Our elected representatives need to hear what you think of the $8.2 billion transportation package.
The Joint Committee on Transportation Preservation and Modernization just released the full details for the upcoming hearings for House Bill 2017. And The Street Trust is riding to Salem for one of them.
Here are the details:
It’s June and every Portland calendar is absolutely jam-packed. Not only is everyone psyched for summer, but it’s also Pedalpalooza season!
There are 41 events on the Pedalpalooza calendar from now through Sunday. If you can’t find a ride you love this weekend you don’t love cycling.
The speculations are over and now the debates can begin.
On Wednesday night a bipartisan committee of state legislators released the first draft of the transportation funding package. The 298-page House Bill 2017 aims to raise $8.2 billion over the next 10 years from a combination of increases to existing taxes and fees, and a few new ones.
The bill tilts heavily toward major new investments in roads and highways that will make driving more convenient. Local bus services get a boost, while investment in light rail is explicitly prohibited. Biking and walking see an amount of dedicated investment that’s unprecedented compared to past packages; but is still embarrassingly small relative to other priorities.
The broad outlines of the bill are similar to what has been discussed during recent meetings of the 14-member Joint Transportation Preservation and Modernization Committee. But there are several noteworthy new details to discuss.
It feels strange heading to Montréal for a big bike festival on the first day of Portland’s big bike festival. But that’s exactly what I’m doing, thanks to an invite from advocacy group Vélo Québec.
From today through the weekend I’ll immerse myself in the street and bicycle culture of what has historically been considered one of North America’s most bike-friendly cities. Montreal built their first protected bike lane in the 1980s, making them a pioneer in prioritizing cycling. They also helped spark a global revolution by creating one of the earliest and most robust bike share systems from the ground up.
This summer Montréal celebrates its 375th birthday and Vélo Québec turns 50 years old. Those milestones will make the annual Go Bike Montréal festival — which is expected to attract over 50,000 people — even bigger this year. The event is a week of bike rides and events that aim to showcase the city and cycling.
One World Center is seeking participants for their “Bike for Change” program. This is a 9 month program that involves 4 months biking Central America while exploring the consequences of Climate Change.
I am hoping to participate eventually but they are interested in creating a team to start the program this September.
for more information check out this link:
Portland’s epic month of bike rides and events starts tomorrow. Yes, that’s right, it’s time for the annual Pedalpalooza festival. It’s the 16th year in a row Shift has helped us celebrate the social exhiliration and of bicycling with a slate of rides organized and led by people in the community like you and me. It’s a phenomenonal display of community connectedness unlike anything I’ve seen in the cycling world and we hope you plan to be a part of it
If you are going to join in any one of the 262 rides on the calendar (so far) this month, there are a few things you should know to make sure your experience reaches its full potential. And on a more serious note, there are a few things you should do to make sure your experience doesn’t end up making bad memories (or worse) for you, your friends, or the people around you.
For our annual Pedalalooza primer we once again turn to bike funnist and Shift volunteer Chris “Fool” McCraw. He recently shared some important pits of wisdom:
Get that tune-up, stock up on spare tubes, and make sure your butt loves your saddle. It’s the last minute NOW because you want to have your bike ready before the fun really gets started on June 1st!
Now get yourself tuned up — do you know where your summer bike clothes are? Been putting off that doctor’s appt? Been to see the barber? Nobody wants to stop riding with a few thousand of their closest friends to take care of stuff that could happen anytime, and you know you wanna be in top shape to enjoy the rides and be looking sharp for the cutie you’re sure to meet on the happy streets. Might not be a bad idea to get caught up on laundry, too.
Next up it’s time to get stocked! Easy frozen meals to heat & eat when you get home exhausted and just wanna crawl into bed? Favorite hangover cure — available in quantity? Portable intoxicant of choice — need to hit costco or stumptown to get enough? Beer is easy on the fly, but if you’re more of a liquor is quicker, candy is dandy kinda person — do it in advance: visit your local dispensary, or anyway get the things you can’t make happen at a quickie mart mid-ride or en-route done on your schedule instead of missing the pre-party for Loud and Lit because you have to find the last liquor store in town still open.
Almost ready — but is your pedalpalooza survival kit all ready to go? Picnic blanket, hearty snacks, condoms, band-aids & aspirin, flat-fix kit, extra headlight batteries, and fliers for your ride to hand out to folks at other rides are all recommended. Got Costumes for the WNBR and beyond? Might as well figure all that out during the calm before the storm!
Pedalpalooza is a wild ride, with too little sleep and sometimes too much booze. While we’re out having fun, I want to ask YOU to help take care of yourself and others. These three steps go a long way toward creating inclusive, safe(r) bike fun!
1) Have a plan & Look out for your own well being
When you go on rides that may take you out of your comfort zone, know thyself – might you end up riding longer than expected without a food stop that fits your diet? Might you end up somewhere you’ve never been before? These are near-certainties, so make sure you’re prepared – have a spare inner tube, have a bike map, have a friend you can call if you get stranded (very few rides will leave the cell service area, and those that do are generally described as fairly long rides), and have some substantial snacks and water. Make friends on the ride so that even if you don’t have what you need – you now know someone who might let you borrow their phone or share their snack or patch kit.
2) Be aware of your situation
Both on and off the bike, be aware of your environment. We are traffic, but we are mortal, so watch out for anyone operating a vehicle erratically and be defensive about not getting creamed or even bumping someone else – on a bike or in a car! Having a dance party on the springwater? Cool! Just be aware of nearby residents and of wandering off by yourself to pass out or even make out – safety first (or third – but think about it as you go!)
3) Look out for each other
This one is a bit less obvious than the other two, but as a community of bike funnists, we have to take care of each other. Specifically, be on the lookout for folks who seem so intoxicated that they won’t be able to ride safely home, and try to help them figure out a remedy – be that getting them a ride buddy or an Uber. On a similar note, CONSENT IS SEXY. This goes for sexual stuff of course – be the person you want to wake up and see in the mirror tomorrow – but also goes for peer pressure and intoxication – if your new friend doesn’t want to drink another beer or take another toke, don’t shame them into it. We don’t need to make any more depressing statistics or have someone’s life get fucked up. Check out these resources on consent that I hope you’ll read – it’ll take 2 minutes and you’ll be an awesomer person for reading them and helping others who haven’t read them keep them in mind even when drunk.
Have fun out there Portland! I’ll miss the first few days (headed to Montréal tomorrow!) but I can’t wait to join you in the streets when I get back.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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The City of Beaverton has opened a virtual open house for their first-ever Active Transportation Plan. The plan, which also includes walking-related infrastructure of course, will help city staff implement the right facilities in the right places.
I spent the past year and a half parenting one, then two kids (now 1.5 and 3 years) mostly by bike. Here are some of my takeaways:
1) It’s totally doable for many people (depending on where you live and work, and other complications).
2) You may end up wanting to be more car-lite than you were before kids (many/most young kids hate car seats in various phases of their lives and scream while in them, and love box-bikes and buses and trains; also, biking may well be your only reliable way to get exercise)
3) You may end up wanting to be less car-lite than you were before kids (the tyranny of naps cuts up your day so much, it’s nice to get from A to B faster. Plus, getting car rides from friends when you have kids is pretty much impossible, and installing/uninstalling car seats in rental cars is a pain, and your time is at a premium)
4) Think through contingency plans. What if it’s too icy to bike but your work and daycare are still open? What if you’re sick? What if you’re sick like half the winter? (You may well be sick like half the winter)
5) Rewarding children is good parenting and preserves your sanity. Keep rewards at the ready.
Sorry Portland Business Alliance, but the evolution of downtown streets will continue with or without your approval.
The business lobbying group (known around here as “the PBA”) that used to have considerable sway over downtown decision-making, made their opposition to the Better Naito project clear last week. And while the PBA might feel better when the temporary biking and walking-only lane gets removed in September, they’ll soon realize it’s just one of many moves the Portland Bureau of Transportation is making to update downtown streets. And those updates are all aimed at doing the same thing as Better Naito: create more space for biking so it becomes safer and more convenient for more people.
With Better Naito, a new (permanent) path to connect to the Steel Bridge, and several other recent developments, the future of Portland’s downtown bike network is taking shape and Naito Parkway plays a leading role.
Here’s how just a few parts of this emerging bike network figure into that future…
Hank’s Dairy, Les Femmes, House of Sound, Fred Hampton’s Health Clinic — these are all important parts of the history of North Williams Avenue that have been all but erased today.
Job Title *
mechanic/sales
Company/Organization *
Cyclepath
Job Description *
We are looking for 2 full time employees.
Position 1: We are hiring someone for our service/build department. We are looking for someone with at least 5 years experience working in a service department. This is a very high end shop and our customer base expects knowledgeable, experienced staff with a very friendly attitude. We will help bring someone up to speed if you have the right attitude, however, please do not apply for this position if you don’t have somewhere near 5 years experience.
Position 2: We are hiring someone for our sales team. We would prefer someone with at least two years experience working in a bike shop in any capacity. More experience is better, however, we will bring someone up to speed who possesses the right attitude.
pay will vary based on experience.
How to Apply *
Please send your resume to Bill@Cyclepathpdx.com or drop it off at 2436 NE MLK Jr Blvd. Portland, Oregon 97212
Job Title *
Inside Sales Representative
Company/Organization *
Knight Composites
Job Description *
Are you a Sales Rock Star? Do you love bicycles? Have experience in the Bicycle Industry? Let’s chat…
Knight Composites – a premium carbon wheel manufacturer based in Bend, OR, has an immediate opening for an Inside Sales Representative to join our team. We are looking for a self-motivated individual with proven sales skills and knowledge of the bicycle industry. The position will be based in our Bend, OR office.
Requirements
• Possess strong problem solving skills
• Proven inside sales experience
• Strong phone presence and experience managing diverse call volume
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Strong listening and communication skills
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage time effectively
• Knowledge of the bicycle industry at the retail, wholesale and/or manufacturing level
• Technical bicycle product knowledge
• BA/BS degree or equivalent experience
Responsibilities
• Service existing retailer base
• Management of retailer and consumer product queries
• Be an outlet for technical product information
• Support sales through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls and emails
• Close sales and help achieve monthly goals
• Research accounts, identify key players and generate interest
• Provide excellent customer service
Compensation
Base Salary + Commission – based on sales goals.
About Us
Knight Composites is a small, but growing, premium carbon wheel manufacturer, located in Bend, Oregon, a mecca for cycling in the US. We are an energetic group, who are both passionate and professional. Starting just over 3 years ago, Knight has expanded from a National to International brand with models serving the Road, Tri, Gravel, MTB and CCX markets.
Application Deadline – June 15 2017
How to Apply *
Please send your resume to: jim@knightcomposites.com with the subject line: “Inside Sales Representative”.
