Floyd A. O'Reilly Blog

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

A “Bike Fun Library” is in the works, just in time for Pedalpalooza

One Hwang at the 2017 Tiki Ride.
(Photo: Eric Thornburg)

This story was written by Portland bike fun enthusiast and Shift volunteer, One Hwang.

Pedalpalooza 2018 is right around the corner and the bike fun community fire is burning hot. This year we want even more people to organize and attend Pedalpalooza rides, so we’re going to try something new: A Bike Fun Library with everything you need to lead a successful ride!

Members of the public could more easily organize their own Pedalpalooza ride if they had access to a bike ride equipment library, where they could borrow for free a flat bed trailer, sound system, disco ball, batteries, and radio transmitter. Furthermore, if they receive training on how to welcome women and other underrepresented groups, they could help create a more inclusive bike community and address factors that discourage these groups from participation.

We will soon create the Bike Fun Library. And we need your help to make it happen.

2018 Pedalpalooza poster by Rhienna Guedry/Rhienna.com)

Kiel Johnson will host it at the Go By Bike valet in South Waterfront and he’s even offered to provide logistical support. We’ll train library users to reduce gender and race-based bias and other forms of inequality through orientation workshops. A group of women leaders in the social bike community will plan a series of workshops. You can help by donating equipment or money to our GoFundMe campaign to buy the equipment. Also, join the user group email list to stay informed of our activities.

The average Pedalpalooza ride leader needs a mobile sound system and paraphernalia once a year. They can be expensive, and people do not need to own them. They just need to borrow in the same way people borrow books from libraries.

At the same time, something about our culture seems to prevent women from joining the bike community. Minorities also lack representation, as described in this BikePortland article by Taz Loomans. We know that most people are well-intentioned, and if they knew what they could do to help reverse this trend, they would help to change the culture.

Maria Schur.
(Photo: J. Maus)

Maria Schur, who will be co-leading the orientation workshops, says,

“I’m lucky enough to have a bold personality and a willingness to ‘barge’ in on any ride. Also, just by courtesy of being an experienced rider, I find it easy to fit in on most rides with most bike groups. However, I have witnessed women generally being treated as beginners on rides, even when that’s not the case. I’ve also seen and experienced harassment of women, often based on physical appearance. Much like bikes are often marginalized by car culture, women cyclists are often marginalized by men cyclists. There are many ways to fight this, and one way is through sharing our experiences and learning together how to show the men how they can help us feel welcome and equal on rides. I hope the library orientation workshops will accomplish just that, and am honored to participate.”

The library would be accessible to and benefit all members of the public. We will ask for a small, refundable deposit before lending out equipment to ensure that it’s returned in good condition.

Scott Batchelar, who led the most number of Pedalpalooza rides last year, says, “As a long time Pedalpalooza and Bike Fun rider and leader, the idea to set up a bike equipment library is a great idea that I wholeheartedly support and look forward to using on my bike adventures in the future.”

One Hwang and Scott Batchelar at the 2017 Pedalpalooza Kickoff Ride.
(Photo: Eric Thornburg)

We hope to raise $500 by the start of Pedalpalooza in June so we can purchase things like a sound system/speaker, first aid kit, cooler, “ride leader” sashes, and more. Check out the GoFundMe to learn more and to donate. Thanks for being a part of Portland’s bike fun culture!

— One Hwang

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Saltzman staffer Brendan Finn hired by Governor Brown as transportation policy advisor

Finn on his bike in 2008 and at Commissioner Saltzman’s side in 2010.
(Photos: J. Maus)

Portland Commissioner Dan Saltzman’s chief of staff has been hired by Oregon Governor Kate Brown. Brendan Finn, who’s worked with Saltzman since 1999, will be Brown’s new transportation policy advisor.

(Photo: City of Portland)

According to a statement released a few minutes ago, Finn, “Will be responsible for policy regarding transportation infrastructure across Oregon, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and the implementation of the transportation funding package passed in 2017.” That’s a pretty darn big portfolio. ODOT is a massive agency with about 4,500 employees and an annual budget of nearly $4 billion. The transportation package passed last session includes funding for $5.3 billion in projects and programs.

For the legions of safe streets advocates chomping at the bit for change at ODOT, this is interesting news.

Finn bikes daily to his job at City Hall and holds a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University. Finn isn’t widely known among BikePortland readers and doesn’t grace these pages very often because Commissioner Saltzman has never played a major role in transportation policy. Saltzman is best known to bike advocates for his unexpected gambit in 2010 to raise $1 million a year from utility fees to help pay for projects in the 2030 Bike Master Plan.

When Saltzman made a surprise visit to the Portland Bureau of Transportation Bicycle Advisory Committee to pitch the idea, he had the “avid cyclist” Finn by his side to give it more credibility.

In 2008 Finn made his own run for a seat on City Council and we cited it as a sign that City Hall was becoming even more bike friendly.

Last year Saltzman was handed the transportation bureau by Mayor Ted Wheeler, giving Finn another opportunity to leave his stamp on the issue. So far Saltzman has been supportive of PBOT initiatives like Vision Zero and Better Naito, but we never did see Finn go out of his way (publicly, at least) to flex his urban planning, bike-loving muscles.

In January we talked to Finn about the absymal state of bike parking in front of City Hall (he doesn’t use it himself because he got a bike stolen from there in 2001). He said, “I think it’s really important for us to have good bike parking because we want people to get here by all forms of transportation — especially active ones like cycling.” (Finn also said he’d look into the issue, but so far no changes have been made.)

Given the sorry state of affairs at ODOT right now, and with Governor Brown’s complete lack of attention to anything other than freight and freeways, having Finn inside the office can only make things better. Stay tuned.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

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Public strongly favors greenway route on NE 7th, PBOT report finds

PBOT concept drawing of potential design for a neighborhood greenway on NE 7th.

It now appears even more likely that the Portland Bureau of Transportation will develop a new neighborhood greenway route on NE 7th between I-84 and the Woodlawn neighborhood.

As we reported at the end of February, PBOT launched the public process phase of the project with an open house. Now they’ve released a report based on the feedback from that event and an online survey for the project.

The big question with this project is whether to create a cycling priority street on NE 9th or 7th. From a planning and cycling perspective, 7th is considered the better choice because it’s flatter, more direct, and it connects to the existing network. However, 7th also has a higher volume of drivers than 9th and there are fears among some that if people are prevented from using it in their cars, they’ll drive on adjacent neighborhood streets.

Perhaps fearful of yet another controversy surrounding diversion and cut-through traffic, PBOT is being extremely transparent with this project. They’ve published an 11-page Summary Report and a 35-page appendix with every one of the 300 or so pieces of public feedback they’ve received thus far.

The biggest takeway?

The vast majority of participants were very supportive of building the Neighborhood Greenway on NE 7th with additional monitoring and mitigation of traffic in the area. Supporters for the NE 7th alignment mentioned that it’s a direct connection to Lloyd District, the planned Sullivans Crossing I-84 pedestrian bridge, and other destinations, and addresses traffic issues on NE 7th, i.e. reduces cut-through traffic and speeding drivers.

PBOT heard some support for making the greenway on 9th, but it was “mixed.” Because 9th is so much more quiet and has lower traffic volume, there’s a chance we could end up with something similar to the N Williams Avenue/N Rodney situation. On that project, many people preferred Rodney because it’s quieter and feels safer. In the end, PBOT ended up making Williams the main bikeway route and adding greenway elements to Rodney (like sharrows, fewer stop signs, speed bumps, and diverters).

PBOT says they still haven’t selected a project alignment. “The project team will continue to develop and share design options,” stated project manager Nick Falbo in a recent statement. “The team will bring these more detailed design options to the community for additional discussion and considerations.”

Check the Lloyd to Woodlawn Neighborhood Greenway project page for more details and to stay updated.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

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Proposal for new path on Bridge of the Gods moves forward in search of funding

This looks even more amazing if you’ve ever been across the bridge in its current form.
(Graphics: Port of Cascade Locks)

Existing conditions. Yikes!

A biking and walking path on the Bridge of the Gods took a big step forward last month.

In March, the Port of Cascade Locks and the Pacific Coast Trail Association (in cooperation with the United States Forest Service, Washington Department of Transportation, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, and City of Stevenson, WA) turned in a proposal (PDF) to the Federal Highway Administration requesting $934,000 for a planning study that would lead to the construction of the project.

The bridge is a major part of tourism in the area and it services as a key link in the transportation network. It’s the access point for the popular Pacific Crest Trail, West End Transit bus service, two Scenic Byways, and other significant trails. Unfortunately, the bridge is narrow at just 22 feet-wide, has no shoulders or sidewalks, and is quite unnerving to use — even in a car!

Port of Cascade Locks Manager of Bridge Operations Ryan Vollans told us today via email that, “The Port feels strongly that this project greatly enhances pedestrian and bicycle safety at the Bridge and this improvement has been necessary for some time.”

Here’s an excerpt from the proposal:

The bridge is unsuitable for safe pedestrian traffic with a narrow 22-foot roadway lacking even minimal shoulders. It is a perilous situation for pedestrians to safely access then cross this narrow bridge, 1/3 mile long, with nothing to separate them from traffic, and the water visible under their feet 140 feet below the steel grate. Safety risks increase when tractor-trailers must swerve to go around pedestrians into oncoming traffic, and other motorists are sometimes paying more attention to the scenic views than to the road.

Another view of the new path from the proposal.

Despite that, the number of people who walk across the bride has risen significantly in the past four years nearly doubling between 2014 and 2017 (from 4,700 to 7,800 respectively).

In addition to a cantilevered path, the project — estimated to cost between $15 and $25 million — would include a seismic retrofit, new paths connecting nearby trails to the bridge, and safety upgrades to cross adjacent highways (see image below).

A host of upgrades on and around the bridge are planned.

A story in today’s Oregonian reported that the project has major backing by from Oregon and Washington’s congressional delegation. A 2017 bill that would have directed the Oregon Department of Transportation to begin the project, didn’t make it out of committee.

The Port and its partners seek funding through the Federal Lands Access Program. If chosen, it would allow the Port to select a final bridge design, study environmental impacts, refine cost estimates, and get the project ready for future funding. The proposal is being evaluated now and Vollans says they expect a final decision to be made in August or September of this year.

With a big push for carfree travel in the Columbia River Gorge, this project can’t happen soon enough. Stay tuned for opportunites to weigh in with your comments.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

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Goopey

Another pile of goopey, mucky reclaim clay piled out onto my plaster bat.
Sure it’s kind of messy… but I must admit it is a bit fun too.
Gratifying when you see it all turn back into free clay…
and you know how I love FREE CLAY!!!

from Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery https://ift.tt/2HMZOlI

3 Ways to Improve Blood Circulation

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

Poor blood circulation can cause a number of other problems that you’ll surely hate dealing with. Varicose veins, numbness, exhaustion, and dizziness are only some of the common symptoms you’ll experience, unless you do something to improve your blood circulation. Try any of the following:

Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash

Soak in a whirlpool bathtub
The combination of warm water and massage jets in a whirlpool promote better blood circulation. They help your blood vessels dilate, or open up, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to flow to major organs. This is particularly beneficial to those who have arthritis. Improved circulation can encourage better movement and less pain and stiffness in your joints. Source: LiveStrong

Don’t forget your roots
Ginger, onions, and garlic are three items that you’ll definitely want to add to your grocery list – not only they stimulate and improve the health of the circulatory system – but also because they’re just good for you. Fresh ginger root is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, improves digestion, and can soothe all forms of nausea. Garlic and onions contain organosulfur compounds which help the body to fight off infection, eliminate toxins from the liver and blood, and can even keep biting insects away. Source: NaturalLivingIdeas

Stay active
Anything that aids in general fitness should boost your circulation. When you work out, try both:

Cardiovascular training. Swimming, biking, running, playing sports, etc. Aerobic activity will improve heart and blood vessel function.
Strength training. Strength training (lifting weights) will help you build muscle, which in turn increases the effectiveness of cardiovascular and lymph circulation.
Every hour, get up and try 3 to 5 minutes’ worth of stretching or small exercise. This is especially handy if you’re at a desk all day and barely get a chance to walk around. Try doing little arm circles, touching your hands to your toes, kicking out your feet, or performing small, slowjumping jacks (enough to get your heart rate up). Source: WikiHow

Get yourself a whirlpool bath tub that isn’t only relaxing, but also very good for your health! Find out more about the best options in the market when you call us today.

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

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One Bag. Two Bag.

Remember that first bag of clay that made thirty cylinders a week ago?…
well, they’re all stamped, trimmed & dried.

And I figured if one bag of clay is good, two bags would be better!
So I made another thirty!!! This time thrown & stamped in one sitting…
and now trimming too!!! I’ve got “big plans” for these babies!!! More to come…

Save

from Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery https://ift.tt/2r1da38