Panelists include Tim Mulligan, TriMet operator and bike commuter; Allen Morgan, TriMet director of training; Colin Maher, TriMet bike programs intern; and Michelle Poyourow, BTA advocate and educator. Peggy Hansen, operations director, may also attend.

Bring your lunch and your questions!

Learn more and give input on what you'd like to see happen with SE Clinton at this open house:

Wednesday, May 14th
4:30 - 7:30 pm
Carvlin Hall at St Philip Neri Parish Church
2408 SE 16th Ave (near 18th and Division)

For more info, visit the project website or contact Kristy Hall at 503-823-6981 or Kirsty.Hall@trans.ci.portland.or.us.

Saturday, June 14th
WALK TO THE LIBRARY
10am-1pm, North Park Blocks (NW Park at W Burnside)
We will leave at 10:10 to walk to the Main Branch Library located on 801 SW 10th avenue. At noon we will meet at the library entrance to walk back to the North Park Blocks to eat a picnic lunch. Please contact LeeAnne Fergason for more information, leeanne@bta4bikes.org, 503.226.0676 x26.
FREE

Tuesday, June 17th
WALK/MAX TO THE OREGON ZOO
10am-3pm; North Park Blocks (NW Park at W Burnside)
We will leave at 10:10 to walk to a MAX station and ride the light-rail to the Zoo. Bring a lunch and at noon, we will meet to eat together. At 2:30 we will meet at the Zoo exit and take the MAX back to downtown. Participants can leave early or stay late. Please contact LeeAnne Fergason for more information, leeanne@bta4bikes.org, 503.226.0676 x26.
$2.75/adult, $2.40/child (includes MAX fare and zoo ticket)*

Saturday, June 21st
BIKE TO SKATE!
12:30pm-3pm, A Better Cycle (2324 SE Division Street)
Meet at 12:30pm, leave at 1:00pm sharp and ride the Springwater Corridor to Oaks Park amusement park and rollerskating rink. Make sure and bring cash for skating and a sack lunch for the picnic area. The event officially ends at 3:00pm but feel free to stay until 5:00pm or ride to the citybikes/KBOO block party! Please contact Joel Holly for more information, joelh@bta4bikes.org, 503.226.0676 x29
$5.75 per person*

Sunday, June 22nd
The City of Portland presents
SUNDAY PARKWAYS
8am-2pm, North Portland
A six-mile loop of local streets in North Portland will be closed to motor vehicles linking parks and great places to walk and ride bicycles. Families can walk, bike, run, stroll, and rollerblade along the route to activities in the parks as well as to nearby shops and businesses in the vicinity. Visit www.gettingaroundportland.org for route maps and more information. Please contact Stephanie Noll for more information, stephanie@bta4bikes.org, 503.226.0676 x23
FREE

Wednesday, June 25th
BIKE TO THE COLUMBIA RIVER
4:30pm, Vestal Elementary School (161 NE 82nd Avenue)
The Columbia River is an easy low-traffic 5 mile bike ride away. If it’s hot we’ll dip our toes in the river and if it’s raining, we’ll button down under the I-205 bridge. Either way, we’ll eat some lunch and meet new friends. Bring a bag lunch and, if you like, something to share. Please contact Carl Larson for more information, larson@bta4bikes.org, 503.226.2676 x16.
FREE

Thursday, June 26th
FARMERS MARKET RIDE AND PICNIC
4:30pm, Buckman Elementary (320 SE 16th Ave.)
Join other families for a short ride over to the East Bank Farmers Market and SE 20th and Salmon. Take some time to talk to farmers and pick out some treats for a picnic in Colonel Summers Park. Bring a backpack, plates, spoons and forks, and a little bit of cash for the market. Ride leader will bring a cutting board and knives for cutting up treats to share. Please contact Stephanie Noll for more information, stephanie@bta4bikes.org, 503.226.2676 x23
LOW COST (bring cash for farmers market)*

Sunday, July 13th
SW PORTLAND URBAN HIKE
11am, Ira Keller Fountain (SW 3rd Ave. and SW Market St.) This "urban hike" will explore the unique, divided and often forgotten areas of South Portland. South Portland has been slowly eroded by various urban renewal schemes and highway construction but bits and pieces of the district still remain and we'll traverse the area seeking out the hidden gems and learning about the history. Some (small) hill climbing and several staircases involved. Bring a lunch. Please contact Lillian Karabaic for more information, lillian@bta4bikes.org, 503.226.0676x 28
FREE

Families are encouraged to take public or active transit to each event. For more information about taking public transit, search the destination on Google maps and click “take public transit” or go to www.trimet.org and use the Trip Planner.

On rides, all participants must wear a helmet!
If you need help locating a helmet, contact Joel Holly, joelh@bta4bikes.org, 503.226.0676 x29.

All participants under the age of 18 will need to have a parent or guardian sign a release form and be accompanied by a responsible adult. This release form will be provided by the event leader and can be signed the day of the ride/walk. If you child is attending with a neighbor or friend’s parent, please download and sign a release form available on the BTA's webpage and send it with your child.

*If there is a cost associated with the event, please be prepared to pay individually. The event leader will not be handling money for the group.

Maybe they weren't before, but our two final days were unforgettable.

All those days I was unsure they were getting it…all those quixotic attempts to communicate with 35 students past rain and an overcrowded playground of children possessed of the urgent lunacy that only recess brings.  Other days, when I was forced inside to teach right-of-way and other rules of the road–despite brief sunshine because every other day of "rain" had proved at least a half-lie.  It being my first time flying alone, I stumbled–maybe fell a few times.  I was not sure they were (or I was) ready for them to dance with cars–but Oregon weather forces flexibility on us.

Thursday, Mayday, was gorgeous.  Our ride was gorgeous.  A couple kids jostled. Another couple raced ahead or dragged.  But out of sixty kids, at least 59 3/4 proved to me they knew what they were doing–including several who were shakey or non- riders at the start.  They proved me flat out wrong.

Friday would be rainy.  That meant indoor activities on our last day–a bit of anti-climax but do-able.  Friday arrived–and…no rain.  One of several heroic co-instructors (without whom I could never have made it through our ten days of mayhem and glory)recommended that we ride again… And we did.  A second day of glory.  A second day my–our..The kids could prove how much they had learned.

But what they really learned–the greater part–perhaps us instructors could never have taught them {and neighter could their teachers, parents, administrators, or even friends}.  They had matured, grown more independent, and clearly far more excited with school, the outdoors, learning, and their own abilities.  For my part, in my first Bike Safety class, I learned at least as much as the kids.  Having taught before, but not recently and not bike safety, alone I struggled and fought.  With practice, I gained confidence, & with help, reflection, and critique, I am now prepared.  Rereading the signatures on our thankyou note, I am touched-but also amazed:
–with every child who has grown as a cyclist, learner, and individual
–with my fellow instructors and I, who have had the chance to inspire another generation, just as I and many of us were inspired by equally imperfect learning role models
–and with the tremendous progress I am seeing in Portland and education since my elementary school experience [when we ate less healthy food, never biked or gardened, and spent all day inside] or High school, where I was one of two or three that biked with any consistency.  I applaud our instructors, our school teachers, staff of the BTA and other organizations with like missions, and all those who are working to recraft how our kids learn, play, see and transport themselves (especially supportive parents and volunteers).  Without all these people–and of course kids like my wonderful, awing kids at Rigler Elementary (and all the rest at other schools)–I would have much less faith and hope in people and far less cause for pride in my home–the Rose City, stumptown, Portland.

Traditionally, the evening has begun with hosted bars and a frenzy of bidding that carries to the dinner hour. This year was no different–guests showed up early, ready to place their bids in the silent auction. In between bidding, attendees greeted familiar faces or stopped by the photo booth to get a snapshot with that special someone riding a vintage tandem.

During dinner, bidders raised their paddles in the live auction for a trip to France, a private dinner party, fancy bikes, and more. After screening a short film advocating for safer streets, the whole audience was invited to donate toward the cause, and guests pledged over $34,000!

Combined, the live and silent auctions, ticket sales, and restaurant raffle raised a total of $150,000, meeting our goal for the year! Proceeds from the Alice Awards and Auction will help the BTA's vital work of opening minds and roads to bicycling.

Thanks donors, volunteers, and guests for making the Alice Awards and Auction a grand succès!

The BTA's Family Biking Commute Workshops discuss the common challenges that families face when considering bike commuting. They are also a place for seasoned bicyclists to learn more about commuting with kids and share what they know about commuting with new riders.

Topics covered include:

* Building confidence as a bike commuter
* Safe and legal riding
* What you need to know about different kid-carrying bicycles
* Carrying stuff other than kids
* Time management
* What to do about rain
* Route planning and maps

The informative presentations are followed by time for questions and discussion. All workshop participants will receive free maps and lists of resources. Presenters also spend time offering route-planning assistance on a one-on-one basis after the presentation. Workshops are led by BTA staff members.

Scheduled workshops

Workshops listed here are open to the public.
May 12 Inner Southeast 5:30PM to 7PM, Clever Cycles Bike Shop, 908 SE Hawthorne Blvd. No RSVP necessary.
May 15 Downtown Portland 5:30PM to 7PM, Bicycle Transportation Alliance, 233 NW 5th Ave. No RSVP necessary.
May 22 Outer Southeast 5:30PM to 7PM, Bike Gallery on Division, 10950 SE Division St. Please RSVP to lillian@bta4bikes.org

The deal is great. Not only is it a cool event and you’ll be having fun with the participants, you’ll also be pampered along the way. All volunteers are treated to dinner during the training time, receive a t shirt, get free beer at the after party, and snacks during their shift. You’ll be supporting the event by working at one of eight “obstacles” that participants have to master (helping people as needed and giving them a token for finishing).

The Details:
Thursday, May 22nd
6pm–7pm Mandatory training (dinner on us!)

Sunday, May 25th
7:30am–Noon Help with the event!
Noon–1pm Optional after party.

Sound like something you’d like to help with?
Contact Tricia by Wednesday, May 14th.
503-226-0676 x25 or tricia@bta4bikes.org

Bring a friend! Groups are welcome.