Lifestyle column: After commuting changed my life, life changed my commute

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Lifestyle columnist Cathy Hastie.

I used to have a 100% human-powered commute. It was a point of pride to say I had made it 365 days without driving to work or even riding the bus: I ran the seven-mile round trip to and from my downtown office for a year straight.

At the end of the day, I would finish up my workout at the elementary school where I picked up my kids. I would casually mention my unbroken record amongst fellow parents as we stood on the playground watching our children play. When it rained, I entered the after-school program looking like a drowned rat, boogers and water dripping from my nose. I flaunted the obvious unpleasantness of my commuting experience like an in-your-face victory lap for all of the other families to see.

I was dedicated to my lifestyle and proud of it. Maybe a little conceited. Then, in 2010, I suddenly and painfully fell ill.

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Job: Marketing Manager – Portland Design Works (PDW) – FILLED

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Sorry. This job has been filled. View more jobs here.

Job Title
Marketing Manager

Company/Organization
Portland Design Works (PDW)

Job Description
Portland Design Works (PDW) designs and develops simple, beautiful gear for everyday cycling. Located in Portland, Oregon, we are a fast-growing passion-driven company looking for the newest member of our close-knit team. We are on the lookout for our new Marketing and Public Relations Manager to increase awareness of the PDW brand. This person will be evaluative, contagiously enthusiastic, and possess the personality and talent to complement our current team.

Responsibilities:

Write press releases, article submissions, and distribute to all major media outlets
Foster and maintain relations with media editors and content creators
Develop creative PR initiatives
Social media content creation and management (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc)
Create email marketing campaign
Manage sponsorships and bicycle advocacy partnerships
Event management (trade shows, races, etc): 5-6 per year
Video and photo production and distribution (with help of 3rd party photographer and videographer)
Website and catalog content creation and management
Copy writing
Create print and online advertising campaigns
Manage budgets and track return on investment
Position is based at PDW offices in Portland, OR

Skills and Experience:

Proven track record with managing social media platforms and advertising
Competent in Microsoft Office and Adobe products
Self-motivator who can independently create, execute, and follow through
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Experience working for a pr firm or ad agency a plus

Compensation:

Salary based on experience ($45-50k)
401k match
Excellent health insurance and dental
Paid holidays, vacation, sick leave

How to Apply
Email resume and cover letter to info@ridepdw.com

White Turner Burner 2004

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Year: 2004
Brand: Turner
Model: Burner
Color:White
Size:Sm
Photo: http://s256.photobucket.com/user/kbc129/library/Stolen%20Bikes%20Feb%203rd%202014
Stolen in Beaverton, OR 97005
Stolen:2014-02-3
Stolen From: 1716 SE Elliott Ave Portland OR 97214. Close to Hawthorne/Elliott intersection. Residential area. stolen with S Works Hardtail.
Owner: Katrina Luebkert
OwnerEmail: eluebkert(at sign)yahoo.com
Description: Custom ONE OF A KIND Turner Burner with Shimano XT/Sram XO drivetrain, Hope brakes, Thompson/Easton cockpit, Roval wheels, Eggbeater pedals.

Flo Yellow/Carbon Specialized S Works Stumpjumper HT 29er 2011

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Year: 2011
Brand: Specialized
Model: S Works Stumpjumper HT 29er
Color:Flo Yellow/Carbon
Size:XL
Serial:WSBC604133809F
Photo: http://s256.photobucket.com/user/kbc129/library/Stolen%20Bikes%20Feb%203rd%202014
Stolen in Beaverton, OR 97005
Stolen:2013-02-03
Stolen From: 1716 SE Elliot Ave, Portland 97214. Nearby Hawthorne/Elliott intersection. Residential area. Thief abandoned their Motiv brand bike and bolt cutters which were released to the police.
Owner: Erik Luebkert
OwnerEmail: eluebkert@yahoo.com
Description: Limited edition Fluorescent yellow/carbon frame, full Shimano XTR drivetrain/brakes, Edge stem/handlebar, Specialized Toupe Pro carbon seat, Eggbeater pedals. XL frame. Stolen with custom all white Turner Burner size SM.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Benzegrene Jamis Commuter 4 2010

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Year: 2010
Brand: Jamis
Model: Commuter 4
Color:Benzegrene
Size:“17
Serial: BUS06711701
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/IEXYzc7.jpg
Stolen in Beaverton, OR
Stolen:2014-01-28
Stolen From: Beaverton Transit Center
Owner: Ryan McKennie
OwnerEmail: rmckennie93(A T)gmail.com
Description: Brown leather handle grips & seat
Shimano Alfine 8 speed year hub
Nokon cable and housing
Rear rack is missing wood
Original front light is missing
Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 700x32C tires
Bicycle Service Direct sticker on it.
Police record with: Beaveron PD
Police reference#: 1480936
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Many Portlanders say they like bikeways, but walking is top priority in new poll

Sidewalk to nowhere-2

NE Broadway and Vancouver Avenue in 2011.
(Photo by J.Maus/BikePortland)

A new survey helps explain why city leaders have been putting better sidewalks and crosswalks at the center of their push for new transportation funding: it’s the issue voters say would be most likely to win them over.

A whopping 86 percent of Portlanders polled last month said the presence of “sidewalks and safety features in places where children need them to get to school and seniors need them to get to transit” would make them more likely to support a new city transportation revenue package. The second most popular issue, with 84 percent support, was “more crosswalks and flashing light signals on streets with dangerous intersections and bus and transit stops.”

Protected bike lanes, by contrast, were less universally popular. 64 percent of Portlanders said they’d be more likely to support a package that “created bike routes that separated people riding bicycles from car and freight traffic.”

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Hit and run victim Henry Schmidt will return to stage for benefit show

Event flyer detail.

Henry Schmidt, the Lewis & Clark College student who suffered serious injuries in a traffic collision while walking in the bike lane of SW Barbur Blvd back in August, will take to the stage for a benefit concert this Saturday night at Velo Cult.

The collision left the 20-year-old Schmidt with lacerations to his spleen as well as a broken clavicle, cheekbone, and left leg. However, it appears those injuries are all but healed up now as Schmidt plans to play his trumpet along with friends in the band JPC at the event on Saturday night.

Schmidt’s collision happened on a notorious section of Barbur and it renewed calls for the Oregon Department of Transportation to update the design of the road. Miriam Clinton, the woman who was driving the car that collided with Schmidt, plead guilty to driving while intoxicated back in October.

Saturday night’s event will raise money for “bike safety initiatives” with all proceeds from the $5 suggested donation and raffle tickets being donated to the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA). Here’s more from event organizers:

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silver santana sovereign 2011

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Year: 2011
Brand: santana
Model: sovereign
Color:silver
Size:tandem
Stolen in Oregon City, OR
Stolen:2014-02-2
Stolen From: It was taken from Chapin Park in Oregon City yesterday, 2/2/2014 following a ride.
Owner: Annie Woitach
OwnerEmail: annie.woitach(AT)gmail.com
Reward: $100.00
Description: We did not have our bike stolen, just our front, Rolf Prima tandem wheel.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Alta Bicycle Share teams up with former PBSC tech provider

In a big move that will impact bike sharing in the United States and beyond, Portland-based Alta Bicycle Share has announced a new “strategic partnership” with 8D Technologies.

8D is the company that formerly worked closely with the Public Bicycle System Company (PBSC, a.k.a. Bixi), the Montreal based company that filed for bankruptcy late last month. Alta uses the PBSC platform in the many bike share systems they operate and manage around the country and some of those systems (in Boston and Washington D.C.) are operated with software developed by 8D Technologies.

But the relationship between 8D and PBSC soured when PBSC began to export their successful Bixi system to the U.S. while allegedly secretly developing their own software and cutting 8D out of the picture. In April 2012 8D sued PBSC for breach of contract.

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The Monday Roundup: David Bragdon, hands-free navigation & more

Rails to Trails Conservancy meeting-4.jpg

Bragdon, left, at a Rails to Trails
Conservancy meeting in 2008.
(Photo: J.Maus/BikePortland)

Today’s Monday Roundup is sponsored by Portland real estate broker Leigh Perretta. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Leigh wants to show prospective home buyers a “love nest” in Linnton between the St. Johns bridge and Sauvie Island with river and mountain views that’s “just minutes from the City’s best cycling.” Contact Leigh via email for a private showing.

And now, here’s the bike news from around the world that caught our eyes this week:

Bragdon in Gotham: Four years after he fled to New York, calling Portland complacent and analysis-obsessed, former Metro President David Bragdon is saying nuanced things about both his cities — and about the “mysterious blend of arrogance and humility” that makes great leaders. Highly recommended. (Including the forelock-themed graphic.)

Hands-free bike navigation: CycleNav, which attaches to your handlebars, is “the first navigation device that, when connected to a smart phone via Bluetooth, provides audio commands and visual light indicators to direct riders to their desired destination.” $60.

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Hunter green Bianchi San Jose 2008

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Year: 2008
Brand: Bianchi
Model: San Jose
Color:Hunter green
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2014-02-2
Stolen From: 18th and division. Ripped off of porch railing.
Owner: Dave Justice
OwnerEmail: Davejustishh( atsign )gmail.com
Reward: $$$
Description: Back rake, punch sticker on top bar, multicolored tape on handlebars. Black grips. Older brown buttocks saddle. u lock was attached, ripped from porch post. Cages over pedals, left cage busted. Flat bars.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

black/white MirraCo No. 7 blacklabel 2010

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Year: 2010
Brand: MirraCo
Model: No. 7 blacklabel
Color:black/white
Serial: wtu075p0443e
Photo: https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1512546_10202117276708187_886862321_n.jpg
Stolen in St. Helens, OR 97051
Stolen:2013-01-12
Stolen From: right out front my own home
Owner: adam sailer
OwnerEmail: saileradam(replace with at sign)gmail.com
Reward: negotiable
Description: coupe back pegs, its from the bike gallery was a gift fro my recently deceased mother, all black label parts crank handelbars rims ,pecificationDescriptionFrameChromolyForkChromoly taperedRims/WheelsDW Black Label aluminumHubsAluminum, 3/8-inch sealed/14mm sealed hollow chromolyTiresCST Chaotic, 20 x 2.125/1.95CranksetBlack Label 3-piece chromoly, 175mmChainringsBlack Label Slimfast 25TBottom BracketMid, sealedFreewheel9T, 1-piece driverHandlebarsBlack Label 2-piece chromolyTape/GripsODI Longnecks Grips (white) (Barends/ODI)StemBlack Label front loadBrake LeversTektroBrakesTektro U-BrakePedalsBlack Label Graduate plasticSaddleAnimal Cush Strip pivotalSeatpostPrimo 320 Pivotal Seat Post
Police record with: st helens PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike