I only took one photo with my half-dead dinosaur of a camera, because I had a super rad photographer with me. You’ll see DTR turning into the Pickathon channel as pictures come my way. The one photo I did take was of the bike racks. This music festival tried to be the greenest and the cleanest. One method was encouraging guests to come by bike. Racks were generously provided by BikeRacker.
I am the pink-haired, watermelon-helmeted cyclist you’ve seen on the news talking about the Ladds Addition “tripwire.” I wanted to clear up some media inaccuracies and add some more details here. Most of the inaccuracies are pretty unimportant to the story. (Was the “tripwire” cut with a knife or tugged apart? What event was I coming from?) And some inaccuracies are more important. (What was this “tripwire” made from?)
On Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I was returning from my friend’s (Rich Makin) spoken word performance downtown via the Hawthorne Bridge and then Ladd’s Addition. When I approached the intersection at Ladd Circle around 1am, I noticed the red blinking light of a cyclist stopped for a prolonged period of time and a ghostly, filmy ribbon shimmering across the road, only visible thanks to the dim street lights. I think the stopped cyclist’s name was Robbie. He was getting off work from a nearby restaurant. Robbie was tugging at cellophane tape, the kind you use to bundle items together for shipping. It was not plastic film like you use for storing food as some have assumed from the KGW coverage. At this point it was stretched out, but it appeared to come about 2 feet off the ground. It was tied between stop signs. I pulled out my Leatherman Squirt (I am prepared for obstacles!) to cut the plastic tape but Robbie finally got it to rip. Robbie and I biked away complaining about how dangerous it was. It was not strong enough to harm a car. Cars have enough mass to plow right through it, but it could totally clothesline a cyclist.
As we pedaled through the circle we heard an adult man’s voice calling from the bushes, “Thanks for stopping.” It was pretty creepy but disembodied voices are always pretty creepy. It’s possible that the voice was simply someone hanging out in Ladd Circle at night and thanking us for cutting the plastic tape. But Robbie and I both came to the independent conclusion that it was probably the person who set up the trap. We didn’t stop to investigate. The whole situation was strange. I was also not excited for a potential late night confrontation with a furious anti-cyclist vigilante.
When I got home I sent a notice about it to the Shift email list, plus an angry twitter (@lehudgins) and facebook message. The next day I was encouraged by a fellow cycling activist, Ben Dupree, to contact Sarah Mirk from the Mercury. I went down to the intersection around 11am to see what was left of the clear plastic tape and took pictures. Around noon, I was contacted by Officer Robert Picket of the Portland Police Bureau. I sent the photos to both Mirk and Officer Pickett.
When I spoke to Pickett on the phone he promised to ask his officers to keep an eye out for any future intentional obstructions. Although the police are on the case, don’t expect there to be any results. There is no evidence to point to who set up the trap. Unless someone gets emboldened by all the news coverage to brag about it, the police are not going to know who did it.
I am hoping the cellophane tape was strung up by someone young without the ability to think through the consequences. Like kids throwing rocks off bridges onto cars, they don’t realize how much danger and potential damage they could cause. The idea of a cyclist getting clotheslined is pretty funny in a silent-movie, slapstick sort of way. In reality, it could cause breaks and brain damage.
Oregonlive has one of the most entertaining article leads. “Is there a sinister de-biker setting up traps and waiting in the bushes to see the spoils of his plan in Ladd’s Addition?”
I am the most disappointed with the KGW coverage. The interview process itself was quite fun and friendly. I spoke about the supreme right of way of pedestrians and how cyclists need to take more care for people walking in Ladd’s Addition. I voiced my support of passing the Idaho Stop Law, a law that would allow cyclists to yield rather than make complete stops at stop signs, provided they slowed and examined the intersection clearly. As DTR creator Mike Burnett said, it shouldn’t have turned into “stop sign-blowing bicyclists vs. drivers/moms/children instead of a total asshat trying to injure bicyclists.”
This bike vs. car frenzy is ridiculous. We shouldn’t be condemning each other or dichotomizing humans based on their mode of transportation. We ride bikes or drive cars. We are not bikes or cars. We are people, not our vehicles. Creating a booby trap that can hurt cyclists will harm a human, not take down cycling as a lifestyle.
Oh and cyclists, wear a damn helmet. You may be awesomely coordinated and have perfect reflexes, but you can’t always accurately predict the actions and movements of others, and this individual may be out to get you. May I recommend a Nutcase helmet like my watermelon? They’re a local Portland company and their products are pretty stylish.
There was some confusion on the Pedalpalooza Calendar. Today’s zombie ride leaves at 7pm from Irving City Park (not the waterfront). Come at 6pm if you need help with makeup.
3RD ANNUAL ZOMBIE CYCLE OUTBREAK! 21+ Irving City Park, 3535 NE 7th Ave
(at the basketball courts)
7:00pm – 12:00am
Meet at 6pm if you need zombie prep help, we ride at 7pm!
Uuurrrgggh, mmmmmmm.. Braaaaains.. BRAAAAAINS!
Can you cycle with a limp? Moan forlornly? Join us for the third Pedalpalooza zombie ride! We’ll be meeting at Irving City Park. Most stops will be bars, so this ride is 21+, sorry baby zombies. Last stop will be at 9pm at a favorite karaoke bar. Also, if you’re not a zombie, you will become a victim.
PAJAMA PARTY PEDAL! BOB, Hawthorne Bridge
(intersection of Hawthorne Bridge and the river)
9:00am
Don your favorite PJs, drape your bike in teddy bears and blankets, and enjoy a Sunday morning ride with fellow sleepy-heads. We will depart from BOB (FREE) and make a couple pit stops during the route at local bike-thru type establishments, where you may elect to buy coffee/food or not, as the mood strikes you (hint AWESOME waffles for 5 bucks!) Pajamas/bedtime attire a must, teddy bears and blankies optional.
MICHAEL JACKSON MEMORIAL RIDE TO MOVIES @ THE PARK Jamison Square, NW 10th Ave and Johnson St
6:30pm, ETA at peninsula park: 7:30pm.
The king of pop may be dead, but his legacy lives on! Join our mobile dance party through downtown Portland up to North Portland’s gem, Peninsula Park, where Portland Parks & Rec are showing “The Wiz” on the big screen under the stars for free! Festive dress (MJ-themed, dancewear, funky, or just something fun!), willingness to bootyshake, and picnic supplies recommended! Bring a blanket at least for sitting on the grass. Peninsula Park is across the street from a convenience store and 1/3 mile from a New Seasons.
SUPERHERO RIDE! Col. Summers Park, SE 20th Ave and Belmont St
8:00pm
Attention mild mannered citizens: your city needs your super powers, now, more than never! Don your super garb and ride, ride, ride dastardly villains into the pavement! BYO superbooze.
LOUD AND LIT RIDE! Irving Park, NE 7th Ave and Fargo St, Portland
(Meet at Irving Park, ride to mystery location)
10:30pm, Ride at 11pm
The North Freak Cycling collective’s monthly ride! We’ve been rocking Pedalpalooza 3 years running. Last year had Portland go deaf and blind to the sound, music and light show of the Loud and Lit ride. This year will be even more epic. Bring your dancing shoes, sound systems (fm receivers also requested), noise makers, and any and all types of lights. Meeting at Irving Park at 10:30, riding PROMPTLY at 11:00. Fun, Music and Games await.
Full schedule here.
SPROCKETTES RIDE AND DANCE PARTY Da Vinci Middle School, NE 27th Ave and Everett St
6:00pm
Join us for our annual mobile dance party ride & performance! Costumes encouraged, especially of the pink & black variety! Ride will be slow to moderately paced, no one left behind (family & freakbike friendly)! Multiple stops, expect fun, games & dancing!
TACO RIDE 2 Chilangos, 1473 NE Prescott St
6:00pm – 8:30pm Here’s my planned route and stops. Unlike last time I haven’t had the chance to call them all yet, but I’m guessing they’ll all be fine. The theme is once again “solo tortillas hechos a mano”, and we’re going for 4 stops again.
HIGH HEELS OR NO HEELS RIDE Ira Keller Fountain, SW Clay St and SW 3rd
5:30pm
Drag out your fanciest footwear, and let’s show Portland that we can ride bikes in ANY kind of shoe at all. Or: ride barefoot! This will be a good ride for beginners or those new to the Pedalpalooza experience: a slow, easy loop via major bike corridors so we can give maximum shoe/cycle exposure to the citizens of our fine town. Meet at 5:30 at the Ira Street Fountain. Ride will leave around 6pm. Show off those shoes!
PEDAL CAR KARAOKE Col. Summers Park, SE 20th Ave and Belmont St
7:30pm
Meet us at Colonel Summers Park for mobile pedal car karaoke. We’ll sing and ride through our neighborhood ending at Chopsticks on Burnside. We’ll provide the pedalcar, music and lyrics. You provide loud singing and Portland spirit!
LATE-NIGHT FOOD RIDE 21+ SE 12th Ave and Hawthorne Blvd
(meet to eat at 11:45, we ride at 12:15.)
We’re gonna visit 4-5 places, so extrapolate as you will! Like night-riding? Like eating? Come along as we explore places one can eat in PDX after midnight. No doubt we’ll visit a bar in here, and anyway, are your kids really up for a midnight ride?
3RD ANNUAL GUERRILLA GARDENING BY BIKE Col. Summers Park, SE 20th and Belmont
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Like native plants and green spaces? Like throwing stuff as you bicycle? This ride is for you! Imagine an eyesore empty lot transformed into a native flower, food, or hardy plant paradise. On this ride we will take readymade seedballs (clay+seeds) and throw them into inner SE/NE urban dead zones. More info on seedballs here. No one left behind.
SVEN AND GRETA’S SILVER & GOLD MOBILE DANCE PARTY Golden Joan of Arc Statue, Coe Circle, NE Glisan and 39th
4:00pm
You like Dance, Ja? Scandinavia’s Shiny Duo Sven Sparkle & Greta Glitter are exporting their Silver & Gold Mobile Dance party (“Mobil Dans Fest Sølv og Gull”, already a hit in Oslo, Copenhagen, and Stockholm!) direct to Portland. Be there, ja, in your hottest sparkle-wear!
SOLSTICE RIDE (PLUS TOUR OF LATE NIGHT “DINERS”) 21+ People’s Cooperative Grocery, 3029 SE 21st Ave
9:00pm – 7:00am, we’ll take off from People’s shortly before 10pm
Celebrate the shortest night of the year by riding all night (yes, ALL NIGHT) around Portland. We’ll be doing the obligatory hill or two but we’ll also be checking out late night food in unlikely places. Bring cash for eats/drinks. Ride your bike that you feel most comfortable riding on for hours. Bring something warm to wear, food and drink (for you and/or to share), and lights! No whiners.
F*&#ING WHIMSICAL REGRETSY RIDE Anna Banana’s, 1214 NW 21st Ave
10:00am
Regretsy themed attire encouraged. Whimsical f*#kery required dress up your bike or you with some regrettable craftyness. What’s Regretsy? 10am meet up Anna Bannanas. Head to a mystery crafty destination. Afterward, we will leave for Powell’s to the Regretsy talk/book signing with April Winchell. Post-Signing optional destination 4ish?- Museum Of Contemporary Craft (3.00 admission) Bring money for anything you may buy, drink, handmade stuff at mystery destination. “Special prize” for best skants.
GAYEST DAY OF THE YEAR RIDE Garlington Center/SMYRC parking lot, 3024 NE MLK BLVD
12:00pm
Join us for a bike ride and fundraiser open to ALL for the local non-profit program SMYRC, Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Resource Center. SMYRC provides a safe, supervised, harassment-free, and sober drop in center for sexual and gender minority youth in Portland, Oregon. Donations suggested in advance at SMRYC online or bring a check to the event.
BICYCLISTS OF COLOR PDX BIKE RIDE Rose Quarter Transit Center, NE Wheeler Ave and Holladay St
2:00pm – 6:00pm
Yay! our first Bicyclist of Color PDX ride! I think we’ll meet at the Rose Quarter and from there ride down the Spring Water Corridor. It’s easy, flat and very scenic. Picnic at Sellwood Park after wards? Bicyclists of Color PDX is a multicultural bicycle club out of Portland Community College. We promote and encourage people of color to saddle up and ride to promote sustainability and healthy living. We go on very mild well paced rides and take lots of breaks.
WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE WNBR HQ, SE Salmon St and Water Ave
(C’mon in! No drinking on the street.)
9:00pm – 11:30pm, Ride at 10.
Join us in the largest naked ride in North America, and quite possibly the world, as we gently protest against the fossil fuel dependence, and show the world a better, funner way. See www.worldnakedbikeride.org for more propaganda. The dress code is officially “as bare as you dare”. Many changes this year, so read the “Your First Naked Ride” page even if you’ve done this before. Also see here for the countdown.
Editors note: If you are not attending the ride but just “spectating”… First of all, why are you just spectating? If you must be one of the sideline gawkers, remember the “look but don’t touch” rule. Watch the riders go by, but be nice to their bare asses! Do not take pictures without permission. Do not accost them. Absolutely do not touch them or prevent their movement. Don’t be a jerk. They are naked for fun, not to attract sexual harassment.
By now, you probably should have noticed that my preference is for food and costumes.
CHOCOLATEY RIDE Couch City Park, NW Glisan St & Path (Corner of NW 20th and Glisan)
12:00pm
Sure, Portland is world famous for its bike culture – but did you know it’s also developing a reputation for chocolate? Join us as we seek out locally crafted chocolates, bon bons and truffles in the nooks and crannies of our lovely town! The ride will be leisurely, with numerous stops … and we’ll have a load of Wingnut Confections for sharing in the trailer. Bring cash to purchase things/support local chocolatiers. We will start in the NW and end in the NE.
These two rides have similar dress codes. Hopefully they will meet up.
1. VISIONS IN TAFFETA 21+ Dawson Park, N Stanton St and Williams Ave (at the gazebo)
7:30pm, Hairdos at 7:30, Ride at 8!
Have an ugly bridesmaid dress that you were told you’d be able to wear again? Found a turquoise puff-sleeve number in a freebox? Or perhaps you were confronted with a magenta monstrosity at the Bins that you just couldn’t pass up…
2. PROM RIDE Col. Summers Park, SE 20th Ave and Belmont St
9:00pm
All the benefits of prom, without any of the usual detractions! Fluffy dresses and those weird frilly-fronted button down shirts highly encouraged! Dancing! Bikes! DATES!
DROPOUT BIKE CLUB MONTHLY RIDE Col. Summers Park, SE 20th and Belmont
9:00pm – 3:00am, Meet at 9pm and Ride at 10pm
Dropout Bike Club is the premier Freak Bike Club in Portland, though all bikes are welcome. This year we celebrated our 5th year as a club! This ride tends to be big(150-300) with alot of freak bikes. Thunder Twins, The original Portland innovators of mobile sound systems will be rolling with the bumpin 1000 watt sound systems that have been supplying music for bike fun over past 4 years. Be ready for a nice ride to an outdoor location. Outdoor sleeping available. Live Fast! Ride Slow
TUTU FOOD CART RIDE Salmon Street Fountain, SW Salmon St and Naito Pkwy
6:00pm
Tutu’s and Bikes! Together at last! Come start your pedal-filled evening off with one spectacle of a dinner ride (bring cash) to a few prime food carts downtown and then off to our favorite cart hub in SE. Interpretive bike dancing throughout, if so desired & maybe drinks after. ”Leotard” on MLK told me they have some fancy goods to wear or just be creative. Yeah? You got this. So slip one over, roll on down, and build up that appetite. Tutu’s are the new skinny jean.
MIDNIGHT RIDAZZ: PLAYLAND – THE RIDE Pioneer Square, SW 6th Ave and Morrison St
9:00pm – 3:00am, Meet @9pm Ride@10pm
Midnight Ridazz pLAyland Ride will be a leisurely-devilish 12-15 mile venture into your childhood dreams of being a big kid. We’ll ride the streets howling and meowling and arrive at our secret stops where leaders have installed secret, creative funterventions for pLAy! Expect treehouses, mattress forts, sidewalk chalkings, flags, balloons, spin the bottle, foodfights, silly string and more!
