Fascinating discussion on the reasons people do/don't ride in Portland OR

[Sal Atticum]

http://bikeportland.org/2010/04/19/how-the-ccc-hopes-to-break-down-bikings-color-barrier-32084

The bad news, reported Graves, is that many people do not feel safe riding in their neighborhoods. Related to that is fear of bike theft (due to a lack of secure parking areas). She also pointed out that much of the information produced by the City of Portland, Metro, and advocacy groups is not getting through. "Many of them didn't even know Portland was a bike city, or that bike maps exist".

There were also very strong cultural perceptions working against bikes. "Only kids rides bikes" and "bikes are for white people" where among the statements the CCC recorded from the interviews. Bikes were also considered symbols of gentrification -- a painful subject for many residents of North and Northeast Portland.

In one of the more interesting findings, 43% of Hispanics interviewed said they wouldn't ride a bike because they were afraid of getting pulled over by police.

Graves says the good news was that there was, "A lot of agreement that biking makes sense to increase and improve individual health."

The comments are generally very constructive (no bicycle-bashing here!) and focused on figuring out what the issues really are.

[Plantains]

Portland... heh.

[sanders]

in other news check this out  http://www.wendmag.com/blog/2010/08/21/victor-y/

who needs structural integrity....

[Sal Atticum]

You'll notice that Jason and Chelsey are on the cover of the current issue of Wend at the bottom of the page there...

[Plantains]

1. People have done that before... like LOTS. Most notably, KESTREL!
2. Those aren't white walled tires, they're deep v's or some variant.

My point isn't to hate on the bike... I'm sure it rides nice... the article makes it out to be some cutting edge design with a classical taste, when actually its just a copy of every trendy thing from last year. But he took out the seat tube.