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For breaking news on overall service disruptions in the Portland-Vancouver metro area, go to @publicalerts or see www.publicalerts.org

Pedal Nation brings biking to all

Mar 31, 2011 at 2:03 PM 0 Comments | Add a Comment

April 9th and 10th at the Oregon Convention Center

Bicycles are taking over the Oregon Convention Center for the Pedal Nation Bicycle Show on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10.

Check out fun, interactive activities that focus on safety, test ride bicycles and see Portland’s largest display of bicycles, gear and apparel all under one roof.

Tickets for the event are $10 for adults at the door. Kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult. Purchase your tickets before April 4 and receive $2 off. A portion of ticket proceeds benefit the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Presented by Drive less. Save more.

Here's a Portlandia-inspired video promoting the event:

Bike First! - Scholarships Available

Mar 31, 2011 at 3:03 PM

For the past three years, Safe Routes to School and Bike First! have collaborated to offer clinics for students with disabilities.

For the past three years, Safe Routes to School has partnered with Bike First! (in affiliation with Loose the Training Wheels) to offer clinics for students with disabilities. The Bike First! helps children with disabilities or special needs gain stability to master the skills needed to balance and steer a two-wheeled bicycle allowing them to play with their siblings and peers with new confidence. The clinics have helped students ranging from autism, mild cerebral palsy to Down syndrome ride a bike.

If you know a child at your school who could benefit from a bike clinic please have their parents register them at the Bike First website, www.bikefirstlttw.com.

Safe Routes to School offers sponsorships for students with IEPs who attend our partner schools. For more information about Safe Routes sponsorships, please contact Carolina at 503-823-1189 or at carolina.iraheta@portlandoregon.gov

Registration is open! Sign-up at www.bikefirstlttw.com

UPDATED Blog Promo: Winter Still Reigns in Portland

Apr 4, 2011 at 10:04 AM

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Thanks to all 231 of you who chimed in via comments, email, or Facebook. The winners have been contacted directly. Just in case you were not sure, we hit 60 degrees (63 according to the Oregonian) on Thursday 3/31. Of course, we nailed it on Friday 4/1 - when we hit 68!

Here are some statistics on the guesses:

81 people correctly guessed 3/31.
29 of you guessed April Fool's Day
22 of you didn't guess, but chimed in with snarky, sarcastic comments. Keep 'em coming!
0 people guessed a date past 4/30 (I guess we don't have any true pessimists among you).
However, we did have 6 people guess dates past 4/16! I'm hoping for a 70 degree day by then!

Thanks again for participating. Stay tuned for more good stuff on the blog...

We were perturbed to read in today's Oregonian that our fair city just broke a dubious record: This is "the longest stretch without a 60 degree day since record-keeping began at the airport in 1940," according to the O.

Ouch.

Following last year's June-uary, it looks like we're going to have another cold, wet spring. But we like to look on the bright side here at Commuter Central. So we're turning our wet, cool spring into a chance to win some schwag.

Just leave a comment or email us your prediction for when Portland will officially hit 60 degrees. If you're correct you'll have a chance to win an iTunes gift card or a Spring Blooms Eternal kit to get you ready for Portland's third best season (according to me). In the meantime, here is an image to get you cogitating on your guess.

Senior Strolls and Senior Cycles season kicks off in May

Apr 6, 2011 at 12:04 PM 0 Comments | Add a Comment

Free walks every Wednesday through late spring and summer

SmartTrips North-Northeast Preview Series

Each year, our sister SmartTrips program offers households free transportation resources (very similar to the free maps and materials we offer) to households in a different section of the city.

This year is SmartTrips North-Northeast, which will reach nearly 50,000 households in North and Northeast Portland.

In addition to offering maps and other paper tools, SmartTrips holds over 80 free clinics, rides and walks. Over the next several weeks, we will highlight these programs.

Senior Strolls provides a great chance for those more seasoned in the art of living to exercise while enjoying some great Portland locales and the company of others. The EPA-award winning program will hold 22 walks this spring and summer, beginning May 11th.

This year's schedule of walks will highlight many North and Northeast Portland treasures, including numerous parks, vibrant commercial nodes, gardens, and historical sites. The strolls offer an easy, pleasant social walking experience and include information about local history and culture.

The walks are held every Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. from May 11th through October 5th. The walks are 1.5 miles - 2.5 miles in length. All begin near a public transit stop.

Senior Strolls is also rolling out a new initiative to get seniors walking more called Ped Pals. The program is intended to provide Portlanders 55 years of age and older motivation and encouragement by confidentially finding walking buddies for people who live near each other. A registration form is required for this program.

For more information about this free series, download the Senior Strolls brochure or contact Donna Green: 503-823-6114 or donna.green@portlandoregon.gov.

The Senior Cycling Safety class, presented by a senior, will cover getting started, types of bicycles, maintenance, rules of the road and avoiding hazards. Learn to ride safely, with confidence, and enjoy cycling! Class will be held Tuesday, June 7th from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Penisula Park Community Center at 700 N Rosa Parks Way.

Senior Cycle Ride will give you the opportunity to practice what you learned at the class. Come along for an easy-paced, social and scenic ride in North Portland. The ride will be on Thursday, June 9 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., also starting at the Penisula Park Community Center. Helmets required. Please contact Donna Green at 503-823-6114 or at donna.green@portlandoregon.gov to register for the ride by June 7.

Read the other SmartTrips North-Northeast Previews:

Guided Walks throughout North and NE Portland

Portland By Cycle Rides and Clinics

Women on Bikes Gets Rolling in May

Spring Kick-off a Success

Apr 6, 2011 at 5:04 PM

This past Saturday (April 2), Safe Routes held its first annual Spring Kick-off at Beach School. Over 100 people came out to join the celebrations. The

This past Saturday (April 2), Safe Routes held its first annual Spring Kick-off at Beach School. Over 100 people came out to join the celebrations. The day was filled with family fun activities that promote walking and biking. Trauma Nurses Talks Tough gave-away and fitted helmets for students. Our wonderful volunteer bike mechanics worked on bikes throughout the entire event. LeeAnne Ferguson, who manages our bike and pedestrian safety programs for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, led activities for students on a packed and mostly sunny parking lot. Parents participated in various encouragement workshops and bike maintenance trainings, including a few parents who got on bikes for the first time. The event culminated with lunch, raffle and a community ride following the new N. Dever Neighborhood Greenway.

Thank you to all the volunteers that came out and helped make this event a success!