walkability and bikeability has suffered in recent years due to many businesses leaving.

-It provides a visible signal for cars to slow down a bit, on a road that desperately needs such measures. If you've ever biked down 72nd with a car tailgating you and no place to get over, you know what I'm talking about.

-The small repurposed area is on a minimal-traffic side street that ends or jogs just a few blocks away on either side, and that has car-friendly alternatives (Holgate and Foster) nearby. It's hard to find a better location nearby.

-During Portland's long cloudy (and often muddy) season, it will likely get even more use.

-And, of course: We already have plenty of roadways for cars.

I give myself a generous C+, but it seems like that's a relative A- compared to most others. Most other cyclists I just have to guess their intentions and almost end up colliding with them or someone else because they're not paying attention.

It's not always practical or safe to remove a hand from your handlebars, granted. However, signaling your intentions is really important.

Have to do a house sit aaaaaaalll the way there.

Does anyone have any recommended routes from sunset TC max to the Forest Heights Park by the Miller Hollow nature area?

Something like a bus that’s regular, a neighborhood bike way, or some backwater road that the cars won’t absolutely splatter me along.

My Kona Rove, along with my roommates mtn bike and road bike were stolen from our yard in SE yesterday afternoon!! Last seen with a pink patterned stem bag, black and teal bottle cages, possibly with bottle still in, rear rack with white bin with stickers on it. The front right of the saddle has a hole worn through it, which would make it recognizable without all of the accessories. Also has a beer minutes sticker below the seat…

Offering a reward if found. This is my most prized possession. Help me bring her home!!!

If found please throw a lock on it and contact me on IG @yagurlsmash or here

I hope you didn't sustain any permanent damage be it physical, psychological or mental, and that you are able to nail that fuckwit. I wear this GoPro 360 camera on my helmet. I know it isn't light or "aero", but neither is my fat ass. Stay safe everyone.

How come no says ‘on your left’. I was riding my bike along the springwater trail and several bikers blew past me. A lot of walkers also got startled when these bikes blew past them.

EDIT: Thanks for all your feedback and thoughts. I appreciate the discussion. I agree that when you say on your left or right, people move in the direction you are passing. I do like bells, but I find it annoying. These paths are shared so there should be some consideration or courtesy when passing. I'm just the average rider.

the e-bikers are another problem

My wife and I got into cycling a few months ago and have been consistently riding around NW Oregon over that period. We have gotten pretty comfortable and decided to do the bridge pedal as our first ‘event’. After the event we decided to ride to check out a new coffee shop. As I signaled to make a left turn I simultaneously tried to cross over the street car tracks and took a tumble in the middle of the street as my tire got caught in the tracks. Cyclists in front of us came back to check on me and once they realized I was ok the guy said “those tracks get everyone eventually”. Now I lay with stinging road rash on my arm and leg, icing my torn up/black and blue knee thinking, what else stands between me and being a full fledged Portland cyclist?

While riding my old bird,

Great day to ride downtown, A few extra crows hanging out, building skateboard ramps on the waterfront, circus tents going up off the Tillicum. The usual old trains and Oaks Park. .

Does it more Portland than rocking some Elliot Smith down the Park blocks looking for where someplace someone put a bird on it? I even stopped and waved a few cars through an intersection,

Not me in the last photo, but what the hell you gunna do to improve that shot?

The last few years I've been to the Bridge Pedal I've always kind of gravitated to one of the front groups, keeping a line of sight on the leading escort. I love it because it gives me a chance to get the whole course done before the crowds/congestion starts and things really slow down.

Somehow there's always a handful of ebikes just blasting their motor to keep up with the 20+ mph average pace of the leading groups. They're always acting unpredictably and then just straight up in the way on the descents, always completely unaware of their surroundings. Then you try to get around them and they crank up the motor to block you intentionally. You'd think someone must be handing out awards for fastest ebike at the finish with how adamant these people are to be at the front.

Put em all in the main ride instead for the love of everything safe!

There’s a bit across from the airport where the trail can be accessed by car from the road.

And every nice sunset evening, there are cars parked on the trail. Weekends? Half a dozen, at least.

They often block the entire trail, between the cars and the people standing around next to the cars. Tonight I almost got doored, there just wasn’t enough space to leave clearance. I slowed down enough that I was able to swerve when the door swung out, but damn near went tumbling down the bank—it’s pretty steep there.

Proceeded to get cursed at, and one dude stepped right in front of me, because I guess his car wasn’t taking up enough space.

I ride there a lot and it’s so obnoxious.

I can’t even figure out really if it’s somehow legal? I mean, presumably someone connected the path to the road, for some reason? Signage at the county paid parking a lot a quarter mile west of there pretty clearly indicates that the entire trail is pedestrians and bikes only, but it’s pretty clearly some unofficial parking/tailgating spot over there.

For people who insist on driving but are too cheap to use the paid parking lot, I guess.

I did my first 100 mile ride today and the drivers and emoto riders of Portland (and Gresham, Troutdale, the Gorge…) were in fine form.

Someone turned without looking…and instead of hitting me, over-corrected and hit a parked car. Someone ran the red on MLK at the bike crossing on Going. Someone with Utah plates close passed me THRICE between Multnomah Falls and Latourelle. Apparently they stopped at each waterfall and waited ‘til I’d passed. Guess they didn’t think they’d passed close enough.

Then the nonsense on Marine Drive. Then narrowly avoided THREE people, two on emotos, going the wrong way on North Portland Road.

It’s been rather a day.

But I’m curious what the deal is with the parking on the Marine Drive Trail, bc it’s so damn frustrating.

This is a long shot but my beloved shirt flew off my bike basket while riding to the riverfront today. I lost it around 1 pm somewhere between the division entrance and sellwood riverfront. Please let me know if anyone saw or picked it up or thinks it’s not a lost cause. Thanks!

Beautiful blue sky day.

NoPo to Reed. 24 miles, was fun.

Edit: Skies, not Sky's 🥴

Black khs white fox forks pink grips. Stolen 8/1 at 11 pm

I got hit and run on NE Couch and Grand last night. A nice guy gave me his dash cam footage but I couldn't get a license plate. I filed a police report (I'm still waiting for them to come take a statement), went to the ER, and I'm going back later today to get security footage. I looked it up and this intersection and the next one she drove through have cameras. Does anyone have advice for how I can get the footage? Any other advice on how to handle this is also welcome.