Amtrak ticket stubs for round trip train reservations and bike reservations.

This past weekend I took a trip up to Portland from Eugene with my bike. I really appreciate the fact that I can bring my bike on the train, as it gives me the choice to do whatever I like when I arrive at Union Station. Upon arrival, one can bike to the nearest bus line to get home, go to Powell's for the newest read, or relax at a nearby café. At any rate, the fact that Amtrak permits bikes on board does wonders for a visitor's experience in the Rose City.

As a pretty much monthly visitor to Portland, surprisingly enough, this past weekend marks the first time I have brought a bike on board. Accordingly, I've given some thought to how bikes on Amtrak trains fit the Portland goal of diverse travel options. In short, "choices." If you offer citizens choices in terms of their travel options, the more likely they will make a different choice than insisting on riding alone in their cars. Be it train, light rail, bus or bike, Portlanders get around. Amtrak's inclusion of bicycles on board increases the number of choices people can make upon arriving to town as to where and when they want to go. Accordingly, I've written a brief list of ideas and suggestions in light of my trip that might make arriving "from train with bike" that much more desirable and convenient.

1. Improve ticketing of bicycles upon purchase. The decision to bring my bike from Eugene to Portland came after I had already bought my ticket north. For me to add my bike to my reservation, I had to cancel my previous ticket and be charged an extra $10 dollars on top of the ticket price to bring my bike roundtrip. Days after, I was reimbursed for the initial transaction. The easier we make it easy for “leisure riders” to make reservations for their bikes on the fly, without needing reimbursement of previous Amtrak fares, the more accessible trains will be and the more popular the prospect of riding one’s bike at one’s destination.
2. Standardize bike boarding information, waver forms and tagging. On Saturday morning, I arrived at Eugene Station to wait in line for the appropriate ticketing to bring my bike on board. To bring your bike you need to sign a form acknowledging that Amtrak has no liability for potential damage that may occur on your trip. After signing, I received a carbon copy of the form explaining the terms of agreement along with a tag for my bike. On the return from Portland, I was given a perforated form to perform the same task. The text was easier to read and more intuitive as it looked like it was printed off the same printing system as my tickets. The tag ripped off the form to be hung on my handlebars. Regardless of the differences in waver forms and bike tags, the actual round tickets, four in all (two for the fare and two for the bikes) looked the same. It would great to bring this sort of standardization to the bikes on board. Lastly, at the end of my ride to Portland, I wasn’t required to give proof that my bike belonged to me, whereas after arriving in Eugene I was required to give the other part of the ticket I received before boarding. To sum it up, Amtrak needs to be better with making a more seamless system for transporting bikes, especially when it comes to showing proof that a bike belongs to a certain individual.
3. Increase the capacity for bicycles on board. A quick call to Amtrak revealed that trains the Amtrak Cascade line only have capacity for six bikes, that is, six bike hooks to hang bikes if they are not already taken. I imagine more bikes could be accommodated if brought in boxes, but boxing your bike for less than a two-day stint in Portland doesn’t make sense. If Amtrak and Portland got together to find away to accommodate more bike hooks on trains, this could potential decrease the demand for rental cars, taking more cars of the road and encouraging visitors to see Portland and its neighborhoods on two wheels. To put this point into perspective, if I wanted to come to Portland with a group of friends to participate in the Bridge Pedal this coming weekend, and we all brought our bikes, then everyone else would be sweet out of luck. If we started off in Vancouver B.C., we would essentially take up all available bike parking for passengers boarding in Washington.

So there you have it. It would be great if people could suggest ways to make some of these suggestions happen. I was sure to send in these comments on the cards that were provided on the train, but more people pushing for better access to Amtrak's trains with bikes will surely make for a better case. You can leave your comments online here. And if you are post prone, (word on the street is you can get a ticket for a free drink on Cascade trains if you send them a comment) you can send your comments to:

Washington State
Department of Transportation
Rail Office
P.O. Box 47407
Olympia, WA 98599-7407

With the coming Winter Olympics in Vancouver, not to mention the fact that people just want to bring their bikes on board, it's important that we work to increase bike capacity on Amtrak as well as streamline current policies towards our two-wheeled friends. I also see this as a potential improvement that could come of Washington and Oregon's application for stimulus funds to update the Cascade line's crossings and aging infrastructure. If we're set on making the riding the train a viable transportation option, it's important that we make it viable for all users, those with and sans vélo. The more bikes at Union Station, the more money in the Portland's, and not to mention the Pacific Northwest's economy.

Ottavia of Italy & Quincey of New Jersey. Rendez-vous with a Southern European and current Eugenian: 1

Cup & Saucer Café on SE Hawthorne. Number of Cupcas visited: 1

Biker on SE Hawthorne. Number of "bike walkers" observed: 20+ Number of those 20+ hipsters: huh?! you don't know?

Obama on yo' fixie. Number of Obama images: undefined

SW 9th and Burnside Number of Artsy photos: all of them

A sweet print with the neighborhoods of Portland! Birthday gifts received (four months late): 1 A sweet print with the neighborhoods of Portland! Birthday gifts received four months late: 1

Ottavia (Otti) of Italy and Aida of Spain. Rendez-vous with Southern Europeans: 1

United States Government General Services Administration: 911 Federal Building! Number of semi-neglected yet still timeless government buildings passed on rambling walks through the Pearl: 1

Bike corral at Powell's! Number of bike corrals passed at Powell's with pictured friend Leanne: 1

Peace in Oregon on W Burnside. Spoof on "Made in Oregon" Sign 1/2

"Oregon" on SE Hawthorne. Spoof on "Made in Oregon" Sign 2/2

Union Station at dusk before heading home. Number attempts at this picture: 7

A family shot before heading to Union Station. Number of pictures shot in Jamison Square Park: 5

Things I couldn't get pics of:

My hairdresser, James, at Bishop's salon in the Pearl, soon to be tying the knot.
Haute politico Andrew Plambeck at Marco's in Multnomah Village.
The oh so beautiful Willamette River.

And with that, I hope you have a great start to your week. Lucky are the people who live, work and play in our beautiful City of Roses.

Beating the heat at SW Broadway & Madison, Summer 2007.

Portland in Heat by Amelié Rousseau

Portland in heat:
A blushing rose, propped up in its ornate vase: wilting.

Rectangular fans silhouette the windows and doors in SE Powell, the west hills, Sellwood, and St. John’s.
“Why pay thousands for air conditioning?” they say.
“It’s only hot in Oregon three weeks a year,” they say.

Tonight a tiny frog darted under my garage door.
Why should it want a night in this concrete hole?
I covet the frog's cool swamp to my hot sheets.

Portland in heat:
A boat waiting to sail: yearning.
Sea legs lost until the river breeze cools,
Only then can it fill its sails again. Freedom.

Other PDXpoesy may be viewed on the PDXpoesy page!

Stumptown Roasters at Ace Hotel

When home in Portland, I go to cafés. And to the local ones I go. My favorites include the previously mentioned Broadway Café and the "Downtown" location of Stumptown Roasters. The World Cup in Powell's is not that bad, nor is the one on NW Glisan and Floyd's Coffee Shop in Old Town is a good place to get some work done.

As far as coffee fixes in Eugene, I spent Friday afternoon at Full City Café pinging for my Portland roast. Some imaginings came to mind. Reminiscing about Portland is a daily occurrence, and this blog makes it all okay. Voilà! A taste of PDXpoesy!

July 24, 2009 - by Daniel Ronan

Sound

The sweetest sounds I have ever heard have been in cafés.

The ones, sitting pressed against the wall, the coffee tastes so good,

The local, ready and open, cup in hand.

One day, the local will be with me.

The Sketch

She sketched the cityscape with meticulous care.

Today would be her best work.

Each item she took out of her pouch, each with it’s own purpose,

Each working for the sketch.

Other PDXpoesy may be viewed on the PDXpoesy page!

Nancy Stovall, Image compliments of Nancy Stovall.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been a harsh critic of the University of Oregon's (UO) plans to alter the design of the "Made in Oregon" sign and the Water Tower, two Portland icons in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood. Realizing the compromise for the "Made in Oregon" sign to read "Oregon," was reasonable given the circumstances, I took to the University's proposal to place its "O" logo on the adjacent water tower that currently reads "Old Town."

In my quest to learn more about the key players in this debate, among them UO, Portland City Council, the Historic Landmarks Commission, I found that one key entity was missing. Although this may have seemed obvious in our process-loving town, it seems the Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood Association has yet been given its own soapbox to stand on. I left a message for the Neighborhood Association, and Nancy Stovall was kind enough to give me a call back. Below is her and her neighborhood association's take on the debate that has pervaded Portland's publications for four months as well as more information about Old Town Chinatown, one of Portland's many prized neighborhoods.

PDXme: Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Nancy Stovall; I'm the Vice Chair of the Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood Association.

PDXme: What do Portland and the Old Town Chinatown (OTCT) area mean to you?

I live in Old Town, it's my neighborhood. I love living in an urban environment; I moved here from suburban Atlanta almost 3 years ago. Within the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood boundaries there are two National Historic Districts: Skidmore-Old Town and Japantown-New Chinatown. Most Portlanders don't realize that this is where Portland began. Captain Couch's land claim encompassed what is now Old Town, Chinatown, the Pearl, Nob Hill and some of NW Portland, but there's very few historic buildings anywhere except Old Town Chinatown. Those of us who live here understand that we're only caretakers for the next generation--but there needs to be a balance. Portland needs to take action to preserve what's remaining and revitalize this historic neighborhood.

PDXme: Can you give us an idea as to what the Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood Association has done in the past?

The neighborhood association has partnered with the city of Portland, Portland Development Commission (PDC), the OTCT Business Association, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association and other public and private organizations to preserve and document the neighborhood's history, and champion new development. The Visions Committee grew out of the NA to plan and document a neighborhood charter for preservation and development. The OTCT Visions Plan was adopted by the City, and has been revisited and updated over the past 10 years as work has developed.

PDXme: Regarding the much-publicized debate around the “Made in Oregon” sign and “Old Town” water tower, can you give us the neighborhood association’s perspective of the proposed design changes?

"Made in Oregon" sign and "Old Town" water tower for now as seen from the Burnside Bridge. Photo courtesy of m.johns of Flickr, Creative Commons.

UO has spent a great deal of time, money and energy in faithfully restoring the White Stag Block. The "Made in Oregon" sign has a wonderful past--I wish more people knew about it and could see some of the old pictures. It has always represented the building's tenant--first White Satin Sugar, the White Stag, then Made in Oregon and now U of O. The University understands what historic preservation means to Portland, Oregon and to the neighborhood, and have engaged the NA throughout their process. The water tower has been restored to a working condition thanks to U of O. The NA is completely in support of the historic restoration that U of O has brought to Old Town.

PDXme: What is your personal view towards the proposed changes?

If you take the larger view, the perspective changes. I applaud the University's agreement to lease the Oregon sign and restore the water tower. Portland is famous for its recycle, re-use ethic--this is a great example of the University's commitment to sustainable use. The White Stag Block--the entire Old Town neighborhood, actually--was originally a center for commerce. From the first time that Captain Couch sailed into the port, he knew that he'd make his fortune--and his home--in Old Town. I wonder what he would think of this debate.

PDXme: What has the University of Oregon done to include the neighborhood association in its decision-making?

The U of O has regularly attended our meetings, presented their plans and asked for input and support from the NA. Their work has always been carefully researched and is appropriate from the NA perspective.

PDXme: What would you suggest to Portlanders that just can’t let go of these two Portland landmarks?

There's no need to let go of them--thanks to the U of O they'll still be landmarks. The sign is owned by Ramsay Signs, and leased to the tenant of the building. The lease to Made in Oregon was up, and U of O stepped up to take over the lease. The history of the sign continues. The sign will not change dramatically; the major component of the sign have been constrained to prevent that. The shape, the stag, the colors and pattern of the lights, and even the font are all required to remain the same. The water tower has been saved and restored for Portland. There needs to be more of this type of work in Old Town--without restoration, many buildings will crumble and we'll lose these historic landmarks.

PDXme: Anything else you’d like to tell us?

I'd like to invite all of Portland to come down to the neighborhood--visit the history of the city, and feel the vibe of the area. Old Town is a friendly area--we know our neighbors. I like to say that we're "living history". There's retail, restaurants, arts, culture, commerce and education in Old Town--all in historic buildings and surroundings. Portland is great because of it's small block sizes and diverse neighborhoods. That all started here. Check out our website--oldtownchinatown.org--to see where to shop and eat and what to see and do. All ages and all walks of life will find something fun to do in Old Town Chinatown.

* * *

So there you have it. It looks like the University of Oregon has made the effort to work with its new community in Portland, unlike the way I had characterized the University in previous posts. Although I am not for the proposed changes to the "Made in Oregon" sign, and much less those to the "Old Town" water tower, I respect the fact that communication has been taking place between the University and the Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood Association. Now it's up to the Historic Landmarks Commission to decide on the validity of the proposed redesigns. If you'd like to attend the Commission's meeting to speak for or against the proposed changes, please see the information below.

Landmarks Commission Hearing
Monday, July 27, 2009 at 1:30PM
1900 SW 4th Ave, Room 2500A

View the hearing agenda.

If you would like to testify in front of the commission, it would be best to arrive before 1:30pm to see the clerk in order to put your name on the list. Public comment is limited to three minutes per person.

For related "Made in Oregon" sign and "Old Town" water tower information, visit the general information page updated by the Bureau of Development Services.

Summer in Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Pioneer Courthouse Square is my favorite place to meet someone. It's also the best place to attend a public event, as we saw last Thursday. It's got a long name, no doubt, but I find I have taken to shortening its name to "the Square" more than once. The space is often marketed as "Portland's Living Room," but I find this to be a little over the top. If anything it's a family room where Portlander's can be themselves.

Indeed, the Square is host to over 300 events each year according to Pioneer Courthouse Square Inc.'s (PCSI) website, but the space to me is much more than a place to showcase Portland's many talents; it's a place to meet and greet fellow Portlanders. MAX trains on the north and south sides of the square create an atmosphere ever in flux, but one can always count on the laid-back nature of the Square's ambience. The completion of the refurbished transit mall on SW 6th Avenue brings another MAX line and various buses to the center of Portland's vibrant downtown and family room, something that can only be described as "planned."

A postcard of Hotel Portland I was able to score at an antique store here in Eugene. The postcard was sent in January of 1909.

Over Portland Hotel's sixty year history, its guests included 11 U.S. Presidents, each visit prompting the dedication of a new set of china. In 1951, the planners of sprawl and automobiles took hold of Portland and razed Hotel Portland only to replace it with a two-story parking garage for the neighboring Meier & Frank department store. It wasn't until the early 1970s that the conversation to reclaim the block began.

The 1972-1974 the Downtown Portland Plan proposed that Block 169 be converted into open space, and with the help of $500,000 from Meier & Frank, along with a public campaign in 1981 by citizens a part of the "Friends of Pioneer Courthouse Square," the park became a reality. In 1984, after a personalized brick campaign and various donors of Square amenities, the Square opened to the public.

Pioneer Courthouse, the Square's namesake, in 1901. Note Hotel Portland behind the Courthouse.

2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the Square's presence in Portland. (You can sponsor a brick today!) In 1984, according to PCSI, over 9,000 Portlanders inaugurated the completion of Pioneer Courthouse Square with much fanfare. And what a gem they bestowed onto Portland! The Square's design, the brainchild of a team of Portland architects led by Will Martin, was selected after an international design competition. The chief architect, Martin, died tragically in a plane crash shortly after the Square's introduction to the Rose City.

Pioneer Courthouse Square, as one of Portland's most cherished Landmarks, holds a rich and vibrant past. My hope is that Portlanders young and old take this past into consideration, reflecting upon the successes and follies of past architects, planners and other visionaries and envision for themselves a city that is a reflection of us all. Certainly we Portlanders know how to enjoy and welcome each other in our own family room!

If you'd like to learn more and see more images of the Portland Hotel, be sure to visit PDXHistory! Many thanks to Jewel Lansing's book, Wikipedia, and PDXHistory for the content of this post.

dalas verdugo's Guide to New York City from dalas verdugo on Vimeo.

When I was growing up in Southwest Portland, I never rode my bike. The hilly terrain and long distances, in addition to roads lacking adequate shoulders, made biking a difficult and dangerous activity. Nonetheless, there are some people who make biking in Southwest feasible. David Keller, a fellow alum from Wilson High School now attends Portland State University (PSU). He commutes daily from his humble Multnomah Village condo, deep in Southwest. I caught up with him on Facebook to get a sense of his love for biking, Portland's urban pastime.

PDXme: Describe yourself. Who are you and what do you do?

I'm David Keller. I'm a full time student majoring in international business / marketing at PSU. I like helping the environment and enjoying it as much as possible. I love being outside in general.

PDXme: What kinds of bikes do you own?

I own a road bike with gears, a fixed gear bike, and a mini bike that I use when I zoobomb. My fixed gear was the first bike I bought last summer that got me into serious riding. I've been riding that since, and I just recently became interested gears. Just in April I found the bike that an old neighbor had passed on to me in 1997. I decided to make it my new commuter down to PSU. Riding that, I ended up fixing it up and modifying it, so there are almost no original parts left.

PDXme: What got you into biking? How about commuting?

David: I got into biking a few different ways. When I bought the fixed gear bike last summer, I got into fun riding and taking it out for a day ride almost to just call it a hobby. Recently with the road bike (gears), I've found myself making biking a serious part of my life. Riding to school 5 days a week has only made me more into it. Having no other option, I commute in the sun, rain, cold, sleet, you name it. I can beat the bus, so there is no reason to take it. Riding to school also got me into farther rides and pushing myself. I did a few rides along the Spring Water Corridor, which is a bike path that starts near OMSI in SE, and is a 40 mile loop out towards Gresham and then back to town. Similar to this, is the ride out to Sauvie's Island. It is a satisfying ride where you get to relax on the beach when you're halfway done. I also did the Reach the Beach this year, which is a 103 mile bike ride from Portland to Pacific City in support of the America Lung Association of Oregon. It was an unbelievable ride and it makes me want to participate in serious rides more often.

PDXme: Describe your average commute. What do you like the best about it? What could you do without?

David: My normal commute is 5 miles downtown and 5 miles back. Nothing major, but I get to rage downtown because it's downhill and then I get a workout on the way back. I really like riding in the rain, even though my shoes get soaked. I could do without crazy drivers on Barbur Blvd. though. It's the quickest way to get downtown and there are some crazy people who drive it. I've almost been slammed into on multiple occasions. But I can't let that stop me. Just another thing to think about every time I jump on my bike.

PDXme: You mentioned that you like to fix up other people's bikes. To what extent have you worked on a bike?

David: I do like to fix bikes. I like to build up bikes. I can take a bike apart and put it back together no problem. I'm actually looking into starting a new project soon. So I'm constantly looking around for something to do.

PDXme: How about Southwest? What do you think could be done to improve biking in the area?

David: In SW specifically, it would be nice to have bike lanes everywhere (or at least on major roads). On parts of Barbur, Beaverton Hillsdale Highway, and tons of other major streets, no specific bike lane exists. Mostly I have to ride on the shoulder, which is normally rocky, bumpy, and has glass everywhere. Especially on Barbur, there's parts where the bike lane goes away, and bikers are forced to ride in the road. People drive really fast there, and it makes for a bit of a rush.

PDXme: What do you hope Portland will do to help make biking in Portland more feasible/easier?

David: To make biking in Portland easier, I think the green box idea should be incorporated in other places outside of the downtown area. just being able to cut to the front of traffic, and having an area where you know cars can't hit you takes a bit of tension off. A lot of drivers don't like cyclists, so it helps to have a safety zone at every light. Besides that, Portland is pretty bike friendly already. Luckily I'm fortunate enough to live here.

PDXme: To what end do you think you'll be cycling? Do you want to continue riding your bike to get around when you are older?

David: I'll continue riding until I lose my legs. I really like cycling, and it's such a great way to stay in shape, I can see myself biking until I'm an old man. It's too great to ever give up.

Cup & Saucer Café on Hawthorne

Let’s not call them liars, but they live in the suburbs, and I’ll admit, I am almost one of them. These are your “I’m from Portland.” – “Oh really, where?!” – “Gresham,” – “Oh, I see, you’re not” ilk. Forgive me if this is a little harsh, but if you’re not from Portland and someone asks you where you’re from, don’t lie. I know people may not know of your particular suburb, but that’s where you’re from. You might as well take ownership of it.

Notwithstanding the general disdain for suburbanites, it’s important that Portlanders keep in mind the general prosperity of the region is due in part to its suburbs. This concession is difficult for me to make because I can’t stand suburban landscapes. Nevertheless, Hillsboro’s Intel, Nike’s Beaverton (whoops!) and now, Clackamas’ United Streetcar are all companies that bring jobs and status to the Portland area as a center for commerce and creativity.

But where I draw the line is when people don’t tell you the whole story. Please don’t drive everywhere and then try and get in with the “sustainability” set. Please don’t fly into town with your mammoth SUVs expecting your duct-taped portion of pavement for the PORTLAND Rose Festival. Also, keep your own prejudices to your own, ugly subdivisions.

At the U of O I often run across this question of the degree of “from Portland” someone is.  Despite this post, I acknowledge that some have no choice as to where they are from or where they live. The white lie is somewhat understandable. But why not start to counteract the homogenizing lifestyle of suburbs by redefining the identity of these places as yours? My hometown, as cool as it is, is still my town with all its faults.

On an important note: if you’re from Vancouver, don’t even attempt to say you’re from Portland.

One one of the reasons we took a car downtown was that we all needed to make our second period class after our scheduled "late arrival." Before heading out of downtown, we made it a habit of getting coffee. The nearest café to our Neuberger Hall class was Broadway Coffee shop on, curiously enough, Broadway, between Hall and College.

We got to know the owner, Amir Rahimi. Amir is an immigrant from Iran who has grown to be a much loved figure in the PSU community. He went to school here in the States and opened up Broadway Coffee in 1996. The café building is three stories, with the café on the ground level, Baan-Thai, a pretty good restaurant one up from that, and Amir's apartment upstairs.

I promise not to post too many of my crazy youtube videos, but here's one I took of the inside of the café while hurrying to catch a train back to Eugene, where I attend school:

The café offers a variety of loose leaf teas and delicious crêpes. The best part about ordering is Amir's jokes. He'll make a comment about something you say and relate it to some fictional Farsi word. He'll play it off like the word actually exists. It's great. If you are interested in politics, Amir reads the New York Times daily and is up to speed on current events. You'll often see him reading it on your way out of downtown. Look to your left when you're on Broadway!

Broadway Coffee at Portland State University, downtown.

Amir looks out from his front perch at Broadway Coffee.

What most of all excites me about Broadway Café is the community I have become a part of just buying locally. I've gotten to know people who frequent Amir's, and our conversations give me belonging. The fact that we have a wealth of local cafés and a vibrant café culture here in Portland speak volumes to Portland's community atmosphere and neighborhood feel.

No matter which part of Portland I'm in, I know I'll have a local café to stop in where one may find his or her zen. For me its a matter of principle. I want to support my local economy, but what is more, I want to make connections and relationships in order to make me feel at home in the city I love. Have you ever gotten that going to Starbucks?