🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏

Year: 2017

Weekend Event Guide: It’s all about Mini Bike Winter

From Chariot Wars (left) to The Sprockettes (right) and the Cupcake Challenge (middle) — the 14th annual Mini Bike Winter gets top billing this weekend.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

photo caption
(Photo: J Maus/BikePortland)

Hard to believe this weekend marks the 14th annual Mini Bike Winter.

The event sprung to life during the Golden Age of Portland Bike Fun Culture in the early 2000s. The traveling Bike Summer event hit our shores in 2002 and went so well that locals wanted to keep it going. That led to the formation of Shift and “Mini” Bike Summer in 2003. By 2004, Mini Bike Summer had morphed into what we now know as Pedalpalooza and our friends at Zoobomb kept the “Mini” part alive by launching the first Mini Bike Winter that same year*.

None of that history really matters (unless you’re a cultural anthropologist or bike fun history nerd); but what does matter is that we continue to have fun on our bikes — even in winter. And Zoobomb is here to help us do just that. Check out the full slate of events below and have a great weekend…

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Traffic detours coming near Hawthorne Bridge due to courthouse project

Take note:

NEWS RELEASE

Reminder: Traffic changes downtown during courthouse night work

Underground utility night work has begun for Multnomah County’s new Central Courthouse at the west end of the Hawthorne Bridge. Sewer lines need to be relocated before excavation can begin for the courthouse on the block bordered by SW Jefferson, SW Naito Parkway, SW First Ave., and SW Madison St. In-street construction will be performed at night to reduce impacts on commuters.

Utility relocation details:

Work will be conducted between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday from February 13 through March, to reduce impacts on traffic

From February 13 – March 1 (tentative), night detours and lane closures will be needed at:

– SW 1st Ave. between SW Main St. and SW Madison St.
– SW Main St. across the intersection with SW 1st Ave.
– Access to the north sidewalk of the Hawthorne Bridge will be available from the Naito Parkway ramp or stairs from Waterfront Park only. The sidewalk on SW Main St. will be closed between Naito Parkway and SW First Ave. The south bridge sidewalk will be open.

From March 1 – 17 (tentative) between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. the eastbound approach to the Hawthorne Bridge from SW Madison St. will be closed to all modes of traffic between SW Naito Parkway and SW 1st Ave. Eastbound traffic can access the bridge from northbound SW Naito Parkway at night.

Noise generating activities include saw-cutting, excavating and sound from vacuum trucks. A telephone line (503-988-8888) is set up for questions and concerns about construction noise.

Work schedules are subject to change, due to weather and other factors.

On February 20, a staircase from the west sidewalk of SW Naito Parkway to the south sidewalk of the Hawthorne Bridge is scheduled to be closed for demolition. A new staircase will be built as part of the project, opening in 2019. Pedestrians can still access the south bridge sidewalk from SW Madison St. and from the sidewalk on the east side of SW Naito Parkway.

The new Central Courthouse is estimated to cost $300 million and open in 2020. A construction open house is scheduled on Thursday, February 23 from 4 – 6 p.m. in the Jury Assembly Room of the County Courthouse at 1021 SW 4th Ave. For project information, visit www.multco.us/central-courthouse.

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Lawmakers, ODOT Director hear emotional testimony at Vision Zero bill hearing

ODOT Director Matt Garrett (lower right) was in the house for today’s hearing.
(Photo: Oregon Walks)

A bill that would establish an official State of Oregon Vision Zero Task Force got its first public hearing today. And it was heart-wrenching.

The eight members of the House Committee On Transportation Policy who presided over the hearing for House Bill 2667 probably didn’t expect the 8:00 am start time to attract testimony from nearly two-dozen people. And they probably didn’t expect to hear from people like Marina Hajek, the mother of a 10-year old boy who was hit and killed by a reckless, speeding driver while walking his bike across a street in Eugene 10 years ago.

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Job: Mechanic w/ Sales Backup – The eBike Store

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title *
Mechanic w/ Sales Backup

Company/Organization *
The eBike Store

Job Description *
We’re looking for an individual that loves biking, knows bike repair and maintenance backwards and forwards, loves learning new things, and is good at explaining what they know.

The eBike Store is Portland’s oldest electric bicycle shop. We specialize in eBikes & eBike conversions and we also provide rentals and tours.

The Mechanic w/ Sales Backup we’re looking for has:

Excellent repair skills. From building wheels to servicing internal hubs.
Strong verbal and written communication abilities
Enjoys working as a team, but can also work independently
Eagerness to work with a bike shop that works with a population who often have not ridden a bike in years.
Requirements:
Candidate must be available to work at least 20 hours/wk starting.
Must be able to work weekends
Previous shop experience
Must be able to lift and maneuver heavy objects up to 55 pounds.
Compensation:
Position is part-time and seasonal with the potential of full time permanent work for qualified applicants. Pay starts at 13.50/hr but could be more for candidate with year of shop experience. Potential to move up after a 30 day review.

How to Apply *
Interested candidates should send an email info@ebikestore.com with a paragraph or two stating your interest in this position, and why you would like to work with us.

PBOT planning jersey-barrier protected bikeway on North Greeley Ave

N Greeley Ave existing conditions-1.jpg

This is what northbound North Greeley Avenue looks like today (can you spot the bicycle rider in this picture?). The future could look very different.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

One of Portland’s scariest places to ride a bicycle is about to be erased from the map and replaced with a new bikeway that is physically protected from motorized vehicle traffic.

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Job: Mechanic, Part Time – Left Coast Bicycles Mobile Repair

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title *
Mechanic, Part Time

Company/Organization *
Left Coast Bicycles Mobile Repair

Job Description *
Do you need more hours at your existing shop gig or other job? Are you a great mechanic, in school, in search of part time work?

We are seeking a qualified mechanic to be available on a part time basis to help out with our repair events.

Our ideal candidate exudes warmth and friendliness, is independent and has a confident attitude and character. You have a rich and varied experience in the bicycle industry and are comfortable working on all varieties of bikes from clunky commuters to carbon race machines. You have excellent customer service skills, are able to communicate the nuances of each customers bicycle needs in an approachable, friendly way. You are independent, a good problem solver with a can-do attitude, but you also work well as part of a team.

Key Responsibilities

Assist Head Mechanic with repair events
Transport of bike-shop on wheels to repair events in central Portland
Set up of bicycle repair station and LCB promotional materials
Thorough personalized bicycle repair estimates and tune-ups

Strong Candidates

Have at least 3 years experience in bike shops wrenching on a variety of bikes and able to perform an accurate repair estimate
Generally a people person and good communicator
Independent and able to perform an accurate bike repair estimate
Mature, responsible team player
Excited about the bike lifestyle and culture

Job Info

Flexible schedule. This is a contract part-time position. Our schedule is variable and our assignments can range from 1 to 5 days in length
Competitive hourly pay (DOE)
Access to wholesale parts / new bikes
Weekends off
More work available during Summer months

How to Apply *

Email your resume to aaron@leftcoastbicycles.com

Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you would be a great addition to our team.

There’s still a layer of gravel on the St. Johns Bridge sidewalk – UPDATED

It’s unacceptable to force road users to make a dangerous choice between being run down by fast-moving drivers or riding over small slippery rocks on a narrow sidewalk.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

The only refuge from fast-moving (and often irate) people driving cars across the St. Johns Bridge is still covered in a layer of gravel a month after the last snow storm.

As we first reported nearly three weeks ago, while driving is pretty much back to normal following major snow storms, biking is still hazardous. Massive potholes plague streets and many bike lane markings have all but vanished due to the constant scraping from tire chains, plows, studded tires, and gravel. And there are still many trees and limbs that block bicycle-only lanes — forcing people into adjacent lanes which increases the risk of collisions.

All our various road agencies need to place a much higher priority on the safety of all road users when it comes to their storm clean-up plans.

One of the most egregrious spots is on the sidewalk of the St. Johns Bridge. There’s so much gravel that in some parts you can’t see the surface of the sidewalk. This is a big deal because the St. Johns Bridge is a vital bicycling connection and the roadway lacks bike lanes. With large diesel trucks rumbling inches away, the narow St. Johns Bridge sidewalks are already sketchy enough. Add slippery gravel and you’ve got even more stressful situation.

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It’s a big week for Vision Zero: Here’s why

Safe Streets Rally Part 2 at City Hall -1.jpg

Expect to hear a lot more about Vision Zero in 2017.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Portland and the State of Oregon are both coming off a terrible year when it comes to traffic safety.

492 people died while using Oregon roads in 2016. That’s a 10 percent increase over the 2015 total and a whopping 57 percent jump from 2013 (when we lost 313 people to traffic crashes). In Portland 45 people died, marking just the second time since 1998 that we’ve had over 40 deaths in one year.

The combination of those grim statistics and the maturity of Vision Zero as a rallying cry and policy concept could make 2017 a watershed year for traffic safety. Or, it could just be more of the same: a bunch of plans, proclamations, protests and meetings. It’s up to all of us to make sure we move the needle.

This week there are four events that show how activists, a nonprofit organization, the State of Oregon, and lawmakers are responding to this urgent issue.

Tuesday (2/14) – Oregon Transportation Safety Committee Meeting

The Oregon Transporation Safety Committee is a governor-appointed tasked with advising the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon Transportation Commission on all matters regarding traffic safety. They meet monthly in Salem. This month’s agenda includes reports from various ODOT liaisons, a discussion about a new speed program, an update from the head of ODOT’s Traffic Division Division, and the drafting of a proclamation to declare May “Transportation Safety Month”. Take a look at the agenda here (PDF).

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The Monday Roundup: Infra porn, gamification, driving privilege, and more

This week’s Monday Roundup is sponsored by Bike Index, bike registration that works.

Welcome to a new week.

Doesn’t it feel good to finally have some clear and sunny skies? I saw tons of people enjoying the weather on their bikes over the weekend. I hope you were out there too.

Let’s start off by sharing the last week’s best stories from around the web and around the nation…

Gritter bike: The “world’s first gritter bike” is bouncing around the web. Wonder if they make a plow attachment too?

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Latest Headlines

My journey to that ‘Hard Rock glow’

Off-Road Cycling Master Plan: A decade later, what has changed?

A rad Plaid Century

MADE Bike Show hits Portland this weekend

From the Archives

The 10 busiest bicycling spots in Portland