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Sunday, September 30, 2018
Sweet Potato White Bean Dip
Sweet potatoes are so versatile—they work beautifully in a dip! This sweet-smoky dip with white beans and chipotle peppers is great with chips, pita, veggies, and crackers.
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Saturday, September 29, 2018
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Simply Recipes Meal Plan: October 2018, Week 1
Here's your meal plan for October Week 1! We've got Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff, Stuffed Pork Chops, Mushroom Barley Soup, and MORE!
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How to Freeze and Reheat Rice
Frozen rice is so convenient for weeknight meals, but there's no need to buy it at the store! It's easy to do yourself at home. Here are instructions for freezing, reheating, and using homemade rice.
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How to Make Rice in the Pressure Cooker
Rice in the pressure cooker? Yes, it works! This is the most reliable, fool proof way to make fluffy rice that we know.
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Friday, September 28, 2018
State re-opens fire-damaged section of History Columbia River Highway
Have at it.
(Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)
A six-mile stretch of the popular Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail that was closed due to the Eagle Creek Fire on September 4th of last year has finally re-opened. The news comes as the Oregon Department of Transportation opens a comment period on how to reduce congestion in the Columbia River Gorge.
In an announcement this morning, ODOT said the paved biking path between the John B Yeon trailhead and Cascade Locks is now open. (Unfortunately, a separate section of the trail to the west — between Bridal Veil and Ainsworth State Park — remains closed and has no timeline for re-opening.)
The newly opened part is labeled as the Bonneville Segment on the map below…
The Yeon-to-Cascade Locks section had been closed for 13 months. The importance of this state trail is reflected in the fact that Oregon Governor Kate Brown commented on it: “The re-opening of the State Trail is a major step in the economic recovery of the region and brings us a step closer to make sure visitors from across the state and around the world can again fully experience the majesty this area has to offer.”
If you’re heading to the Gorge this weekend, ODOT has announced a few other access updates:
— The U.S. Forest Service parking lot and day use/picnic area at the Eagle Creek Recreation Site. The trailhead area and trail itself remain closed with no timeline for reopening.
— National Forest System lands north of Interstate 84 near Eagle Creek Overlook Campground, a common spot for fishing or viewing the Columbia River.
— The parking lot at the Toothrock Trailhead.
— The parking lot at the John B. Yeon Trailhead. Unpaved hiking trails at John B. Yeon remain closed as does the trail to Elowah Falls.
— Many other Gorge facilities operated by the U.S. Forest Service, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the Oregon Department of Transportation remain closed.
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Also this week, ODOT opened the comment period on their Historic Columbia River Highway Congestion & Transportation Safety Improvement Plan. There’s an online open house available through October 8th. An open house for the plan has also been scheduled for this Wednesday October 3rd from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Hollywood Senior Center (1820 NE 40th Ave in Portland).
As for the six-mile section of this paved trail that remains closed, ODOT’s plans for a “phased re-opening” that could include an experimental carfree lane, have been pushed back until spring 2019.
In an email to BikePortland this week, ODOT’s Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Coordinator Terra Lingley shared this update:
“The one-way configuration is still on the table, just delayed until next Spring. Since the Historic Highway is still closed, we didn’t have enough time to implement the one-way, gather data and remove it in time for winter maintenance operations. The Phased Reopening is tangentially related to the Congestion and Safety Plan, and we anticipate gathering data to help inform some longer-term recommendations in the plan.”
Remember there’s a bike-friendly transit option that serves the Gorge. You can hop on the Columbia Gorge Express buses at the Gateway Transit Center and get a round-trip ticket to Multnomah Falls for $5 per person. Each bus can carry up to three bicycles.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Curried Squash and Pear Soup
EASY Butternut Squash Soup with Pears, seasoned with curry and ginger
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A Guide to Balsamic Vinegar
Ever wonder what balsamic vinegar is and how it is made? Here is an in-depth guide to all things balsamic — traditional balsamic vinegar, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, balsamic glaze, and more.
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Thursday, September 27, 2018
Is this the final cut list for first phase of Central City in Motion projects?
PBOT map of Central City in Motion projects shared by Business for a Better Portland today.
One week after an open house where the public was asked to rank a list of potential projects to be funded through the Central City in Motion plan, the Portland Bureau of Transportation has trimmed the list from 18 to 11. PBOT also seems to have axed key parts of two remaining projects.
At least that’s how it appears in an email just sent to members of a local, pro-business advocacy group.
Business for a Better Portland (BBPDX) sent an email to members today encouraging them to submit comments on the projects. “Although the online open house survey is now closed,” reads the email, “BBPDX members have the opportunity to provide direct feedback on which projects should be slated for development in the next five years.”
The map and list of projects provided by BBPDX is different than the map shown at the open house last week. The most recent map made public by PBOT showed 18 “project bundles” (a mix of protected bike lanes, crossing updates, and enhanced transit lanes). The map revealed in the email from BBPDX today shows just 11 projects — two of which have had key elements removed since last week.
Compare the map above with 11 projects to this one from last week with 18 projects.
PBOT has $9 million already dedicated to the projects and expects a total budget of $30 million. The agency is making its final efforts to garner feedback and come up with a list of “transformative” projects that can be built right away (which likely means spring/summer 2019 when construction season begins again and the requisite engineering and design work can be completed).
Here are the six projects BBPDX says have been removed from consideration (and their estimated cost, based on a mid-level build quality):
4) NE/SE 11th / 12th: $7,800,000
“11th and 12th Avenues are an important north-south route for freight, transit, autos and people biking. Today the roadways feature two narrow travel lanes that don’t accommodate trucks or buses well. They are also difficult to cross. The project would redesign the roadways to include one wider travel lane to better accommodate buses and trucks, a buffered bike lane, parking, and a series of pedestrian crossing and bus stop improvements.”
6) NW/SW 12th / 14th / 17th: $3,030,000
“These streets work together to provide access to and from the Pearl District and through Goose Hollow. NW 14th would create a protected bicycle lane from Burnside to Hoyt, and a wide bicycle lane from Hoyt to Savier. Improvements to SW 17th Avenue would create a protected two-way, cycle track from Salmon to Alder, and a neighborhood greenway from Madison to I-405. A protected bicycle facility on SW 12th from College to Stark would provide access to the west side of the PSU campus.”
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10) SW Alder / Washington: $1,400,000
“The Morrison bridge has a wonderful existing walking and biking path, but access to it poor. This project would improve pedestrian access and safety by eliminating dual turn lanes approaching the bridge. A short segment of two-way protected cycle track would connect 4th Avenue to the bridge, leveraging existing infrastructure to provide a critical connection between downtown Portland and the Central Eastside.”
11) SE Belmont / Morrison: $3,020,000
“Belmont and Morrison are key east/west connections in the Central Eastside, providing important retail, freight, and transit access. This project improves transit access and speed with new transit islands, improves pedestrian crossings, and provides protected bicycle lanes.”
13) NE Multnomah / NE 16th: $4,000,000
“NE Multnomah is a key east/west connection through the Lloyd District that provides access to retail and other destinations. This project would improve the existing parking protected bike lane on NE Multnomah and address bus/bike conflicts. A neighborhood greenway on NE 16th would provide a connection between this route and NE Portland neighborhoods.”
16) NW Park / 9th: $4,700,000
“This project provides a north/south connection from the Pearl District to downtown. Protected bike lanes on NW 9th transition to a protected bike lane on Park. New signalized crossings of Park at Glisan, Everett, Burnside, and Oak will remove barriers to walking and biking in this area.”
Notable about the 11th/12th project is a line from the BBPDX email that reads, “Due to considerable neighborhood opposition to the SE 11th/12th project, it appears to be off the table at this point.”
In addition, the new map no longer shows SE Clay and Madison streets being part of project #12, which would now only include changes to SE Hawthorne. Project #3 has also been changed to only include changes to SE 7th. It no longer shows crossing updates to SE 6th or the bus/freight/transit-only lanes proposed for the Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd/Grand Avenue couplet.
It’s also worth noting that PBOT seems to have axed several of the projects that received the lowest number of votes by attendees of last week’s open house:
Project votes from the public at an open house on September 18th.
My ballpark estimate shows that PBOT has sliced about half of the $72.3 million price tag from their list of 18 projects, bringing them much closer in line to the expected funds they have to spend.
The email from BBPDX is supportive of the projects overall and demonstrates a collaborative relationship with PBOT. This stands in contrast to the recent statement from the Central Eastside Industrial Council which urged its members to voice concerns over how the Central City in Motion project would reduce parking in their district.
We have not seen any publication of this new map or an explanation of the prioritization decisions from PBOT. We’ve reached out to them for comment and will update this post when we hear back.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Lyft and transit partners launch ‘Ditch your car’ contest in Portland
It’s very true. Try it!
“We spend so much time, money, and effort driving around cities. Wouldn’t it be great if we could leave our cars at home sometimes?”
That’s the headline for a new contest just launched by ridesharing company Lyft. The “Ditch Your Car” challenge is a partnership between Lyft and local public transportation providers including Biketown, TriMet, Portland Streetcar, and Zipcar.
50 lucky Portlanders will be chosen through an online sign-up form to participate. They’ll be given $549 in ride credits to use for one month. Winners will get $300 credit from Lyft, a 1-month Zipcar membership (with free activation), plus $100 drive credit, a 1-month TriMet and Portland Streetcar pass, and a 1-month Biketown membership (good for 90 minutes of Biketown a day for a month).
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The contest is obviously a marketing ploy; but it’s also a way to encourage people to stop driving. By joining together, the companies are making it clear that the carfree (or low-car) future will rely on using multiple modes to get around. (Noticeably absent from the list of partners is an e-scooter provider. Lyft has an e-scooter but they’re not permitted in the current pilot program.)
“Ridesharing has already changed the way Americans depend on owning a car and how we get around cities,” reads a press statement. “But now it’s time to take an even bolder step toward creating a new future of mobility.”
Sign-ups started yesterday. Once chosen the program will run from October 8th to November 6th.
Throw your hat in the ring at ditchwithlyft.com/Portland.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Women in business find support at Portland Society’s annual boot camp
We actually wear bike shoes more often than boots.
(Photos: Portland Society)
Maria Schur (a.k.a. “Bicycle Kitty“) is active in our community as a ride leader and bike industry employee. Her last post on BikePortland was about her participation in the Ride to Defeat ALS.
Cooler temperatures, golden school buses and colorful leaves can only mean one thing – it’s almost time for Portland Society’s Boot Camp! We’ve come to call it Bootless Camp, because it’s more of a relaxing retreat than a workout-a-thon.
What is the Portland Society? According to our website, we’re Badass Biking Babes. To put it more succinctly, we’re a membership organization of female-identifying cyclists in Portland, Oregon who work together to support each other through referral, education and community. Portland Society has become so much more to me than its mission statement of making Portland a better place to live and ride. What started as a networking group has become a club of bikey friends who empower and uplift each other.
The Portland Society Boot Camp, which happens every autumn, takes me back to my girl scout camping days. There’s fun and crafts and projects and art and learning and summer camp-flavored friendships. We start off by riding out to Stub Stewart, either from town or from the Hillsboro MAX station. Everyone’s there by dinnertime, and every meal is prepared by a member who used to run a catering business and loves to serve our group delicious meals.
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Many drink wine during the Friday night “kick off craft”, which I have the privilege of organizing. My goal is to create a craft that’s easy and fun, and can be returned to anytime during the weekend to capture any inspiration we may find along the way.
We bunk in the cozy hilltop cabins, our assignments decided by who likes to stay up late and party (hi!), and who likes to have a chill evening and wake early. Saturday morning we head to the meeting hall again for fireside yoga followed by breakfast and an intention-setting session. The day zooms by after that, with a perfect balance of presentations and relaxation time.
One year we went on a meditation hike. Fourteen women, all silent, hiking through the pretty woods.
It was unusual enough that a passing mountain biker dude shouted to us “it’s that time year!”. Every year is a little different, and a little the same. By the time we depart on the Banks-Vernonia trail to head back to town and to our regular lives, it feels as if more than a weekend has gone by. Strangers become acquaintances, acquaintances become friends, friends become besties.
If you’re interested in attending one of our future events, or know someone who might be, you can learn more about the Portland Society here.
— Maria Schur, Bicycle Kitty
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Weekend Event Guide: Explore Vancouver’s new waterfront, ride the CZ Trail, and more
*We need a new sponsor for the Weekend Event Guide and the BikePortland Calendar. Please contact me for more info!
The weekend is right around the corner and it’s time to make plans. The fall colors have begun to peek out and a bicycle is a great way to see them.
Here are our picks for the best things to do…
Friday, September 28th
Alice Awards – 5:30 pm at Castaway Portland (NW)
This annual awards dinner and auction is the largest fundraiser of the year for The Street Trust. This year the event will recognize William Henderson (Ride Report) and Leah Benson (Gladys Bikes). More info here.
Saturday, September 29th
Grand Prix Carl Decker #5 – Heiser Farms (Dayton)
It’s the finale of the GPCD and it’s going down on a farm in the Willamette Valley. Come for the bike race, stay for the pumpkin gathering, hay rides, and other farm-life trimmings. More info here.
Sorella Forte Women’s Club Ride – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at River City Bicycles (SE)
Join the women of Sorella for this well-reputed, long-running ride. You’ll be able to work on your group riding skills and test your legs against experienced riders. Expect a pace of about 15-17 mph.More info here.
Bike to Vancouver Waterfront Grand Opening – 10:30 am to 2:00 pm at New Seasons Market (N Williams Ave)
ICYMI, the City of Vancouver has built a brand new development on their waterfront. And the good news is that it includes new paths for biking and walking! Join Mr. Puddlecycle Tom Howe and a merry band of riders on this excursion from north Portland, over the I-5 bridge and to the new waterfront! More info here.
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Sunday, September 30th
Ride the Gravel CZ Trail – 9:00 am in Scappoose
Join Portland Wheelmen Touring Club ride leader John Joy for this all-day adventure on the Crown-Zellerbach Trail. He’ll lead you off-road (touring/gravel/MTB bikes recommended) to Vernonia and back. More info here.
Floyd’s Fine Cannabis Opening Day Party – 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Floyd’s Fine Cannabis (NE)
Former Tour de France competitor Floyd Landis is in town and he’s ready to celebrate the grand opening of his new “cycling-themed” cannabis stores. Join him for a ride at 9:00 am (meets at River City Bicycles) or just show up to the new store on NE Broadway to partake in the festivities. More info here.
Stay plugged into all the bike and transportation-related events around the region via our comprehensive event calendar. Sign up here to get the Weekend Guide and all our stories delivered via email.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Caponata
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Portland launches e-scooter rider survey, announces focus groups
Part of the survey asks about existing laws and where people want to ride.
(Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)
We’re about half-way through the 120-day electric scooter pilot program and the Portland Bureau of Transportation has embarked on the public outreach phase of its assessment.
Earlier today I received an email from Bird, one of the three companies participating in the pilot. “How was your recent Bird ride in Portland?,” it asked. “The Portland Bureau of Transportation would like to hear about it! Take their survey today for a chance to win one of four $50 Visa gift cards. Your responses will help PBOT determine whether e-scooters contribute to the Portland’s mobility, equity, safety, and climate action goals.”
The email linked to a PBOT survey that asked many detailed questions including: “Why did you try e-scooters for the first time?”, “How often do you ride e-scooters?”, “How often do you use e-scooters to access a bus, MAX, or streetcar?”, “What are the top three trip types for which you use shared e-scooters?”, “If an e-scooter had not been available for your last trip, how would you have made that trip?,” “How did you get to the e-scooter that you rode?”, “Have you reduced the number of automobiles you (or your family) own because of e-scooters?,” and so on.
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The survey asked how often I used various travel modes before and after e-scooters arrived. Education was also part of the survey. PBOT wants to know if the laws are understood and how to do a better job informing the public about them. They also ask survey-takers to rank each of the three scooter companies.
One of the most interesting questions showed a graphic of a street cross section and asked where I typically ride my scooters. Then the next question asked where I’d prefer to ride them. I could see the answers to these questions having an influence on whether or not the City of Portland pursues code changes that would allow people to use scooters in parks and on some sidewalks.
This survey is just one tool PBOT will use to decide whether or not to continue — and/or how best to continue — to offer e-scooters in Portland.
Earlier this week PBOT announced a series of four “transportation focus groups for the black community.” One of them will discuss the e-scooter pilot. PBOT says they’ll host three community focus groups on this topic in October; one for people who identify as black, one for the “disability community” and the other for east Portland residents.
PBOT will determine the success of the scooters based on their ability to: reduce private auto use and congestion, prevent fatalities and injuries, expand access to underserved communities, and reduce air pollution.
If you’ve ridden a scooter, please take time to fill out the survey.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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City lowers speed limits on Marine Drive west of 33rd, the ‘gnarliest gap of them all’
View of Marine Drive eastbound approaching Columbia Edgewater Country Club.
(PBOT graphic)
When we shared the news of improvements coming to the NE Marine Drive last month, many of you were disappointed that nothing was being done on the section between I-5 and 33rd Avenue.
A commenter named Kristin shared that, “Though there’s a ‘bike lane’ through that section, it’s crazily overgrown and very narrow in spots, making the fast truck traffic even scarier.”
We’re happy to report that as of Tuesday, the Portland Bureau of Transportation has lowered the speed limit in this two-mile stretch from 40 to 35 mph. And lest you think it won’t matter because of a lack of enforcement, recall that PBOT also has an active speed camera near 33rd. According to a statement this week, the camera will issue warning for two weeks to give people a chance to adjust to the lower speed limit and citations will resume October 10th.
The camera is going to be very busy given that PBOT’s latest traffic study found that around 1,000 people per day drive at least 50 mph or over at this location.
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“The gnarliest gap of them all.”
— Jim Sjulin, 40-Mile Loop advocate
Lowering the speed limit is one way PBOT is trying to get a grip on the dangerous driving that has plagued Marine Drive for years. In the five year period between 2012 and 2016 there were over two crashes reported on Marine Drive every month.
While these anti-speeding measures will help, this section of Marine Drive needs much more aggressive interventions. Given that it’s part of the 40-Mile Loop and that it connects to north and northeast Portland neighborhoods and existing destinations like the Columbia Slough path, Delta Park, and Vancouver — we’ve must get this fixed as soon as possible.
Advocate with the 40-Mile Loop, Jim Sjulin (whom we mentioned last month), said the one-mile section between the Bridgeton neighborhood and 33rd is, “The gnarliest gap of them all.”
East of Bridgeton, Sjulin is pushing for a complete re-build of Marine Drive and a new multi-use path across Port of Portland property on the south side of the road that would connect to the existing off-street path at 33rd (behind the boat shop).
Here are two of Sjulin’s slides that show the location:
Marine Drive is a vital connection to the river and key piece of our active transportation network. It’s nice to see PBOT address its safety problems and we look forward to much more being done in the future.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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Casting for PDW Fall Photoshoot 10-8-2018
Portland Design Works is looking for some fresh faces for our fall photoshoot!
The shoot will take place in various neighborhoods around Portland on Monday October 8th from 10-6pm. We are seeking members of the bike community who are interested in modeling for the shoot. All ages genders and ethnicities are encouraged to apply! The entire day will not be required for all models.
This is a paid gig. Use of your personal bike is not required.
If you’re interested and would like more details please shoot us an e-mail at: marketing@ridepdw.com with the subject line: Model for PDW Fall Photoshoot
Feel free to share this post, we look forward to hearing from you!
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Sous Vide Cheesecake in Jars
Foolproof cheesecake, cooked sous vide? Yes, please! The best part of this dessert is that you can make it ahead of time, chill it in the fridge, and have individual servings of cheesecake at your disposal.
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Sous Vide and Food Safety: What To Know
Is it safe to cook foods sous vide? Can you really cook in plastic bags? If you're curious about sous vide cooking, but have concerns about its safety, read on! We answer all your most urgent questions.
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Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Hit & Run on SE Milwaukie
My daughter was just hit by a driver who failed to stop on SE Milwaukie. They were both south-bound between Knapp and Flavel, This occurred between 5:30 and 5:45PM, Tuesday , Sept 25. She was not seriously hurt, fortunately–a little bruising and scraping– the car sped off ,a woman driving a newer black SUV. She was unable to get the license plate ,but she wanted to alert ppl to the area as it seems to be accident prone.
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Wonk Night zeroes in on bike parking code update
Advocate Betsy Reese (L) and Bike Loud PDX Co-chair Emily Guise know that parking policy can be fun!
(Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)
This post is part of a contractual partnership between BikePortland and Portland Bureau of Transportation.
Last night we hosted a special Wonk Night event to bolster the City of Portland’s bicycle parking code update project.
As we shared last week, the bike parking chapter of the Zoning Code (33.266.200) was written in 1996. That means it doesn’t address today’s volume of riders, the types of bikes people ride, or best practices for the design, security, and location of bike parking. And it’s certainly not strong enough to handle projected growth — in terms of our bicycle ridership goals or the population overall.
That’s a problem.
If people don’t have an accessible and secure place to park their bikes, they’ll be less likely to ride. And for those who don’t bike yet, seeing bikes neatly lined up at high-quality parking spaces can be an inspirational nudge toward giving it a try.
PBOT Project Manager Sarah Figliozzi listens to advocate John Russell.
With just one week left in the official comment period, last night’s gathering was a chance to inform and inspire people who care about making this important code as effective as possible. The event was also a nice bookend to BikePortland’s effort to raise the profile of this issue since we helped kick it off with a similar event back in 2013.
As per usual with Wonk Nights, one of the main goals was to hang out and socialize. It’s amazing what can happen when smart and curious people gather in the same room around yummy snacks and drinks. Thanks to our venue hosts at Fat Pencil Studio we had a cool place to enjoy each other’s company (and to drink sponsors Hopworks Urban Brewery and Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider).
I love when people who are new to town — and/or new to bike advocacy — come out to events like this. Last night I met Ariel, who recently moved to Portland from Orange County, California. She said she rarely rode in her old town, but now she’s biking all the time. Ariel was excited to know Portlanders care so much about cycling that we have events like Wonk Night. I have a hunch we’ll be seeing her more in the future (I was thrilled when she met Bike Loud PDX Co-chair Emily Guise!). Another person I met was Josh Hetrick. Josh is a new board member of the Brooklyn Action Corps (a neighborhood association) and transportation is his one of his main interests.
Make your voice heard
The comment period ends at 5:00 pm on Monday, October 1st.
The PBOT project page has the email to send it to and a
link to the survey.
Other faces at Wonk Night included: Bureau of Transportation staffers Sarah Figliozzi, Joey Posada and Liz Hormann; Portland Planning & Sustainability Commission member Chris Smith; and members of the bike parking update project stakeholder advisory committee Hannah Silver (an architect) and Tom Kilbane (with Urban Renaissance Group, representing the developer’s perspective).
With a goal to arm advocates with enough information to make great comments and testimony at future hearings, we spent most of the night staring at handouts and asking PBOT staff questions about it. We alternated between one-on-one conversations and Q & A sessions with the entire group.
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Architect and advisory committee member Hannah Silver (right) holds court.
People spoke up with a variety of priorities and concerns. Among them was a desire to make bike parking areas accessible for people with disabilities and to make sure e-bikes and recumbent/cargo bikes are accommodated. One person was curious how — of if — the new code would be enforced (answer: like all code violations they’d be reported to and handled by Bureau of Development Services).
While Portland’s proposed code is in line with peer cities who updated theirs in the past 3-5 years, because it’s 20-years old the changes seem too extreme to some observers — especially developers. They’re very concerned about how the new requirements will impact their ability to build and sell new units.
Tom Kilbane from Urban Renaissance Group was on the project advisory committee and spoke on behalf of developers.
I asked project advisory committee member Tom Kilbane to share the developer’s perspective. While he encourages cycling and appreciates great bike parking as a daily rider himself, Kilbane said the new code doesn’t allow for enough flexibility. “Every building is different,” he said. “I know many builders who have have a bike room that’s not being utilized.” Kilbane also said that bike parking requirements are just another thing — along with new inclusionary zoning laws and excise taxes — that are being piled onto developers.
Kilbane’s comments sparked some healthy disagreement and questioning. I asked if those empty bike rooms might get more use if they were built to the new code standards. Someone else wondered if the money spent to provide quality bike parking is offset by the increase in tenants who find it attractive. Sarah Figliozzi from PBOT cautioned against an assumption that the free market will provide what’s needed. “Do we only want good bike parking at places where a company can afford it?,” she shared. “This is about raising the bar citywide.”
Figliozzi thinks the new code will bring the benefits of quality bike parking to service workers and lower-income Portlanders. But affordable housing advocates are another group that has raised concerns about how the code will increase the cost of projects. Asked how to respond to that concern, Planning Commissioner Chris Smith said, “I’d encourage them to look a the bigger picture. We know housing and transportation are the two biggest expenses… this [bike parking] can be a tool to lower overall costs and make transportation more affordable.”
If you want in on these conversations, there’s still time to make your voice heard. You’ll find the email to send comments (by 5:00 pm October 1st!) and a link to the online survey at PBOT’s website. There will be a chance to testify at the Planning & Sustainability Commission hearing in November and then again when it comes up for official adoption at City Council.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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The post Wonk Night zeroes in on bike parking code update appeared first on BikePortland.org.
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THIS JUST IN: DittoHouse’s Courageous Woman Collection
A soft, sustainable textile that helps to empower girls and women across the world? What kind of magic is this, you ask? It’s actually the creative vision Molly Fitzpatrick, owner and lead designer of DittoHouse, had to create DittoHouse’s latest collection, Courageous Woman. Molly’s personal hero is Malala Yousafzai. The work Malala has done to provide access to education for girls and women everywhere inspired Molly to create the Courageous Woman Collection – an artistic reflection of the bold and brave women who are making our world a better place. From now until September 28, 2018, Ditto House will be donating 25% of the proceeds from the Courageous Woman Collection to the Malala Fund to support the goal of world peace through empowering girls with education. We love the idea of supporting girls and women around the world through art!
Molly shares that when she welcomed her son into her family she learned that comfy cozy blankets are an essential part of every happy house. She loves to use her blankets for the baby to play on, for her visitors to snuggle under, or to throw an impromptu picnic in the backyard! Molly – is that an invitation? ;) There’s even more reason to love DittoHouse! Molly uses only recycled cotton that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill to make Courageous Woman pillow covers, blankets, and tea towels.
Molly was inspired to channel a message of hope through this collection. She shares, “I have two children of my own that are bright and compassionate. They deserve to live in a world that reflects their light. A world where my daughter is valued and respected and my son has examples of kind and good men who can be allies to the strong women who lead the way.” We love Molly’s vision for a brighter future!
The Courageous Woman Collection isn’t just limited to textiles – there are also lots of supa dupa fly statement earrings that we are loving (including the ones Molly is wearing below!).
If you’d like to learn more about Molly or the Courageous Woman Collection, head over to Ditto House and follow them on IG. And if you are considering making a purchase from the Courageous Woman Collection, remember that 25% of the proceeds from the collection go to the Malala Fund from now until September 28, 2018!
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