The Monday Roundup

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

“…you are at about as much risk of being hit by a stray bullet as you are for falling off your bike, but I don’t hear the politicians demanding that everybody wear bulletproof vests. Let’s stop blaming the victim and fix this.”
— Lloyd Alter,
TreeHugger

Here’s the news and other interesting stuff that caught our eyes this past week…

– Word choice shapes our perception of information. Streetsblog founder Aaron Naparstek gets it, and he want people to realize we need to “change the way we talk about motor vehicle violence.” In related news, Slate brilliantly proposes that it would make more sense to call shark attacks, “shark accidents,” and car “accidents” “car attacks.”

– The policymakers at the US Department of Transportation are deciding on a formal definition of traffic “congestion” which could have an impact on how federal money is divided among transportation projects.

– A survey of people who drive in the UK found 30% are cutting spending on food to save enough to keep their cars running.

Read more

Blue Trek 520 1987

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 1987
Brand: Trek
Model: 520
Color:Blue
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49655321@N02/7824326378/in/photostream
Stolen in PORTLAND, OR 97213
Stolen:2012-08-18
Stolen From: Stolen out of garage (door left open) early morning on 8/17/1967.
Neighborhood: Rose City
Owner: Michael Whitesel
OwnerEmail: michaewh@comcast.net
Description: 80’s Trek touring bike updated as more of an urban commuter. Blue frame with white lettering and white flat pedals. Still has the biopace chain rings!

Blue / Light Blue Fuji Feather 2010

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2010
Brand: Fuji
Model: Feather
Color:Blue / Light Blue
Size:58cm
Serial: ICFJ10B07182
Photo: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/yv6oUkehNWND5Nj_lohW8amR6hCNjFnhOZfzya1OQubn4meaL3-UFqj8l22me0HnPiOpbyT_zoM
Stolen in Portland, OR 9724
Stolen:2012-08-19
Stolen From: Western Most Blue staple rack @ Dig a Pony, at SE Grand and Morrison.
Neighborhood: Eastside Industrial / Morrison Bridge
Owner: David Kline
OwnerEmail: big.dkline@gmail.com
Reward: Yes
Description: It has a 58cm frame, two 700c wheels. The front rim is black, and has a red 23c tire. The rear is white-walled, and has a 28c tire. The bicycle has a slightly torn white saddle. It has an Izumi gold chain. The bicycle has track bicycle style drop bars, with a front brake, and a “cross-style” brake lever.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T12006890 (Temporary)
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

White Fetish Cycles Inizio 2009

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2009
Brand: Fetish Cycles
Model: Inizio
Color:White
Size:56 cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2012-08-18
Stolen From: My home, near 19th and Alberta.
Neighborhood: Alberta Arts
Owner: Matthew Wyllie
OwnerEmail: wylliecoyote62@gmail.com
Reward: Karmic Retribution
Description: It is a Fetish Cycles Inizio frame, white with black carbon fiber front forks. It has a small quarter-sized dent on the top tube. Wheels are mis matched, front is a Bontrager Raceface, rear is a 10-sp Rolf Vigor. Mostly Shimano 6500 Ultegra parts.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: Awaiting approval
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Red Specialized Hotrock 2003

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2003
Brand: Specialized
Model: Hotrock
Color:Red
Size:24
Stolen in Bend, OR 97701
Stolen:2012-08-16
Stolen From: Our front porch in NW Crossing
Neighborhood: NW Crossing
Owner: Misty Rupe
OwnerEmail: girlwithboys@gmail.com
Reward: $50
Description: Red 2003 Specialized Hotrock A1FS with 24″ wheels
Police record with: Bend
Police reference#: 2012-169226
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

While PBOT placates business owners, another person gets right-hooked at Broadway/Wheeler – UPDATED

Mayor and Transportation Commissioner
Sam Adams says safety is his
#1 transportation priority.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

This morning another person was taken to the hospital after suffering injuries in a right hook collision at N Broadway and Wheeler.

Last week I sat in a meeting at the Portland Building and listened to an impassioned PBOT employee describe the agency’s desire to close, N Wheeler Avenue at Broadway to prevent right hooks. The staffer said a partial or full closure of Wheeler was the only solution they have found to prevent repeated right-hooks, “that we think is very likely to cause a serious injury or death.” The staffer added, with a palpable sense of urgency, that PBOT sees this is a “a critical safety problem that we’re focused on addressing in an immediate way.”

There was talk from PBOT at that meeting, and agreement from several key stakeholders, that traffic barricades should be placed on Wheeler right away, without delay, in order to prevent further injury.

Unfortunately, action is stalled because a few businesses in the lower Albina district are concerned about how a closure of Wheeler might impact them (Wheeler is not the only road that accesses the businesses).

Read more

Bikini Bike Wash headlines another big bike weekend

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Get it clean and help the Naked Ride.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Just like last weekend, we’re embarking on a bunch of great bike events starting this afternoon with the much-anticipated Bikini Bike Wash.

It’s hot and it’s time to raise money for the World Naked Bike Ride; so the wonderful bike fun promoters of Portland will be washing bikes at the Burgerville on SE 12th and Hawthorne from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. According to organizers of the Naked Ride, it costs nearly $3,000 to put it on each year. Expenses include leasing the starting location, various permits, porta-potties, security, and so on.

At the Bikini Bike Wash today you can hang out in a Dutchtub (from Clever Cycles) while your steed gets cleaned. I’m told three service levels will be available: “fully penetrating lube and complete wash” for $20, “rim job – just washing the wheels” for $10, and the “quick n dirty – spritz and go” for $5. There will be music thumping, cool local bike goods for sale from Bikeasaurus, balloon bikinis by Dingo and Olive, free bike maintenance, and of course lots of scantily clad ladies and gentlemen. Stop by on your way home and get wet, have fun, and open your wallet to help these fine folks cover some costs for the Naked Bike Ride. More info on the Facebook invite.

But wait! There’s more!

Read more

silver/black Gary Fisher Zebrano 2003

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2003
Brand: Gary Fisher
Model: Zebrano
Color:silver/black
Serial:C82AT265
Stolen in Portland, OR 97266
Stolen:2012-08-16
Stolen From: front yard
Neighborhood: Lents
Owner: Brandy Zurbano
OwnerEmail: themightyb01@yahoo.com
Description: perfect condition, looks brand new as I haven’t rode it in 6 years. just got tuned. Has rack on back
Police record with: portland pd
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Addressing delays, Alta Bicycle Share says they could deliver Portland system on time

bike share 2nd set-23-4

(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Alta Bicycle Share, the spinoff of Portland-based Alta Planning + Design that has dominated bike-sharing headlines after securing a string of high-profile contracts in major U.S. cities is now getting a much different kind of publicity. Delays to system roll-outs in New York City, Chicago, Boston and Chattanooga have gotten national media attention and have raised questions about the company’s ability to handle their growth. For their part, Alta acknowledges that the culprit in the delays is new software their partner Public Bike System Company (PBSC) is developing to handle the complex wireless transactions and rental processes at the bike share stations.

Alta uses the Bixi platform, which was developed by Montreal’s municipal parking authority by the PBSC. The Bixi system is operated with software developed for them by 8D Technologies. As PBSC began to export the successful Bixi system around the globe, they continued to use the 8D software. But, when PBSC expanded into the U.S., 8D alleges that the company cut off ties and began to use a new software system developed by an American company (Alta only operates the system, they are not involved with the software development). 8D has sued PBSC for breach of contract and the two companies are still trying to work out their legal differences.

Read more

blue Specialized Hard Rock mid90’s

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: mid90’s
Brand: Specialized
Model: Hard Rock
Color:blue
Size:19?
Stolen in Portland, OR 97227-1146
Stolen:2012-08-16
Stolen From: N Michigan Ave between Beech & Failing (broke in thru the alley fence)
Neighborhood: Mississippi
Owner: Nan Haemer
OwnerEmail: nhaemer@gmail.com
Reward: $25 whole dollars!
Description: New woman’s seat, new Surly black upright curve handlebars, bike rack, new head & rear lights (reds are almost strobe-like), new platform pedals with reflectors, bell with yellow daisy sticker, clip for a computer. If I can’t find it, will need a replacement if you’ve got one!
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 1271463
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Job: Business, Finance and Customer Service Manager – SoupCycle

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title
Business, Finance and Customer Service Manager

Company/Organization
SOUPCYCLE
Your Email Address (for listing confirmation) * jed@soupcycle.com

Job Description
We’re a small company that makes organic soups using local ingredients and delivers them to our customers exclusively by bicycle. Since launching four years ago, SoupCycle has made over 65,000 bicycle soup deliveries!

We’re looking for a business and customer service manager who is excited to work with a small local business, passionate about sustainability, has strong financial analysis skills and accounting skills and is stellar at interpersonal/communication. This position is solely responsible for managing Quickbooks for the company, responding to customer inquiries and has a strong role in managing SoupCycle’s employees.

Here’s what we’re looking for:
*Strong Quickbooks user
Confidence with GL/AP/AR, Intuit Quickbooks Payroll and payroll-related tax preparation
Responsibly manage customers’ credit card payment processing and company’s cash flows

*Superior skill in Microsoft Excel
Creatively manipulate Excel to organize production/delivery processes and to streamline operations
Confidently utilize complex functions/processes (Nested IF, Statistical, VLOOKUP, Data Consolidation, etc.) and conditional formatting
Exhibit a proactive approach to problem-solving – anticipate obstacles/errors and devise processes to reveal/correct them before they impact customers

*Ability to analyze financial information and create concise financial reports
Understand a small yet growing business’s unique finances.
Devise efficient and elegant ways to extract and interpret meaningful data about processes and customers
Summarize and communicate observations appropriately to various audiences
Receive and interpret feedback from coworkers, owner and customers to create mutually-beneficial process improvements

*Team player and outgoing personality
Communicate clearly and professionally in person and via telephone/email with customers and employees
Enjoy identifying, tackling and solving problems
Passion for local foods, bicycles, and sustainability

*Desire to work in a kitchen with your staff one day/week
Everyone does their part at SoupCycle. You will work alongside your staff chopping veggies and helping with our soup-making process.
Ability to wield a kitchen knife and chop vegetables like it’s nobody’s business (bonus points)

Experience
Minimum 1 year management experience
Background in restaurant/food services preferred

Schedule
Position is approximately 35 hours/week
Monday – Wednesdaay: work from our kitchen office
Thursday – Friday: work from your home office

Compensation
$27,300 annual salary
Generous soup allowance
Paid vacation starting after six months
Ability to be a part of an incredible and passionate work team
Ability to work from home and create your own schedule a portion of each week

Requirements
A two year minimum commitment is required for this position. Please do not apply if this is a time commitment you are unable to make.

How to Apply
Come kick ass with SoupCycle! Send an email to jed@soupcycle.com explaining why you want to work with SoupCycle and all relevant skills. Include a one-page attached resume.

Best of luck,
The SoupCycle Crew