Year: 2015

McMenamins Grand Lodge as a base camp for biking adventures around Forest Grove

Forest Grove - Barney Reservoir loop-1.jpg

Grand Lodge’s main entrance makes for
a classy way to start a ride.
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)

Just a quick trip on the MAX blue line west of Portland (about 25 miles) lies Forest Grove, a small town rich in history that just so happens to make a great launching pad for cycling adventures.

I’m out here thanks to McMenamins Grand Lodge, a hotel and resort looking to establish its bike-friendly credentials. McMenamins invited me here to spend a few nights and ride and photograph local roads and backroads. I eagerly accepted for two simple reasons: I was happy to hear that McMenamins, owners and operators of 56 establishments throughout Oregon and Washington, wanted to be more bike-friendly; and I really like riding bikes — especially in new (to me) places.

McMenamins and Forest Grove are a perfect match. One has a rich history and the other specializes in highlighting it. Forest Grove was incorporated in 1872, making it the first city in Washington County (thanks Wikipedia). It’s nestled at the western-most edge of urban development and there’s no civilization (except farms) between it and the Oregon Coast.

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The Friday Profile: Boris and Melissa Kaganovich, Portland’s merry pranksters of street reinvention

pranksters

Four years after coming to Portland from New York and two years after co-founding Better Block PDX, the Kaganoviches are moving to Toronto on Monday.
(Photos: M.Andersen/BikePortland unless noted)

Boris Kaganovich was talking quickly, as he often does, when he walked past the button-activated pedestrian signal at Northeast 60th and Glisan. Without breaking stride, he slammed the heel of his hand into the button and kept walking in another direction.

The lean, curly-haired 30-year-old grinned a little too widely.

“I just hit those whenever I walk past them,” he explained cheerfully.

It was August 2014, and if Kaganovich was acting a little like a cat who had eaten the canary and gotten away with it, he could probably be forgiven.

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Weekend Event Guide: CycloFemme, Parkways, Trains, and more

East Sunday Parkways-42

East Portland knows how to party at Sunday Parkways.
(Photo J Maus/BikePortland)

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

Can you believe it’s already Sunday Parkways season? This weekend kicks off the first of the five events. Whether you do it to celebrate Mother’s Day or not, grab your bike and roll over to East Portland to enjoy a seven-mile carfree loop with a few thousand of your fellow Portlanders. Who knows, you might just discover something new.

And have you seen the weather forecast? It’s going to be beautiful. We hope you’ve got something great planned. If not, perhaps our selections below will help you decide…

Friday, May 8th

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Job: Bicycle Mechanic – Citybikes

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title
Bicycle mechanic

Company/Organization
Citybikes

Job Description
Citybikes aims to provide dependable new and used bicycles, new and used components, accessories and the highest quality service at affordable prices to ensure that bicycling is accessible to the full spectrum of those that wish to ride. We adhere to a non-hierarchical structure that focuses on all workers taking responsibility for the business. Through cooperation, we hope to make our work enjoyable and to get our jobs done efficiently by utilizing each other’s strengths.

General Summary:
Citybikes Workers Cooperative is seeking qualified, experienced seasonal mechanics. As a worker you will be expected to assess and repair new and used bikes, prepare bikes for sale, assist customers with new and used bikes, parts and accessories purchases, and contribute to the day-to-day operations of the business.

Job Description/Responsibilities:
Assess and repair bicycles
Assist customers with new and used bikes, parts, and accessories purchases
Write up job tags, schedule repairs, and answer phone, paperwork, etc.
Maintain a safe, clean, and well-organized work space
Participate in day to day operations including opening and closing responsibilities
Attend and participate in committee and general membership meetings

General Qualifications:
2-3 years minimum bike shop experience
Consistent attention to detail
Ability to stay focused and on-task in order to complete jobs in a timely manner
Willingness to accept guidance and feedback related to job duties
Effective verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work in a collaborative environment
Willingness to participate in a consensus-based environment
Excellent problem solving skills

Wage:
Based on Experience

Schedule:
30-40hrs/week, including weekends. Work days vary.

*Women, People of Color, and Folks underrepresented in the bike industry are strongly encouraged to apply*

How to Apply
Please submit resume with references to:
Citybikes Workers Cooperative
734 SE Ankeny
503 239 6951

For first time, Metro proposes ‘bike-optimized’ trails in a natural area

metrotual-bigcrowd

Time to weigh in.
(Photos J. Maus/BikePortland)

In an unprecedented move, Metro has proposed singletrack trails in a natural area that would be built specifically for bicycling. Calling them “bike-optimized” trails, Metro unveiled the concept at an open house for the North Tualatin Mountains project at Skyline School last night.

Using money from voter-approved bond measures, Metro is now ready to develop 1,300 acres spread across four separate parcels just north of Forest Park between Skyline Road and Highway 30. From the outset, Metro hinted that singletrack trail riding would be considered as they designed the trail plans for the parcels. Last night they made it official.

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As festival season begins, Naito’s bike lanes are walkers’ only refuge

bike+passing+stroller

Not the best place for a stroller.
(Photos: M.Andersen/BikePortland unless noted)

Another summer is on the way, and the story is familiar: Waterfront Park has become such a success that people on foot are spilling onto the bed of Naito Parkway, the five-lane street that runs beside it.

During festivals like the Cinco de Mayo event that wrapped up Tuesday, the park is fenced off by barriers that are typically dragged right up to the curb, forcing the many people walking to the festival to use the bike lane — and forcing the many people biking on Naito directly into car traffic.

But though the problem isn’t new, more people seem to be wondering this spring if something could be done about it.

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Noted lawyer Ray Thomas opposes bill that would mandate rear bike lights

ray

Ray Thomas.
(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)

When Oregon House Representative John Davis proposed making reflective clothing mandatory while bicycling, many people understandably scoffed at the idea. Thankfully, he too apparently realized the absurdity of government intervention into apparel choices and quickly gutted his bill and stuffed it with something else.

Davis’ clothing idea quickly morphed into a bill (HB 3255) that would mandate rear lights on all bicycles (current law calls for only a rear reflector). That seemed like a good idea to me at first glance; but after hearing Portland-based lawyer and bike law expert Ray Thomas‘ opposition to it, I’ve changed my mind.

Thomas called me yesterday to say he was actively working to stop the bill. He has several significant concerns about how the new equipment requirement would impact bicycle riders in Oregon.

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Language Matters: Three rhetorical tricks bike advocates could learn from Uber’s Plouffe

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward


(Video courtesy Willamette Week/Tech Fest Northwest)

Language Matters is an occasional column about the ways we talk about bikes and biking.

When bike believers get political, they often struggle with talking points. People who know the argument for biking in their bones can forget that those who don’t ride won’t be convinced without words.

David Plouffe has never struggled with talking points.

The Obama campaign manager and strategic advisor turned professional Uber evangelist was in town last week to speak at the annual Tech Fest Northwest conference, and his 13-minute stump speech on behalf of his current employer was a rhetorical sight to behold.

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Newswire: Pedal PT on SE Clinton named ‘Gold’ bicycle friendly biz

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Always great to hear when a local business gets one of the highest possible bike-friendly rankings from the League of American Bicyclists. Check out the news below from Pedal PT (and stop by and say hi next time you roll by SE 25th and Clinton):

Wednesday, April 22, 2015, the League of American Bicyclists recognized Pedal PT with a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Business award, joining more than 950 visionary businesses from across the country. Pedal PT is extremely honored, as the in-depth application process, business evaluation and scoring takes almost a full year to complete.

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From the Archives

Ray Thomas on the unintended consequences of “ambiguous intersections”