Beginning Friday, November 28th, all six Bike Gallery stores will commence one month of in-store fundraising for the Community Cycling Center! ...

Bike Gallery owner Jay Graves takes an employee (his son Simon) for a spin on a Madsen cargo bike at the kickoff event last night.(Photos © J. Maus) Last night at the Hollywood Bike Gallery store, Portlanders got their first chance to kick the tires of the new Madsen Cycles cargo bike. Jared Madsen. Jay Graves hosted the [...]

Recommendations regarding the 60th Ave MAX Station from the Land Use Committee --- The Rose City Park Neighborhood Association submits the following comments: a. NE 57th to 60th: extend unimproved Holladay St to mitigate truck traffic presence on neighborhood streets. Include bike and pedestrian pathways b. Consider Sullivan Gulch trail as a linear park c. Install tree plantings and sound walls along I-84 to minimize interstate traffic noise and enhance air quality d. NE 63rd Ave between Halsey and I-84 create a ped/bike pathway to relieve foot traffic on adjacent streets e. Construct a ped/bike connection between NE 57th, near Normandale Park, through existing Graybar property to MAX station area f. Create a bicycle center/hub/park & ride for with future ties via Sullivan Gulch Trail to I-205, Marine Drive, Eastbank Esplanade, MAX, and downtown.? Become a non motorized transit expressway with MAX transfer capability.? Mixed use retail/residential with bike amenities, showers, lockers, relocated Bike Gallery or similar as retail anchor.? The location becomes a weekend and summer destination for cyclists with sustainable commercial development. g. Apply transit equity to nearby bus facilities. (bus riders should have same size of shelter as train riders) h. Extend the MAX platform to allow a stairwell from 60th St overpass (eastward?) so there are stairs on both sides. As an interim measure, have a flashing light at and before the crosswalk for pedestrian safety.   Tamara DeRidder Co Chair RCPNA LUTC Ed G...

The organization SmartTrips is holding a competition for anyone who works downtown. Email or comment in their blog with your reasons for walking, biking, busing, MAXing or carpooling (anything but driving a car alone) and you could win certificates to Hot Lips, Bike Gallery, and more.

SmartTrips also offers a commuter packet for anyone who works downtown, delivered free to your work with a gift. You can request maps, bus schedules, bike maps, and specially tailored information such as women on bikes. We ordered one and were really impressed with the information. It gathered all the materials we've meant to pick up over the years in one envelope, and came with a bar of chocolate.

Desk Pendulum Clock from Recycled Bike Parts ($88)
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View from the office window?

It's November.

 

It's Portland.

 

Do you know where your rain coat is?

 

It might be a little bit damp.  It might be dark at 4:30.  But no matter the weather, it's always the right time of year to bike, walk, bus, MAX, or carpool to work. 

 

We want to know what motivates you to stick with your smart commute during the less pleasant season (also called "Portland Winter"). 

 

Is it money saved?  Exercise gained?  Aging delayed?  Traffic disdain? 

 

Send us an email at smarttripsdowntown@pdxtrans.org (or post a comment) and let us know your top reason(s).  We'll pick our favorites and compile a Top 10 list.  You can win prizes! (Hot Lips Pizza, Chocolate, Bike Gallery Gift Certificates, and more!)

 

Thanks for participating!