Month: December 2007

Trek picks local bike fit expert to lead national program

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Michael Sylvester

Michael Sylvester in his
Southeast Portland studio.
(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Portland-based bike fitting expert Michael Sylvester has been hired to create and lead an ambitious new bike fitting program for Trek Bicycles.

Trek introduced Sylvester and the new “Fit System” at Trek World, their dealer-only trade show back in August.

Sylvester — a 50 year-old yoga teacher and former elite-level cyclocross racer — did private fit consultations and was the bike fit specialist for the Bike Gallery from the late 1980s until he launched his own company, Bicycle Fitting Services, in January of this year. In addition to his private practice, Sylvester conducts fit seminars for bike shop employees around the country.

Highly-regarded both by his clients and throughout the bike industry, Sylvester is also the man behind the Serotta Fit System, which he developed back in 1996.

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Community rallies for Leo Westwind

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[Updated: 11/6, 9:37am; 11/7, 10:22am]

Leo Westwind-1.jpg

A donation jar for Leo at
a Southeast Portland cafe.
(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Nearly a year ago I introduced you to Kyrstin Westwind — the carfree, single mom who was just starting a bike-powered blender business called Sprocket Smoothies.

Since then Kyrstin has been busy attending local bike events (at Bike to Work Day in May she let Commissioner Adams make a smoothie for himself), posting to her Wheel Revolution blog, going to school at Portland State University, and caring for her 12 year-old son, Leo.

Lately though, Kyrstin has devoted all her time to Leo.

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Bike patrol officers to receive community policing award

On a bike-along in SE Precinct

SE Bike Patrol officers Pickett
and Quick on Hawthorne Blvd.
(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Four Portland bike patrol officers will receive recognition for their community policing efforts at the Police Bureau’s annual awards ceremony next week.

Officers Phil Blanchard, Robert Quick, Anthony Zanetti and Robert Pickett will be recognized by Chief Rosie Sizer with a “Community Policing/Problem Solving” award for their work as members of the Southeast Bike Patrol unit.

When I asked Officer Pickett about this award, he remained typically humble,

“While I’ve ended up running with the bike patrol effort the longest and maybe the hardest, the origin of the patrol was a group effort among a number of officers…especially Officer Powell, who’s now with Central Precinct.”

Last December, I had the pleasure of joining Officers Quick and Pickett for a bike-along and I learned first-hand what an important role they play in our community.

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Bike safety rating dips in City survey

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The City of Portland Auditor’s Office has released its seventeenth annual Resident and Business Surveys. The lengthy survey includes an assessment of all City services, including the Office of Transportation.

The results show a 1% increase in bike commute mode share over last year and a major dip in the perception of bicycle safety (more details below).

According to Robert Cowan, a public information staffer at the Auditor’s Office, the survey was sent out on August 3rd of this year and 20,400 randomly selected people from 75 different neighborhoods responded to the survey. All responses were in by September 10th.

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Mid-Senior Level Professional (Alta Planning – CA)

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Job Title – Mid-Senior Level Professional (Planner, Engineer, Designer)
Company/Organization – Alta Planning + Design

Job Description
Alta Planning + Design is seeking an experienced professional to help manage our Berkeley, California office and our California projects. The selected professional should have at least 8 years of experience in planning, engineering, and/or landscape architecture, preferably some consulting experience, experience managing people, and a knowledge of and interest in the non-motorized transportation field. This person will have strong management (budgets, schedules, contracts, staff management), administration, writing, analytical, and presentation skills. Travel is a must, along with passion for our field and mission.

Salaries: $70,000 to $100,000 annually depending on experience, with competitive benefits and a dynamic, fun, fast-paced work environment.

How to Apply
Please send to Brie Becker, Human Resources Manager, by e-mail or snail mail: resume, 3 references, and portfolio that indicates relevant experience. This position is open until January 1st. No calls please.
Brie Becker
Alta Planning + Design
1638 NE Davis
Portland, OR 97232
503 230-9862
503 230-9864 fax
briebecker(at)altaplanning(dot)com
www.altaplanning.com

Program Specialist – Bicycle Program (City of Portland)

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Job Title – Program Specialist
Company/Organization – The City of Portland

Job Description
Position: Program Specialist
Approximate Monthly Salary $4,222 at entry – $5,628 after 6 years
Deadline: 4:30pm, 12/21/2007
The City of Portland is recruiting for a Program Specialist for the Bicycle Program will be responsible for implementing and managing several bicycle capital improvement projects involving either provision of bicycle parking or development of new segments of Portland’s bikeway network. Please visit our website at: http://www.ci.portland.or.us/jobs or contact Tony Ross, Sr Human Resource Analyst, 503-823-6821. The City of Portland is an Equal Opportunity Employer

How to Apply
Please visit our website at: http://www.ci.portland.or.us/jobs or contact Tony Ross, Sr Human Resource Analyst, 503-823-6821.

82nd Ave. Transportation Safety Open House

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PDOT is holding its second 82nd Avenue Transportation Safety Open House this evening.

Come find out what’s being proposed for implementation along the 82nd Avenue corridor to make things safer for vulnerable roadway users, and give us your thoughts and feedback. Swing by and find out more!

Second PDOT 82nd Avenue of Roses High Crash Corridor Transportation Safety Open House
St Anthony’s Catholic Parish Church – Church Hall
3618 SE 79th Avenue (at Rhone)
Corridor improvements currently being proposed for implementation include amongst other things –

    * Pedestrian refuge islands
    * ADA compliant curb-ramps at sidwalk corners
    * Sidewalk construction where portions are missing
    * High crash intersection & signal study and treatment
    * Increased education efforts along the corridor, including the new 82nd Avenue “I Brake For People” pedestrian safety campaign
    * Stepped up Portland Police Bureau traffic enforcement along designated 82nd Ave SAFE corridors (Stragetic and Focused Enforcement Corridors)

Map to the church –

Contact:

Kirsty Hall
Community and Schools Traffic Safety Partnership
City of Portland Office of Transportation
503-823-6981
kirsty.hall(at)trans.ci.portland.or.us

‘Cycle Seen’ photo show now taking submissions

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Back in July I brought you news of “Cycle Seen”, an upcoming photo exhibition that will celebrate Portland’s bike culture.

Now comes word from organizers that they’ve officially began accepting submissions. Here’s they press release they sent out:

WHAT IS Cycle Seen?
Cycle Seen is an exhibition celebrating the diverse and dynamic culture of cycling/cyclists in Portland, Oregon. The exhibition will take place in June 2008, throughout metro Portland. Some Cycle Seen events such as rides to gallery locations will occur during PedalPalooza, Portland’s bike fun festival.

What we’re looking for:

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Check out the Community Cycling Center’s 2008 programs

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The Community Cycling Center has evolved and changed considerably in the last year or so. If you haven’t checked them out lately, take a look at their programs for 2008.

CLASSES
We design our classes with an understanding that people have different reasons, and levels of interest, around cycling. In a welcoming and fun environment, we will help you build your cycling knowledge, skills, and confidence to achieve your personal goal: whether it is to become a bike commuter, improve your health, be more active with your family, feel confident on Portland streets, or master the fascinating mechanical systems of the bike. Our classes are for everyone from the casual cyclist to the year-round commuter!

Urban Riding
For anyone interested in learning to ride safely in urban settings and basic bike maintenance.

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Stolen Gary Fisher 1995 Aquila

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1995 19″ Gary Fisher Aquila Frame, LX Hubs, Sachs Rear Derailer, Planet Bike Blinker lights, Riser Bars, Cane Creek Headset, Planet Bike Fenders, Silver Fork, Planet Bike Seat, Iowa Sticker.

More Info on Finetoothcog

Latest Headlines

Guest Opinion: Portland needs more protected bike lanes — and we need them now

District 2 finally gets representation on key city council committee

Lawmakers want $3 million from state coffers for 82nd Avenue bus lanes

Neighborhood group, backed by bike advocate, opposes bike lane upgrades

From the Archives

With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike