Alas, it would seem we're still trying to do the commuter thing, and figure out how to transport the kids to their school at Trillium. I'd love to hear from other parents who have somehow figured out this family transit system beast, especially those who have managed to do it year round, and within more than a few blocks radius.
Does anyone know what happened to Portland's idea to get with the rest of the globe on a Bike Share Program? Treehugger has the latest information I've been able to come across thus far, which shows that the program has not only been met with uncomfortable sideways glances, but also downright pessimistic mud slinging. Who will maintenance the bikes? What will prevent them from being stolen, as in the infamous Yellow Bike situation in PDX?
Seems the homework just needs to go in. Get in the saddle, citizens. According to Treehugger, "Renting bikes is definitely one of the most successful PSSs (Product Service Systems- access over ownership) in Europe"
If Barcelona can do it, then why can't we? Parisians love it too, and extoll the virtues of seeing their city via bike.
Our beloved Portland has been voted the most bike friendly city in the states, so why hasn't the bike share program taken off? "After eight months of reviewing potential contracts "aimed at finding a company to provide the service and maintain a fleet of rental bicycles," Portland, Oregon has put its bike-share plans on hold due to nagging logistical and funding issues", says Treehugger.
More to come on this.
Meanwhile... Are you into Grass Polo? Take a read into the article written on the newest version of bike polo, from Portland's own Dabby McCrashalot!
Portland has chosen National Parking Day on September 19th, to show off four (that's 4), on street bike corrals at these locations:
- On the south side of SW Stark at SW 10th (map) at Ace Hotel
- East side of SW 3rd Ave at SW Pine St (map) at Bijou Café/Stumptown Coffee
- South side of NW Couch St at NW 11th (map) at Powell’s Books (back entrance)
- West side of SW 9th Ave/SW Park Ave at SW Salmon (map) at Southpark Seafood Grill and Wine Bar
The money for these new corrals comes out of the city’s Bike Parking Fund (which developers pay into when they opt-out of bike parking code requirements). Read more here!!
2 comments:
Look...if the City of Portland can come up with money to roll out a green-box-on-streets program for cyclists out-of-the-blue, then the feet-dragging on the rent-a-bike program might be for political reasons. Also, on a personal note, it appears I like the use-hyphens-for-emphasis-instead-of-think-of-better-sentences-thingy a bit too much.
Well, it sounds like SOMEone isn't taking into consideration that the installation of the green Bike Boxes were a mad damage control scramble by the city immediately after the two nearly concurrent municipal driver-related deaths of cyclists... City officials are trying to keep Portland's good "bike friendly" name viable, without which the rent-a-bike ideas will never see the light of day. I mean, would /you/ feel secure as a rent-a-bike company exec knowing that your consumers' next of kin are likely to be knocking at your door for insurance monies? Hell naw.
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