Portland Bike Heroes and Villains

Heroes

Cindy Lewellen

Deed: Remarkable perseverance

A Ford F-250 from California T-boned Lewellen, who was cycling at 26 mph on the "Dirty 30" to Sauvie Island one morning last November. When a doctor in a nearby car got to her, Lewellen had no pulse. "I guess I technically died," she says. After seven days in the hospital, 12 screws in her pelvis, and recovering from her concussion and punctured lung, Lewellen waited just six weeks to start training again, and in January completed a 65-mile solo ride.

Jake Reiss

Deed: Conquered Portland's toughest bike ride

At age 7 last April, Jake Reiss conquered the notorious Ronde ride, a 50-mile calf-buster with up to 30 percent inclines through Portland's Southwest hills that has felled many more experienced bikers. Reiss reached the Council Crest finish line in under nine hours (sandwich break included).

"Rev." Phil Sano

Deed: Constant provocation

Bike Smut Film Festival founder "Rev." Phil Sano, a veritable bike vigilante, found a dented patrol-car door and made it into a bike frame. Authorities confiscated Sano's double-decker cycle as "evidence," but the Reverend prevailed, winning back his wheels from the cops. He later filed suit against the city of Portland after a cop yanked him off his bike and tasered him for riding without a headlight in 2008. Sano didn't stop when the officer said, "Hey! Buddy!" Sano claimed he didn't know it was a police officer, and was found innocent of resisting arrest.

Emily Finch

Deed: Rides a bicycle built for seven

This 35-year-old mother of six carts her children, aged toddler to teen, around the city on a Frankenbike. In front, the traditional Dutch freight tricycle known as a "bakfiets" holds her four youngest, another child has a seat over the rear wheel, and tacked on a tandem frame behind, the last child is the lucky one with a set of pedals to help push.

Matt Martin

Deed: East Portland bike evangelism

It used to be if you got a flat while biking east of 107th Avenue in Southeast Portland, you were doomed. Matt Martin is a saint to such lost souls, offering free repair and help each Thursday from 4 to 6 pm at his Rosewood Bikes oasis—the only shop in a four-mile radius, according to Martin. ENID SPITZ.

Villains

Mia Birk

Crime: Negligent homicide

Oversaw the disastrous rollout of Alta Bicycle Share's Citi Bike rental system in New York City, leading to the Portland company being purchased by an investment firm, moving to New York and changing its name—and, despite the reassurances of transportation officials, possibly setting back Portland's own, already long-delayed bike-share program.

Sen. Brian Boquist (R-Dallas)

Crime: Attempted bikeslaughter

Introduced a bill that would require anyone over age 18 in Oregon to get a license to ride a bike and pay to register their vehicle, and would also prohibit the use of state highway funds on bicycle-related projects.

Rep. John Davis (R-Wilsonville)

Crime: Blaming the victim

Tried (and ultimately failed) to introduce a bill that would fine cyclists $250 for not wearing reflective clothing at night. Claimed to be advocating equal responsibility for road safety, despite the fact he voted against increased fines for texting while driving in 2013.

Portland Commissioner Amanda Fritz

Crimes: Fun-policing and vibe-harshing

Fritz is leading a jihad against local bikers, first voting against bike-share funding in 2011 because she said "dangerous" cyclists harassed pedestrians on sidewalks. She halted progress on a bike trail in Forest Park and co-signed a memo banning mountain biking at River View Natural Area, saying bikes damaged salmon habitat and "scared" the wildlife.

Leroy Parsons

Crime: Stealing bikes, probably

As the homeless, alleged "kingpin" of bike thieves, lords over what seems to be a makeshift chop shop under the Hawthorne and Morrison bridges. Told KGW he doesn't steal bikes; was arrested hours later in possession of a stolen bike. MATTHEW SINGER.

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Bike Heroes and Viillains | Bike Gear Recommended by Local Shops | Bike Events

WWeek 2015