Guest article: Help local non-profit plant trees by bike

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Planting by bike. Looks like fun!
(Photo: Mary Kay Nitchie)

[The article below was sent in by Andy Meeks, volunteer and outreach manager with local non-profit group, Friends of Trees.]

A few years ago, Friends of Trees started organizing Plant By Bike events where one or more crews of trees planters was solely bike-powered. Our typical planting day is made up for anywhere between 10-25 crews of 8-10 people each and one pick-up truck that carries trees, tools and other materials for the planting crew. Each of these crews plants about 10 trees in a morning that lasts from 9:00 – 1:00pm.

Read more

Bike parking dispute boils over at Pearl District condo

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

(From The Encore’s website)

When the Encore condominiums in the Pearl District opened in 2008, bike-friendliness was a main selling point. “Ride. Relax. Repeat” was the marketing slogan. The building also caught my eye and ended up on the Front Page for offering a free bicycle to new owners. The building’s developer, Hoyt Street Properties, purchased a long-term advertising campaign here on BikePortland.

But that was then.

Now, several Encore residents claim that the board of the Encore Condominium Owners Association (they took ownership of the building from Hoyt last summer) is vehemently anti-bike and has established new bike parking rules and policies that one long-time owner calls “draconian.”

At issue is how to deal with the growing number of bicycles at the 177 unit building. Residents I’ve spoken with say there aren’t nearly enough spaces (even though only about 150 units are currently sold). However, instead of increasing the number of racks, the board has come up with new rules and a convoluted, fee-based lottery and permit system that comes nowhere near meeting demand.

Read more

Commissioner Fritz on Portland’s “low-car” apartment debate

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
Bike-centric apartments on Williams-1

Apartments without car parking
are springing up all over town.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Other than her unfortunate position on bike share (which she ultimately supported), Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz isn’t known for her record on transportation policy. Even so, there have been stirrings this week — thanks to results of a survey of city hall staffers released by The Portland Mercury yesterday — about her being named the commissioner in charge of the Bureau of Transportation (PBOT).

We’ll address that issue in another post. For now, ever wondered how Commissioner Fritz feels about the heated topic of apartment buildings being built without car parking (a.k.a. “low-car apartments”)?

Read more

brown Schwinn ? 5spd , drop frame ? old

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: ? old
Brand: Schwinn
Model: ? 5spd , drop frame
Color:brown
Size:27′ wmns
Stolen in 97217, OR
Stolen:2013-01-9
Stolen From: backyard at 841 N Winchell, near Farragut park
Neighborhood: Piedmont, North of Lombard, off N Albina
Owner: Anna Gonsalves
OwnerEmail: annagonsal(AT)yahoo.com
Description: heavy commuter bike w/rack and fenders, all very old,2 CD reflectors on rear fender, several areas of tape and rust, including saddle
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Lance/Oprah interview live at Rapha HQ; free beer with yellow wristband

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Our friends at Rapha are inviting everyone to their headquarters on January 17th to watch Lance Armstrong chat with Oprah Winfrey in a much-anticipated interview. Rumors are flying that Lance plans a full confession and/or some sort of teary-eyed story about years of doping allegations.

Rapha will show the interview live in their office at 1915 NW Kearney St. Anyone wearing a yellow wristband gets free beer (limit 7, get it?!).

Gray Giant Defy 5 2011

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2011
Brand: Giant
Model: Defy 5
Color:Gray
Size:Black
Serial: GE287127
Stolen in Portland, OR 97219
Stolen:2013-01-8
Stolen From: Riverdale High School 9727 SW Terwilliger Blvd. Portland Oregon 97219
Neighborhood: Near Lewis and Clark College
Owner: Owen Sutter
OwnerEmail: bluetrilliumdesigns(at sign)gmail.com
Description: silver fenders, drop down handle bars, white water bottle holder, 2 headlights, one rear light, pump, grey pack under seat with spare tube and tools, combination lock
Police record with: Portland
Police reference#: 132280
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

black,white,orange Trek 4300 Alpha 2012

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2012
Brand: Trek
Model: 4300 Alpha
Color:black,white,orange
Serial: WTU048C3241G
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/dIcxf.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97205
Stolen:2013-01-7
Stolen From: Stolen from the PSU campus between Lincoln Hall and Cramer Hall
Neighborhood: PSU campus
Owner: Travis Taylor
OwnerEmail: travistaylor72(A T)gmail.com
Description: New Trek 4300 Alpha front suspension. I added bar ends, plastic fenders and had a small bag attached under the saddle. Toe clip pedals.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Job: Seasonal Consumer Service Rep – Yakima Products, Inc.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title
Seasonal Consumer Service Rep

Company/Organization
Yakima Products, Inc.

Job Description
General Description:

This position runs February through August and is responsible to respond to, and follow 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
•Corrected 20/30 vision
•Overtime as required

Compensation:

DOE
Comprehensive benefit package provided

How to Apply
To apply for this position please submit your resume and salary requirements to: cstemp@Yakima.com

Reader shares story of bike path rage on Hawthorne Bridge

Summer bike traffic-3-3

Traffic on the Hawthorne Bridge
path can get dicey… and nasty.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

We’ve all felt it: You’re riding along on a crowded bikeway and sense someone is coming up fast from behind. Do you speed up? Ignore them? Merge to the right as fast as possible? Just maintain your speed until you can safely get out of the way?

We just heard from a reader who was in this position — and it didn’t turn out well at all. Let’s call him Kevin (he wants to stay anonymous). Kevin says he was biking eastbound on the Hawthorne Bridge path yesterday around 6:00 pm when it happened. I’ll let him share the details:

“A slower bike was in front of me. She stayed in the bike lane and didn’t make room. There were some pedestrians, some of them in the bike lane too [the bridge paths are 10.5 feet wide and shared by walkers and bikers]. I noticed a guy close behind me, so made room by riding on the pedestrian side whenever possible, but he didn’t make an attempt to pass.

Read more

East Portland will receive $8 million for active transportation

BAC Bike Ride East Portland-9

Riding in east Portland
can only get better.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (and TriMet) is set to invest $8.2 million into sidewalks, neighborhood greenways and transit-safety related projects in East Portland. The funding comes from a $34 million “Regional Economic Opportunity Fund” created by a Metro committee last year.

In case you forgot, this $34 million is the result of a debate at Metro back in October about how best to spend federal “regional flexible funds.” At the last go-round, advocates (including the Bicycle Transportation Alliance) fought hard to win a 75/25 split for active transportation projects. Advocates hoped to use that same allocation method for an additional $34 million Metro is awarding this time around. However, the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT) voted instead to create a new “Regional Economic Opportunity Fund” (explained further here).

Read more

$700,000 expected in PBOT budget now gone

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

“We’re basically back where we started.”
— Tom Miller, PBOT Director, in an email to his budget advisory committee

Remember the $700,000 that was added back to the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s budget last month? Now it’s pretty much all gone.

Last Friday, outgoing PBOT Director Tom Miller emailed the PBOT Budget Advisory Committee to announce that new, lower projections for parking garage revenue means only about $100,000 of that $700,000 is now coming back to the budget. “We’re basically back where we started,” read Miller’s email.

Read more

Gray Giant Defy 5 2013

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Year: 2013
Brand: Giant
Model: Defy 5
Color:Gray
Size:men’s medium
Stolen in Portland, OR 97219
Stolen:2013-01-9
Stolen From: Riverdale High School 9727 SW Terwilliger Blvd. Portland, 97219
Neighborhood: SW Portland near Lewis and Clark College
Owner: Owen Sutter
OwnerEmail: bluetrilliumddesigns( atsign )gmail.com
Description: drop handle bars; silver fenders; white water bottle holder; two headlights; one rear light; small pump; gray pack under seat with inner tube, small wrench, tire remover tool; black combo lock on black cable.
Police record with: Portland
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike