Year: 2018

Oregon’s proposal to lift fourplex bans would be great for biking

Protected bike lanes aren’t the only reason so many people bike in Amsterdam.
(Photo: M. Andersen)

An earlier version of this post was published by the Sightline Institute. It’s by former BikePortland news editor Michael Andersen.

The fight to strike down apartment bans has arrived in Oregon’s legislature.

Would re-legalizing fourplexes everywhere be good for bicycle transportation? It very much would be.

On Friday, Willamette Week broke some news: Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek has been working on a bill that’d require all but the smallest Oregon cities in urban areas to re-legalize up to four homes per lot—a lower-cost housing option that was quite common in the early 20th century but was gradually banned from most parts of most cities.

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The Monday Roundup: Convercycle, anti-speeding tech, a climate warning and more

Happy Monday everyone. Are you ready for the “atmospheric river” on tap to hit Portland tonight?

If things get crazy outside, at least you’ll have some great stories to read. Here are the most notable items we came across in the past seven days…

A walking tipping point? This NY Times opinion piece about how cities are finally coming to their senses after decades of building only for cars is positively heartwarming.

More highway cops in Oregon: Looks like state lawmakers might reach a big deal to rebuild the depleted Oregon State Police this coming session.

Anti-people planters: No one is taking credit for a mysterious row of empty concrete planters on SW 1st under the Morrison Bridge that appear to be aimed at preventing people from sleeping there.

Getting rid of highway relics: Saying private cars in cities will be the “cigarettes of the 21st century,” NY Mag has some advice for how New York should deal with the aging Brooklyn-Queens Expressway: Demolish it and move on.

Nifty rig: The new “Convercycle” is a bike that converts from standard urban commuter into long-tail cargo bike.

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Climate change warning: Outgoing California Governor Jerry Brown tells NPR that the threats from climate change are real and present and that most politicians are completely clueless about it.

Climate emergency: The mayor of London has declared an official emergency to battle climate change and is pressing other government officials for money and attention to deal with the issue.

Speed limiting tech: The EU is considering devices that would set the speed of cars to the posted limit and lobbyists for carmakers are fighting it.

Setback in Seattle: A judge has thrown up yet another roadblock on the path to closing the infamous “Missing Link” segment of the Burke-Gilman Trail, saying a recent study of the project didn’t do enough to analyze economic impacts.

Drinking and homicide: Utah wants to lower the legal BAC threshold to .05 instead of the national level of .08. The state also plans to introduce a new felony of “automobile homicide” if you drive recklessly while drunk.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

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How Portlanders handled a wet, dark, stormy bike commute

(Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Tuesday afternoon was a doozy, weather-wise.

It’s not often I’ll opt out of a bike ride, but I hopped on light rail to make it to a meeting downtown. Why? The conditions were: dark, windy, wet, and cool (just cool enough to need a jacket, just warm enough to make you sweat in it). I can handle each of those variable by themselves, or even two or three of them at once. But when all those factors get together I look for non-biking options if I’m able.

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The Little Things: Stripes on stop sign poles in Seattle

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
A stop sign in Seattle with white and red striping on the pole.
(Photos: Mike Dowd)

This post was written by reader Mike Dowd.

When I grew up in Seattle, stop signs had wood posts with red-and-white, candy cane-like stripes. Now they have metal poles, but they’re still striped. When I moved to Portland, I really missed them! It seemed dangerous without them.

When you approach an intersection in Seattle, the stripes immediately show you whether people entering the intersection from other directions must stop. In Portland, you have to look for the octagonal sign shape — not easy to see when you’re looking at the back of a sign across the intersection (maybe with a telephone or light pole in front of it), and almost impossible when looking at the narrow edge of a sign regulating cross traffic.

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Job: Senior Graphic Designer – Castelli

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title

Senior Graphic Designer

Company / Organization

Castelli

Job Description

Castelli is an internationally recognized cycling apparel brand that provides race apparel to the pros
as well as to everyday cyclists and teams around the country.

We’re looking for a senior level graphic designer to join our custom team graphics department.

We seek a highly skilled creative professional that thrives in a production focused workplace.
This position is ideally suited to someone who has a high tolerance and appreciation for detailed work.
This position ideally suits a designer that can execute creative design solutions while keeping on a tight timeline.
We work in a team focused environment that allows for personal and professional growth.

This is a full time position.

We’re looking for someone who:
*Creates innovative and accurate graphic design.
*Has an exceptional eye for detailed work.
*Applies problem solving and tactical thinking to graphics and production tasks.
*Can interact professionally and comfortably with colleagues.
*Thinks and acts quickly and calmly on deadlines.

Requirements:
*Minimum 5 years professional graphic design experience.
*Expert Proficiency with Adobe Illustrator & Creative Suite.
*Experience with apparel manufacturing and production printing processes.
*Ability to provide guidance and problem solving for the graphics team.
*Experience in the cycling and outdoor sports industry is a plus.

Employees enjoy a range of benefits, including:
*401k/Retirement savings plan
*PTO
*Health/Vision/Dental plans
*Generous Employee Product Allowance

Our US offices are located in Portland Oregon. We are lucky to be surrounded by the best the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
Castelli is an equal opportunity workplace. All who meet the requirements are welcome to apply.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a world class creative team.

How to Apply

Please send resume/CV and portfolio to careers@castelli-us.com

Disability rights activists to TriMet: Let us take trikes on MAX

Serenity Ebert (left), Christine Watts (center), and Dawn Cohoe (right) in front of the TriMet board meeting yesterday. They are part of Civil Unrest Bicycle Club, a disability rights advocacy group.
(Photo courtesy Christine Watts)

TriMet General Manager Doug Kelsey and the agency’s Board of Directors heard from two cycling activists during the open public comment period of their meeting yesterday.

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From the Archives

Oregon’s rogue freight advisory committee might have finally overstepped