Vancouver advocates plan ride to push timetable on Lower River Road project

Advocates want a safer and more pleasant way
to ride along Lower River Road.
(Photos: Todd Bachmann)

This story was written by our Vancouver correspondent, Madeleine von Laue.

Bicycle activists in Vancouver are organizing a ride with elected officials along Lower River Road this Friday (8/23). The ride is an attempt to raise support for a project that would complete the path along the high-speed road that connects downtown with popular recreation areas west of town such as Vancouver Lake and Frenchman’s Bar along the Columbia River. The Port of Vancouver recently received a federal grant to construct one segment of the path, and advocates want to build on that momentum.

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Job: SoupCycler Extraordinaire – SoupCycle – FILLED

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Sorry. This job has been filled.

Job Title
SoupCycler Extraordinaire

Company/Organization
SoupCycle

Job Description
Do you get excited by the challenge of working on your bike, pulling a hefty trailer and delivering awesome organic foods? We’re a small Portland company that makes and delivers organic soups using local ingredients. Each week we cook three different soups (meaty, veggie, and vegan) and then deliver them to the masses of Portland by bicycle. So far we’ve done 97,000 bicycle deliveries and we’re hiring a new SoupCycler. Are you our SoupCycling match made in heaven?

We have a great crew of people who are passionate about bicycle delivery. We’re looking for an energetic, upbeat and strong-legged person who can brave the winter rains of Portland and still be smiling when they deliver soup to customers. This position is pretty rad if we do say so ourselves. It’s a combination of working in the kitchen one day each week and delivering soups two days/week. One lucky candidate will be chosen for this position.

Here’s what we’re looking for:
-An authentic people-person. There’ll be a lot of customer interaction while you deliver and strong customer service is a must.
-A safe cyclist (uses hand-signals, wears helmet, respects drivers, etc)
-Excitement about food and sharing that with customers during deliveries.
-Ability to commit to working with SoupCycle for a one-year minimum
-Excitement to work with a small, local business.
-Ability to wield a kitchen knife and chop vegetables like it’s nobody’s business.
-Physically able to lift 75 lbs and pedal a bike trailer carrying up to 215 lbs.
-A sturdy bike to attach to our soup trailer for deliveries (you get to use your bike, we provide the trailer).
-Other business skills are a major plus, including sales and kitchen experience.

The position:
22-26 hours per week split Mondays-Wednesday, with most of your time out on the bike and part in the kitchen.

Approximate hours are…
Mondays (kitchen): 8am-6pm
Tuesdays (deliveries): 8am-4pm
Wednesdays (deliveries): 8am-4pm

If you’re interested in being an integral part of a bicycle-based business then jump aboard our soupy sailboat.

Compensation
$10.00/hour
Monthly bike upkeep stipend
Vacation benefits and accident insurance after one year
The ability to work for a mission-driven company with passionate coworkers
Generous soup allowance

How to Apply
Send an email to yesplease@soupcycle.com, with 2-3 paragraphs telling us why you’re interested in working for SoupCycle, your bicycling background and all relevant skills.

Happy Slurping!
The SoupCycle Crew

Two stolen bike recovery stories (because we can’t get enough of them)

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Because we can never get enough of hearing about how people get their stolen bikes back, we present you two more stories of stolen bike recovery success.

But before getting into some good news, we have some not-so-good news about our Stolen Bike Listings. Due to a software issue that’s causing duplicate postings, I’ve decided to disable the listings until we can get it fixed. Sorry about that. Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming…

Our first story comes from Vancouver resident Branden Shelby. You might recall that Branden was the subject of one of our Ride Alongs back in April. A few months after our story, the same bike he rode with me that morning, a LeMond Poprad, was stolen from his side yard. Branden had put a lot of love into his bike, upgrading it over the years with a green Brooks saddle, green BMX pedals, and other nice touches. Unfortunately, he posted it to our Stolen Bike Listings on July 23rd with a $100 reward.

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Steph Routh announces resignation from Oregon Walks

Steph at Oregon Walks benefit-2-2

Steph Routh in November 2012.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Oregon Walks, a non-profit advocacy group that works to improve walking conditions around the state, has announced that Executive Director Steph Routh will resign in October.

Routh became the organization’s first full-time staffer when she was named to the position in May 2009. In the ensuing years, Routh helped transform Oregon Walks (formerly known as the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition) by making what was traditionally a quiet, behind-the-scenes organization into a public force to be reckoned with. Just months after taking the job, she asked the community to think hard about the state of walking advocacy in Oregon — a movement that has lacked the spark of and cultural identity evident in the local bicycle scene.

Routh’s personal dedication to the task, professional creativity, and natural charisma drew people to her organization and her cause.

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Q&A: Peter Andrews on Portland’s bike-powered office boom

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“If you’re serious” in Portland commercial real estate,
Melvin Mark broker Peter Andrews says, good
indoor bike parking is no longer optional.
(Photo: M.Andersen/BikePortland)

Portland’s central-city office market is soaring out of the recession, and bike, foot and transit access are driving its desirability.

“It’s the busiest I’ve ever seen our marketplace in 10 years,” says Peter Andrews, a broker for the major Portland-based real estate firm Melvin Mark.

An enthusiastic rider himself, Andrews has been finding bikes and low-car transportation spread through his professional life, too.

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‘Bullshit 100’ and the allure of off-pavement road riding – UPDATED

Bullshit 100 ride-2

The beautiful roads near North Plains
were a cakewalk compared to what was to come.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Riding “road” bikes on gravel and dirt roads is experiencing a major boom in popularity here in Oregon. On Sunday, I joined a dozen other intrepid riders for the “Women’s Bullshit 100” ride to found out why.

The BS 100 is one of a growing number of events on the annual calendar that lives in a hybrid space between official event and just a bunch of friends getting together for a ride. Thanks to a region full of bike adventure lovers, these type of rides are growing like weeds. A pioneer in this style is the Ronde PDX, an unsanctioned ride through Portland’s West Hills that attracts thousands of eager participants each year. Another prime example is VeloDirt, whose founder Donnie Kolb has become something of a legend for his epic annual events such as The Dalles Mountain 60 and the Oregon Stampede.

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‘Friends of Barbur’ plans ride, launches beer donation drive for hit-and-run victim

Friends of Barbur, a grassroots group working to make SW Barbur Blvd a safer place to drive, bike, and live, is doing what it can to support Henry Schmidt, the 20-year-old Lewis and Clark College student was hit and left for dead while walking his bike on Barbur early Friday morning.

Friends of Barbur is asking people to “Donate a beer for Henry for his 21st Birthday” via their website. Here’s more from an email they just sent out:

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Job: Membership Growth and Rides Coordinator – Cascade Bicycle Club

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Job Title
Membership Growth and Rides Coordinator

Company/Organization
Cascade Bicycle Club

Job Description
The Membership Program

Cascade Bicycle Club has been creating a better community through bicycling since 1970. With a membership of 15,000 people, Cascade is the largest bicycling organization of its kind in North America. Cascade envisions a community that bicycles – an inclusive, diverse and accepting community where people of all ages and backgrounds bicycle to work, to get around and for fun and health.

The Rides Program

Cascade’s Rides Program provides a variety of rides for the Club’s members and the cycling community in the Puget Sound area. Approximately 250 certified Ride Leaders lead nearly 2,000 free rides annually, all conducted under a set of common procedures. The Program also includes the Cascade Training Series (CTS). CTS consists of 16 weekend rides attracting approximately 500 riders each weekend and is designed to prepare riders for participation in the Club’s major events like the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (STP). The Rides Program is overseen by a volunteer Rides Committee whose Chair works with the Rides Director and Coordinator to plan and manage the Program. Together, the Coordinator and Director provide the interface between other Club staff and programs to ensure that the needs of the Rides Program are addressed and that the Rides Program in return is supporting the Club’s overall goals, mission, other staff activities and Club management processes.

Position Purpose

The Membership Growth and Rides Coordinator provides a resource to expand Cascade’s Rides Program to reach a greater geographical area and a larger and more varied riding community. He/she will work with the Rides Director to ensure the Rides Program’s alignment with the Club’s strategic plan. The Coordinator provides staff support and coordination for all activities and processes of the Rides Program as developed with the Rides Director and Rides Committee and approved by the Executive Director and Board of Directors as necessary. As a participant in the Rides Committee, its sub-committees and its activities, the Coordinator provides staff perspective and processes to the work of the committee to ensure that the Rides Program is fully supportive of the Club’s plans, goals and other Club activities. This is a working position designed to assist in accomplishing tasks that are beyond the capacity of the volunteer Rides Committee. As a staff member, the Coordinator reports to the Rides Director and represents the Rides Committee and its programs in normal staff processes to ensure that the Rides Program is well supported and represented. A major purpose of this position is to support the Rides Committee in planning and executing the Cascade Training Series.
Additionally, the Membership Growth and Rides Coordinator provides a resource to grow our membership significantly in the next two years through enrolling new members and improving member retention. The coordinator will engage with our members to determine how Cascade can best meet their needs as well as be a powerful advocate for our members. The selected individual will work with the Rides Directors to develop and implement a strategy to rapidly increase membership and improve membership retention.

Key Responsibilities

Membership Program:

-Keep membership database current – adding and tracking new memberships, renewal, changes of address and print lost cards.
-Prepare member mailing list for monthly newsletter.
-Maintain membership discount program: receive program updates from marketing and development, report program changes to newsletter editor/publications specialist and maintain list for members.
-Act as liaison with Volunteer Coordinator for volunteer activities, balancing volunteer’s interests with office needs.
-Track retention rates for members who are engaged through various marketing and pilot programs.
-Increase outreach to lapsed members.
Be the contact person on all membership publications.
-Implement trial membership programs in conjunction with local retail businesses.
-Work with businesses and Daily Rides Program to create membership benefits/discounts.
-Track results of specific mailings and campaigns over multiple years.
-Implement membership surveys to new, renewing and lapsed members.
-Recommend volunteers and members to the Major Gifts/Planned Giving Team as appropriate.
-Assess member satisfaction and develop a continuous process to increase member satisfaction.
-Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Rides Program:

-Participate in Rides Committee and sub-committee meetings and activities as needed to provide timely perspective on other club plans, goals and activities. -Participate in normal staff meetings, activities and processes to represent the needs and perspective of the Rides Program.
-Plan and manage the Cascade Training Series. All major duties involve planning and coordinating work by the Rides Director and Rides Program volunteers including the Rides Committee, Ride Leaders and others.
-Provide data collection, analysis and reports in support of the Rides Program.
-Become a certified Ride Leader and participate in selected free daily rides to provide feedback to the Rides Committee.
-Provide support for and participate in the Quarterly Ride Leader meetings.
-Review and approve ride submissions for the web and the Courier for accuracy and consistency with -policy.
-Work with the designated volunteer to manage the Ride Leader Incentive Awards program including the supporting statistics and awards inventory.
-Participate in regular staff meetings to represent the perspective and needs of the Rides Program.
-Participate in the Cascade Training Series (CTS) to acquire first hand experience necessary to sustain the program.
-Develop enhancements to the Series such as nutrition seminars, personalized training programs, and bike fit classes. Coordinate the execution of all enhancements.
-Develop and manage the CTS budget.
-Assess lessons learned after the CTS season to support the planning process and improvement for the subsequent season.

Employment Specifics

-Reports to and is supervised by the Rides Director.
-Full time salary position with majority of time spent on membership growth activities but may vary based on seasonal needs.
-Six month probationary performance review with annual review thereafter.
-Some evening and significant weekend work required, mostly on a seasonal basis.
-Monetary compensation commensurate with qualifications and experience.
-Benefits package.

Desired Qualifications and Skills

-Education: BA or equivalent. At least two years of relevant work experience with emphasis on team building and leading in complex organizations.
-Demonstrated ability to market and grow an operation.
-A mindset to improve systems and procedures to optimize workflow.
-Cascade certified ride leader or willingness to become certified.
-Strong recreational road bicycle experience is required.
-Excellent interpersonal skills.
-Excellent organizational skills including ability to manage multiple projects and work accurately under deadline.
-Flexible and creative.
-Microsoft Office and database management experience.
-Comfortable with a fast-paced environment and deadlines.
-Team player with a “go-getter” attitude and the ability to work independently.
-Familiarity with volunteer organizations and procedures desirable.

How to Apply
Email cover letter, resume and writing sample to membershipandrides@cascadebicycleclub.org with “Membership Growth and Rides Coordinator” in the subject field by August 30 or until filled.

Job: Sales/Mechanic – Seven Corners Cycles!

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title
Sales/Mechanic

Company/Organization
Seven Corners Cycles!

Job Description
Now is your chance to work at Seven Corners Cycles! The job is only confirmed through the end of the summer, but might expand into full time, permanent if we can find the right fit. Here is what the job entails:

1. SALESFLOOR. The most important part. You will be one of the primary sales floor people, so be ready to talk to all kinds of people, all day. Understand that politeness is of the utmost…

2. Merchandising. You will be helping with store cleaning, stocking and not-so-exciting but still super important salesfloor upkeep.

3. Bike assembly. New in boxes. Please have some form of mechanical aptitude, as well as an interest in learning.

In return for your fine work, you will not only receive financial compensation, but will also enjoy wholesale pricing on bike parts, sweet resume fodder, dogs, and a fair bit of free libations (21 and over, please…).

Please resist the urge to call the shop, and instead email your resume to ctcartwright@yahoo.com.

Have a great day! Thanks for reading.

How to Apply
Email resume to ctcartwright@yahoo.com

After carfree success, Crater Lake National Park officials make it an annual event

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Reader Sally Hunt and a friend took
full advantage of a carfree Rim Drive
back in June.

After the resounding success of its first-ever carfree weekend this past June, Crater Lake officials now plan to make it an annual event. And, as a bonus, they’ll host another carfree weekend next month.

Travel Oregon is set to announce tomorrow morning that Crater Lake National Park will hold another carfree weekend on September 21st and 22nd this year and that, “Going forward, the third weekend in September will be preserved for non-motorized enjoyment of the park.”

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