🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏
We are living in a time of extremes: climate, politics and public opinion have all ceded the moderate middle in favor of the faraway edges. When it comes to policy debates, ideas that once seemed too extreme to be taken seriously have managed to crawl their way back into the mainstream.
Multnomah County opened a new connection from the west side of the river to the southern sidewalk on the new Sellwood Bridge about a month ago. I finally took a closer look at it on Friday.
Welcome to Monday.
Here are the stories worth reading that you might have missed last week…
Bike share in Bed Stuy: As Portland looks to expand bike share (and cycling in general) beyond the central city, we should take cues from this New York City example of how advocates have increased bike share use in a majority black and low-income neighborhood.
The Today Show’s blame game: One of America’s most-watched morning TV shows was just one of many outlets that spread the “distracted walkers are at fault” meme created by a recent report from a USDOT-backed highway safety group.
22 percent rise in walking deaths since 2014: America doesn’t like to talk about the startling rise in walking deaths as a public health crisis, but this recent report from the Governor’s Highway Safety Association should change that.
Engineering at fault too: Most policymakers and electeds want to blame the spike on careless humans; but it’s clear that our road engineering standards create an unlevel playing field.
Endurance legend dies: Mike Hall’s long and fast rides inspired many of us. He died after being struck by someone driving while competing in the Indian Pacific Wheel Race in Canberra Friday morning.
Job Title *
Bike Camp Instructor
Company/Organization *
The Community Cycling Center
Job Description *
Start date: June 2017
Reports to: Camp Manager
Status: Seasonal, Non-exempt
Location: Portland, OR
Compensation: $11.50 an hour starting, opportunity for raises for returning staff
Organizational Overview
We love Portland and bikes. So we put our two loves together over 20 years ago, creating a nonprofit organization on a mission to broaden access to bicycling and its benefits.
Our vision is to help build a vibrant community where people of all backgrounds use bicycles to stay healthy and connected. We believe that all Portlanders—regardless of income or background—should have the opportunity to experience the joy, freedom and health benefits of bicycling. This is the motivation behind everything we do.
In addition to delivering dynamic programs that benefit underserved communities, we operate a full-service bike shop in NE Portland that is staffed by highly experienced mechanics from diverse cycling backgrounds. Our programs and shop services combined help riders build their skills and confidence; empower young people to ride to school and adults to ride to work; offer educational opportunities for teens to earn school credit; and support everyone in riding for health and recreation. We also collaborate with numerous community partners to generate pathways to employment and engagement within the growing bicycle movement by training new educators, leaders, advocates and mechanics.
Our goal is to help create a healthy, sustainable Portland for all community members.
The Community Cycling Center is an equal opportunity employer and strongly values diversity, equity and inclusion. Individuals with diverse backgrounds, abilities and experiences are encouraged to apply.
About Bike Camp:
The Bike Camp program, started in 2001, is a 5-day long day camp for kids age 6-14 years old to develop their cycling skills in a fun, safe, and supportive environment. Groups of 12 campers, led by two instructors, ride bikes around the city visiting parks and destinations of interest. Campers learn experientially about riding on the road, navigating using maps, and basic bicycle maintenance. In addition to these cycling related skills, campers develop self-confidence, enthusiasm about bikes, and the social and communication skills to work well in a team environment. Specialty camps include Crafty Cruisers, Food Cart Freewheelers, Mechanics camp, and Girls Cruisers.
Job Summary:
Instructors work in pairs to lead a group of 12 students and are responsible for planning each day’s route, lessons, and activities. Instructors have the flexibility to tailor rides and activities according to their instructional style and the group’s needs and ability. The role involves effective communication with co-instructors, campers, parents, and supervisors. This includes group management, active listening, and conflict resolution with the campers. The ideal applicant will have enthusiasm and experience working with youth and an interest in riding bicycles (with a bicycle of their own). This is a full-time, seasonal position that will run from June 12 through August 25. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on teaching experience in a collaborative, fun environment.
Hours: 36-40 hours per week between June 12 – August 25
• Bike Camp instructor training June 12-16
• Mid-Season training: July 21st
• Post season wrap up: August 25th
• No camp on July 3-4, please note that instructors are required to work July 5-7
• Instructors will be scheduled for one week off during the summer
Locations:
Our camps are hosted at a number of locations around Portland. For staffing, we categorize these locations into three groups: Camps on Alberta NE (hosted at our bike shop); Offsite camps in SE and NE (hosted at Sellwood Cycle Repair, OMSI, Cully neighborhood, and Portsmouth neighborhood); East Portland camps (hosted in and around the Parkrose neighborhood). Instructors will be selected to work at one of the three location groups for the duration of the summer. Please indicate in your cover letter if you have a location preference.
Essential Functions:
• Maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment for all participants
• Along with a co-instructor, plan lessons, games, activities, destinations, and routes to meet the needs and desires of the group
• Fulfill goals of the program to provide a consistent positive experience to all campers regardless of race, class, gender identity, or background
• Attend and contribute to weekly check-in and staff meetings
• Open communication with families and supervisors on day to day camp occurrences
• Assist with daily camp set up and wrap up
• Support one youth volunteer to assist with camp
• Represent the Community Cycling Center on and off site
Qualifications & Characteristics:
Required
• 1-2 years’ experience in education, youth work, and/or childcare
• Complete a week-long paid training course for all summer Bike Camp instructors June 12 – 16
• Group management and facilitation
• Effective communicator with co-instructor, campers, families, and supervisors
• A bicycle in good working order (mechanical check will be required prior to start of camp)
• Ability to ride a bicycle 10 miles per day*
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds*
• Criminal background check will be required once hired
• Valid CPR/First Aid certification required prior to the first day of training
*Reasonable accommodation will be made for instructors with a disability
Preferred
• Bilingual Spanish and English
How to Apply *
visit our website at http://www.communitycyclingcenter.org/about/jobs/ to apply. (Application due by April 23rd)
How do know if your local biking ecosystem is healthy? Take the time to learn about what people are doing.
Are they riding? Are they starting new clubs, programs and organizations? Are they re-thinking the status quo to make biking even better?
This week I met with four people who are doing good things in our community.
David and Martin (“Marty”) Stabler are retired Portlanders who are three months away from the biggest ride of their lives: a 3,650 mile pedal across the country. Their plan is to dip their wheels in the Pacific Ocean in Astoria and do the same thing in Portsmouth, New Hampshire 50 days later.
As promised last fall, the Portland Bureau of Transportation has updated Southeast Hawthorne Blvd with a new painted crosswalk and median island at the intsersection of 43rd Avenue. In addition to the new crossing, PBOT has received permission from the Oregon Department of Transportation to reduce the speed limit on Hawthorne between 29th and 50th to 20 miles per hour (down from 25).
There’s no surer sign of spring in Portland than local bike companies needing to boost their staff. We’ve got six great job opportunities that just went up this week.
Learn more about each one via the links below…
–> Customer Service Advisor – Rapha Racing LTD
–> Shipping Specialist and Delivery Driver – Cyclone Bicycle Supply
–> Mechanic, light sales – RecumbentPDX
–> Sales/Light Service – Seven Corners Cycles
–> Bike Valet Attendant – Go By Bike
–> Shipping Specialist – Velotech
How desperate are Oregonians for safer roads?
People in the central Oregon district of State Senator Tim Knopp were so distraught by a spate of fatal and serious injury collisions late last year, they worked with him to introduce a bill that would create a State Transportation Donation Fund. Senate Bill 798 had its first hearing on March 20th and it passed through the Senate Committee On Business and Transportation.
Senator Knopp, whose district includes the cities of Bend, Sunriver and Redmond, testified in favor of the bill at that hearing. “During an 11-day period last December we had 10 fatalities,” he shared. “It was unbelievable. There was a father and a son, a pregnant woman, two Portland physics professors… It seemed quite hopeless, almost daily… You’re kind of wondering, ‘What is going on? What can we do? Is there a solution to this?'”
I know it’s hard to believe, and I know Saturday is April Fools Day on Saturday, but spring seems to have finally sprung. We actually have more sun than rain in the forecast for the next few days.
So embrace it! And ride your bike.
Here are some event and ride ideas to inspire you…
Job Title *
Shipping Specialist
Company/Organization *
Velotech
Job Description *
Velotech, Inc. is looking for a detail oriented shipping specialist to join our fast paced and fast growing operation. This person will be expected to pick, pack, and ship customer orders and receive incoming shipments in a timely manner.
Additionally there will be many random tasks that will assist in warehouse operation.
* Must be able to lift 50lbs
* Must be comfortable with ladders
* Basic knowledge of cycling components preferred
* Enthusiasm for cycling
* Full-time
* Great benefits and vacation package
Velotech, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship, pregnancy or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.
How to Apply *
Please apply by clicking below:
My bike was stolen this morning from a Red Line train, at the Goose Hollow train station. It’s a black trek, 52-53cm with road clips and a camel back water bottle. The cops caught the guy on tape, looking for more leads. Thanks
A planned expansion of the Portland Art Museum will (PAM) come at a cost of $50 million in new construction — and it would also come at the cost of public access to our city streets.
As part of their plans to build the “Rothko Pavilion,” PAM has asked the City of Portland for permission to close an existing public right-of-way through a plaza between two of their buildings that connects SW 10th and Park at Madison Street. The proposal would add a significant new structure to the museum’s footprint and it has architects and cultural backers very excited. But some advocates are concerned that the new plans will further limit walking and rolling in a part of town where street connections are invaluable.
Places where it’s easy and attractive to walk and roll have small blocks with lots of connections between them. The tighter the grid, the thinking goes, the better walkability a place has. As city blocks become “superblocks,” human-powered trip times increase, which makes walking and biking less attractive.
PAM’s latest plans are just the latest in a long history of limiting access to this block.