text:
Bikes, Bridges and Bullet Trains: Riding Japan's Shimanami Kaido route
Bike Portland - Tue, 06/04/2019 - 10:27
Dedicated bike path that connects to the Kurushima Kaikyo bridge.
(Photos: Robert Pickett)
Robert Pickett, a former (and future!) Portland resident and member of the Portland Police Bureau Bicycle Patrol Unit, is currently serving as a U.S. diplomat stationed with his wife and two daughters in Sapporo, Japan.
"Its the best ride in Japan—let me know if you end up doing it and want some company." High praise from my boss — a taciturn triathlete with an eye for art and nature, and many years living in Japan. I figured I'd better ride the Shimanami Kaido sometime before the end of my time here.
The route hops over several islands.
The Shimanami Kaido is a 45-mile bicycle route across Japan's Seto Naikai (Inland Sea) from the City of Onomichi on Japan's main island of Honshu to the City of Imabari on Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's four main islands. Well marked, its mostly country roads skip across six smaller islands via one ferry and six soaring bridges, all with dedicated bicycle facilities.
Last May, during Japan's Golden Week of consecutive holidays, my boss and I spent three days and three nights surrounded by amazing culture and unforgettable scenery in an out-and-back trip starting in Yokohama.
Our bikes, tucked away on the train.
It says, "Let's follow the traffic rules and enjoy cycling!"
In Japan, if your bike is covered by something, anything, you can bring it on most trains for free. This lovely policy his has led to the birth of a relatively small, but active rinko (bike travel) culture. Most bicycle shops sell thin plastic rinko bags shaped to encase a bicycle with one or both wheels removed. It isn't exactly putting your bike in a plastic trash bag, but close. My boss and I bagged our bikes and hopped on the bullet train, stashing them in the space behind the last row of seats. Arriving in Onomichi about two hours and 400 miles later, we reassembled our bikes and rode to a hostel for the first night.
The next morning started with a ferry across a narrow waterway to the first island stepping-stone. Originally designed for a couple of cars, the boat now hauls cyclists and pedestrians for a minimal charge. At the opposite terminal we started following the special blue-colored fog lines that guide cyclists along the Shimanami cycle route to the first of six major bridge leaps to the next island. The bicycle approaches to most of these bridges are completely separated from the motor vehicle approaches, and the first one was a ten foot ribbon of asphalt winding through trees and flowers on a climb up to the cycle/ped crossing suspended below the main automobile deck.
Satisfied grin of a biker on a bike/ped only ferry.
Follow the blue painted line.
Thanks for reading BikePortland.
Please consider a $10/month subscription or a one-time payment
to help maintain and expand this vital community resource. -->
to help maintain and expand this vital community resource. --> -->
One of many lovely bridge approaches.
Cars above, bike riders and walkers below.
The day continued with bridge crossings and blue road traverses along emerald-edged coastline, through citrus and fig fields, and narrow village streets.
Traffic was relatively light, and featured plenty of other cyclists. Some were clearly serious with lots of spandex. Others were families with younger kids, out to ride just a bridge or two. Another nice thing about Japan is the frequency of convenience stores and their relatively fresh, healthy fuel options.
The last bridge of the day was the longest, tallest with the most breathtaking views. The Kurushima Kaikyo span is actually three contiguous suspension bridges, resulting in 2.5 miles of road suspended 200 feet in the air by six, six-hundred foot towers. Imagine the St. Johns Bridge, but six times longer and two-hundred-foot taller towers. The bicycle-only approaches spiral up into the air, first through, then above the trees to reach the road deck.
Oh the political will needed to pour that kind of money into a bicycle facility!
Sea level.
Climbing up.
Made it!
That night we spent at an Airbnb that featured bike parking in the bedroom. We also explored the local castle.
You know you're on a well-worn bike path when…
We began the next day with a soaring, tailwind-powered flight back over the Kaikyo Bridge. Instead of repeating the exact ride back to Onomichi, we diverted to a few of the less-pedaled islands, enjoying the even quieter roads and blue-water vistas, slowly making our way to an intriguing guest house I'd found online.
Entrance to Shiomi Guesthouse.
Japanese family-style dinner.
The Shiomi Guesthouse was cheap, off the beaten path, featured communal eating and sleeping on Japanese tatami rooms, as well as a wood-fired hot tub. But the hook was set when I clicked "history" and found a multi-part account of Robert Shiomi, born in the house in 1904, and immigrated to Portland when he was 13. He attended Failing Elementary, Benson Polytechnic, U of Oregon Medical School, and became a doctor! Interned to Minidoka in Idaho with his wife and six-month-old daughter during WWII, he returned to Portland with his family after the war where he lived his life as a respected doctor and unceasing advocate for better relations between Japan and the U.S. It was an unexpectedly sassive Japan-Portland connection… And the guy's name was Robert! My high expectations were met by a kind, gracious hostess, interesting guests from various parts of Japan (including a gentleman who had already accomplished his retirement mission of visiting all 6,800 or so of Japan's islands), great local cuisine, and a hot soak. A great finale to a fun trip.
The next morning we made our way back to Onomichi, bagged our bikes back up, and bulleted back home to reality.
And of course I Strava'd my ride home on the bullet train, just so I could see the 249 mph average speed.
I highly recommend this route if you're looking for a fun bike tour in Japan. For more info, check out this PDF for excellent maps and information in English.
— Robert Pickett
Never miss a story. Sign-up for the daily BP Headlines email.
BikePortland needs your support.
Family Biking: How to Pedalpalooza with the little ones
My kids on the Pedalpalooza Kickoff Ride.
(Photos: Madi Carlson)
Happy Pedalpalooza! My kids and I joined over a thousand others on the Pedalpalooza Kickoff Ride on Saturday and we're excited for more bike fun! Hundreds of rides with all sorts of themes for all sorts of people will take place this month and a lot of them are kid friendly.
Our Family Biking column is sponsored by Clever Cycles.
➤ Read past entries here.
As I suspected would be the case, the Kickoff Ride was too much for one of my kids. But we went because I wanted to get this year's Pedalpalooza poster (wolves riding a tandem bike!) for his wolf-loving brother, and I thought it'd be fun for them to experience such a massive ride. I figured we'd only stay for a bit of the ride before peeling off, but once it got headed in our homeward direction it seemed like our best bet was go with the flow. Fortunately the flow was pretty slow so when my overwhelmed kid decided he was done riding it was easy for me to scoot us to the edge of the street and load him onto my bike, barely losing our place in the mass. And despite one overwhelmed kid I had a brilliant time and got to chat with a lot of friends as we wound our way through downtown Portland, and my 12-year old happily pedaled near me and gleefully counted many dogs on bikes.
Our formation/mood for the majority of the Pedalpalooza Kickoff Ride.
I've learned a couple things about Pedalpalooza rides since my Pedalpalooza column last year. The "Family Friendly" designation on the Pedalpalooza calendar means:
➤ Under six miles
➤ 10 mph or slower
➤ Few or no hills
➤ No 21+ activities
These are all the makings of a family-friendly ride. For the sake of comparison, a typical Kidical Mass PDX ride is usually:
➤ About two miles
➤ 5 mph
➤ Ideally absolutely flat
Family-friendly rides are designated with a heart icon in the Portland Mercury's print calendar and with a green "Family Friendly" box on the left in the online calendar. From the Shift home page click to expand the Calendar menu and choose Events for a calendar starting with the current day or choose Pedalpalooza Calendar to see rides going back to June 1st. The online calendar has longer descriptions making it easier to tell if a ride might be kid friendly. Both sources often have contact information for the ride leader if you want to get in touch to ask about details like distance, speed, and hilliness. Always check the online calendar for any changes or cancellations, as well as to find Facebook event links when they exist.
One of many dogs on the Pedalpalooza Kickoff Ride.
Here are some events I think would be great for kids (note that rides usually roll out about 30 minutes after posted time):
Fanno Creek Family Bike Ride
Sat, Jun 8, 2019, Meet at 9:30 am
Garden Home Recreation Center, 7475 SW Oleson Rd, Portland, OR 97223
Meet in the back of the Garden Home Recreation Center on the basketball court by the pavilion.
Host: Garden Home Recreation Center
Join us for a family bike ride along the Fanno Creek Trail! Grab your bike and your family and friends! Meet at Garden Home at 9:30 am, where the ride begins. As you prepare for the start, enjoy our community partners, music, prizes, fun, and so much more! The guided ride will start at 10 am and will follow the flat, paved trail for one mile to Vista Brook Park. There will be a quick stop at the park before the ride returns back to Garden Home. The guided ride will be two miles total. If riders want to continue independently, they're welcome to follow the trail further.
Madi's note: We've MAXed to the Beaverton Transit Center and biked to the Fanno Creek Trail. We stuck to sidewalks some of the time, but it worked fine!
7th Ave Slow Roll
Sun, Jun 9, 2019 at 4:00 pm from NE 7th and Going
Host: Captain Kiel
Join us for a casual community ride through NE Portland. Bring music if you have some. Will start and end at same location where we will have grills for grilling your food.
Light Brigade – The Slow Glow!
Sat, Jun 15 at 8:00 pm from Salmon Street Springs
Host: Bike Fun Library & Scott Batchelar
Join the Bike Fun Library and Scott Batchelar for the Family Friendly version of the Light Brigade Rides. The Slow Glow is an easygoing circuit of Portland's Waterfront and Esplanade. Grab your kid's, light up your bikes and join us as we light up Portland's Waterfront
Storytime Ride
Sun, Jun 16, at 11:00 am from Woodlawn Elementary School
Meet on the blacktop.
Host: Cat Odell
Gather the kiddos for a picture book reading and a little fun on wheels – bikes! trikes! scooters! skateboards! Local author/Illustrator Catherine Odell will share her debut picture book Pepper & Frannie, and will host a parking lot session for everyone to get comfortable on their wheels, play some games, or maybe try something new! Then the ride will leave the school lot and ride down the block to circle the paved paths through Woodlawn Park (Wheels in the Woods!). We plan to end by 1pm, but you're welcome to peel off at any time as attention, hunger, and patience allow.
Ride in northwest? Tell PBOT what you think about latest bikeway designs
Bike Portland - Mon, 06/03/2019 - 12:33
PBOT is inching closer to finalizing these 12 projects.
It's time to help the Portland Bureau of Transportation make northwest neighborhoods as bike-friendly as possible.
PBOT has just opened an online open house and shared latest project concepts for their Northwest in Motion project. This is an effort to identify and prioritize about a dozen projects that aim to encourage biking, walking, and transit use in and around the Pearl District .
The online open house is presented in the form of an interactive map that features the design concepts for each project. You can click on a street to see the concept, then scroll down to tell PBOT if they're on the right track (or not) and to share feedback.
We last shared the draft designs at the end of April and there appear to be several compromises made since then.
The NW Johnson neighborhood greenway is slated for updates, and the design at 15th (adjacent the REI store) has changed significantly since we last checked. The initial concept (shown below) was to eliminate eastbound driving space to make a two-way cycling-only lane:
Now the design shows only sharrows in both directions:
PBOT Project Manager Zef Wagner (via a comment below) said they heard some concerns from the community and business owners about driving access; but, "We changed it because we realized that to address the problem of both freeway traffic and east-west traffic, we didn't really have to do a diverter on that block. Instead, we could solve the problem through alternating one-way streets (with contraflow bike lanes) between 11th and 12th, 13th and 14th, 15th and 16th, and 17th and 18th. This new design is simpler and easier to implement, with less impact on circulation, and is arguably a stronger approach to diversion than the previous concept."
Back in April, PBOT showed-off a beautiful diagonal diverter on the NW Pettygrove neighborhood greenway at 20th:
Now that appears to be an enhanced crossing:
Wagner says the diagonal diverter was removed from the plans at the request of "bike advocates" who felt it wasn't a good idea to move drivers from one neighborhood greenway to another. "As staff, we agreed with this assessment on further reflection. So instead, we are proposing diverters at 18th and 15th to achieve the same goal in a different way."
As you can see, these designs are still not finalized. As PBOT cements their Tier 1 project list, it's imperative they hear from people who want these streets to be as safe as possible for bicycle riders. Here's that link to the online open house one more time. You have until June 30th to leave comments.
And if you just can't get enough of northwest neighborhood transportation planning, the Pearl District Neighborhood Association's Planning and Transportation Committee will host a presentation on the projects from PBOT at their meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, June 4th). It will be held at Pacific Northwest College of Art (511 NW Broadway, Room 237) from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. There's also an open house tomorrow night for the related Broadway Corridor project (which we covered late last month).
If a Pedalpalooza ride is more your way of learning, join PBOT and friends for the NW In Motion Bike Ride tonight (6/3). It leaves from Lucky Lab NW (1945 NW Quimby) at 6:00 pm.
UPDATE and CORRECTION, 3:50 pm: This post initially said changes on Pettygrove and Johnson were made due to pushback from drivers and business owners. I've edited it to reflect comments from PBOT project manager that further explain the context for the changes. I regret any confusion.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
Here's what the Pedalpalooza Kickoff Ride looked like
Fremont Bridge in the background as hundreds of Kickoff riders made their way on the route through northwest Portland.
(Photos by Eric Thornburg/no.lens.cap)
Pedalpalooza is off and running. And from the amount of smiles at Saturday's Kickoff Ride, y'all are ready for it!
The annual month of free bike fun for everyone technically started Saturday morning with a big breakfast and coffee gathering on the Skidmore Bluffs; but the official kickoff came via a massive ride that set off from The Fields Park later that afternoon.
Our Pedalpalooza photographer Eric Thornburg was there to capture the vibe. Check out more of his images below…
There's so much more fun to be had! Check out the calendar for today's lineup. And make sure to grab the current issue of the Portland Mercury where you'll find a convenient printed copy of the calendar in the centerfold.
Happy Pedalpalooza one and all!
The Monday Roundup: Gravel's big year, highway industrial complex, killer ads, and more
Welcome to the week. Here are the most noteworthy items we came across in the past seven days…
Double duh: A major study found that protected bike lanes work. And if that wasn't obvious enough for you, they found that paint-only bike lanes are actually worse than nothing at all.
Flower power: Continental is set to launch a line of tires derived from "dandelion rubber", which the company says are much easier on the planet than using rubber trees.
Highway industrial complex: The US DOT Secretary holds stock in one of the largest road paving companies in America — even though she promised to get rid of it.
SF bike share bloom: San Francisco plans to quadruple its bike share fleet to 11,000 despite a legal threat from Lyft, which says it has exclusive rights and doesn't want competitors entering the fray.
*Sponsored* Mark your calendar for the inaugural Takelma Gravel Grinder, which departs from inside the Seven Feathers Casino on June 29th.
Gravel's big year: VeloNews takes a look at why 2019 is such a banner year for gravel cycling.
Killer ads: Car ads in the U.S. promote the type violent, aggressive, illegal driving behaviors that contribute to thousands of injuries and deaths on our roads every year. Hell yes we should regulate them.
Just ban the damn things: "Making increasingly crowded cities more livable has to become an urgent public-policy goal," says this opinion piece from Bloomberg News, which makes the case for banning (non-electric) cars.
True traffic relief: In Portland some think the cure for congestion in the Rose Quarter is to add freeway lanes. In Paris, they think the opposite makes more sense.
Rah-rah Rapha: Love this new initiative from cycling apparel company Rapha to help boost bike racing in the U.S.
Sigh: The U.S. government is trolling us by referring to fossil fuels as "molecules of freedom" and "freedom gas." Seriously.
Buy used: The Guardian took a deep dive into the carbon footprint of making a new car and found, on average, it equals more emissions than what comes out of the tailpipe over a car's average lifespan.
Tweet of the Week: An excellent example of bias in media coverage of traffic crashes from Paul Supawanich (who happens to be transportation policy advisor to the mayor of San Francisco)
Do you see a difference here? pic.twitter.com/kaajVuVfs4
— Paul Supawanich
Opinion: Our candid commissioner
Bike Portland - Fri, 05/31/2019 - 14:25
Pretty safe to say the commissioner won't be at the World Naked Bike Ride.
It's been many years since we've had a transportation commissioner as willing to voice progressive ideas and positions as Chloe Eudaly.
I'm not sure if it's because Commissioner Eudaly is simply more comfortable on social media than any other council member, or because she sees the communication channel as a strategic tool to shift the conversation her way. Whatever the reason(s), I like it. And if you care about smashing the transportation status quo, you should too.
Two recent Facebook comments from the Commissioner stand out. One was lighthearted, the other more meaty.
Last week she jokingly posted a "Hard Pass!" graphic in response to our story about the upcoming World Naked Bike Ride. Then, in response to a constituent who felt the new bus/bike lane on SW Madison unfairly "forced him out" of his car (as if!), the Commissioner wrote in all caps "YOU ARE THE CONGESTION!" The exchange was worth a screenshot:
Eudaly speaking at the Lori Woodard memorial rally. (Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)
It's one thing for a leader to have these opinions, it's another thing to express them candidly in a public forum like Facebook. And they have added resonance because people tend to tune out politicians who can only speak in glittering generalities and who fear direct communication via social media.
While PBOT remains too timid, they agency has shown promising signs of progress recently. Now with Chris Warner being firmly seated as director — and with Eudaly gaining more confidence on transportation issues with each passing week — I'm optimistic about what lies ahead.
If PBOT is ever going to start riding faster, they need someone like Commissioner Eudaly out front to provide a draft. We are nowhere near the finish, but at least we have someone on city council not afraid to engage and speak truth to naysayers.
Watch: City Council hosts equitable transportation talk by Tamika Butler
Seattle Bike Blog - Fri, 05/31/2019 - 11:21
City Councilmember Mike O'Brien and Transportation Choices Coalition recently hosted Tamika Butler, Toole Design's California Planning Director and Director of Equity and Inclusion, for an hour-long talk about transportation equity and her experience as a land use, parks and transportation leader in Los Angeles.
Do yourself a favor and watch the whole talk. Seattle has made official efforts to run all major city decisions through its Race and Social Justice Initiative framework, and yet so many decisions still fail to put equity as a top priority. The city talks and talks about equity, but then fails to build safe bike routes connecting Rainier Valley and Duwamish Valley to the rest of the city's bike network, for example.
Butler's thoughts on congestion pricing (starts around 29:30) are also extremely important as Seattle begins to debate the concept.
City lowers speed limits in latest effort to control the insanity on Marine Drive
PBOT crews installed the new signs this morning.
(Photo: City of Portland)
Marine Drive has been a problem child for the Portland Bureau of Transportation for years and the city hopes recent disciplinary actions help set it straight.
The road's design encourages dangerous driving and the city has tried all types of tricks to slow people down and prevent them from running into each other, or from running off the road and into the Columbia River — something that happens more often than you think.
In one week last month, two drivers failed to control their vehicles and ended up in the river. One of them didn't make it out alive.
The latest move is a speed limit reduction from 45 to 40 mph on an 8.5 mile segment between NE 33rd and 185th (Portland city limits). Last year PBOT lowered the speed limit west of this segment (from 40 to 35) and installed speed cameras at two locations (33rd and 138th).
It's really a two-lane freeway.
Why the fuss? Consider these stats: Between 2012 and 2016, there were 189 total crashes on Marine Drive between 33rd and 185th. Those crashes included four fatalities and 144 injuries. Since 2017, six people have died while driving on that segment. Turns out streets that have no guardrails (it's built on a federally protected levee), are adjacent to industrial/rural zoning, have straight and clear sightlines and relatively few stop signs and traffic signals, are a petri dish for dangerous decisions.
And of course Marine Drive isn't just an arterial for driving on, it happens to be a vital part of the very popular 40-Mile Loop bike route and serves as a gateway to many popular areas.
PBOT says this is just part of their ongoing war on speeders and dangerous drivers on Marine Drive. The construction schedule for this summer also includes: a new traffic signal at NE 122nd, gaps filled in the existing path from NE 112th to NE 185th, flashing beacons at NE 112th and NE 138th), buffered bike lanes from NE 112th to NE 122nd, and centerline rumble strips from 33rd to 185th.
OPEN launches the WI.DE an Ever More Capable Bike
Bike Hugger - Fri, 05/31/2019 - 09:32
I'm on the road traveling to a media event while OPEN launches the WI.DE, so sharing the PR directly. What you need to know, besides Gerard made another amazing bike, is this one has FENDERS!
OPEN launches the WI.DE
We'll have more analysis and a demo ride soon. As our readers know, we're big fans of OPEN and what they bring to market.
Here's the press release and the link for more info with pricing and geometry.
When OPEN launched the U.P. (Unbeaten Path) model in 2015, it created a new category of performance gravel bikes. Equally at home on-road and off, with 28mm or 2.1" tires, the U.P. allowed people to ride anywhere and get there fast.
This category has since exploded (and may we say, sometimes with bikes a little too "inspired" by the original U.P.). Meanwhile, the U.P., U.P.P.E.R. and New U.P. have gone from strength to strength, winning awards, rave reviews and even a mountain bike race with Geoff Kabush.
Today OPEN introduces the WI.DE. (Winding Detours), which will sit next to the U.P. family. While the U.P. focuses on the road-allroad-gravel spectrum, the WI.DE. covers allroad-gravel-extreme rides thanks to its expanded tire clearance. U.P. riders cover plenty of extreme terrain already but the WI.DE. extends the possibilities even further. OPEN co-founder Andy Kessler explains:
"The WI.DE. fits up to 2.4" mountain bike tires. That's big even compared to some XC mountain bikes. At the same time, it still offers a performance road position for the rider and fits narrow road cranks, so riding efficiency remains high. This means it can conquer almost any terrain, without slowing you down on the easier roads and trails."
The WI.DE. achieves this by taking the most-copied feature of the U.P. – its dropped chainstays – and doubling down on it. OPEN co-founder & WI.DE. designer Gerard Vroomen explains: "The WI.DE. drops both chainstays, creating a very efficient box structure for the monostay behind the BB. This increases BB stiffness, reduces weight and squeezes even more tire clearance out of the frame. In addition, the WI.DE. is optimized for 1x drivetrains only, which further helps tire clearance (the U.P. also offers 2x, although most riders build their U.P. with 1x).
OPEN launches the WI.DE Features
Updated geometry: With slightly taller headtubes, the WI.DE. gives you even more control on the trickiest terrain, including rutted singletrack, loose rocks and "extreme gravel".
New size: Due to popular demand, we've added an XS size to our line-up. This is one of the smallest gravel frames you will find. Be sure to check stack/reach for a fair comparison with other frames, not toptube length, which can be misleading.
Nimble handling: We have a reputation to "live U.P. to" as the original U.P. offered great handing regardless of the tire size used. The WI.DE. steering geometry was tweaked to offer the same feel but over a different range of tire sizes (35mm to 2.4").
Smartmount 160: The brake calipers are attached directly to the fork and frame without any adaptors. The mounts are positioned pre-set for 160mm discs for both front & rear (the only sensible choice for gravel bikes). Lighter, cleaner, stiffer and safer.
Toolbox mount: Under the bottom bracket, the new monostay offers a perfect location to attach a toolbox. Out of the way with a low center of gravity, this is the perfect spot for your tools. The mounts are offset to create extra clearance with the chainring.
De-Fender-Ready: The WI.DE. frame and fork are prepared for OPEN's upcoming De-Fender mudguard system (Dec 2019).
The post OPEN launches the WI.DE an Ever More Capable Bike appeared first on Bike Hugger.
Better Block's 'Project Pathway' program now formally integrated into PSU curriculum
The plaza on SW 3rd (left) and Better Naito are Better Block's biggest successes. (Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)
This story was written by Malia Knapp-Rossi, a Master of Urban and Regional Planning candidate at Portland State University and intern with Better Block PDX.
Better Block PDX is excited to announce that Portland State University's Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) has adopted the Project Pathway program.
A total of fifteen projects have been shepherded through the Pathway since 2015, including four that will be built in the first phase of the City of Portland's Central City in Motion plan.
As BikePortland shared back in February, the Pathway program empowers PSU students and the greater Portland community to collaborate on low cost, transportation projects to serve neighborhood needs. These D.I.Y urbanism projects are fully integrated into the academic curriculum. The next generation of engineers and planners develop detailed traffic plans, public participation events, and transportation performance measures in order to create a safe and effective implementation path.
Founded in 2006, the nationally-funded, interdisciplinary TREC seeks to elevate "collaborative research and education that provide a unique lens on transportation insight for vibrant communities." The PSU Project Pathway curriculum and goals align closely with center's mission. This partnership will help institutionalize, streamline, and increase the capacity of the program. For the past two years, this collaboration and the Better Block PDX intern position has been supported by PSU's Institute for Sustainable Solutions (ISS). Under the wing of the sustainability-focused center, the Pathway matured into a formal program with greater capacity to support more projects, students, and classes.
Better Block announced the PSU partnership at an event last week.
(Photo: Better Block PDX)
Better Block PDX, a public spaces advocacy nonprofit, has spent the last four years working with Portland State University (PSU) students to develop design and implementation plans for community-driven transportation projects. In collaboration with PSU faculty, PSU's ISS, graduate-level urban planning and engineering students, the City of Portland's Bureau of Transportation, and community organizations—Better Block PDX created the annual PSU Project Pathway program.
The Pathway program provides a practicum experience for PSU students, increases capacity for community organizations, and has been successful at influencing policy and leading to permanent changes in Portland's streetscape — most notably the Better Naito project. A total of fifteen projects have been shepherded through the Pathway since 2015, including four that will be built in the first phase of the City of Portland's Central City in Motion plan that kicked off this past weekend.
Better Block has had an indelible mark on Portland's most innovative transportation projects in recent years. Learn more about the history of the organization in their Project Milestones report below:
AllReportsFinalAGAIN
— Malia Knapp
Where We Ride: You've probably ridden in Vanport, the former city wiped out by a flood 71 years ago today
Bike Portland - Thu, 05/30/2019 - 15:38
Ever raced cyclocross, mountain, or road bikes at Portland International Raceway? Ever biked on the Columbia River Slough northwest of Kenton? Or maybe you've enjoyed the annual Winter Wonderland Light Show?
If you answered yes to any of those, you've ridden on the streets, across the yards, and around the borders of Vanport.
This bustling, working-class town was once Oregon's second largest city. It was also a place where 40% of the residents were black. Tragically, Vanport was obliterated 71 years ago today when dikes that surrounded it gave way. 15 people died.
What happened at Vanport is a painful part of Oregon's racist history — and it remains relevant today as we continue to struggle with complicated web of race, housing, and sweeping demographic shifts. I still have a lot to learn about Vanport; but I can no longer ride there without thinking about its history. That land is so much more than just a cool place to ride bikes.
Here's that map again:
(Oregon Historical Society)
Those two yellow dots mark where the images below were taken:
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)
And here's a shot of the flood damage, with the yellow dots showing where I snapped those photos:
If you want to learn more Vanport, just Google it and start your journey. Also, check out the Vanport Mosaic Festival, going on now through June 5th.
Saturday: G&O Family Cyclery hosts a Cargo Bike Festival in Greenwood
Seattle Bike Blog - Thu, 05/30/2019 - 12:50
Greenwood's G&O Family Cyclery is hosting the first annual Cargo Bike Festival from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The event is part of the Phinney Neighborhood Association's LGBTQ Pride Rainbow Hop. It promises "test rides, kids activities, food, games and more."
More details from the event page:
Be a part of Seattle's first ever Cargo Bike Festival, a celebration of the life-altering power of cargo bikes! This event features family friendly activities and the chance to ride the best cargo bikes in the world…
This celebration is a part of the Phinney Pride Rainbow Hop, a family-focused neighborhood LGBTQ Pride event, and the whole business district is hosting fun activities.
When: Saturday, June 1 from noon – 4 p.m.
Where: Marrow Lane between Greenwood Ave N and Palatine
What: Celebrate the joy, fun and transformational power of cargo bikes with test rides, kids activities, food, games and more!
(Full Disclosure: My spouse Kelli helped organize this event, and G&O is a Seattle Bike Blog sponsor)
City of Portland wants to make side guards mandatory on all garbage and recycling trucks by 2022
Side guards installed on a garbage truck during a City of Portland pilot project.
It's been a long time coming, but Portland is finally about to take a big step forward in road safety. The Bureau of Planning & Sustainability (BPS) announced today they'll propose a change to the City's administrative rules that would require all garbage and recycling contractors to fill gaps in the sides of their trucks by 2022. The new mandate would apply to about 195 vehicles that currently don't meet federal safety standards.
Commonly referred to as side guards, the goal is to close the gaps on the side of trucks between the front and rear axles where vulnerable road users often end up in collisions. US Department of Transportation research has found that nearly half of bicycle riders killed by large trucks first come in contact with its side. With side guards in place, people and their vehicles are pushed away from the truck's undercarriage and wheels.
Portland first pushed for side guards in 2007 following the deaths of Tracey Sparling and Brett Jarolimek. But progress has been painfully slow. Our Vision Zero Action Plan, passed in 2016, lists the installation of side guards as one of its five-year actions. In February 2017, after yet another Portlander died in a right-hook collision with a truck operator, the Portland Bureau of Transportation said there was simply no funding for side guard installations.
But Portland Planning and Sustainability Commissioner Chris Smith never stopped pushing for them. As we reported in October 2017, Smith brought the issue to the table at every opportunity. The PSC advises Portland City Council on annual garbage and recycling rates, so Smith used that as a lever to keep the issue alive.
The Portland Water Bureau has had side guards on some of their trucks since 2008.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)
Last month BPS published a report on their Side Guard Pilot Project (PDF). The agency installed side guards on 18 garbage and recycling trucks and worked with 11 different contractors. Based on their findings, BPS Solid Waste and Recycling Program Coordinator Pete Chism-Winfield says they will propose that side guards be mandatory on all garbage and recycling trucks by January 2022
Here's the official language of the proposed amendment to the city's administrative rule:
c. Side Guards and Safety Equipment. Side guards are safety equipment designed to protect vulnerable road users from the hazards of open spaces on the sides of large trucks. The following schedule will result in the implementation of side guards on all collection trucks with side gaps between wheels greater than two feet. All side guards shall meet the Volpe specifications according to the following schedule:
I. All new collection vehicle purchases after January 1, 2020. (A/I)
II. All collection vehicles newer than 2010 and older than 2019 by January 1, 2022. (A/I)
III. All collection vehicles must have decals placed on the side guards or body that indicate to vulnerable road users that they are in a blind spot. (A/I)
Based on current truck inventories, BPS estimates that 195 trucks will need to be retrofitted before January 1, 2022. Based on the costs of the pilot retrofitting the 2010 to 2019 trucks ($2,623 per truck) would cost approximately $432,795 across all garbage and recycling companies. BPS will subsidize retrofit costs up to $1,000 per truck.
Asked if BPS has contacted Metro to implement a similar mandate on a regional level, Chism-Winfield said they (and other regional partners) have expressed interest but have made no commitments. BPS is also looking at other equipment requirements like cab design and mirrors but says they want to carry out the side guard project before moving onto other efforts.
A public hearing on the administrative rule change is set for June 3rd from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Chris Warner named Director of PBOT
PBOT Director Chris Warner.
City Commissioner Chloe Eudaly announced today that Chris Warner has accepted her offer to be the new Director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation.
Warner had served as the agency's interim director since July 2018 after previous director Leah Treat left for a job in the private sector.
"Director Warner brings over twenty years of public sector management and transportation policy expertise to his position," Eudaly said in a statement. "As a policy and technical expert, he has worked at the local, state, and federal levels for Governor Ted Kulongoski, Senator Ron Wyden, Representative Peter DeFazio and City Commissioner Steve Novick."
Commissioner Eudaly said she chose Warner after a national search (in part) because, "He understands how difficult it will be to reorient our transportation system to meet the challenges of the future… he knows PBOT, and he has the skills and experience necessary to turn ideas into actions."
Warner (left) with his former boss Steve Novick in 2013.
Warner's style is much different than his predecessor. He doesn't seek publicity and doesn't seem to be interested in building a national profile. Even Eudaly referred to his "reputation for quiet competence and hard work."
Warner was former City Commissioner Steve Novick's Chief of Staff when Novick was in charge of PBOT and was named assistant director of PBOT in 2016. In 2015 Warner attended a week-long study tour of Copenhagen with a group of PBOT staff and downtown business leaders.
In her statement today, Eudaly credited Warner for implementing PBOT's new crash response protocol and for his work in speeding up implementation of the new bus/bike lane on SW Madison, the first Central City in Motion project to hit the ground.
Warner assumes this position amid heightened scrutiny of one of the bureau's marquee initiatives. Yesterday the City Auditor released a report that found PBOT's Fixing Our Streets program has had "ineffective monitoring and oversight" and that many of the promised projects are overdue. PBOT is also facing pressure to meet its Vision Zero goals amid a rising traffic death toll
Weekend Event Guide: Pedalpalooza begins, a swap meet, adaptive bike clinic, and more
Mood.
The time has come for Portlanders of all ages, shapes, and colors to ride together in the streets in the name of pure, unadulterated fun. That's right, Pedalpalooza is here. Starting Saturday and lasting through the entire month of June, there are hundreds of free rides to choose from. They'll help you learn more about our city, about yourself, and about the people you share it with.
But this is Portland, and when it comes to biking, there are always options. If Pedapalooza doesn't pique your interest, perhaps you'd prefer to race or do a big ride, or to expand your cycling horizons in some other way? As always, check the BikePortland Calendar where we list a wide variety of rides and events.
Have a great weekend no matter what you decide to do.
Saturday, June 1st
Oregon Gran Fondo – All day in Cottage Grove
The finale of the Oregon Triple Crown series takes riders to the friendly town of Cottage Grove. The classic Gran Fondo course is a 117 mile, mass-start event. There are shorter routes and a longer, 130-mile route that contains several sections of gravel. More info here.
Breakfast on the Bluffs – 9:00 am at Skidmore Bluffs (N)
Jump start your body and your Pedalpalooza by meeting up with friends old and new on the beautiful bluffs. Bring coffee or sample the wares of Portland Roasting Company. More info here.
Swap Meet – 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Portland Community College Cascade Campus (N)
Organized by Norther Cycles and the PCC Bike Shed, this is the place to sell your used bike stuff and find that extra special part/frame/bike/item you've been dreaming about. Just $10 for a booth, free to shop and hang out! More info here.
Pedalpalooza Kickoff Ride – 3:00 pm at The Fields Park (NW)
This is the big one that officially begins 2019 Pedalpalooza. Get there at 3:00 to give yourself plenty of time to hang out, buy official PP merch, decorate your bike, socialize, and soak in the bike fun vibe. More info here.
to help maintain and expand this vital community resource. --> --> Sunday, June 2nd
Adaptive Bike Clinic – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at Eastbank Esplanade (SE)
Come and try bikes built for people with disabilities and get your questions answered from the experts at Adaptive Sports Northwest and Portland Parks & Recreation. Free clinic (at 12:00 pm) and a group ride too. More info here.
Bike Touring Workshop – 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Rivelo Bike Shop (SE)
Get the skills and insights you need to live off your bike. Taught by the ever-interesting and experienced Shawn Granton. $15 per person. More info here.
NE 7th Avenue Slow Roll – 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm at NE 7th and Wygant
Build community through a social and fun bike ride meant to bring neighbors together. Hosted by Friends of 7th Avenue. More info here.
East Portland Bike Train Pedalpalooza Launch Ride – 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at PCC Southeast Campus Quad (82nd & Division)
BikeLoudPDX and PCC have joined together to give you free pizza. Oh, and they will share info and debut the route for their new bike train. More info here.
Stay plugged into all the bike and transportation-related events around the region via our comprehensive event calendar.
Upgrade your inbox: Sign up here to get the Weekend Guide and all our stories delivered via email.
--> ]
Tern Launched BYB: Smallest Folding Bike
Bike Hugger - Wed, 05/29/2019 - 16:56
Earlier today, Tern launched the BYB. That's their latest folding bike. BYB is an acronym for Bring Your Bike and it's the smallest Tern to date. The ultra compact design is 30% smaller than a typical 20″ folding bikes, giving it a small folded footprint. It'd fit inside the GSD, another acronym-labeled bike from Tern.
The BYB is an urban bike meant to go everywhere with you and even tossed into an overhead of a plane.
Tern Launched BYB Pricing
The new BYB lineup includes two models: BYB P8 starting at $1,295, and BYB S11 is available at $2,495 respectively.
Besides the tiny fold, what Tern admirers will notice is how the front wheel is now secured with an anchor bolt, instead of their magnet.
That's a welcome change.
The BYB incorporates ten separate Tern patented technologies, with highlights listed below.
BYB Features
TriFold Technology—BYB uses a patented new method of folding a bicycle—with two hinges in the frame and one in the handlepost. The positioning of the two hinges is incredibly
complex—so complex that the patent includes a mathematical formula that describes the hinge positions, as well as alternative positions.
DoubleDeck Frame— The BYB inherits the DoubleDeck frame design and the burly trapezoidal tubing from the GSD for a stronger, lighter frame.
TFL Joint—Each hinge is also loaded with patented new technology and represents the state of the art in folding bicycle technology. The hinge rotates around stainless steel pivots sitting inside smooth Igus bearings. Levers lock shut automatically with strong aluminum pins. The TFL Joint is a complex 3D shape with internal interfaces with the frame tubes for a strong, durable connection.
Anchor Bolt—The folded bike is locked together with a strong and patented Anchor Bolt mechanism, so the bike always stays securely locked no matter how you lift or carry the bike.
Physis RF—Most folding bikes feature overly flexy handleposts which result in a ride best described as "riding a wet noodle". The 3D-forged Physis handlepost is known for its stiffness and strength. This new RF version pairs with the stiff frame to form the foundation of the BYB's excellent riding characteristics.
Metro Transit Rack—The Metro Transit Rack was designed to let the BYB stand vertically when folded, and features spinner wheels that make maneuvering the BYB in crowded spaces a breeze. It pulls double duty by also working with small and mid-size panniers, like the Ortlieb Sport Roller.
Along with that impressive feature list, there's a full line of accessories you can learn more about from Tern.
The post Tern Launched BYB: Smallest Folding Bike appeared first on Bike Hugger.
Scherer is stepping down after 12 years as Director of Familybike Seattle, organization seeks more Board members
Seattle Bike Blog - Wed, 05/29/2019 - 12:20
Morgan Scherer hauls herself, six bikes and a passenger on her electric-assisted trike in 2012.
It is hard to think of any other person who has done more for family biking in Seattle than Morgan Scherer. She has been out on our streets leading by example and sharing her experience since at least 2007, when she founded Familybike Seattle.
Hauling a fleet of different kid-hauling cargo bikes all over town, Scherer has been providing people with life-changing opportunities to experience family life on a bike. Taking a spin on a cargo bike is not just fun, it's a chance to imagine your life without (or with much less) driving.
When Scherer started, cargo bikes in America were largely a DIY or small-scale fabrication activity because very few companies were producing purposeful kid-hauling cargo bikes for sale in the U.S. market. So people converted old road bikes into Xtracycles or attached after-market electric motors to make climbing big hills with ever-growing kids on board a more easily-achievable daily way to get around. Just a decade later, you can get fully-designed family bikes off the sales floor of several shops. It's an unbelievable shift, and Scherer has done an enormous amount of work to help grow the number of people looking to make biking a central part of their families' lives.
But it's not just about equipment. It's also about parenting. Familybike Seattle and events like Kidical Mass provide a space for parents to share tips about, well, basically everything you might encounter raising a kid on a bike. More and more kids are growing up with biking as their primary way to get around, and this movement will continue to change the way Seattle thinks about transportation. Family biking is the heart of mainstream bike advocacy in Seattle now.
Scherer is stepping down to "focus more energy on balancing family life, disability justice, and (of course) bicycle advocacy," according to a press release from Familybike Seattle. The organization is also seeking more members to "fill our working board with dynamic directors."
This is a big moment for any organization. Trying to find footing without the original founder is tough, but it's the only way to become an institution. We wish them the best. If you are inspired to help, see their press release for details for getting involved either as a Board member or volunteer:
Familybike is changing and it is important you, our supportive community, know about it.
Please join us in wishing a heartfelt farewell to our Executive Director and Founder, Morgan Scherer. The Board does not take this transition lightly and we understand the gravity involved in filling the space Morgan will leave behind. Her service to Familybike and the community is invaluable.
Morgan founded Familybike in 2007 with her first family biking expo in her South Seattle yard. Since then, she has shared her knowledge and passion with the community through countless expos, Kidical Mass rides, workshops, mentoring, and the sliding-scale rental fleet. Morgan displayed her love for biking by pouring immeasurable time, labor, and research into creating a one-of-a-kind organization to support the greater Seattle-area. Her dedication to community-building and intersectional environmental justice has inspired an incredible number of biking families and is the foundation of what we all admire most about Familybike.
Although we are sad to see her part from the organization, Morgan will not be far away! In the coming months, she plans to once again provide her personal cargobike fleet to the community, via demo events and sliding scale rentals. Morgan's bikes are a specialized and impressive collection of mobility machines bent on changing the world through people-power. Stay tuned for more information on Morgan's rental and demo fleet as she establishes rental structures in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we look forward to seeing her at events and around town, hauling impressive cargo, and will continue to consult with her in regards to Familybike programming and impact goals. As Morgan moves on to focus more energy on balancing family life, disability justice, and (of course) bicycle advocacy, the organization wishes her all the support and success she needs in her endeavors. We will be inviting the community to celebrate this transition and show gratitude for all Morgan has done for the family biking community with a party at a date and location TBD. Please stay tuned!
The Familybike Board would also like to take this opportunity to invite interested parties to reach out as we seek to fill our working board with dynamic directors. We are especially interested in hearing from diverse voices with background skills in finance, volunteer engagement, grant writing, equity, and social justice. If you or someone you know is looking for a way to be of service in work towards getting more families on bikes, we encourage you to reach out with a little bit about yourself to Jen Grant, our Community Engagement Liaison. (jen.g@familybike.org)
Company responds to YouTuber who (once again) cuts through bicycle lock
Bike Portland - Wed, 05/29/2019 - 12:09
(Photo: Ottolock)
Back in December a YouTuber named LockPickingLawyer who specializes in defeating security products caused a stir when he posted a video that showed an Ottolock being easily cut with snips in just two seconds.
Ottolock is a Portland company that has found a strong niche with its relatively small and lightweight lock. The company has always acknowledged that it's not meant as a primary theft deterrent and that it should only be used either in combination with a strong U-lock or for very short durations in low-crime areas.
Two months after that video (which got 1.2 million views) came out, Ottolock launched a new model with thicker construction. The Hexband was designed with "increased cut resistance" versus the original model, according to the company's marketing materials. "Featuring added resistance to shearing tools such as snips and cable cutters," they continued. "Getting through Ottolock Hexband requires serious effort or powered devices, making it a stronger quick-stop lock for bicyclists and other users with higher security requirements."
Last Friday Lock Picking Lawyer released a video that tested the Hexband (watch it below). In the video — which has already received over one million views — it takes him a bit more strength and two hands, but he's able to cut through it with relative ease.
Ottolock responded to the video yesterday. Here's what they posted via Instagram:
Ottolock use guidelines.
We wish to thank the many supporters of OTTOLOCK. As you may be aware, there are critics who may not understand the product's intended use. We've been consistent in message, transparent in our learning, and we stand by our product design intent and use guidelines.
We take our responsibility to customers and product quality very seriously. We make premium compact locks for quick stops and we do not claim they are invincible. We've always recommended redundant locking with a quality U-lock for higher crime areas or long duration lock-ups.
We have spent a tremendous amount of our resources developing and testing this product to ensure that we meet the design intent and optimize trade-offs. OTTOLOCK HEXBAND is highly resistant to many modes of cutting or shimming, but can be vulnerable to specific forms of attack. We also strive to stand behind our product with exceptional customer service as many customers will confirm.
We've created a great product to fill the unmet need of a lightweight, portable solution for bicycle quick stops and other outdoor uses (registering for events, going to the restroom, grabbing a coffee or snack, bundling two or three bikes together on a group ride, and more). There is not a better compact and portable lock for these applications.
We appreciate the many thousands of customers and retailers who share this belief in our product and brand.
OTTO DesignWorks
So far (at least on Instagram), many of Ottolock's fans say they'll continue to support product. Fans of LockPickingLawyer are not being so kind.
Bicycle product expert and designer James Buckroyd (a contributor to BikePortland) tried to cut through the new Hexband lock and posted his review on May 11th. The verdict? "With a manual tool you need at 30mins and a lot of energy to get this one off… There is no doubt that adding one of these to you bike either wrapped around your saddle bag or using the holder will benefit you."
What does Patrick Cashman have against the World Naked Bike Ride?
A man named Patrick Cashman has a bone to pick with Portland's World Naked Bike Ride, the 9,000-rider strong annual event which will embark from Laurelhurst Park on June 29th.
Cashman has been on a personal crusade since late last year to hold ride organizers accountable to the letter of the law and to force the City of Portland to reveal the ride's route.
"This information was developed in coordination with a small group of private citizens who are allowed to know this information while other private citizens are denied it."
— Patrick Cashman
Back in November, Cashman penned an op-ed in The Oregonian urging others to join his demands to know the route of the popular ride. Cashman has also posted his concerns on Nextdoor. Between January and April of this year, he filed six separate public records requests with the City of Portland.
So far, he's been denied each time.
The City has acknowledged that they've worked with Naked Bike Ride organizers, but they say a desire for public safety makes details of the route exempt from public records laws.
In the past five years the ride has averaged about 9,000 riders. It's a massive undertaking that has long outgrown its spontaneous, unsanctioned beginnings (the first time BikePortland covered the ride in 2005 there were only 170 riders). For years now, ride organizers have worked in partnership with the City of Portland (including the Portland Police Bureau) to make sure the ride is as smooth and safe as possible. That collaboration has led to what Cashman feels is unfair treatment.
Cashman has a history of this type of activism. While living in Vermont in February 2018 he took issue with a public high school that flew a Black Lives Matter flag. Now in Portland, Cashman has accused our city government of playing favorites. In a letter (PDF) dated April 26th, 2019, in response to the City of Portland's denials to his public records requests, Cashman wrote, "I contend that as this information was developed in coordination with a small group of private citizens who are allowed to know this information while other private citizens are denied it, the city is also engaged in selective disclosure."
After a few people told me about Cashman, I contacted him to learn more about his concerns. Here's our email exchange:
Hi Mr. Cashman,
I've heard about your inquiries to the DA's office about the World Naked Bike Ride route.
I've covered the event for many years and I'm curious to know more about your feelings about it. Can you help me understand what your concern is? Are you simply curious about the route and don't like that it's kept a secret?
Mr. Maus,
I'm not a fan of the event (I think it's rude to one's neighbors) but that just my personal opinion and has no bearing on the rights of participants to do it. My major concern is with how the city handles it. There are three problems:
1. It's an equal protection problem. The city must treat an individual in the same manner as others in similar conditions and circumstances. For this event the city is choosing to waive their administrative rules and notification requirements for a moving event permit for this particular applicant and event. I don't know their motivation to provide this special treatment, but such low level corruption to favor preferred groups or people over others degrades trust in our democratic institutions and further encourages such corruption.
2. It's a public records problem. The state public records laws are very clear; public documents belong to the public, the default condition is they are to be released on request unless a specific exemption is claimed and justified. The city has not claimed any exemption. Instead they have employees brazenly coordinating how to evade public records requirements because, (back to point 1), for some reason this group is getting very special treatment. That not only degrades trust and violates public records law, but it sets a precedent and is a giant warning sign that the city does not take its obligation to its citizens seriously. Additionally, one has to wonder; if they are going through this much effort over this minor event, what else are they up to to keep actual consequential documents out of the public's hands?
3. The event, based on what I read on the WNBR page, will also be a violation of the judgment against the City in Gathright v. City of Portland*. The WNBR page states they will have event security enforcing a "no photography" rule and removing anyone who makes people feel unsafe. As ordered by the judge in Gathright the organizers had to sign a statement of understanding to affirm they understand the only rules in public parks are those imposed by lawful ordinance, event organizers don't get to make their own rules. And park rules fully support non-commercial photography by whoever wants to do it. [*Note: Cashman pasted the relevant portion of the judgment in his email; but I've left it out for brevity's sake.]
Let me know if you have any further questions. Thanks for asking
Thank you for the responses Patrick.
I'm in an interesting position because I'm a participant, colleague/friend of many of the organizers over the years, and a journalist who prefers to keep a healthy distance when reporting about these events. That's why your perspective on the event and actions around the route being made public are interesting to me.
Not sure if anyone has explained this to you yet, but the route is kept secret out of respect for the organizers who have spent years forging a productive working relationship with the Portland Police Bureau in order to keep this ride welcoming and safe for as many people as possible. The ride itself is unique: It's free and put on by grassroots volunteers, it's massive (and a major traffic consideration, hence the relationship with the PPB), and of course many of the people are naked.
While I understand your points about the letter of the law, many things our city and citizens do are in a grey area. That is, people come together to figure out a way to do something that might not fit perfectly inside the law, but that allows people to do what they want to do and gives the Police a feeling that public safety is assured. Take speeding in cars as an example. Police have a policy of not ticketing people until they go about 9-11 mph over the posted speed limit. That's just one example.
Organizers of the Naked Bike Ride do not want people to target the participants in any way. They want to limit the amount of people who show up just to catcall, leer, and take photographs of nude strangers. While you may have no interest in doing any of those things, many people do. And because of that it seems reasonable to keep the location and route secret and to discourage photography at the start venue.
We can agree to disagree about this of course. I'm just trying to give you more context for why this event is treated like it is. Now keep in mind, I'm not on the inside. I have never played a role in organizing the event. If you're interested, I could introduce you to one of the organizers.
Thanks again for your time. Have a nice weekend.
— Jonathan
We're going to have to agree to disagree. For me it is a matter of priority and from my perspective open, equitable, and accountable government comes before most anything else. Have a great weekend.
Patrick.
Biking Bis - Wed, 05/29/2019 - 08:37
Occasionally people reach out to this blog for advice about bicycle routes, bicycles, or bike accessories. I've researched these topics for myself in the past, but with so many new products coming on the market, my personal knowledge isn't that extensive or up-to-date.
That's why I'm putting out this question about the best bicycle for …
« first‹ previous123456789…next ›last »


Here's a super-sharp name that will help differentiate your firm. Syncaid.com is a brilliant start-up name that has an effective word mesh. Syncaid.com is a perfect for a health, pharmaceutical, health, public health, safety, Pharmaceutical business start-up.
ULGV.com is a different start-up name that is a quickly identifiable name that sounds right when you say it. ULGV.com is a catchy, fun and dynamic name for a start-up in electronics, electrical, safety, compliance testing and other innovative markets.


In the IBM white paper, "The Smarter Supply Chain of the Future: Global Chief Officer Supply Chain Study," you'll see how sensor technologies, new analytic capabilities and simulation techniques can predict, if not prevent, disruptions before they occur.
Apacer, a global leader in memory modules, announced the introduction of SSD+ Optimizer, the world's first Solid State Drive (SSD) optimization solution with HyperFast technology from performance and reliability innovator Diskeeper Corporation®.
The Application Usage and Risk Report from Palo Alto Networks provides a global view into enterprise application usage by summarizing network traffic assessments conducted in 1,636 organizations worldwide.
Für intelligentere Geschäfte Die heutige Geschäftswelt wird zunehmend schnelllebiger, wettbewerbsorientierter und globaler, außerdem nimmt der Einfluss von Technologie immer mehr zu. Kulturelle, technologische und physische Elemente greifen ineinander und treiben den Wandel voran wie nie zuvor. Gefordert wird eine freiere Arbeitsgestaltung, der Trend zur "BYOD"-Praxis (bring your own device) setzt sich immer weiter durch, echnologieinnovationen und neue Geräte, Plattformen und Anwendungen halten immer weiter Einzug und internationale und regionale Grenzen werden überwunden.
In typical organizations, most data resides outside the data center, so it is important that the protection of desktop and laptop computers is given the same priority as file servers and application servers. Have you deployed the right data protection strategy for endpoints? We're here to help! Arcserve UDP offers a FREE Workstation edition product that specifically focuses on backing up data on endpoints. Not only can desktops and laptops be protected for FREE with award-winning technology that minimizes bandwidth and storage requirements, but they can participate in the global deduplication schema offered by UDP (for 30 days), and have their data protected in public and private clouds, and more! This is too good to pass up! Get your FREE Arcserve UDP Workstation edition now.
This whitepaper, written in collaboration with TAL Global (a leading security consulting and risk management firm), highlights five case studies to illustrate common legal and security issues associated with BYO.
So how do you make sure you will gain the benefits of outsourcing and avoid the pitfalls? We have done the research and drawn from our own experience to bring you.
With key productivity applications becoming more bandwidth, processing and storage-intensive, dwp turns to Silver Peak Virtual Acceleration Open Architecture software to accelerate its file transfers and optimize WAN performance.


text:
Read caption Inside NRC camp management centre in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, our staff provides masks to visitors from the camp and also guide them on preventative measures and train them on how can they reduce any potential risk of infection to them and their family. Photo: Enayatullah Azad / NRC
The crippling cost of Covid-19 on refugees
By Jan Egeland|Published 22. May 2020
Global Coronavirus
We are witnessing a life-and-death struggle for displaced communities, as coronavirus restrictions take a stranglehold on millions of lives.
This opinion piece was first published by Thomson Reuters.
In crowded camps from Syria to Bangladesh to Colombia, evidence is emerging of displaced people being severely impacted by the pandemic before the lethal force of the virus hits them. Over 70 million people globally fleeing conflict and persecution are not only at greater risk of contracting the disease, but many will be disproportionately harmed by policy decisions and their consequences long after the rest of us may have returned to a 'new normal'.
We recognise that public health restrictions are vital to curb the spread of the coronavirus. But these measures must be non-discriminatory and temporary – not misused or exploited for political gain. My organisation, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), is already witnessing the direct and indirect impact of the virus in many of the 33 countries we work in.
Fleeing again
This health crisis is forcing displaced people to move yet again. They have to flee when lives become unbearable as access to basic services and temporary jobs disappear. Recent lockdown restrictions in Colombia have left Venezuelan refugees unable to earn an income. They are now forced to return to the crisis they once fled.
Others are being openly evicted from their homes. This worrying trend is on the rise in Iraq, Libya and Palestine. In the West Bank, Israeli authorities demolished 28 residential properties and seven water facilities even after the first reported case of Covid-19. Elsewhere, in West and Central Africa we have received reports of the pandemic being used by local authorities as a pretext to close displacement sites.
Even more people would flee if public health restrictions did not prevent it. Border closures in Africa have left displaced people unable to reach safety. Formal crossings are almost entirely closed in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda, which have resulted in the effective shutdown of refugee transit centres. Refugees are being left in limbo.
Restrictions in accessing medical aid in some countries is being caused or exacerbated by displaced people not having civil documents such as birth certificates and identification cards. An assessment carried out by NRC in Iraq showed 11 per cent of displaced people were denied health services over the last month due to a lack of documents.
Hunger pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic will wreck total economic devastation that will push countless displaced people over the edge, who were barely surviving before. Surveys conducted by NRC in Jordan after severe public health restrictions were imposed showed that 90 per cent of refugees who had work in week one, no longer worked by week three.
Hunger levels are soaring as a result. The World Food Programme has warned that 265 million people may soon starve across crisis-stricken countries like Yemen, South Sudan, Syria and Afghanistan. A mother in Afghanistan told my colleagues she had not eaten for three days because her husband could no longer access his job during the lockdown. She fainted after breastfeeding her baby.
When the displaced need us most, restrictions are also paralyzing the movement of humanitarian workers. Measures to prevent the virus from spreading have made aid like handwashing posts, toilets and soap, slower to deliver.
A survey carried out in April revealed that 74 per cent of relief agencies are reporting a negative impact on programmes, and 7 per cent of relief operations worldwide have completely stopped. And this is only two months into the pandemic. It is vital that humanitarians can stay and deliver, when so many vulnerable people rely on aid organisations for help.
Sanctions are also restricting aid delivery and the export of crucial supplies needed to respond to the pandemic. Blanket humanitarian exemptions are still not included in all sanctions regimes. Where exemptions are in place, aid agencies and private companies will often not use them because of heavy compliance requirements, and fear of accidently breaching the laws.
There are concrete measures that can be taken so the impact of the pandemic does not disproportionately hit the most vulnerable. First, countries hosting displaced people must be supported to include these groups in public health and economic compensation schemes. For example, Portugal has granted citizenship rights to migrants and asylum seekers so they can access healthcare and social security during the pandemic period.
Second, governments must ensure closed borders and administrative restrictions are adjusted so they do not prevent displaced people from accessing relief, medicine and other health supplies. Governments should follow the example of Canada in calling out discrimination, excessive use of force and violations of basic rights and freedoms.
Third, national authorities should list humanitarians as key workers excluded from stay-at-home orders, so that both pandemic and non-pandemic critical aid can be delivered. Some national authorities, including in Central and West Africa, are now willing to list humanitarians as critical workers, allowing us to continue our lifesaving work.
Lastly, governments should adjust economic sanctions, issuing broad exemptions to enable aid delivery and pharmaceutical, medical and other crucial supplies to vulnerable people. This will speed up aid delivery and save lives.
With these measures in place, we may prevent the social and economic fallout from Covid-19 from becoming more brutal on displaced people than the virus itself.
Jan Egeland is the Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council and a former United Nations Under-Secretary General of Humanitarian Affairs. Follow him on Twitter here.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Members of the Willamette University men's tennis ream are set for the start of the championship singles bracket at the ITA Northwest Regional on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Whitman College. The annual tournament, sponsored by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), began with qualifying matches on Friday, Sept. 21 and will run through Monday, Sept. 24.
When the main singles bracket gets underway on Saturday, four Bearcats will be competing. Andrew Kabacy (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Skyview HS) will start out against Nishaant Limaye of Whitman at 9 a.m. (PDT). Also at 9 a.m., Aaron Schechter (Sr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) will take on Riley Vickers from Lewis & Clark College. Gene Perle-Jones (Jr., Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) will play against #13-seeded Luis Rojas form Linfield College at 10:30 a.m., and Colin Fisher (Jr., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School) will battle against Jack Fleming of Whtiman at 11:30 a.m.
Second round singles matches will have start times ranging from noon through 2 p.m. The round of 16 for the 64-player bracket will be held on Sunday along with the quarterfinals.
Four Bearcats fell in the first round of singles qualifying on Friday. Dropping matches on Friday were Endy Zarate (Sr., Salem, OR/McKay HS), Charles Pezeshki (Fr., Pullman, WA/Pullman HS), Ethan Frank (So, Lahaina, HI/Maui Preparatory Academy) and Luke Hiserman (So., Monterey, CA/Pacific Grove HS).
Action in the main doubles bracket also is set to begin on Saturday. Two of Willamette's team automatically qualified for the main doubles draw. Jones and Fisher will meet the #5-seeded team of Alex Namba and Luke Lemaitre from George Fox University in the first round. Also competing in the first round will be Kabacy and Schechter against Joey Hu and Reyn Miyagawa of Pacific University. Zarata and Frank as well as Hiserman and Pezeshki were completing late Friday in doubles qualifying matches.


So, if you would like receive these outstanding pictures related to (Why Is Everyone Talking About Avery Double Sided Business Card Template? | avery double sided business card template), click on save button to save the pictures in your personal pc. There're available for obtain, if you want and want to grab it, simply click save symbol in the web page, and it'll be immediately saved to your notebook computer.} As a final point if you'd like to gain new and latest image related to (Why Is Everyone Talking About Avery Double Sided Business Card Template? | avery double sided business card template), please follow us on google plus or book mark the site, we try our best to give you regular update with all new and fresh graphics. Hope you love keeping right here. For most updates and recent news about (Why Is Everyone Talking About Avery Double Sided Business Card Template? | avery double sided business card template) shots, please kindly follow us on twitter, path, Instagram and google plus, or you mark this page on book mark area, We try to offer you update periodically with fresh and new images, like your searching, and find the best for you.
Here you are at our site, articleabove (Why Is Everyone Talking About Avery Double Sided Business Card Template? | avery double sided business card template) published . At this time we are excited to announce we have found an extremelyinteresting nicheto be pointed out, namely (Why Is Everyone Talking About Avery Double Sided Business Card Template? | avery double sided business card template) Many people looking for details about(Why Is Everyone Talking About Avery Double Sided Business Card Template? | avery double sided business card template) and definitely one of these is you, is not it?


DAHLONEGA, Ga. – It is time once again for White County's biggest festival – and the world's biggest beer drinking event — the 48th annual Oktoberfest.
Streets in this Alpine city will begin to swell noticeably tomorrow (Sept. 8) when the kickoff parade rolls through town at noon led by grand marshals Uschi and Marcel Blankenburg and Sis and Gene Garrison. The festivities will continue every weekend in September and will become a daily event in October.
The sights and sounds of people having fun will fill the air and everyone will begin to stuff themselves with a mouthwatering variety of sausages, roasted meats and big, big pints of beer, while declaring "Prost" a German toast.
The annual celebration will run from Sept. 6-9, Sept. 13-16, Sept. 20-23, Sept. 27-30 and Oct. 1-28. Festhalle admission is $8 Mondays through Fridays, $10 on Saturdays and free on Sundays. The times are 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on weekdays, 6 p.m. to midnight on Fridays, and 1 p.m. to midnight on Saturdays.


Buying from Entirelypets.com? Come get all available Entirely Pets coupon codes and promotions here for your pet discount medical supplies like heartworm and flea control medications. From brands like Frontline Plus, Frontline Top Spot, Heartgard Plus, K9 Advantix, FURminator, and more.
Use this code to enjoy 14% off all items. Conditions apply. See site for details. Also try "LOVE14".
Use this code to enjoy 14% off all items. Conditions apply. See site for details. Also try "LOVE14".
Entirelypets.com was founded in 1999. They help pet owners maintain and improve their pet's health and well being with discounted pet medications and products.
EntirelyPets supports a variety of charities including; the American Cancer Society, Search Dog Foundation, North Shore Animal League America, and the Humane Society of the United States among many other non-profit organizations.
They don't just offer medications for things like fleas, ticks and worms, they sell animal related products and accessories like dog and cat toys, bird cages, animal carry cases, odor and stain removal products, training supplies and collars and necklaces for dogs and cats.
They offer prescription and non-prescription medications, and supplies. If you're looking for a great deal on pet medications or simply interested to keep your pets healthy EntirelyPets probably has what you need. They offer a price match guarantee, so if you find the same products somewhere else online cheaper they will match it.


text:
Area businesses named Marketplace Governor's Awards finalists
More than a dozen area businesses have been named finalists in the 2015 Marketplace Governor's Awards, which recognize Wisconsin businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans with service disabilities.
The state has announced 21 awards finalists total.
This year's Marketplace Governor's Awards program drew applications from more than 200 businesses across Wisconsin. The program salutes large and small businesses and contains two categories. The Outstanding Business Award highlights established businesses that have demonstrated the ability to grow in the last five years and plan to continue accelerating growth in the future. The Rising Star Award congratulates businesses started after 2010 with promising growth potential.
Continue reading at http://www.biztimes.com/2015/10/26/area-businesses-named-marketplace-governors-awards-finalists/


text:
Welcome Guest! You are here: Home » Views & Analysis
2019 General Election: A battle for regaining constitutional and democratic freedom
The question crops up whether the Congress Party is prepared to capitalize on the opportunities created by the Modi government's failure in delivering on their promises and lead the anti-BJP combination from the front?
Wednesday April 25, 2018 12:50 PM, Murshid Kamal, ummid.com
The sentiments and perception change overnight in Indian politics and so does the mood of the electorate. The jubilant BJP which was looking invincible after the record victory in North Eastern states, received a humiliating blow in Uttar Pradesh when it lost two parliamentary by-elections including a long term Hindutva stronghold- Gorakhpur to Samajwadi - BSP combination by a simple cast equation formula. BJP is shell-shocked at the outcome which came as a huge embarrassment to the top leadership of the party. Electoral understanding between the two major players in the state where they happen to be also a major opposition and bitter rivals to each other are extremes and some rare example in recent past.
But, then the politics is all about exploring the impossibilities as Akhilesh Yadav rightly pointed out in one of the recent interviews that the BJP has taught them how to exploit other win- ability factors apart from the development work which fell short to win an election last year. And this is what the BJP Chief Strategist Amit Shah is worried about.
Now, the serious thought process has started in the BJP camp as the defeat has effected very negatively not only on the morale of the BJP- RSS cadre but also on the NDA partners ahead of 2019 General Election. The defeat has also exposed the vulnerability of the communal politics and despite the fact that the polarization is at its height and the society has never been so communally divided as it is today, BJP's nightmare stems from the fact that similar state-level combinations of arch-rivals in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and several other states will jeopardize their chances of regaining power in 2019.
The BJP is also worried about the change in tone of their allies who are indicating to switch sides in case a larger anti-BJP front is formed. Allies like Chandra Babu Naidu and Ram Vilas Paswan cannot afford to go into the electoral battle with an anti-Dalit and anti-peasant image of the BJP. Nitish Kumar is also not as comfortable as he was in the previous BJP alliance and there are chances that he might also chose to change side. But the BJP's biggest worry comes from within where a big chunk of disgruntled and disillusioned members of parliament, some of them, as powerful as Shatrurghan Sinha and Kirti Azad, can dent the party's prospect in the election.
Now the question crops up whether the Congress Party is prepared to capitalize on the opportunities created by the Modi government's failure in delivering on their promises and lead the anti-BJP combination from the front? The answer lies in the ground realities which do not present a very rosy picture for the congress party either. Learning from the past experiences, Congress Party should show magnanimity and large-heartedness in dealing with the regional stake holders. Fielding candidates in constituencies where it has no ground presence, thereby risking the division of the anti-BJP vote, as it did in Phoolpur and Gorakhpur bye-elections, did not match with Rahul Gandhi's commitment to take on the BJP with all seriousness. If the Congress Party has to penetrate into the states where it has been key player in the past, it has to win back the trust of the electorate by presenting a new image of the Congress Party, away from the traditional arrogance of its leaders and break the barriers between the people and the leadership. It should also learn to accommodate the aspirations of the small regional players.
As for the Muslim electorate, it goes without saying that this election is going to be very crucial in the history of Indian elections. Crucial in the sense, that it will determine the future of Indian polity and democracy, secularism and pluralism and their rights to justice, freedom and practice their faith as guaranteed by the constitution. In a nutshell, this election would be a fight for the supremacy of the constitution and restoration of democratic norms and values. They have to be extra watchful and cautiously evaluate the prospect of the winning candidate and do not get swayed away by the prejudice and emotions. But all this has to be done very quietly away from the newspaper statement, TV studio discussion and insane video uploads on the social media.
The Muslim clergies and seminaries should also refrain from announcing their support in favor of any particular political party or a candidate and leave it to the wisdom and political understanding of the electorate or to the local leadership at most.
A constituency level think-tank jointly formed by the influential Muslims and secular Hindus would be far more beneficial than a nation- wide support appeals, which at times has proved to be counter-productive. The only mantra which is going to work is to silently and tactfully vote in favor of the candidate who is in a better position to defeat the BJP and its allies.
For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App
Select Langauge To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic
Download MHT CET 2018 Admit Card from today, Exam date May 10
Chhattisgarh CGBSE Class 12, Class 10 result 2018 delayed; Read latest info here
JEE Main 2018 Answer Key, OMR Sheet display from April 24; Paper 1 Score, AIR on April 30
Himachal Pradesh Class 12 SOS Plus Two 2018 result likely to be out on April 25
Undeniable association with ruling dispensation: Academics to Modi on rapes, violence
A black week for India's venerated democratic institutions got a tad darker on Friday
Did we kill our children, Muslim Massacre victim asks after Naroda Patiya verdict
This Muslim IPS officer could have averted Naroda Patiya massacre, but he didn't
Death for rape of children below 12 - Union cabinet approves ordinance
Madhya Pradesh Board HSC Class 10 results 2018 likely to be delayed
Haryana HBSE Plus 2 Class 12 result 2018 to be declared earlier than last year
Justice Sachar spoke truth even against odds
Actress Natalie Portman turns down Israeli award over Gaza violence
Turkey to bring back all its gold stored in US Federal Reserve
CLAT 2018 Admit Card delayed, to be released on April 26
Justice Rajinder Singh Sachar passes away at 94
We wish this day had never come, Opp says after impeachment motion against CJI
UPSEE 2018 Admit Card for Paper 1 to Paper 4 released at upsee.nic.in
Despite eyewitnesses? Disbelief, shock as Twitter erupts over Maya Kodnani's acquittal
Now, court acquits Maya Kodnani, her PA in Naroda Patia Muslim massacre case
Salman Khurshid spots Muslim blood on Congress hand, BJP adds Sikhs'
A day after senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid's candid admission that his party's hand is stained with blood of Muslims, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday citing the 1984 riots added to it the blood of Sikhs. ... More
While India revisits the Naroda Patiya case afresh following the acquittal of Maya Kodnani, a book, originally written in English whose Urdu translation was recently released ... More
Also Read: Despite eyewitnesses? Disbelief, shock as Twitter erupts over Maya Kodnani's acquittal
Also Read: Now, court acquits Maya Kodnani, her PA in Naroda Patia Muslim massacre case
Once a Liberal Democracy and People's Republic, India now stands on cusp of Destiny
The case in MP of the VYAPAM scam, in which the needle of suspicion appears to point to the CM's close relative, and in which no less than 49 persons connected with the scam have died in the last couple of years, is another ... More
Also Read: A black week for India's venerated democratic institutions got a tad darker on Friday
My life 'turned upside down' after Adityanath's visit, Dr Kafeel writes from jail
Dr Kafeel Ahmed Khan, the head of the encephalitis ward and a paediatrician, managed to save many lives and the parents in the hospital had said that had it not been for Khan's work, the number of deaths could have been higher. ... More
Al-Ahwaz in 93-year history of occupation is suffering from worst crimes against humanity
Ahwazi and International Human rights organisations said that despite the passage of 93 years of occupation of Iran to Al-Ahwaz. Iran controls all aspects of life in Ahwaz through oppression, discrimination and systematic violations of the rights of the population. ... More
Latest surveys predict photo finish between Congress, BJP in Karnataka 2018 election
Two opinion polls released on Monday - one by Times Now-VMR survey and other by ABP-CSDS, predicted a photo finish between the ruling Congress party and the BJP in Karnataka 2018 . ... More
Also Read: 15 Muslims in Congress first list of 218 for Karnataka 2018 elections
Also Read: Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM not to contest 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections: Report
Also Read: Karnataka Assembly Election 2018 on May 12, Vote Count on May 15: EC
Also Read: NGO resolves to help about 18 lakh Muslims without voter ID cards in Karnataka
These 'beggars' pay crores of rupees then Haj committees run, Air India survives
Hence a Muslim family plans Haj well in advance, some even meticulously saving every single rupee needed for the purpose for years. And when the time comes to spend this money they do it happily and without slightest hesitation ... More
Also Read: Modi govt gives this bizarre reason to ban pilgrims with disabilities from Haj
Govt records contradict Prime Minister Modi's claims made in London
Many of the claims made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath programme at the Central Hall Westminster in London on Wednesday are contradictory to records compiled by his own ... More
The State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra State has released online the Admit Card and Hall Ticket of students who have registered for MHT CET 2018. The MHT CET Admit Card, also known as CET Hall Ticket, is released . ... More
Also Read: UPSEE 2018 Admit Card for Paper 1 to Paper 4 released at upsee.nic.in
Ramadan 2018 likely to start in Saudi Arabia on May 16, a day later in India
Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, will start this year on Wednesday May 16, 2018 if the new moon is sighted on 29th of Shaban in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries the holy month will start a day later. . ... More
Railway recruitment Group D, Group C 2018 exams most likely to be delayed
The railway recruitment Group D and Group C 2018 exams, conducted by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) and expected to be held in the last week of April or first week of May, are most likely to be delayed and could be held in June 2018 or even later.. ... More
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will release the Official Answer Key and candidates' response (OMR) sheets of the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2018 (JEE Main 2018) any time from April 24 and April 27... More
Also Read: NEET 2018 Admit Card released online, download before exam day
Also Read: Punjab PSEB Class 12 result 2018 declared; Pooja Joshi is board topper
Ummid.com is part of the Awaz Multimedia and Publications providing World News, News Analysis and Feature Articles on Education, Health. Politics, Technology, Sports, Entertainment, Industry etc. The articles or the views displayed on this website are for public information and in no way describe the editorial views. ummid.com is not responsible for exernal links or websites. The users are entitled to use this site subject to the terms and conditions mentioned. © 2012 Awaz Multimedia and Publications. All rights reserved.


text:
Mobility and exchange students
Living in Granada
Research at the UGR
Institutes & Centres
Enterprise & innovation
The University of Granada's governance structure and constitution have been developed in accordance with the highest standards of rigour and transparency in order to uphold the ethos and principles of good governance in higher education. As is the case with all public institutions, we have a duty to manage our affairs in an open, transparent and responsible way.
The University of Granada prides itself on being a well-managed institution which is fully accountable to our stakeholders. Moreover, we are firmly committed to the principles of academic freedom, equal opportunities and the promotion of diversity; values which are thoroughly reflected in our University Statutes.
The University of Granada's governance structure consists of different governing bodies, including the Governing Council, University Senate, Social Council and Electoral Board, as well as the governing councils and boards at the UGR's Faculties, Departments, Schools, and Institutes. All of these governing bodies are represented on the Governing Council.
The Governing Council is the University's supreme governing body, responsible for establishing our overall strategic direction and academic mission, as well as the procedures for their implementation. The Council ensures that our different systems, structures and rules are appropriate and fit for purpose, that all members of the University community fulfil their legal obligations, and that their rights are respected.
Sala de Convalecientes
HOSPITAL REAL
Introducing the UGR
Rector's Welcome Message
About the UGR
Our governance structure
Culture, Sport and Services
UGR Quality Policy
University Ombudsman
Health and Risk Prevention Service
Mediterranean Summer School
Employment and Work Placement Office
Centre for Open Learning for Seniors
Computer and Communication Networks Centre
Resource Production Centre for the Digital University
UGR Chairs
Secretariat for the UGR Web
UGR News Channel
Centre for Scientific Instrumentation
UGR Conferences
© 2018 University of Granada
Follow us on our social networks


LOST Video Island - "Burn"
This video is about the love, hate and rivalry between Sawyer, Kate and Jack.
i really want to see this vid is there a new and working link?
The video is back online, thanks to a gracious contribution by Morelight!
the video is in RM, 19 MB. Happy Viewing!
Anyone with a copy of this on their hardrive (RM version ) could you please upload this to Yousendit for us so we can continue the contest? I'll see if I can get ahold of Charmax, but I doubt it, since we couldn't get her when we tried to contact her to tell her about the contest I'd like it on Yousendit as I don't think Charmax wants it hosted for a long time anywhere other than her own site. If we can't get a working link, we'll have to disqualify the video.
Thanks to Polarbear for pointing out the missing links btw.
This is probably one of the coolest Lost videos I have ever seen. Very nicely done. Awesome effects. Overall great job.
only two vidders!? Drink up that coffee and get to work!
Coffee's ready but I'm afraid it will be cold and spilled by the time it gets to you. French Vanilla ahhh.
The other vid with Charlie was one of LAURA4LAD's.
Coffee the 5th basic food group.
Coffee sounds good - sugar please.
Yep you posted before I could edit my last post.
I had a panic when you pointed out the red parts initially. Did I post on the wrong vid? No but I did get a section mixed up. Whew! Going to get coffee now!


This model showed up at my house today. For those of you who don't remember, seaQuest DSV was a short lived, yet stellar, science fiction series that first aired on NBC in 1993. It only lasted three seasons before NBC canceled it, but the first season is superb and is a major part of why I grew up loving science fiction.
I found this model on eBay shortly after learning that it existed; I had stumbled upon while search the internet for out of production models. I managed to find a person on eBay selling this model for less than half what others were selling it for so I snatched it up.
I will be entering it in the Scale Model Addict Winter Group Build (Modeling the Movies & TV).


text:
The Doors' first, and only, show in Des Moines
By Kristian Day
From left: John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison. Photo credit: Elektra Records-Joel Brodsky, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Do you remember when The Doors played Des Moines?
Well, they did, and it went down in history as the worst show in their entire history of performing. Ouch!
Bob Modersohn should be credited as co-author of this piece, as he brought this to our attention. Modersohn was a photographer for The Des Moines Register and later went on as a staff reporter for 33 years. He investigated this one-time show The Doors had, even though he didn't attend himself.
"The Doors have been my group since 1967. I missed the Des Moines concert, as did many," Modersohn said. "For decades I'd wondered why the KRNT concert was so poorly attended. On and off, I tried to reach folks who attended the concert or knew something about it. No luck. I even spoke with Ron Sorenson at KFMG, who was doing a popular progressive rock radio show when I was in college, but he knew nothing about the concert."
July of 1967 was when the song "Light My Fire" first hit the airwaves. It was the band's first No. 1 Billboard hit. Two months later, The Doors played to 566 people in the 4,200-seat KRNT Theater. Sept. 27, 1967, was the date, and The Doors had just played "The Ed Sullivan Show" 10 days earlier. In "The Book of Rock Lists," The Doors' organist described this one-time Des Moines show as their worst.
One possibility is that the event was poorly promoted. Maybe rock lovers just didn't know about it. The closest a Doors concert had gotten to Des Moines in 1967 was two weeks earlier in Canton, Illinois, a town of about 14,000 folks southwest of Peoria. The Canton High School auditorium crowd was "shocked, thrilled or frightened" at Jim Morrison's stage antics, according to local newspaper reviewer Conni Cook. The next night, they played in Warrensville Heights, outside Cleveland, to a small but enthusiastic crowd of 700. A few days after playing Des Moines, the group played two dates in Denver.
"The crowd size was definitely a downer for them (The Doors)," remembers Fred Lorence, then 17, who played bass with Quarry, one of two local opening acts. Lorence says he got to know lead singer Jim Morrison during the evening. A lasting visual memory of his is Morrison spending much of the show gazing into a yellow spotlight, stage right. Reactions seemed to be mixed by those in the crowd whose recall of the event is still clear some 50 years later. Some loved the spectacle.
A few found the show lackluster or even irritating. I remember seeing one of my favorite acts, Type O Negative, back in 2006 at the Ogden Theater. Front man Peter Steele was leaning against one of the amplifiers while he played and just let the crowd sing along. I waited years to see them perform, and it was a complete let down. Steele (like Jim Morrison) would die just a few years later after such a terrible performance. Much like many other people, I never got a chance for a re-do.
Tom Lester, a local Des Moines music/record dealer remembers, "It was put together fast to fill a spot on their calendar." Posters weren't even printed, he said. Later, when KRNT Theater was closing for good, Lester got hold of the original Doors concert box office statement and still has a set of eight unused tickets, different colors according to different sections of the theater.
And that's that. A missed opportunity for Des Moines and the Midwest. When Modersohn and I talked on the phone, he brought to my attention that, even though "Light My Fire" was released that summer, music like that still had to travel inward from the coast. There was always the joke that Des Moines has been 10 years behind (like in that famous "South Park" episode when they defrost the "caveman" from 1995). Obviously, the Internet has sped things up a bit, but I don't think new cultural influences get pushed into our senses as hard here in Iowa as they do where they originate.
So did Bob Modersohn ever see The Doors?
"I didn't see The Doors live until the summer of 1969 in Minneapolis. Leaving the concert, one of the young guys who drove us to the concert got lost, and I suggested pulling into the MSP airport departures exit to get turned around. There in front of the airport entrance was a white limo, and The Doors poured out. I was 19 or 20 years old. I jumped out of our car and locked onto Morrison as he walked through the lobby. I approached him while an older guy was asking him to sign a matchbook, which he did without speaking. I thought, what can I ask that won't sound stupid? So I said, 'It's been a while since you've released a new album, anything coming up?' 'Yeah,' he said, 'The Soft Parade. It's a good one. It'll be out July 1.' " ♦
Kristian Day is a filmmaker, musician and writer based in Des Moines. He hosts the syndicated Iowa Basement Tapes radio program on 98.9FM KFMG.