Cars parking in bike lanes, III: PBOT’s engineering solutions

Bike lane on Williams-1

PBOT says they’ll add bike
lane markings as needed.
(Photo © J. Maus)

When I first put forth the issue of cars parking in and completely blocking vehicle lanes reserved for bicycles (a.k.a. bike lanes), I didn’t expect to write two follow-ups about it. But I’ve gotten another interesting response from PBOT that is worth sharing.

Yesterday I shared a follow-up with a few insights gleaned from the helpful comments on the initial story as well as an explanation from PBOT about their enforcement policy.

Read more

Jobs of the week

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Two stalwart companies bring you this week’s employment opportunities. Check the links below for full job details and be sure to tell them you read about it here. Good luck!

Read more

Oregon Manifest announces Levi’s as title sponsor, rolls out other event details

Oregon Manifest launch party-4

2009 Oregon Manifest Design
Challenge winner Tony Pereira and
event organizer Shannon Holt at
the launch party tonight.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The 2011 Oregon Manifest Design Challenge is shaping up to be a potential game-changer in the bicycle world. Oregon Manifest is a non-profit organization that “exists to celebrate and amplify bike craft, design and innovation.” Launched in 2008, the organization — and the event — have matured considerably since their last event in 2009. What began with a bike show, roller races, and some great parties in 2008, morphed into a celebration of bike advocacy, art, bikes and more in 2009. After a year hiatus, Oregon Manifest seems to have finally found its focus — the exciting meld between industrial design and bicycle craftsmanship.

Read more

Job: Temporary Seasonal Consumer Service Rep (Yakima Products, Inc.) – FILLED

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title: Temporary Seasonal Consumer Service Rep (Full-Time)
Company/Organization: Yakima Products, Inc.
This position has been filled.

Duration: February 14, 2011 through August 31, 2011

General Description:
The position is responsible to respond to, and follows through on consumers’ requests for service and product information. In addition this position supports Yakima Products end users by providing technical product information, product / vehicle fit information, and warranty support and evaluation. Responsibilities include processing a high number of phone calls, emails and sales orders. Further, this position will execute and support projects with teammates to deliver against initiatives in Yakima’s strategic and annual plans.

Scope and Responsibilities:
• Troubleshoot, analyze, and resolve consumer problems in a timely, efficient, and professional manner, and within established guidelines
• Process sales orders, including follow-up and documentation
• Provide technical product support to consumers by phone and email
• Increase sales through suggestive selling to consumers

Specific Duties:
• Promptly and professionally answer a high volume of incoming calls
• Knowledge of company procedures, products and services
• Accurately and timely process sales orders
• Answer consumer emails in a timely, accurate, and professional manner
• Conduct records search, problem/complaint investigation, policy interpretation, and adjustment or correction
• Recommend products and services appropriate to consumer needs
• Provide technical product information to consumers
• Refer non-routine or major problems to other departments or higher authorities
• Complete all assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Complete general office work and consumer account administration in an accurate and timely manner
• Provide timely and accurate consumer feedback to appropriate sales and customer service staff
• Complete other duties as assigned

Qualifications:
• AA degree from an accredited college, or equivalent experience preferred
• One year customer service experience in outdoor retail sales, and experience selling Yakima racks preferred
• Intermediate level with Pac’s: Microsoft Office Suite; Outlook
• Ability to effectively develop work systems to manage workload, work independently and efficiently, have a keen ability to prioritize, and ability to identify and address needs in advance
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal/external customers and consumers
• Professional level communicator ~ both oral and written correspondence
• Data base experience preferred
• Mechanical aptitude
• Able to visualize and understand geometric and spatial relationships

Physical Requirements:
• Able to sit and work at a computer keyboard for extended periods of time
• Able to perform activities such as stooping, kneeling, bending at the waist and reaching on a daily basis
• Able to perform general office administrative duties: copying, filing, and using a telephone
• Able to lift objects up to 75 pounds occasionally
• Correced 20/30 vision
• Overtime as required

Compensation:
DOE
Benefit package provided

How to Apply:
To apply for this position send your resume and salary requirements to cssvcreptemp(at)yakima(dot)com

Photographer captured vibrant era of Portland bike racing

Photographer James Mason as a
young boy in Beaverton in 1953.
– See his photos below –
(All images © James Mason)

A few months ago, a man named James Mason popped up on the always interesting OBRA email list. He shared a link to photographs of bicycle racing in Portland he took back in the 1970s and ’80s. Mason’s images instantly struck a nerve with me; not only for his technical prowess, but because he captured legendary competitors in action at venues still used for racing today and the beautiful scenes and faces that defined the era. His photos are a testament to Portland’s rich bicycling legacy.

I asked Mason for permission to share his images here on BikePortland. Mason, 62, not only gave me permission to use the images, he also answered my questions about his own past and what it was like to grow up in Beaverton and come of age around Portland’s bike racing scene from the 1960s through the 80s.

Read more

Share your impressions, take virtual tour of 50s Bikeway open house

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
A Sunday ride-6

Riding on SE 53rd Ave.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the 50s Bikeway open house event last week (we were sorta busy). If you were at the event, can you share your impressions with us? If you missed it, yet are still interested in learning more about this major bikeway project, PBOT has uploaded all the poster boards displayed at the event so you can take a virtual open house.

Read more

Oregon Manifest “Utility Bike Design and Build Challenge” party tonight

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Our friends at the Oregon Manifest have a big party planned tonight (2/3). They’ll unveil design criteria, judges, and more information about their 2011 Utility Bike Design and Build Challenge. Details are below…

Oregon Manifest Lights the Torch for the National 2011 Utility Bike Design and Build Challenge

– Design criteria and title sponsor will be unveiled at launch party this evening –

WHAT
Oregon Manifest—the bi-annual, one-of-a-kind bicycle design and build competition—is rolling out its 2011 Constructor’s Design Challenge criteria for the ultimate modern utility bike at a private launch party being held this evening in Portland’s Pearl District. They will also announce the national title sponsor, along with the 2011 judging panel of nationally esteemed names in the bicycle and design worlds.

New for the 2011 Oregon Manifest is the Designer/Builder Creative Collaborations. In an exciting, unparalleled partnership, three global design firms will pair with top bike builders to push the boundaries of what a modern utility bike can be. These firms and builders will be revealed at the launch event as well, and one of the firms will be in attendance, along with some local bike builders.

In the next eight months, up to 35 custom bike builders from across the nation, plus five student teams, will test their mettle against Oregon Manifest’s rigorous design criteria in pursuit of a utility bike that addresses the needs of the everyday rider in an innovative, highly considered way. The 2011 Oregon Manifest Constructor’s Design Challenge culminates in a road test, judging and awards gala in Portland on September 23 and 24, 2011.

Utility bike: a bicycle designed for practical transportation, as opposed to bicycles which are primarily
designed for recreation and competition

WHEN
Thursday, February 3, 2011, 7 PM

WHERE
Lizard Lounge
1323 Northwest Irving Street, Portland, OR

CONTACT
Amy Hunter, ahunter@leeweinstein.biz, (503) 927-5872

ABOUT OREGON MANIFEST
Oregon Manifest exists to celebrate and amplify bike craft, design and innovation. They believe that real innovation happens in workshops, garages, design houses and schools. Oregon Manifest values the process of making, the spirit of ingenuity and the passion of brave undertakings. Oregon Manifest is a 501 c4 non-profit organization. oregonmanifest.com

U.S. House transportation committee coming to Vancouver for public forum

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

“Before we draft any legislation these meetings will provide the Committee with valuable insight and information.”
— Rep. John Mica, Chair, House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee — a key body that sets the transportation agenda on Capitol Hill — has announced a series of “field hearings” on changes that could be in store for America’s surface transportation legislation. The closest location to Portland on the list is Vancouver, Washington. A field hearing has been scheduled to happen in Vancouver on February 21st.

Read more

First trees, now ‘Love by Bike’ (just in time for Valentine’s Day)

Max Kirchoff of Love by Bike-1

Max Kirchoff and his delivery vehicle.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Over the past two holiday seasons, Portlander Max Kirchoff has established a successful business delivering trees by bike throughout the city. His Trees by Bike concept launched in 2009 and last year it grew by leaps and bounds.

Now Kirchoff is extending the idea to Valentine’s Day with a new project dubbed, “Love by Bike.” He’s teaming up with his partner Christina Collada to spread the spirit of love this month the same way they spread the spirit of yule in December.

Read more

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry offers DIY bike trailer course

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Our friend Jessica Roberts tipped us off about a cool course being offered at the excellent Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)…

Build a Cargo Trailer in the OMSI Shop

Build a bicycle cargo trailer in the OMSI Shop using simple tools and reclaimed or inexpensive materials. The workshop spans three Saturday morning sessions and covers: shop safety, tool use, trailer design, construction methods, and fabrication. Each particpant (teams of two are allowed and encouraged) will finish the workshop with a working 200 lb. capacity trailer. All materials will be provided, including wheels and a trailer hitch to be mounted on the rear acle of a bicycle. Approximate trailer dimensions will be 16 inches wide by 5 feet long, utilizing two 16-inch wheels and wheel-well covers. Longer and wider trailers are possible and will be discussed during the trailer design session of the workshop. You are encouraged to bring your bicycle on fabrication day to ensure proper fit. Participants are required to attend the shop safety portion of the workshop and sign a liability waiver before any tool use or fabrication. Upon completion of the course, participants will have a function bicycle cargo trailer to share and the knowledge and skills to build more trailers at home with simple tools and inexpensive materials.

$90 per ticket. Ticket good for up to two individuals and includes all materials for one complete trailer. Participants must be at least 18 years old.

February 5, 12, and 19, 9 a.m. – noon (participants must attend all three sessions to complete project)

Build a Cargo Trailer is in the OMSI Shop located just North of main museum. Enter through the blue door on the south side of the building.

To reserve a space for Build a Cargo Trailer, buy tickets online or at the OMSI Ticket Desk.

This is fantastic. OMSI regularly features bike-centric displays and exhibits. In fact, their current “Design Lab” exhibit has a whole section that looks into how bike gears work. We’re lucky to have OMSI in Portland, especially with it being right on the Eastbank Esplanade bikeway!

Cars parking in bicycle travel lanes: What did we learn?

“Since July 1, 2010, our officers have issued 226 citations to motor vehicles parked illegally in bike lanes.”
— Cheryl Kuck, PBOT spokesperson

Last week I shared the problem of cars parking in vehicle lanes which are legally set aside for bicycles (a.k.a. bike lanes). That story generated a lot of helpful discussion. I’ve also gotten a response from the City of Portland about their towing and parking enforcement policies around this issue, so I felt a follow-up was in order.

Read more

False alarm on Idaho stop law

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

This morning I posted a story stating that Senator Ginny Burdick was introducing a bill (SB 604) that would allow bicycle operators to roll through stop signs and flashing red lights – a.k.a. the Idaho stop law.

Now I have confirmed that Burdick never intended to push for the bill as it was introduced yesterday. It turns out that SB 604 in its current form is just a placeholder for another idea that Burdick’s office is working on. It’s not that uncommon for a legislator to copy/paste old bill language into a bill like this and then “gut and stuff” it later with different language through the amendment process.

Below is a statement I received a few minutes ago from Burdick’s office:

Read more