2022 Archives

Opinion: We can address ‘street takeovers’ with hostile infrastructure

Who can blame folks for wanting to meet up with friends, show off their cool cars,
create content for social media, and blow off some steam?

A wild weekend of "street takeovers" around Portland led to several arrests and multiple towed vehicles. These are just a sample of the multiple videos sent in to KPTV documenting the events. We will have more coverage tonight on The 5 O'Clock News. pic.twitter.com/r5iG9uBg53
— Fox12Oregon (@fox12oregon) June 13, 2022

Street racing, drifting and “takeovers” are revving up for summer. Last Sunday night hundreds of people and cars took over sections of streets throughout the city to show off their drifting and street racing skills.

According to the Portland Police Bureau, groups took over seven different locations between 8:00 pm Sunday night and 1:00 am Monday morning. They must have known it was coming because they conducted an enforcement mission that resulted in seven arrests, seven towed vehicles and the recovery of a gun.

The largest takeover was on NE 13th and Multnomah where PPB says over 200 people took part.

We’ve seen this movie before.

Last summer the issue became so prominent Portland City Council considered a crackdown. And a few months before that I shared concerns about how an aggressive police response could cause more harm than good. Fortunately that doesn’t appear to have happened yet and (so far) police have been able to address the issue without any escalations or tragic consequences.

While police play whack-a-mole and barely make a dent in the problem (while creating even more excitement and drama for the street racers, something that likely makes it more attractive to some of them), the takeovers persist. If Sunday night’s action is any indication, their popularity might even be on the rise.

And who can blame these folks for wanting to meet up with friends, show off their cars, create content for social media accounts, and blow off some steam? In many ways they’re similar to the big group bike rides that happen daily as part of Pedalpalooza. It’s all part of a similar human desire for cultural expression, adrenalin, social bonding, and so on.

But these street takeovers are very different in important ways. They’ve led to fatal crashes many times, they pump toxic emissions into our air and waterways, and they put innocent people at risk. We need to do more to prevent them. Even if we think these events are confined to willing participants, we must consider spillover effects. People don’t turn off this type of reckless driving when they leave a large gathering. I’ve seen burnouts and reckless speeding happen many times and we all know dangerous driving behavior is rampant in Portland today.

Maybe one answer is to deploy simple traffic calming tools.

Anti drifting infrastructure. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has already installed many of those little, rubber, yellow-and-black striped curbs all over the city. It’s part of a “left-turn calming” effort to improve safety and prevent injuries and deaths to other road users. One carefully placed, mountable curb could effectively prevent someone from doing burnouts and drifting around an intersection. I’m sure engineers and planners could find other clever ways to do this if a curb isn’t feasible.

Preventing activities through infrastructure design is old hat for government agencies. Along with private property owners, they’ve become creative and efficient at installing hostile infrastructure on sidewalks in order to prevent people from erecting tents and sleeping in the public right-of-way. They’ve also decided there are places where skateboarding is not allowed and they’ve installed tiny bumps on curbs and benches to prevent “grinding” and other tricks.

We should apply a similar approach to intersections.

Smartly placed bits of hard infrastructure could safely and effectively prevent a lot of these dangerous activities while simultaneously improving traffic safety overall. It could also be an opportunity for PBOT and the Portland Police Bureau to collaborate on a project that doesn’t focus on enforcement, yet allows both agencies to address a problem together.

We need more of that from our city.

Job: Safe Routes to School Coordinator – bike works by p:ear

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title

Safe Routes to School Coordinator

Company / Organization

bike works by p:ear

Job Description

bike works by p:ear
The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Coordinator will work with the existing Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety & Education Coordinator, Multnomah County Transportation Planner, and Alta Consultants to carry out the mission of transportation health in East Multnomah County. Additionally, this position will provide an important link between jurisdictions that will work with individual schools, after school SUN programs, community partners, and SRTS Coordinators to establish programming and plans. Primary tasks include educating students, families, and community members about bicycle and pedestrian safety. The ideal candidate will strive to establish curriculum in the region, support and coach the community on building multigenerational pedestrian and cyclist awareness, and mitigate traffic concerns by promoting a comprehensive, proactive behavior and infrastructure-based approach to securing safety along school routes, within school sites, and all around East County neighborhoods.
Position: Full-Time SRTS Coordinator (BPSEOC)
FTE thru 6/30/2023: Requires occasional evenings and weekends Reports To: Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety & Education Outreach Coordinator Compensation: $50,000 Annually + Healthcare stipend
Job Description
This position requires an energetic self-starter with excellent communication, leadership and public speaking skills that also has a commitment to contribute to bike works’ mission towards creating safer places to bike and walk for the community. The SRTS Coordinator will assist with planning, organizing, implementing, and teaching curriculum at local schools, community events, and community partner spaces – both in person and virtually. Additionally, they will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to support SRTS programming and a variety of bike works’ initiatives.
Required Qualifications & Competencies
● Experience building trusting, healthy relationships with people of all ages and backgrounds – Specifically K-8 grade levels
● Commitment to advancing equity and inclusion by creating and maintaining a diverse environment
● Excellent interpersonal skills – Must be a positive and strong role model, have a collaborative, team-oriented work style and strong problem-solving skills
● Commitment to non-violence and compassionate responses
● Strong written, oral and online communication skills – Including public speaking
● Excellent organization skills – Needs to effectively prioritize and manage time
● Project management from start to finish – Assume responsibility and accountability for
assignments and tasks
● Committed to personal growth with a willingness to learn
● Self-initiating, independent and highly motivated
● Physical ability to stand for multiple hours and lift/move up to 40 lbs
● Ability to transport self and supplies in a timely manner to multiple locations
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
● Work in tandem with Multnomah County Transportation Planner and existing Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety & Education Outreach Coordinator to promote transportation health in East Multnomah County
● Help create correspondence with flyers, brochures, presentations, etc. in support of educating stakeholders in SRTS and bike works’ goals
● Develop meaningful relationships with stakeholders and successfully cultivate leaders within stakeholder groups
● Actively work with local school districts, CBOs, and other community partners to build community, collect and evaluate data, support and create enthusiasm in walking, biking, and driver safety
● Coordinate with school staff and SUN program coordinators to discuss/plan pedestrian and bicycle safety education and events
● Participate and organize a variety of community/education activities and projects in East Multnomah County – Including tabling, workshops, training, presentations, meetings, block parties, festivals, and more
● Provide resources for school district staff, administrators, and families to promote walking and biking initiatives, via campaign tool kits, videos, etc. that can significantly increase active transportation culture at each school
● Maintain records/data and prepare accurate reports
● Communicate and correspond with colleagues, stakeholders, community partners, schools, etc.
as requested or required
Work Experience
Applicants must show at least one (1) year of experience working with groups of children and families, and/or diverse communities – General knowledge of active transportation and bicycles is helpful.
About bike works by p:ear
bike works by p:ear is your go-to repair shop and lead advocate for people riding bikes in East Portland. Founded in 2017, bike works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to create a more bike-friendly community by advocating for safe, connected bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure; supporting programs and events that foster a thriving, fun cycling culture; and ensuring that diverse constituencies have a voice in the development of new policies and infrastructure.
Our mission is to advocate for a world-class network of active transportation infrastructure in East Multnomah County that provides equitable access for people of all ages and abilities. Our vision is a safe, convenient, and seamless active transportation network that connects people to where they live, work, and play.
Travel
Travel expected in the Portland/Gresham Metro area for this position.
AAP/EEO Statement
It is the policy of bike works by p:ear to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race,

religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, bike works by p:ear will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.
Other
Please note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Additionally, this is a contract position – taxes will be your responsibility.

How to Apply

TO APPLY: Please send resume and answers as PDFs to the questions in lieu of a cover letter to info@bikeworkspdx.org with “SRTS Coordinator” in the subject line. The job will remain open until full. Email only, no phone calls, please – phone calls will not be returned.
1. How will you use bike works by p:ear’s equity statement (see below) to further advance equity within the SRTS Coordinator position? Please provide specific examples.
2. Please share a time when you’ve had to step out of your area(s) of comfort when working with youth.
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
We believe in the young people at bike works by p:ear and in their unique, creative and powerful place in our community. In order to help youth live healthy and meaningful lives, bike works must combat the structural and institutional systems and personal attitudes and behaviors that exist to create and perpetuate racial, social, economic inequities in our community.
bike works by p:ear respects and celebrates the diversity, creativity and strength of the p:ear community. Equity and inclusion are a priority across all parts of our organization from programs to administration to personal development. We commit to creating a culture of inclusion, self-reflection, and personal growth. We are committed to using our time and resources to help identify and eliminate disparities based on identity and to promote equitable and inclusive access to our programs. We do this work so we can live in a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
bike works by p:ear is building dynamic relationships based on this understanding. Equity means examining our weaknesses and identifying disparities where they arise. It means aligning with needs and redistributing resources. Equity at p:ear means a thoughtful approach and compassionate action, which includes advocacy in the community and equity education in all areas that p:ear touches and beyond.
Because bike works by p:ear is deeply rooted in compassion – which we define as a relational act of understanding another’s experience while providing a safe space – we commit to deep, program-wide and viscerally equitable practices for homeless and vulnerable youth as they access our programs. We call this love.
bike works by p:ear respects and celebrates the diversity, creativity and strength of the East Multnomah County community. Equity and inclusion are a priority across all parts of our organization. We are committed to using our time and resources to help identify and eliminate disparities based on identity and to promote equitable access to our programs.

PBOT makes big changes to NE Hancock in Hollywood District

Westbound on Hancock at 41st. (Photos: City of Portland)

The Tillamook neighborhood greenway, which extends east-west across northeast Portland just three blocks north of Broadway, is one of the city’s oldest, and it’s a key bikeway for people traveling through bustling neighborhoods like Grant Park and Hollywood.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by armando (@dudeluna)

Unfortunately, Tillamook has become so bustling around NE 33rd and Grant Park, that it’s no longer the recommended bike route.

As we reported last year, instead of making changes to Tillamook east of 33rd, the Portland Bureau of Transportation opted to route bicycle riders south onto NE Hancock, a less-trafficked street with more potential for traffic calming interventions.

Yesterday PBOT revealed how they’ve realized a big chunk of that potential.

In the two blocks between 41st and Cesar E Chavez, PBOT has prohibited through auto traffic and created an alternating one-way for drivers while maintaining two-way access for bicycle users (see Instagram video from Armando Luna at right). To enforce the changes, they’ve placed two concrete barricades on either end of the two-block stretch.

This lane configuration is already in use on several blocks of NW Flanders in the Pearl District.

PBOT still permits on-street auto parking on both sides and one lane is shared (marked with a “sharrow” marking) while the other is a bike lane buffered from parked cars.

Infamous Portland blogger Jack Bogdanski posted an article airing his grievances about the changes, titled “the stupid never stops.”

Here’s more from Bogdanski:

“The only souls who will be able to get through there on the road now are the 1 percent who do so on bicycles. Everyone in a motor vehicle gets diverted onto the nightmare that the bureaucrats have already made out of the nearby streets… But oh, the city’s many bikey children are no doubt beside themselves with glee.”

PBOT drawing of lane changes on Hancock.

Greenways are supposed to divert car traffic to create a safe biking route, so hopefully Bogdanski’s assessment is correct! We’ll see how these changes continue to pan out in coming months so this greenway is safer for people to bike on.

In addition to these lane changes, PBOT also plans to install a push-button activated crossing at Hancock and 33rd, speed bumps and greenway signage on Hancock from 28th to 62nd, and “enhancements to greenway crossing of NE Sandy via Kelly Plaza.”

These changes are part of the larger Tillamook Neighborhood Greenway Enhancement Project which launched in 2018. Learn more at PBOT’s website.

Portland wants to get serious with e-scooters and move beyond ‘pilot’ phase

“We believe shared e-scooters have a long-term future in Portland.”
– Dylan Rivera, PBOT

After a four-year honeymoon, the City of Portland is ready to settle down with shared electric scooters.

Earlier this month the Bureau of Transportation released a request for proposals that aims to find a company to run a shared e-scooter system that would remove the current “pilot program” status and run through 2025.

The decision to double-down on scooters comes after PBOT has spent the past four years test-riding them and and analyzing impacts on car trip reduction, safety, and accessibility for people typically underserved by the transportation system. The first pilot launched in July 2018. The program had detractors, but riders voted with their feet and logged over 700,000 rides in just four months. PBOT launched a second pilot in April 2019 and the system has worked well enough for them to keep it running through today.

Scooters have even survived the pandemic. PBOT’s new data portal shows current ridership on a strong upward trajectory compared to last year and the number of rides is only down about 18% from 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels.

Since 2018 PBOT has worked with six different scooter companies and has permitted 2,990 scooters for a system that has logged more than 3.2 million trips.

In PBOT’s eyes, e-scooters have passed all the tests and it’s time to end the courtship and tie the knot.

“We believe shared e-scooters have a long-term future in Portland and this request for proposals is a major, tangible step in that direction,” said PBOT Public Information Officer Dylan Rivera yesterday when we asked him about the significance of the RFP. “E-scooters have shown themselves to be a convenient, useful and environmentally sustainable part of our transportation system.”

PBOT wants new vendors to offer multiple form factors, like this sit-down style from Bolt.

PBOT says they’ll award the contract to one or two vendors and the new fleet will grow to 3,500 scooters (up from 3,100 today). The winner of the contract(s) must demonstrate how they’ll achieve the city’s three goals of: reducing vehicle miles traveled and combating climate change, promoting safety and responsible riding, and reducing impacts of racial disparities that exist in our transportation system.

One of the biggest complaints about scooters is how they clutter sidewalks and block right-of-way. The RFP reveals that PBOT wants to take a big step to tackle that problem by requiring vendors to provide a “lock-to mechanism” for every e-scooter in the fleet and require riders to use it. Lyft, the company that runs Portland’s Biketown bike share system, recently launched their first docked scooter stations in Chicago.

PBOT says they won’t require specialized docks for the scooters. Bike racks and other types of “approved infrastructure” can be considered a “lock-to mechanism.”

Following a successful expansion of the current service area well beyond the central city and into east and northeast Portland, the new system will expand its geographic footprint. PBOT says they’ll require operators to maintain a minimum service level in neighborhoods citywide.

Ease of access is also something PBOT hopes to improve with the new contract.

With four scooter companies operating in Portland today, users have to have a different app to rent from each one. When the new operators are chosen this fall, users will need only one or two.

Speaking of apps, PBOT is working on a new one that will include scooter rentals and take its successful Transportation Wallet program to the next level. They’re working with software company RideShark to develop, “an integrated platform to distribute multi-modal transportation incentives to qualified Portlanders in 2023.”

E-scooters are currently one of the most expensive forms of transportation in Portland with an average trip costing about $5.55. That’s more than twice the cost of a transit trip, more than three times the cost of a typical Biketown trip, and even more expensive than driving a car! In their RFP, PBOT says they want scooter rentals to cost no more than $1 to unlock and no more than $0.35 per minute. Would-be scooter vendors will also need to provide cash payment options and participate in discount programs for lower-income riders.

Accessibility might also improve due to a stipulation in the RFP that requires companies to create a customer service portal and complaint process that is integrated with the City’s 311 system, “that are continually accessible to riders and community members with various types of disabilities.”

Rivera says moving into a more serious relationship with e-scooters will improve the system for everyone. Fewer companies will lead to more market share and financial stability for the operators, and removing the “pilot” status will give PBOT a stronger regulatory stance to create a system more closely aligned with their vision.

The next chapter of e-scooters in Portland will, “change the city’s relationship from a regulator to a partner,” Rivera said. “It will be more like the Biketown relationship and less like the city’s relationship with taxis and transportation network companies (Uber and Lyft, etc).”

For example, the new contract will require companies to use salaried employees that receive benefits, instead of contractors.

If all goes according to plan, Portland’s new scooter service would start later this year or early 2023 and run through fall 2025. Current scooter vendors will be allowed to operate until the future system is launched so there will be no gap in service.

Read the full RFP here.

New website and video help you avoid freight train delays in inner southeast

You may even find yourself looking forward to your next freight train barricade so you can experiment with your newfound knowledge.

It’s a tale as old as time for people who bike in Portland: you’re hurriedly biking across the central eastside or the rail-dominated Brooklyn neighborhood when an obstructing freight train dooms any hope you had of getting to your destination on time.

Though you might think the only course of action is to wait by the tracks and angrily attempt to will the train to move with sheer brainpower (or dangerously try to jump in between the boxcars, which we do not recommend) there’s another way! Bike and accessibility advocate Josh Hetrick has developed a helpful guide to bypassing the train tracks so you’ll never dread the sound of a train horn again.

On Hetrick’s ‘Train in Vain’ website, you can find a variety of solutions to crossing train tracks at the intersections at SE 11th, 12th and Milwaukie and SE 8th Ave, as well as the intersections in the central eastside. This guide is particularly informative for people who need to cross the tracks south of Division Street in the inner eastside, which you have to do in order to get to the Tilikum Crossing from the north.

The Bob Stacey Crossing was built for this purpose and is the most direct path across these tracks, but its elevators have been unreliable, making it inaccessible for people in wheelchairs and difficult to use for people with heavy bikes that don’t fit in the bike gutter. If you get to the Bob Stacey crossing and the elevators are down, Hetrick has other suggestions that you may not have thought of, which he outlines and provides detailed directions for on his website.

Hetrick led a Pedalpalooza ride last week aptly titled ‘Wrong Side of the Tracks’ guiding people around these detours, and you can watch Amit Zinman’s video recap of the tour below to get a visual representation of how to cross the tracks. Study up, and you may even find yourself looking forward to your next freight train barricade so you can experiment with your newfound knowledge.

Disaster Relief Trials tests mettle of bikes and their riders (video)

The longer I document bike culture, the more I realize just how much a bike and a motivated rider can do together. Just when I feel like I’ve seen it all, I am once again inspired and amazed.

This phenomenon came into play once again at the 10th annual Disaster Relief Trials, which were held Saturday at Cully Park in Northeast Portland.

The idea that bicycles can play a big role after a big disaster strikes has gone from the fringe to the mainstream in the past decade or so and this event is a big reason why. Organizers set up a mock re-supply run set four days after a disaster. There were a series of checkpoints and challenges each of the 30 or so competitors had to deal with. Among the tasks needed to finish were navigational skills, loading awkward objects, and lifting their bicycle (and trailer) over a park bench.

And while we say “cargo bikes,” there really is no limit to what type of vehicle can be used in the DRT — as long as it’s not a gas-powered one. We’ve seen someone complete the course on a skateboard in year’s past. And this year Ryan Hashagen did the course on roller skates while pushing a grocery cart!

In our video of this year’s event, you’ll see how it all went down. Amit Zinman captured some great shots of the bikes, the people, and a lot of the action out on the course.

Thank you to our advertisers and subscribers. Their support makes content like this possible! Please consider joining them today.

New route guide will get you into the Gorge without a car

Ramey showing off the Columbia Gorge Express bike rack. (Credit: Kyle Ramey)

A trip to Multnomah Falls on a beautiful summer day can lose its luster after spending an hour circling the parking lot to find an open space. But there’s another way to enjoy everything the gorgeous Columbia River Gorge has to offer – and with no parking required.

Thanks to Hood River bike advocate Megan Ramey, who put together a guide of 15 ways to explore the Gorge by bike and bus, you’ll see it’s easier than you might think to enjoy this amazing place without driving to it.

The Gorge Pass offers unlimited rides from Portland to various parts of the Columbia Gorge, including Hood River and the Dalles. The Columbia Gorge Express, which is part of the Columbia Area Transit system, goes from Portland to the Dalles, with stops in Troutdale, Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks, Hood River and Mosier along the way. If you want to take a bike ride on one of the many routes along the Columbia River, don’t worry about cramming your bike on a car rack or in your trunk and finding parking at the trailhead. You can put your bike on the back of the bus and take it for a spin when you’ve reached your ideal starting point, and then catch the bus back to Portland after your ride.

To help pick the perfect route for your needs, Ramey has organized the guide according to intensity. Riders can pick between four levels; from a family-friendly jaunt on The Dalles Riverfront Trail to 14-mile adventure on the Hood River Fruit Loop. Each route features a summary, a map, and connecting transit information.

This new guide is just the latest in a recent push to encourage people to take carfree adventures around Oregon, particularly in the Gorge. The Oregon Department of Transportation implemented new permit requirements to drive a car into the Gorge this summer to limit traffic on Historic Columbia River Highway.

The benefits to going into the Gorge carfree extend beyond bypassing crowded parking lots and car traffic: you’ll be able to experience its beauty directly, with the summer breeze in your face, and you can feel free to relax with a glass of wine or a beer without worrying about driving back into town.

“When I think of biking and the Columbia Gorge, I think of waterfalls, views, flora, topography, food, beer, wine, swimming holes, primo hiking access and a more immersive way to experience it all,” Ramey wrote in an email to BikePortland. “There is a bike ride for any ability, age or riding preference.”

Take a look at the guide to see all 15 suggested routes.

And if you’re Gorge-curious and up for an adventure, there’s a Pedalpalooza ride with an overnight camping option that leaves from Portland Wednesday morning.

Rainbow Ride draws a big, colorful crowd despite the rain

Here’s the thing about the record rainfall we’re having and Pedalpalooza: It hasn’t kept the crowds away. People are still riding and smiling. If anything, the collective struggle to stay dry has helped bring folks together even closer and made rides even more epic and fun.

And on Saturday’s Rainbow Ride, Mother Nature lent an even bigger hand when the skies yielded actual rainbows.

Ride leader Sumi Malik, a local transportation planner by day who also led last year’s inaugural event (and points out she’s a cis ally and not queer herself), told us about 200 people showed despite the downpour. Malik and her co-organizers wanted to do more than have fun and create an inclusive space. Diversity was at the heart of everything from who helped make the event happen to the people who created the music and art to accompany it.

“Queers of all ages — partyboys, transfemmes, sapphics, non-binary, baes, baddies, two-spirit, allies and more — rolled out despite the rain to celebrate Pride,” Malik said. “Riders reported a sense of belonging being in community with other queer folk. All the smiles and love felt electric.”

Participant Scott Itri said he especially loved the DJs (Cat Wolf and Chelsea Starr). “It sounded fresh and exciting and was unpredictable and it was good to see some fresh faces spinning.” In addition to great music, riders also received souvenir spoke cards and stickers created by Jessie Simpson.

“We survive, and now thrive on bikes! It was another great Rainbow Ride,” Malik said. She added that she couldn’t have made it happen with help from DJ ALoSo and Paul Normal Belton.

These rides not only create community, they take a community to create!

Check out more photos from Amy Danger below:

Guest Opinion: How to Handcuff your Decision Makers, a Guide for Megaproject Managers

Note: This piece was submitted by a close observer of the Portland – Vancouver I-5 freeway project (a.k.a. Interstate Bridge Replacement Program) who asked to remain anonymous.

Project managers, listen up!

You’re reviving a mega-project that failed to secure funding a decade ago. Do you go back and re-examine the original assumptions? Absolutely not! You double down! Here’s a step-by-step guide.

Scare them!

“This bridge is going to collapse into the river in an earthquake, you have to fund this project to replace it”.

Absolutely do not discuss options for seismic remediation of current structures. And definitely don’t mention that most of the five miles of this project are on dry land.

And let’s not bring up the other several thousand bridges in the two states that also need seismic upgrading.

Rush them!

“We have to meet Federal deadlines!”

Never list specific programs or deadline dates. But make it clear that if we want to reexamine the Purpose and Need for the project (because of course, nothing important has changed since we drafted the last Purpose and Need 15 years ago) it will add a year or two to the project.

“We have to start environmental analysis now because IIJA just passed.” Don’t mention that no agencies have published notices of available funding yet, much less indicated deadlines for application.

Wield the Purpose and Need as a cudgel

“I understand you think seismic resilience is the highest priority, but the Purpose and Need says we also have to deal with congestion. If we don’t check all the boxes we have to go back and start over.” (see “Rush Them!”)

Veneer is more important than substance

Hire a Climate Officer and and an Equity Officer, but don’t put climate and equity on par with the other goals. (See “Wield the Purpose and Need…”)

Learn to filibuster

Time your presentation to take up most of the meeting, leave as little time for Q&A as possible.

Monoliths are your friend

The traditional response of funders worried about “fiscal constraints” (i.e., a reluctance to fund your whole project) is project phasing. You can insulate yourself from this kind of fiscal responsibility by designing your project as a single large structure.

Options are Bad

Remember, your goal is not to give decision makers choices, because they could choose the option you don’t like. Make sure at the end of the day they only have one choice to make: pay for it or not. (And dare them not to pay for it. See “Scare Them!”)

More of our IBRP coverage can be found here.

High water levels close Esplanade path, increase bridge lifts

Anyone who rides near the Willamette or Columbia rivers should keep an eye on the forecast.

On Saturday afternoon the City of Portland Parks & Recreation bureau announced a partial temporary closure of the Eastbank Esplanade path between the Steel and Morrison Bridges due to high water levels. Multnomah County says the same issue will also lead to more frequent bridge lifts on the Willamette River bridges they operate (Broadway, Burnside, Hawthorne, Morrison). And the Oregon Department of Transportation says the Interstate Bridge over the Columbia River is also going to be lifted more often due to rising waters.

It’s all because of a combination of snowmelt and record rainfall. And not just your average record. According to The Oregonian, Portland has had its wettest April, May and June in at least 81 years.

The last major high water event on the Willamette I recall was in 2011 when the river came just a few feet from the Steel Bridge bike path.

Portland Parks says the current Esplanade closure only applies to the floating ramps portion of the path. Since the ramps move up and down with river level, when they reach a certain height they are above the adjacent sidewalk and the bump created is considered too dangerous for the public to use. Water is expected to recede by Wednesday but Parks hasn’t set a timetable for re-opening.

If you’re riding between Portland and Vancouver, ODOT says Interstate Bridge lifts can last up to 20 minutes.

Follow @BikePortland on Twitter for route advisories as they happen. We’re also bringing back our Newswire feature where we post press releases, alerts and advisories from local government agencies.

Comment of the Week: Thank you flaggers!

“I appreciate that they have prioritized our safety.”

Welcome to the Comment of the Week, where we highlight good comments in order to inspire more of them. You can help us choose our next one by replying with “comment of the week” to any comment you think deserves recognition.

Just off the top of my head, I can think of five comments this week from readers who had recently ridden through an intersection we reported about, or had long experience with an area. You sharing your thoughts finishes the story for us and adds depth to the reporting. This week we show our appreciation by highlighting one of those comments.

Pockets the Coyote wrote a sweet couple sentences in response to our SW Infrastructure update about the courtesy and care which flaggers on Multnomah Blvd have shown them. I liked the comment because it jibed with my experience too. The workers building the basins are friendly, helpful people, and the whole PBOT Capitol Highway project exemplifies excellent community relations.

Here’s what Pockets the Coyote wrote:

I commute through the construction on Multnomah Blvd daily, and in my (morning/evening) experience the flaggers have been wonderful when it was closed to single lane, either giving me and other cyclists priority through the lane, or waving us through the coned off lane.
I appreciate that they have prioritized our safety.
On the subject of safety I would like to see significant changes to the Garden Home/ Multnomah/ SW 69th mess of an intersection at the Old Market Pub.

You can read Pockets the Coyote’s comment and the full comment thread on the original post.

Thank you for the positive comment, Pockets!

Pedalpalooza Ride Guide: June 13 ~ 17

Two weeks into Bike Summer and all I can say is, “wow!” The creativity and collective community stoke level is as high as I’ve ever seen it. So many great rides are happening and folks are turning out in droves to be lead to new places by bike.

The week ahead is filled with more opportunities to join in the fun. To help you plan your bike fun attack, we’ve selected one ride from each day through Friday. As always, check the BP Calendar for more of our ride selections (remember you can filter our calendar to only show the Pedalpalooza category) and dial up the official calendar for the whole enchilada.

Monday, June 13th

Trail Mixed Ride – 6:00 pm at Ladd Circle Park (SE)
Trail Mixed is a collective for empowering women of color to participate in outdoor sports. Expect a 7-9 mile ride at a “chill pace” of about 8 mph with park stops. This ride is exclusively for women, trans women, and non-binary people who feel an affinity with women, and are non-white. More info here.

Tuesday, June 14th

Sunset/Moonrise Ride – 8:00 pm at Grant Park (NE)
This classic from Shawn at Urban Adventure League will take you to a spot where you can watch the sun go down and the moon come up. Stock up on drinks and treats and expect a five-mile ride to the end spot. More info here.

Wednesday, June 15th

Know Your Greenways – 6:15 at Piccolo Park (SE)
Join knowledgeable ride leader Tom Howe and learn how to navigate the 20s greenway in lower southeast. This is one of a series of similar rides Tom is leading and you’ll become more confident and empowered once you are familiar with Portland’s awesome network of bike-friendly streets! More info here.

Thursday, June 16th

Bike Play – 6:30 pm at Capitalism Fountain (NE in Lloyd)
Opening night of a four-night run of Working Theater Collective’s annual Bike Play. Live acting and dancing in a series of settings the audience and actors get to by bike. This is an amazing, must-see event. This year’s story is titled Beyond Velodrome: PDX Drift. More info here.

Friday, June 17th

26-Inch or Die – Fields Park at 6:00 pm (NW)
Who doesn’t love the comfy and cruisey feel of a 26-inch MTB? Join with your kin for a show-out and shred session in some epic industrial spots. More info here.

Have fun out there! And don’t forget to check main ride page for latest updates.

Feel free to use the comments to shout out your ride plans and/or promote your events!