September 2014 Archives

Attend a virtual open house for ODOT’s Bike/Walk Plan update

Screenshot of virual meeting page.

As we reported last month, the Oregon Department of Transportation is holding “listening sessions” throughout the state to gather input for a major update to their Bicycle and Pedestrian Modal Plan.

Unfortunately there are only five meetings total, just one in the Portland area, and they’re all held during business hours. If you want to share input but can’t make it to one of the meetings, ODOT has launched a website that lets you do so completely online.

ODOT says the Virtual Listening Meeting is the next best thing to showing up in person.

It’s easy to see how this new bike lane
could be mistaken for parking space.
(Photo: M.Andersen/BikePortland)

The new northbound bike lane on 52nd Avenue between Woodward and Division replaced a parking lane, but since July we’ve heard from many readers that the stripe of paint hasn’t stopped people from leaving their cars and garbage cans there.

City traffic engineer Eva Huntsinger said in an interview Thursday that “no parking” signs will go into the commercial node north of Woodward after a discussion about the subject by city staff late last week.

Hopefully these signs will make things safer for people like reader David Ross, who got in touch in July to share his thoughts.

Biking goes to the dogs this weekend at the Tour de Lab.
(Photo: TourdeLab.com)

Welcome to your menu of weekend rides and events, lovingly brought to you by our friends at Hopworks Urban Brewery.

Consider what’s on tap this weekend: From a dirt road journey through rugged and beautiful Oregon backroads, to cyclocross races (two of them!), and a tour of local brewpubs, we can’t remember a more fitting sampling of what makes our region so great for bicycling.

If you’re bummed at summer’s impending conclusion, or if you haven’t ridden as much as you’d hoped, you’ve got to seize this weekend and make the most of these sunny and warm days.

Have fun out there!

Saturday, September 6th

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

PBOT detour map of upcoming project that will close sections of Going.

Portland’s premier neighborhood greenway is about to get a makeover.

(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

Project Pabst, a new music festival in Portland’s South Waterfront headlined by local heroes like Modest Mouse and Stephen Malkmus, is bringing progressive transport to new heights this month.

Like many large events popular among discerning Portlanders, it’ll offer a free bike valet service. Unlike any we’d ever heard of, it’ll also offer a free skateboard valet.

In an email response to our query, a Project Pabst organizer explained that the festival simply wants to provide “convenient service for Portland skateboarders.”

Green for new sidewalks, yellow for neighborhood greenways, teal for protected bike lanes, red for painted bike lanes, blue dots for crossing improvements and purple for other improvements like lighting or frequent buses.
(Graphic by BikePortland using Transitmix.net. Click for an interactive version.)

So far, the public debate about a per-household and per-business street fee has been mostly about the costs: who would pay how much.

While that debate rages on, the city has finally floated some specifics about the possible benefits.

Roger Colwell in March 2012.
(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)

A shop just over the west hills of Portland is set to close at the end of October.

Sunset Cycles (15320 NW Central Drive) owner and founder Roger Colwell announced his retirement in a customer newsletter on Labor Day. Colwell opened the store in 2003 and expanded into a second store in Beaverton in 2011 (he closed that store a year later).

In a message posted to the shop blog yesterday, Colwell said owning the shop has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his life but now he’s looking forward to spending more time with his family and exploring Oregon’s backroads in his bike. “Ill miss the day-to-day interactions with customers who come in the store,” he wrote. “Seeing the look in the eyes of a new cyclist who rides off with a new bike is genuinely priceless.”

Shoulder of Hwy 30 after fatal
collision on Saturday.
(Photo: Oregon State Police)

A 74-year-old man was killed Saturday while riding his bicycle on the shoulder of Highway 30. It’s the sixth major rear-end collision in Oregon and SW Washington in less than a month — all of which have been caused by unsafe driving.

According the the Oregon State Police, this latest tragedy happened west of Rainier in Columbia County near Oregon’s northern border. Peter Linden was riding westbound near milepost 50 when the driver, 34-year-old Kristopher Woodruff, looked down at a text and allowed his truck to veer slightly into the shoulder where it hit Linden.

Woodruff did not stop and was arrested a few miles down the highway. He didn’t have a valid driver’s license and has been charged with Manslaughter in the First Degree, Felony Hit and Run, and a misdemeanor for an outstanding warrant.

Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro and Beaverton have a common link: a highway that’s mostly terrible to use.
(Photo: M.Andersen/BikePortland)

Final post in a series about the BTA’s five new advocacy campaigns.

If Washington County has an aorta, it’s the Tualatin Valley Highway. The Bicycle Transportation Alliance has launched a long-term campaign to make a separated bikeway part of the plan for keeping it flowing smoothly.

The highway connects 16 miles of increasingly dense suburban development between Beaverton’s historic downtown and Forest Grove.

Omo Activ Sport: It’s soap.

Here (one day later than usual — happy holiday) are the bike links from around the world that caught our eyes this week:

Oops: Six mountain bikers were hospitalized in Norway Friday after mistaking a bottle of detergent for a new energy drink.

Legalized distraction: A Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy who killed a tech executive because he veered into a bike lane while typing on his mobile digital computer won’t face criminal charges because California law exempts emergency workers from the state’s anti-texting law.

Sorry, this job has been filled. Browse more great jobs here.

Job Title
Part Time Sales

Company/Organization
Chrome Industries

Job Description

Chrome is looking for a kick ass person to become the newest member of the Chrome Familia PDX. This new member will be responsible for delivering a best-in-class brand and customer experience, hitting sales goals, and creating an easy-to-shop environment. Key responsibilities will include servicing customers on the sales floor, merchandising the space and keeping it clean, supporting inventory management, and an excellent understanding of a detailed POS system.
In addition, Chrome PDX shop familia are involved in community outreach, local guerilla marketing, pre-release product testing and development, and throwing legendary parties at Chrome PDX.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
• Deliver a best-in-class brand and buying experience
• Help to keep the shop merchandised, well-organized, and clean
• Proficiently opening and closing the store
• Self-motivated and able to motivate other team members
• Support inventory management, including counting, back-stock organization, and reporting
• Help organize and run parties, local community events, and marketing efforts
• Provide input on key company initiatives, including product development and testing
• Proficient computer & communication skills
• Reaching and exceeding daily sales goals

Requirements:
• 1.5+ years retail key holder experience
• Entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to find innovative ways to drive the business
• Knowledge of cycling industry and culture
• Knowledge of retail processes and procedures
• Strong understanding of the Chrome brand
• Stoked to become part of the Chrome Familia

How to Apply
Stop by the shop to drop off your resume that includes a cover letter, briefing us on your cycling background and what makes you so great that we should hire you:

Chrome Industries
425 SW 10th Ave
Portland, Or 97205

On first day of school, politicos, police and PBOT raise safety message

Biking to school in north Portland.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

It’s the first day of a new school year for the Portland Public School district. That means this morning about 47,000 students and their caregivers filled the streets around 85 school sites throughout the city.

This sudden influx of drivers, walkers, bus riders and bikers on the roads are nervous times for people who care about traffic safety. To help raise awareness, the Portland Bureau of Transportation is dedicating a new crossing treatment in east Portland today and the Portland Police Bureau has launched “Operation Safe Return” to encourage people to drive safely in school zones.

Attend a virtual open house for ODOT’s Bike/Walk Plan update

City will add ‘no parking’ signs along 52nd Ave bike lanes

Weekend Event Guide: Tabor, brewpub tour, a ‘stampede’, and more

Saturday, September 6th

Going St neighborhood greenway set for fog seal makeover

Bike valet? That’s nothing – ‘most Portland festival ever’ will also offer skateboard valet

The $60 million map: Here’s what a street fee’s ‘safety’ money might pay for

Sunset Cycles in Bethany to close its doors at end of October

Unsafe driving claims another victim: Why these recent collisions matter

The BTA’s biggest new idea: a Tualatin Valley Highway bikeway across Washington County

The Tuesday Roundup: Energy drink or detergent bottle? And more

Job: Part Time Sales – Chrome Industries – FILLED

On first day of school, politicos, police and PBOT raise safety message

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From the Archives

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