The League of American Bicyclists came out with a statewide ranking of best Cycling States and Oregon ranked fourth. Washington and Wisconsin were up in the top 5 along with Arizona and Minnesota.
I just found this link to the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway Route and it is something to think about doing next year during the summer.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Top 10 Reasons I Bike
There was a contest at the City of Portland to have cyclists come up with reasons they bike.
Here was my submission.
10. Biking allows my car to develop really cool spider webs between the rear view mirror and the door.
9. Allows me to justify all the bike gear.
8. Makes the rest of the time indoors seem like a treat.
7. Gives you a reason to question your own sanity (a couple of the last days in particular).
6. Less congestion in the bike lane than in the summer.
5. Reduces the cost of getting Transit Tracker active on my phone.
4. Faster than walking.
3. Makes me laugh when I hear someone say "Drill, baby, Drill"
2. The view of wildlife from the Springwater Trail beats the view of strip development from McLoughlin Boulevard.
1. It makes the morning coffee taste that much better.
Here was my submission.
10. Biking allows my car to develop really cool spider webs between the rear view mirror and the door.
9. Allows me to justify all the bike gear.
8. Makes the rest of the time indoors seem like a treat.
7. Gives you a reason to question your own sanity (a couple of the last days in particular).
6. Less congestion in the bike lane than in the summer.
5. Reduces the cost of getting Transit Tracker active on my phone.
4. Faster than walking.
3. Makes me laugh when I hear someone say "Drill, baby, Drill"
2. The view of wildlife from the Springwater Trail beats the view of strip development from McLoughlin Boulevard.
1. It makes the morning coffee taste that much better.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Organized City Bike Rides
I was just thinking about the next organized bike ride we'll do and was doing some quick research and found the following:
New York: http://www.bikenewyork.org/ Bike in all 5 Boros - 42 miles (first Sunday in May - 45,000)
Austin to Shiner: http://www.shinerbash.com/ Great Austin to Shiner Pedal - 90 miles, okay not a City ride, but one in Austin to a brewery is worth noting. (first Sundy in May - 1,500)
Chicago: http://www.bikethedrive.org/ Lakeshore Drive is shut down - 30 miles (last Sunday in May - 20,000)
Montreal: http://www.velo.qc.ca/feria/index_e.php Not a lot of information (Early June)
Portland: http://www.providence.org/bridgepedal/ Bridge Pedal Second Sunday in August - 18,000
Los Angeles: http://la-bike.org/events/los_angeles_river_ride.html River Ride June 8 (thanks Jake!)
San Diego: http://www.bikethebay.net/site3.aspx Bike the Bay - (September 7th, 2,000 riders)
Baltimore: http://onelesscar.org/ Puts on Tour De Port - (First Sunday in October - 1,500)
Long Beach: http://www.runlongbeach.com/Top_Nav/bikef235.htm Marathon route (Second Sunday in October - 26 miles)
Round Rock, TX: http://www.roundrocktexas.gov/home/index.asp?page=635, special exception for a Texas Ride - third Saturday in October
I know these folks have rides, but they don't seem to do advance notice for them...(for anyone reading this, tell your local ride organizer to make a website that works 365 days a year).
Washington DC: http://www.waba.org/events/
New York: http://www.bikenewyork.org/ Bike in all 5 Boros - 42 miles (first Sunday in May - 45,000)
Austin to Shiner: http://www.shinerbash.com/ Great Austin to Shiner Pedal - 90 miles, okay not a City ride, but one in Austin to a brewery is worth noting. (first Sundy in May - 1,500)
Chicago: http://www.bikethedrive.org/ Lakeshore Drive is shut down - 30 miles (last Sunday in May - 20,000)
Montreal: http://www.velo.qc.ca/feria/index_e.php Not a lot of information (Early June)
Portland: http://www.providence.org/bridgepedal/ Bridge Pedal Second Sunday in August - 18,000
Los Angeles: http://la-bike.org/events/los_angeles_river_ride.html River Ride June 8 (thanks Jake!)
San Diego: http://www.bikethebay.net/site3.aspx Bike the Bay - (September 7th, 2,000 riders)
Baltimore: http://onelesscar.org/ Puts on Tour De Port - (First Sunday in October - 1,500)
Long Beach: http://www.runlongbeach.com/Top_Nav/bikef235.htm Marathon route (Second Sunday in October - 26 miles)
Round Rock, TX: http://www.roundrocktexas.gov/home/index.asp?page=635, special exception for a Texas Ride - third Saturday in October
I know these folks have rides, but they don't seem to do advance notice for them...(for anyone reading this, tell your local ride organizer to make a website that works 365 days a year).
Washington DC: http://www.waba.org/events/
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Amsterdam Bike Signals
Sad really that I take pictures of bicycle traffic signals during my vacation, but I will admit I do and I enjoy it. 
Hamburg Transportation
We had a great trip to Hamburg, Germany and I was impressed with all of the bike and transit related innovations I saw in just a day walking around the City.
Street Standards and the Shaping of Suburbia
I am doing some research for a proposal and came across this article. I want to read it, so I thought I would post it here and come back to take a look at it in more detail later.