Pscyclepath

Monday: Spent an hour and a half working with a neighborhood association on street & sidewalk improvements to make it safer for biking/walking in that area, and how to get started on marking and building a trail to connect them to the city's main trail system.

Wednesday: Led a 20-mile ride for new/inexperienced riders on a mix of trails and open roads

Friday - Sunday: hosted a three-day "winning campaigns" training held by the old Thunderhead Alliance, teaching 37 advocates/activists from Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Australia (yes, Australia) to plan, coordinate, and achieve tangible improvements in bike infrastructure and policies in their home communities. Wrote the grant to bring this class here back in February sometime.

This week is writing thank-you notes to the folks who helped us put on the training class, a 2-hour seminar on improving mountain biking here, a follow-up meeting on the local campaigns laid out in the training workshops, and hopefully a little time to work on some class material for next month.

hotbike

God Bless You!
This is the time of year to rake leaves, and leaves are very slippery for bicyclists to ride on.

jjamesstrk

Gave a stink eye to a ignorant driver.
EDIT:Later this evening a cager sped by me within inches (I've never had anyone pass so close.) I chased them down and chewed them out. The response from the three in the car was yelling "There is a sidewalk!". I told them it was illegal to ride on the sidewalk and to learn the law. They looked surprised and sped off.

Minutes later I was passed twice by cyclists going the wrong way in the bike lane, and since my blood was already pumping I yelled at them too.

I never thought I was the type to do such a thing, but things change when self preservation enters the equation.

ItsJustMe

No. Most roads and such are paid for out of other funds, NOT from vehicle registration, gasoline taxes, or any such thing. Thinking that they are is what causes some car drivers to complain that we're "not paying our share." In fact if you are not homeless, you're probably paying nearly as much as a car owner even if you're car-free, but you're getting more sub-par facilities for your chosen mode of transportation.

K'Tesh

Missing: Pothole
Last Seen: 4pm, 10/09/09
Description: Pothole, located in the center of the EB bike lane on Scholls Ferry Road, east of Roy Rogers Road, Washington County, Oregon. Faded white paint marking it for cyclists.

Photos:

Facing West


Facing North

I often ride from Sherwood to Beaverton after dark, and one night not long ago, I hit this pothole, Hard! Despite all my bike lights, there are some things you'll never see until it's too late (especially if the ground is wet). I thought that I had destroyed my rear wheel (fortunatly, I didn't).

I came back during the day, marked it with a piece of debris, and took photos. I then called Washington County Maintenance, and explained what happend

I came by it a few days later (at night), and it's patched.


Patched

K'Tesh

K'Tesh

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (of Oregon) has identified that there is a real problem with wrong way cyclists, and are actively seeking to try and educate cyclists against this practice... In spanish.

Apparently, in Mexico, cyclists are instructed to ride against traffic (much like peds here in the US are).

K'Tesh

Was heading to the REI in Bridgeport Village (Tualatin, Oregon) today, when I spotted something odd in the bike lane...



Looked like a water meter cover was ajar. So, I stopped, snapped a picture, and tried to adjust it so it wouldn't be a problem for someone else. However, it was still rocking loose on the top of whatever that is inside...



Called Tualatin Maintenance from REI (my cellphone was acting up). Was told that they'd have someone out there in minutes...


(Elapsed time: Less than 14 minutes)

They didn't lie! After looking at fanny packs, I went out there to see if I could get more pictures, and city maintenance truck pulled up. The worker put up some cones after I showed him what was wrong, then he took some measurements before I rolled off.

I have a guess that when I roll through there tomorrow, it's gonna be fixed.

Thanks Tualatin Maintenance!!!
K'Tesh

mattotoole

Great post! Can I copy it for our website?

What I did today: just posted an announcement for the Winning Campaigns Training at our Fall Retreat, where bike advocates and bike club leaders can learn to be more effective. All are welcome, BTW, though VBF members get a discount. Out-of-staters are welcome too -- we can all learn from each other!

K'Tesh

I have no problems with you using any of my posts (I'd like credit though (or a Job ))...

Rubberside Down!
K'Tesh

randya

so K'Tesh, do you have a job, or do you just ride around all day finding problems in the bike lanes, or what?

K'Tesh

Recently Unemployed. Tualatin has a Working In Oregon office for helping people find work or improve their employment situation. That's why so much of my efforts have recently been focused there.

I've been a Bike/Ped/ADA advocate (unpaid) for a couple of decades now. I found that things that help peds and the disabled often help me too.

chipcom 

I'm gonna do my part for advocacy today by pointing out that the area of near the curb where that broken cover resides is called a gutter, and should not be considered part of the bike lane by reasonable people.

I'm not John McCain but I approved this message.

Old Town

K'Tesh: You are one conscientious and busy fellow. I only wish you lived near me for when I haul my sailboat out anually for it's bottom work. I need a guy who misses nothing and has nothing else to do.

K'Tesh

Thanks for that!

Sorry, I won't be able to help you with the sailboat... I GOT A JOB TODAY!!!

WOOO HOOO!

But don't let that make you think that I've been slacking...



Amazing what a pair of pruning shears can do to greedy weeds and low branches... (I'd guess )

See Something? Do Something!
K'Tesh

Old Town

K'tesh, you're killing me.

squirtdad

Ok not K'tesh's level....but I rode my bike, with the clothes I was pruning the trees in, on a an errand (frozen yogurt for my significant other). I followed all the traffic rules, took the lane at a stop sign.

point IMHO: making riding part of you life (I ran an errand using my bike....not I went on a bike ride) is the essence of advocacy.

noisebeam

Why can't a bike ride be part of ones life?

squirtdad

Of course it can be... But I see way too many people only use a bike for recreation, they put the bike on the car and drive some place to cycle or the only time they use their bike is "to go on a ride". Nothing wrong with that, but that is all people see/do is recreation ride then that is how cycling is perceived and the ability to advocate for change is reduced.

However if in addtion to 'recreation" riding, people commute, run errands, on their bike (lycra not required.) and in general ride more, then the perception of what cycling is can change and along with increased numbers, the ability to advocate for change that will enhance cycliing will be increased.

IMO Everyone should have a bike that can carry small items and that can you can just throw a leg over and ride.

noisebeam

Do these meet your criteria?
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...6&d=1177535631
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...3&d=1149867959

K'Tesh

I wouldn't be able to say...

The spirit of the thread is to do something for your cycling community (daily if possible), as well as to inspire others to do the same.

Personally, I often do that by finding a problem (and photographing it if possible). Then I identify a solution, and implement it (then I photograph it again).

Example: While riding, you spot a problem with broken glass. You pull out your camera, take a picture or two. Then grab a broom and dust pan, and sweep it up.


Glass on the sidewalk (some in the bike lane too) Image links to a flickr slideshow.

I don't see what your photos have to do with that concept. It needs some additional information.

K'Tesh

hairnet

This week there are two meetings for people to review and amend the LA bike plan. I think I'll attend them.

K'Tesh

Cool!

Getting involved is GREAT!

K'Tesh

I'd like to say Thanks to Old Town!

In his post Bad things in the road, he got out and helped remove roofing nails from the road.

Thanks for helping!
K'Tesh

Old Town

Give me a break, K'Tesh. We all have our weak moments. Today I'm going out and spread grease on some corner, even the score.

K'Tesh

Well, when you do, make sure you take clear photographs that show your face...