Year: 2017

Today: Meet the man riding 2,000 miles with a 350-pound rhino (statue) named Lunar

Matt Meyer and Lunar the rhino in Portland yesterday. You can meet up with him today at Irving Park.
(Photo: Joe Rowe)

I’ve seen a lot of people use bicycles to raise awareness for various causes over the years, but this one just might take the cake for its combination of eye-catching stunt and serious issue.

Matt Meyer was born and raised in the wilds of the South African bush — but now he’s doing something that’s in many ways even more adventurous: Riding 2,000 of the west coast pulling a life-sized rhinocerous sculpture. Matt’s “Rhino Ride” aims to raise awareness and funding to save wild rhinos from exctinction. And he’s in Portland today for a meet-and-greet.

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Job: New Inventory Coordinator – The Community Cycling Center

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title *
New Inventory Coordinator

Company/Organization *
The Community Cycling Center

Job Description *
The New Inventory Coordinator is responsible for the purchasing, inventory management, and distributor relations for the Community Cycling Center bike shop. With the support of the shop management team, the New Inventory Coordinator will help to ensure that customers and shop staff have a great selection of what they need and want. The position will require a team-building approach, the ability to anticipate demands, and a customer-focused approach to purchasing. Experience in a high-volume retail environment, clear communication methods and constant refinement of systems will be crucial to the success of this position.

How to Apply *
Please submit cover letter, resume and three references by email with “New Inventory Coordinator” as the subject title to jobs@communitycyclingcenter.org.

In the one-page cover letter, please include a description of how and why you are interested in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

The application deadline for this position is open until filled.

New Belgium Brewing now offers a 3-day, $300 “Oregon Ramble” ride

The promotion of bikepacking in Oregon just went up another notch.

Colorado-based New Belgium Brewing Company — the eighth largest brewery in America — now offers a $300, three-day ride through rural, unpaved backroads of eastern Oregon. The Oregon Ramble (June 8-11) is one of three “Ramble Rides” the company offers (along with title sponsor Blackburn, a maker of racks, bags and other accessories).

Here’s the teaser from New Belgium’s website:

“Kick Off The Ramble Ride Trio With A Three-day Cruise Through Central Oregon. A fun and challenging fully-supported bikepacking adventure through Central Oregon’s scenic Ochoco mountains and the Painted Hills.

With snow in the higher elevations, we’re choosing a stunning route through Central Oregon. Following the Central Oregon Backcountry Explorer route pioneered by Sarah Swallow. We’ll be starting in Prineville, OR and looping over three days through 150 miles of the Ochoco Mountains and the John Day River Basin.”

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Willamette Week’s bike issue looks to spice up Portland’s cycling complacency

The cover of the Willamette Week’s bike issue aims to show that biking is sexy.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

It’s an annual tradition we look forward to every year: When one of our local weekly news outlets devotes an entire issue to bicycles and the people who ride them. This morning the Pulitzer Prize-winning Willamette Week released its Bike Issue and newsstands around the city are now adorned with this provocative cover. And under the covers of the issue is a suite of articles that will hopefully make people think critically — and positively — about biking’s role in Portland.

The lede is all about how Portland has gotten complacent:

“… don’t you kind of feel like we’ve been in a rut?

The percentage of bike commuters in the city has been stuck for the past three years. Adding more bike infrastructure has been a battle. Vandals felt empowered to destroy bike-share stations earlier this month.

It’s not just drivers to blame — Portland cyclists have become complacent… It’s time to spice things up.”

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Oregon Walks to screen new Jane Jacobs doc at annual meeting

On May 4th, urban planning giant Jane Jacobs would have been 101 years old. To mark her birthday, Portland-based Oregon Walks will host a screening of a new documentary about her life. The event is also the organization’s annual membership meeting and will also include a panel discussion with three women who are “following in Jane Jacobs’ footsteps.”

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Editorial: In need of leadership, The Street Trust faces daunting road

The Street Trust (formerly the Bicycle Transportation Alliance) is going through a major transition. With 15 paid staff and an annual budget of $1.3 million, the organization is currently looking for a new executive director and a communications director, forming a new 501(c)(4) political organizing committee, and launching a new strategic plan to guide their work for the next five years.

These major initiatives come on the heels of a name-change and expansion of their mission last summer.

No matter how you slice it, this is a lot of change for an organization that continues to search for that magic mix of leadership, vision, political power and community support that will allow them to lead the ever-growing transportation reform movement in Portland and beyond.

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Art Museum’s easement expansion request on hold amid stiff opposition at first Council hearing

The Portland Art Museum says their $50 million expansion plans would create one of our city’s best public spaces — but it’s the existing public space they want to close that has put their project on shaky ground.

Portland City Council held its first hearing on PAM’s Rothko Pavilion project last week. At issue is whether or not the City should amend an existing public easement on SW Madison between Park and 10th that runs between the museum’s two main buildings. PAM’s new pavilion aims to connect the buildings with a new structure that would display art, host events, and serve as its main entrance. The public would be allowed to move through the new structure without buying a ticket; but access would be limited to museum hours (10:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday through Wednesday and 10:00 to 8:00 pm Thursday and Friday) and people riding bicycles or walking dogs would be completely prohibited.

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Guest post: Bike trip planning for the total solar eclipse

This post was written by BikePortland Subscriber Tom Howe.

Eclipse path.

The August 21 solar eclipse may be four months away, but now is the time to start planning if you want to experience it in the Path of Totality as part of a bike camping trip.

A few days ago Oregon State Parks released a thousand extra campsites which were all reserved in about an hour, and many of those sites are not even in the 70-mile wide path of the total solar eclipse where the sun’s corona will be visible. Eclipse expert Xavier Jubier has created a neat zoomable map showing the eclipse path. Clicking anywhere in the path of totality on this map will give that spot’s length of the total eclipse, which in Oregon tops out at just over 2 minutes as the moon’s shadow races across the state.

But camping is still available at private sites outside the state park system. One notable location about 40 miles from central Portland and well within the path of totality is the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm near Woodburn. Here is a zoomable map that shows a rural bike route down to the tulip farm from Portland.

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350 volunteers still needed for Sunday Parkways

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Sunday Parkways season is less than one month away (first event is in southeast May 21st)! But to make the fun happen, the City of Portland needs a lot of volunteers to help pull it off. Check their notice below to find ways to plug in and do your part. See you out there!

Portland Sunday Parkways needs your help again this year to open up our public streets, introduce folks young and old to the wonders of car-free afternoons, and show our neighbors how resilient, interconnected and caring communities can light up all of our lives. We need ~350 bike fun enthusiasts like you at each event to help more than 25,000 participants have the best ride ever— whether it’s their thousandth, tenth, or even their very first. Sign up to volunteer for another Shift (on wheels, feets, hands, chairs, wings– anything you like as long as it’s human-powered) at our first event of the year on May 21st in (Inner) Southeast Portland!
Sign up here to volunteer.

Here’s how we need your help…
-Mobile Superheroes to ride the route, keeping a watchful eye on the neighborhood and backing up the Intersection Superheroes
-Intersection Superheroes to monitor the barricades, making sure participants are safe from cars and neighbors are happy to host us
-Info Booth Ambassadors to help all our participants get the most out of Sunday Parkways
-Interested in helping another way? Come down to the office! We’re hosting two more fundraising nights this week to keep Sunday Parkways happy and healthy, join us! We need help in between events too— schedule some time to help out behind the scenes.

…and here’s (just a few of the ways) we can show our appreciation!
Every Sunday Parkways volunteer receives:
– a HEATHER PURPLE Sunday Parkways event t-shirt
– refreshments before and during your shift
– support before, during and after the event
– a 2017 Sunday Parkways bandanna – any three shifts across the season and it’s all yours

Sign up here: PortlandSundayParkways.org.

Thanks again folks! See you in Southeast Portland!

Bike stolen out of car at the Lloyd Center

Hey everyone. Was either the first time I have not locked the door or thieves are getting smarter. I foolishly left my fiance’s bike in my car while parked at the Lloyd Center yesterday between 3:15 and 3:39 pm. When I got back to the car, the bike was gone.

2015 Masi X2 Comp. Silver frame with light blue accents. Skewers on wheels for theft prevention. Front wheel has a gold frame. Back wheel had gotten stolen previously so it now has a black wheel. Drop handlebars with light blue tape. White saddle with black tiger on it.

Filed a police report and put something on bike index. I live in Outer Buckman but again, got swiped at lloyd center.

Thanks!!

Job: Bike Builder & Sales (E-Bikes) – Cynergy E-Bikes

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title *
Bike Builder & Sales – E-Bikes

Company/Organization *
Cynergy E-Bikes

Job Description *
Are you interested in becoming part of the fast-growing electric bicycle industry? We are a well-established electric bike specialty shop looking for someone who is comfortable with a wrench to assemble bikes and perform general bike mechanics. Also, with the ebb and flow of store traffic, you will be helping out with sales, turning customers on to electric bikes, answering their questions and taking them out on test rides.

A strong knowledge about e-bikes is NOT necessary, but an interest in learning about e-bikes is.

The ideal candidate will get “charged up” (the pun comes naturally) for delivering a great customer experience.

Responsibilities:
– Assemble e-bikes and perform adjustments. Perform inspections.
– Install components and accessories such as fenders, racks, integrated lighting, saddles and tires.
– Perform general repairs and adjustments on both electric and non-electric bikes.
– Take in service orders.
– Deliver e-bikes to customers and explain how to use controls and features.
– Greet customers, ask questions to understand their needs, answer questions, assist with test rides, sell bikes and accessories.
– Ring up orders.

Qualifications:
– Experience building bikes.
– General knowledge of bike mechanics. Professional bike mechanic experience a plus.
– Attention to detail.
– Engaging interpersonal skills. Sales experience a plus.
– Enthusiasm for learning rapid technical change and innovation.
– Valid driver’s license with good driving record.
– General knowledge of electrical diagnostics, like the use of a volt meter, will be useful
– Able to enjoy a good pizza.
– Available Saturdays, Sundays and 1-2 weekdays

Location: Southeast Portland, OR

Apply: Forward resume and an explanation of your qualifications to info@cynergyebikes.com.

How to Apply *
Forward resume and/or an explanation of your qualifications to info@cynergyebikes.com.

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