🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏
Kaiser Permanente has just opened a new bike path through their campus on North Interstate Avenue. It helps close a troublesome gap and makes biking east-west through the Mississippi area and Overlook neighborhood much easier.
Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz has taken a lot of heat over the past week for the decision she made along with Environmental Services Commissioner Nick Fish to ban biking at River View Natural Area as of March 16th. The decision was made abruptly and came as a huge shock to many advocates who were working in partnership with the City of Portland to restore the 146-acre parcel and hoped to see biking access improved and officially sanctioned at the end of a public process.
We are working on the story and hoping to understand more about the decision from the commissioners, advocates, and other insiders this week.
In the meantime however, it looks like Commissioner Fritz has already heard from so many concerned Portlanders that she has issued an update about the decision, saying that there’s still a chance the city will reverse course. Here’s what she just posted to the official River View Natural Area website:
Update 3/12 at 5:30 pm: This ride was originally named the “River View Freedom Ride” but after hearing concerns from the community that the name co-opted important civil rights era history, the organizers decided to change the name to River View Protest Ride.
Portlanders are livid at the recent decision by Commissioners Amanda Fritz and Nick Fish to ban bicycling at River View Natural Area.
In response, 259 people (so far) have said they plan to attend the “Freedom Ride” that’s planned for March 16th — the first day of the new ban.
The ride is being organized by Charlie Sponsel, a member of the Parks bureau’s River View Natural Area Technical Advisory Committee and a lifelong bike rider who has used the trails inside River View for many years. Sponsel graduated from Lewis & Clark College (which is directly adjacent to the 146 acre parcel) in 2013 and has become the leader of a grassroots revolt against the bike ban.
When it comes to the rules of the road, there are a few facts of life — or, as sociologists might call them, social norms.
When people are in cars, they tend to drive over the speed limit if they feel it’s safe to do so and they can get away with it.
When people are on bikes, they tend to roll through stop signs if they feel it’s safe to do so and they can get away with it.
When people are on foot, they tend to cross the street whenever they feel it’s safe to do so and they can get away with it.
Job Title
Part Time Keyholder
Company/Organization
Chrome Industries
Job Description
General Summary:
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
Please stop in the shop with your resume and cover letter.
425 SW 10th Ave.
Portland
I finally got a chance to check out the new section of Portland Parks’ South Waterfront Greenway and I have to say: It just might be the best integration of public space and bike path Portland has ever built.
On the same week that the nation’s bike advocates roll onto Capitol Hill for the National Bike Summit, U.S. House Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) have introduced the Vision Zero Act of 2015 (H.R. 1274).
The bill would set aside grants worth $30 million for cities to plan and implement road safety projects.
In a statement, Blumenauer’s office said the bill is a recognition that “communities across the country are recognizing that there is only one number of acceptable deaths on our streets: zero.” The goal of the legislation is ambitious: “eliminating all transportation-related fatalities, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists and passengers.”
The Portland-based nonprofit dedicated to using bikes to connect people with the joys of nature is doing something new.
As of last month, Cycle Wild has become a membership organization, and has begun selling memberships at the price of $10 a year.
Aside from supporting the organization and getting a formal stake in its leadership, the key perk is that members who participate in Cycle Wild trips will now be covered by an accident insurance policy provided by the League of American Bicyclists.
Two of Portland’s most visionary long-term biking projects will get a boost this spring from two teams of Portland State University planners-in-training.
Job Title
Service Manager/Mechanic
Company/Organization
Santiam Bicycles
Job Description
Santiam Bicycle is hiring a full time Service Manager/Mechanic for year round employment for our Tigard location with excellent full medical benefits after 90 days. Come and join the Santiam family!!!
We are a Rider/Trail Builder owned shop, that sells and works on every type of bikes with focus on high end full suspension mountain bikes. Experience in hydraulics brakes and suspension basic services a must, but should be able to work on anything from BMX to high end road bikes as well.
Qualifications:
Ideal candidates should have 3 to 5 year experience as a bicycle mechanic or current certification.
Hydraulic brakes and suspension basic service knowledge a MUST!!
Strong customer service skills.
Basic computer literacy a must.
Detailed component knowledge is required.
Must be enthusiastic and ride bikes often.
Duties will include but not limited to:
Assisting customer by addressing and influencing their wants and needs.
Operating register and point of sale system.
Assisting with bike sales if need it.
Creating service repair special orders.
Inventory and Ordering of components and service shop supplies.
General cleaning.
How to Apply
email resume at:
raul@santiambicycle.com
or bring your resume an cover letter to:
9009 SW Hall Bvld #104
Tigard, OR 97223
Job Title
Bike Tour Guide/ Rental Shop Position
Company/Organization
Cycle Portland
Job Description
Cycle Portland is a Bike Tour and Rental company located in Old Town. We provide guided rides around the city and also out to the Columbia Gorge and Oregon Wine Country. These tours focus on different themes, including Portland History, Local Microbreweries, Food Carts, and Bike Culture. We have a full service and repair shop where we rent bikes out and lead the tours from on NW 2nd Ave.
This position includes greeting customers, preparing bikes for them to ride, leading them around the city on prepared routes while stopping occasionally to share information about Portland. This position also includes renting bikes to visitors from all over the world to explore on their own and outfitting them with maps, bike route advice, and a sweet whip to cruise the city with. We also sell bike parts and accessories, so helping patrons select what they need and ringing them up at the register is part of the job duties.
Some bike mechanical know how is required because you have to be able to adjust bikes to fit people and fix a flat if you were to get one while out on the ride.
Other requirements include Customer Service skills, retail experience, a genuine desire to work with the public, and a strong outgoing personality.
Do you like to host visiting friends by taking them around the city? Are you passionate about cycling in Portland? Are you knowledgeable about Portland enough to give directions and willing to learn more about the city? Do you have Guiding experience or a knack for storytelling/ improv?
This position is seasonal with a possibility of staying on year round.
How to Apply
If interested please send a resume to info@portlandbicycletours.com with a paragraph about why you would a be good fit for the position. Thank you.
