portland independent media center  
images audio video
bikes & transportation

From urban neighborhoods destroyed by freeway projects to pristine wilderness torn up for highways to the tons of pollution spewed into the air, the effect of automania on the earth and life has been deadly over the last century. Over 40,000 people are killed each year in auto accidents in the United States, and wars are fought for control of oil, massacring countless more. Additionally, the car-centered suburban lifestyle is a form of social control in which close community has been replaced by lonely individualism and people are penned into TV-molded alienation where they are brainwashed into what to think and believe. Corporations profit and people lose. Clearly, something needs to change.
read more >>

bikes/transportation | police / legal 12-Mar-2008 08:08

Police admit fault in killing 2 California cyclists, no drug test, no answers given yet

From the open publishing newswire: Police in California report that an officer accidentally crossed the median and killed 2 cyclists Sunday March 9, 2008. A 3rd cyclist was seriously injured. An initial news report stating the "The group collided with the deputy's car" has been corrected. Despite this one correction the news media are not reporting if the officer was given a medical/blood test.

read more >>


bikes/transportation | police / legal 12-Mar-2008 08:06

Eugene Police Randomly Assult Naked Bike Ride of 100

From the open publishing newswire: During a mass Naked Bike Ride at 7:30 PM Saturday in Eugene officers harrased the procession and "attempted to arrest" some of the participants. Early evening event "protesting oil dependency and celebrating human body" was assulted Saturday. The local newspaper reports that as cyclists wended, "...down Charnelton, one officer stopped his car in the middle of the intersection, got out and ordered the cyclists to stop and women to put their tops on."

Several additional police and police vehicals showed up to act as voyeurs. "Most of the riders kept going, but when an officer grabbed one of hem, an angry group of naked bicyclists surrounded the officer, shouting and chanting for him to let the biker go." The officer released the cyclist free, but then, "grabbed the rear rack of another rider's bike." A policeman tackled Cassandra Hurd, a 21 year old Eugene student wearing only panties, to the ground. "Another officer trained his Taser on a naked man, who approached the scene.

The other cyclists chanted, "Leave her alone! Leave her alone!" After the brief assult, the policeman released her, without charge, and the riders continued. "We attempted to make arrests but the crowd turned on the two officers... they elected to disengage before someone got hurt." Eugene police Lt. Rich Stronach told the press later, covering the department's rear.

read more >>


actions & protests | bikes/transportation 28-Feb-2008 07:58

Leap Day Actions in Portland

From the open publishing newswire: This leap day *February 29* imagine everyone who feels smothered living a mediocre life within the current insane system rising up to resist in whatever way they can. Take leap day off work and live life like it really mattered. Spend the day as a free and whole being. Maybe that means spending time alone, or maybe it means with friends, or with your whole block, or even the whole city. Maybe it means tearing down the forces that seek to force you back to work and back onto you knees on March 1. Maybe living free for a day means spending the day creating new structures, new ideas, new forms of cooperation and a whole new reality which make you happier and freer. You don't have to wait for tomorrow, and you don't have to ask anyone for permission.

We are going to meet at Critical Mass at 5:30pm under the West Side of the Burnside bridge. Then ride round and round, where the action stops nobody knows.

read more >>


bikes/transportation 11-Feb-2008 07:59

Wanna Ride Your Bike and Deliver Valentines?

From the open publishing newswire: Siren Nation is a local non-profit that produces a music and arts festival in November (www.sirennation.org for details). We have put on a fundraiser, taking orders for Valentines (card + vegan chocolate) to be delivered around town by bike.

We got so many orders! Yay, awesome for our fundraising, but we need help!! We got so many Valentine Bike-o-Gram orders that we need help delivering them! This week is your chance to costume up and ride your bike, delivering love notes!

Can you help us? Email  valentinebybike@yahoo.com and let me know the days and times you're available this week (mon-thurs), Thank you!!

 http://www.sirennation.org

read more >>


bikes/transportation 05-Feb-2008 18:43

Action Needed! Save $24 Million for City of Portland Bike Plan

Parked cars often cut in front of bikes in paths, even when they see them first. From the open publishing newswire: Recently, the Portland City Council passed a resolution to approve $450 million dollars to fix bridges and streets throughout the city. Rolled into that plan was about an additional $24 million for bike safety and bike boulevards.

Most notably for cyclists, it would fund:
* 114-miles of new low-traffic Bicycle Boulevards
* Safer Routes to Schools for elementary and middle school kids
* Safety improvements to dangerous intersections
* New sidewalks
* SmartTrips programs that promote sustainable transportation options

It was an ambitious and forward reaching bike strategy for our city. It passed and then the Oregon Petroleum Association got involved. The plan was then blocked. This is where you come in...

read more >>


bikes/transportation | community building | sustainability 04-Feb-2008 16:05

Critical Mass has fun and stops by the auto show

From the open publishing newswire: This last Fridays Critical Mass , a monthly bicycle ride with a history of police harassment resulting in no fun and small turn outs, starts out with 60 plus riders, a human pyramid, a bitchen sound system, and pays a visit to the auto show.

We made it to the auto show and grouped up outside the main door. A good sized banner was unfolded and held up for all to see that were making their way into the auto show. People laid on their backs and made like they were pedaling.

read more >>


bikes/transportation | community building | environment | sustainability 27-Jan-2008 12:00

Bicycle-based Urban Farming event, Jan. 30th

"Farmer Koll" with freshly dug taters at Try/On Life Community Farm From the open publishing newswire: As Peak-Oil and economic change begin to affect the growing and distribution of food, new approaches that are more sustainable and locally-based seem likely to emerge.

Some readers of this site might know me from when I worked at People's Co-op, or was an Indymedia activist. These days I've become what I guess you'd call an "urban farmer". I garden a set of plots around the City of Roses, mostly in Southeast. Lacking both a driver's license and a desire to drive, I do most traveling, harvesting, hauling, etc., by bicycle. Occasionally, I'll get help from a friend with a truck to move a tiller or something, but that's not too common. I am supporting myself this way by using the CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) model. So far I've been in no danger of becoming money-rich, and I've really been enjoying the endeavor!

I will be having an event about the urban farming I've been doing. Attendees will be treated to a slide show of bounty and be made privy to the details of running a business like this, from property-acquisition to planning & planting, financial budgeting and harvesting & processing.

Wed., Jan. 30th, 7-9 pm
People's Food Co-op
3029 SE 21st Ave. (1 block north of Powell)

read more >>


bikes/transportation 09-Jan-2008 15:16

Trimet wants to whittle away Fareless Square

From the open publishing newswire: One of the premier amenities that distinguishes Portland as a uniquely urbane American city is under a new attack. Trimet wants to restrict the hours of Fareless Square to between 7am and 7pm. Voice your opinion at upcoming public hearings on January 16, 2008. The first hearing will take place 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Liberty Center in the Lloyd District; the second hearing will occur from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the Portland Building downtown.

Here is a link to more information.

read more >>


bikes/transportation | community building 03-Dec-2007 00:10

The Bike Farm - New PDX Bike Co-op

From the open publishing newswire: The Bicycle Farm is a non-profit learning space run by volunteers who believe that bicycles are an ideal (and fun!) mode of transportation. Our mission is to promote the bicycle as a fun, safe, and accessible form of transportation, to foster healthy urban communities, and to provide a welcoming space to learn about building maintaining, and riding bicycles.

The Bike Farm is entirely volunteer-based, with core members and volunteers, both of whom can earn privileges based on time and commitment.

read more >>


BIKES/TRANSPORTATION ISSUES 11-Nov-2007 16:43

A modest proposal: Towards a eugenic theory of traffic safety

From the open publishing newswire: Let's be honest about our society's unwritten moral calculus on traffic safety.

read more >>


bikes/transportation 07-Aug-2007 12:12

Portland Pedal Power bicycle delivery service

From the open publishing newswire: Every Wednesday from 2pm till 7 pm, we are offering a free bicycle delivery service from People's Food Co-op and Community Farmer's Market. We also have free bike and walking maps available.

We are conducting a pilot project in cooperation with People's Food Co-op to offer bicycle delivery services to all who arrive to shop by foot, bus or bike. Come do your shopping and we will pedal your groceries home for you! It is free within the following boundaries: SE Holgate to SE Hawthorne and SE 39th to the Willamette River.

Why are we doing this? We are committed to our community and the Earth we share! We see the Portland community as leaders in the use of bicycles as a great way to move people and our stuff. We want to play an important role in the growth of sustainable transportation.

Please call our voice mail service at or find us at People's Farmers Market every Wednesday from 2 - 7pm starting Wednesday August 1st. People's is located at 3029 SE 21st Avenue, Portland, OR 97202.

bikeportland.org

read more >>


arts and culture | bikes/transportation 10-Jul-2007 12:50

Road Which?!

Make yourself at home! (photo credit: L Emery) From the open publishing newswire: Day 8 of Pedalpalooza brought a nice selection of events oriented towards the past, present, and future.

There was the "Little Beirut" tour of famous Portland "riot" scenes, inspired by George HW Bush's comment once-upon-a-time after his motorcade was egged, "Gee, that was a little like Beirut back there!" There was the Platinum Bike Master Plan hearings, to talk about the future of cycling accommodations in Portland. And there was the one I chose to go on, Road Witch.

What's that? It's an idea that originated in England, and exists at the intersection between public, temporary urban art installation, traditional street fairs, and more overtly political events such as Reclaim the Streets!

read more >>


bikes/transportation | neighborhood news 02-Jul-2007 23:01

Notes on buying a bicycle in Vancouver

From the open publishing newswire: Wisconsin to China, and then back across the sea to Vancouver, Washington. That was the trajectory of my brand new Trek bicycle, which I bought recently at a bike shop here in Vancouver.

Trek is based in Wisconsin, and some of their bikes, such as the one I bought, are made in China. It wasn't until I got home with my new bike that I saw the big, prominently placed Made in China sticker. I had assumed Treks were made in the U.S. -- if not in idyllic Wisconsin, then somewhere else. This misconception influenced my decision to buy another Trek, (my last Trek, bought years ago, was stolen last year. I wrote about that, using an alias, here:  http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/06/341690.shtml )

read more >>


more features >>

open publishing newswire

publish

newswire archive >>