This Week in the Mercury
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Neighborhoods Will Clowns and Posters Make Last Thursday Carfree?
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Remember the colorfully-painted junker cars that blocked NE Alberta during June's Last Thursday, making the event carfree for the 67 minutes it took police to tow them? Well, tomorrow the plan is to keep things legal, while still trying to make the Last Thursday safe for wandering: volunteers from the Vernon Neighborhood Association are slated to stand at each end of the Alberta stretch with posters encouraging drivers to choose alternate routes. If cars keep going, clowns riding tall bikes are supposed to be on hand to pilot them through the crowd.
photo: Magnus Johannsen
For years, Alberta's monthly art night has overflowed its sidewalks. Now, neighborhood organizers are using both bottom-up action and bureaucratic meetings, trying to gain official street closure for an event that relishes its informality. This could be the kind of citizen action Last Thursday needs to build car free momentum, or it could just piss off people who don't want to be told where to drive. The City won't close the street until the residents are all in favor of it, so dividing the neighborhood is a real risk.
This month, TriMet agreed to reroute the 72 bus line that runs up the thoroughfare. Since the 72 is Portland's busiest bus line, the city has been hesitant about making a change that could inconvenience hundreds of riders. But no buses pushing through the Last Thursday crowd will definitely make the night more enjoyable, plus it could be a step forward for the car free folks.
According to neighborhood arts organizer Kriss Parnell, officially barricading NE Alberta would cost at least $1,500 each month. Usually neighborhood event organizers pay for street closures by charging vendors for street space, but the heart of Last Thursday is lack of formal contracts with vendors. "Nobody wants to end up like the Pearl where someone decides who can set up," says Parnell.
In the mean time, pedestrians, bikers and cars are sharing a dangerously tight space on Alberta each month. Neighbors have decided that the best way to make Last Thursday carfree while working through the city process is simply to do it themselves.
"It's been frustrating getting the street closed down and I wanted to show that it's pretty straight forward," said neighborhood roustabout Magnus Johannesson, who was responsible for last month's cars, "We're responsible people on Alberta." Johannsen says he bought the two cars for $550 total and a team of artists painted them before the big day. The cars have gone to the tow lot, but this month he's printed hundreds of buttons and t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan "Pranksters for Pedestrians."
Commenting was not available when this article was originally published.
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I say ban both bikes AND cars from Alberta during Last Thursday and any street festivals.
6
Sir:
About your use of profanity in lieu of showing any talent or ability.
You're not witty, funny nor cute. This sort of thing went out with Lenny Bruce and George Carlin, only they understood how to wrap content around the shock value. I knew both men, and you are no where near clever enough to kiss the hems of their garments.
Your comment has no content at all other than making you sound very much like a self-absorbed twit.
Please, think before posting your inane drivel.
I remain your humble servant,
Jacomus
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Not that there's anything wrong with that; it takes all kinds. And I was happy to sell my house for a huge profit to a dude in California who, yes, rents it out. I'm just glad to be living in a neighborhood where I don't have to jostle for parking in front of my own house with distracted suburbanites carelessly piloting SUVs and wandering out into the middle of the street.
12
SUV's are passe' in the shallow, self-serving world of the Middle class.
Now it's Smart Cars and hybrids. However, the MC still drive too far too much negating the good of the change of vehicle.
Green isn't the choice of vehicle.
It's the attitude behind it.
MC: Get out of the car and onto a bicycle. That IS green. You'll be healthier, and the people in that neighborhood will have some peace.
I remain your loyal servant,
Jacomus
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