Bike path on Hood River-White Salmon Bridge wins $3.6M federal grant

Concept drawing of bike path coming to the new bridge.

“Bike and pedestrian access across the new bridge is critical to our local communities.”
– Mike Fox, Port of Hood River

The design of a new bike path on the Hood River-White Salmon bridge is coming into focus. The Port of Hood River announced Thursday they’ve won a $3.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program that will allow them to design and engineer the path.

The bridge between the bustling and popular city on the Columbia River and the growing town of White Salmon on the Washington side, currently has no bike facilities. The bridge is so narrow it’s even scary to drive over (see below). And at 100 years old, the Port is ready to replace it with a new bridge.

Having space for cycling on this bridge will open exciting new possibilities! The design calls for a 12-foot wide, two-way bike path on the west side of the bridge. As we reported back in December 2020 when news of a bike facility first came out, some advocates said they worried that wouldn’t be wide enough. This grant will allow the Port to finalize the design and preliminary engineering for the bikeway; and there’s still a chance to make it wider.

Google streetview of current bridge deck. Eeek!

“Bike and pedestrian access across the new bridge is critical to our local communities,” said Port of Hood River Commissioner Mike Fox in a statement. The Port also said they heard a “strong desire for adequate walking and biking amenities on the new bridge, as well as connections to existing infrastructure,” during the public outreach process.

Speaking of connections to existing infrastructure, this project will also include a new roundabout on the Washington side that will come with crosswalks and sidewalks to help get bike riders from the bridge across Highway 14 and beyond.

This is great news and will further boost non-car connectivity in the Gorge and increase the economic impact of bicycle tourism. In the coming years the Gorge will explode with cycling as the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail comes to fruition and word spreads about the amazing riding in the area.

Learn more about this project at HoodRiverBridge.org.

‘This is not okay’: Black committee members respond to Rose Quarter funding shortfall at emotional meeting

ODOT Urban Mobility Office Director Brendan Finn (left), speaking to James Posey and John Washington at a meeting of the I-5 Rose Quarter Historic Albina Advisory Board Tuesday night.

A member of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s executive team was overcome with emotion and had to walk out of a meeting Tuesday night after he broke the news of a major funding shortfall and construction delay for the I-5 Rose Quarter project.

Since ODOT convened the Historic Albina Advisory Board in September 2020, they’ve built up expectations with Black residents of north Portland who make up the group that the “generational project” would lead to hundreds of well-paying jobs and multi-million dollar construction contracts for Black-owned firms. But a recent reckoning with financial reality spurred on by years of choices that favored expensive freeway expansion megaprojects, combined with a pause on tolling by Governor Tina Kotek has thrown a wrench into ODOT’s plans.

The rubber hit the road at Tuesday’s meeting of the HAAB where Finn had to share the bad news.

ODOT has spent $115 million on the Rose Quarter project thus far, despite not breaking any ground. They hoped to begin construction of the project later this year, but tolling was always a central component of paying for this project (and several other regional freeway projects that are part of their Urban Mobility Strategy). Without that source of revenue, ODOT’s house of cards has come tumbling down and they don’t have money to move forward.

At the HAAB meeting last night ODOT told members of the committee that they likely will not begin any construction until early 2025 — and that’s only if major new funding becomes available. With the estimated cost ballooning to $1.5 to $1.9 billion, ODOT will have to pull down a major federal grant if no other state revenue comes around.

This decision came only after Kotek paused the collection of tolls until 2026 and then required ODOT to come up with a financial plan for these projects using the funding they have in the bank right now. “We face the need to manage our spending more conservatively,” read an ODOT statement about the financing plan.

Brendan Finn is manager of ODOT’s Urban Mobility Office that oversees the I-5 Rose Quarter and other projects in the Urban Mobility Strategy. At the HAAB meeting last night he broke the news that ODOT will invest just $44 million more dollars into the project — enough to complete the designs and bring them to a point that makes the project competitive for major federal grants. But that won’t be enough to start construction and the flow of jobs that would come with it.

HAAB members felt blindsided by the news and their anger was palpable.

“This is all news to me. I’ve been fighting for this project for about four years now, and all of a sudden we get up to this point and the funding is in jeopardy?” said HAAB member James Posey, a co-founder of the National Association of Minority Contractors of Oregon. “I’m confused because I thought the governor had worked out a deal.” (Posey was referring to the deal former Governor Kate Brown made in August 2021 to endorse a project that included large highway lids that could aid in the redevelopment of Albina.)

“I’m disappointed that the slowdown order was issued in such a way that it would impact this project,” added another HAAB member, former Portland Police Officer Kevin Modica. Here’s more from Modica:

“If you’re listening from the governor’s office, this is not fair. We have an expectation to see you at this table. Don’t send spoiled fruit as the meal is served by someone that you can hide behind. This is not right. This is not okay. We have prime contractors that are building their business and forecasting — and now it’s another 24 months off. It’s not okay.

Governor Kotek, this is a huge disappointment. Huge.”

Several HAAB members made it clear they were not mad at Finn (“This isn’t about you,” they repeated), but wanted more accountability from Governor Kotek. They also expressed that it was unfair that white politicians from Clackamas County were able to win a pause on tolling and that freeways projects in places like Wilsonville will still move forward. “This sounds like to me, big politics,” one HAAB member commented. “It’s interesting to me how some people cry and they get heard and a process gets paused for two years, and other communities cry and get heard and the process continues.”

Even though they made it clear they weren’t directing their comments toward Finn, he still took it personally. “I know you said it’s not personal, but I take it personally that I did come to many of you and we said we wanted to establish trust,” he said.

“We need to keep this [project] going,” Finn said at one point, trying muster optimism. “This can’t be what happened to the Columbia River Crossing [a project that failed in 2013, only to be resurrected as the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program]. This project is generational. And we can’t stop the momentum. It would be easy, I think for some to say, ‘You don’t have the funding for construction.’ But neither did Interstate Bridge three years ago. So there’s some strategy to be had. There’s some voices to be heard. So we can get there.”

HAAB member John Washington wants to be one of those voices to be heard. He encouraged people on the committee to not let the decision stand. “The question I have is, what’s the muscle in this room as a response to us being pushed around? Because for far too long we’ve been passive recipients of this kind of stuff. You brought us a dream and a vision, now there’s another vision to be deferred in our lifetime? I got some issues with that part of it.”

Then Washington appealed directly to Finn. “It’s time to grow a set, B[rendan]. It’s time to step up to the plate. If you want to displace all these relationships you helped develop?… If I were you I’d go into that office with your staff and your director and tell them what you’ve established right here and somehow gain some kind of opening for us to navigate through the rest of the way.”

Finn has spent years building trust and friendships with the people in that room Tuesday night. They clearly see him as an ally and conduit to state influence. Given that, it’s easy to see how heavy the weight of this bad news was on Finn’s shoulders.

Toward the end of the meeting, Modica asked Finn if he was ready to carry the message from this group to the OTC at a special meeting on the financing plan that was held yesterday.

“I think where I want to start with them [the OTC] is… just… well… I need to gather my thoughts right now, I’m actually kind of emotional,” Finn said as he removed his glasses and wiped his eyes. “And I apologize,” he continued. And then Finn got up and walked away as HAAB members looked on and his empty chair swiveled on the video screen. (Watch the clip below.)

At their meeting Wednesday, the OTC voted to adopt ODOT’s updated financing plan. That plan includes the $44 million in design work for the Rose Quarter and an indefinite postponement of the second phase of a planned I-205 freeway expansion.

Weekend Event Guide: Puppers, perreo, prom, and more

This dude snuck into the Cat Ride; but probably meant to show up to Pupperpalooza on Sunday instead. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Welcome to the weekend! Here’s our weekly selection of rides and events worth your time. Please note, it’s Pedalpalooza time! That means there are tons of rides every day. See them all here. (Also note that rides usually leave 30 minutes after the posted meet-up time.)

Friday, June 30th

KMHD Ride – 4:30 pm at Ladd’s Circle (SE)
Jazz lovers, this one is for you! Roll out and get ready to bask in the sounds of Portland’s 89.1 radio station. Expect park stops and impromptu picnics, so be prepared with goodies! More info here.

Roses & Rosé – 6:00 pm at Peninsula Park (N)
If you missed the Rose Ride earlier this month, this is a great second chance to admire the garden at Peninsula Park and surround yourself with rose-inspired fashion and friends. Add some bubbly beverages and it’s a match made in heaven. More info here.

PDX Unity Ride – Bad Fashion Edition – 7:00 pm at Laurelhurst Park (SE)
Calling all rule-breakers and fashion faux pas makers. On this ride, anything goes when it comes to your clothes. More info here.

Dead Baby Bike Club Bike Prom – 9:00 pm at Colonel Summers Park (SE)
This annual event is for love-birds, so grab a date and head on out! Expect loud tunes, some loud (but sweet) people, lube wrestling and lots of shenanigans at this queer-friendly event. More info here.

Saturday, July 1st

Endless Summer Saturday – 8:30 am at Deadstock Coffee (NW)
Monthly group road ride that offers multiple route options and a friendly vibe. Race teams and faster riders welcome. Or just come for a coffee! More info here.

Kidical Mass PDX – 10:00 am at Westmoreland Park (SE)
It’s back! Critical Mass, but for kiddos. This ride will include fun playgrounds and parks and the route will be on safe, quiet neighborhood streets. Slow pace so the little ones can ride too! More info here.

SW Capitol Hwy Project Ribbon Cutting – 11:00 at intersection of SW Cap Hwy & Garden Home Road
Help PBOT and their partners celebrate the completion of an amazing project (we highlighted it in April). Commissioner Mingus Mapps and other dignitaries will be on-hand. More info here.

Keller Block Party (and Tim’s sendoff!) – 12:00 pm at Keller Auditorium plaza (SW)
The one and only Tim Davis is leaving Portland and he’s throwing a perfectly Tim party in the street. One of his dreams is a carfree Keller block, and Commissioner Mapps granted it. Join local urbanists to toast Tim and carfree streets. More info here.

BikePOC Perreo Ride – 6:00 pm at location TBA
It’s a party on wheels that will honor the history and culture of reggaeton/perreo music. There will be live music at the end spot with snacks and drinks for sale from local BIPOC businesses. More info here.

Sunday, July 2nd

Ride Westside – Banks Vernonia – 9:00 am at Banks Trailhead
I know you’ve heard of the B-V Trail, and this is a perfect chance to finally see what all the fuss is about. These nice folks will guarantee a fun time on the 22-mile paved path to Vernonia for some mural-viewing and other explorations. Then it’s 22 miles back to the start. More info here.

Mt. Tabor Maze – 1:00 pm at Mt. Tabor Park (SE Lincoln/64th St entrance)
It’s a beautiful park, but it’s ugly when you get lost and/or don’t know the best routes up and around. Ride leader Mark (with BikeLoud PDX) will show you the ways! More info here.

Pupper-palooza Ride – 2:00 pm at The Field Park Off Leash Area (NW)
We just had a Cat Ride, now it’s time for the dogs to take the spotlight. Strap in your best friend, a ball for fetch, and a few treats and enjoy the dog days of summer. More info here.

Inflatable Costume Ride – 6:30 pm at Joe Bicycles (SE)
Just what it sounds like. Dust off that inflatable T-rex (or otherwise) costume in your closet and roll around Portland making a big scene. More info here.

Stacey Overcrossing elevators broken again as City struggles with solution

It’s a nice bridge, when you can actually use it. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland – Inset: Betsy Reese)

“Either figure out how to keep elevators operational or figure out an alternative to them and stop installing them.”
– Betsy Reese, in an email to PBOT

The elevators that take bicycle riders up and down the Bob Stacey Overcrossing (originally called the Gideon Street Overcrossing) in southeast Portland are proving to be quite a problem for the Portland Bureau of Transportation.

As we reported in February 2022, during the bridge’s first 15 months of operation, the elevators were closed and out-of-order at least one-third of the time. It’s a big deal because this is an important connection across several rail tracks. And without the elevators, the only other viable option is several steep flights of stairs that are extremely challenging and often impossible for most people to navigate with a bike (or a stroller, a wheelchair, and so on…).

In May 2022, the City finally got the elevators working again and promised they’d be more reliable in the future. Unfortunately that has not been the case. They were first reported down on May 11th of this year. More than a month later, the elevators are still closed and PBOT doesn’t have a timeframe for when they’ll work again.

The City first blamed the problem on “unexpected motor failures” and parts that didn’t arrive fast enough due to “pandemic related delays” in the supply chain. When we last reported on this issue, PBOT seemed confident that the problem was fixed and they even installed a monitoring system (in partnership with Portland General Electric) that was supposed to sense motor issues and trigger a warning before they failed.

Whatever is going on, we’ve heard from a source, that it could take a long time to fix.

On June 5th, an unnamed source who has knowledge of the issue shared this:

“Those elevators have blown multiple lift motors since its opening, and they haven’t been able to figure out why yet. It seems to be an engineering design flaw. At first they thought it was power surges causing the issue, but PGE put up monitors in the area. Plus they installed a motor from a different manufacturer. But the motors still broke.

So now they are going to do an engineering forensics investigation. They have to contract it out and don’t have a timeline yet. They can’t replace the motors until they know what broke them in the first place. As you can imagine, these motors are very expensive.

There is no evidence human activity caused the motors to break.”

Adding to the problem is a jurisdictional issue: TriMet paid for the bridge and the installation of the elevators (it goes over a light rail line), but PBOT manages the facility and is responsible for ongoing maintenance. Given their budget situation these days, PBOT probably isn’t very excited about this unexpected bill and there might be some wrangling over who picks up the tab.

Walking the currently recommended detour. (Photo: Betsy Reese)

Adding even more grey hairs for PBOT is a push from a local activist who is not only concerned about the elevator, but who thinks the detour instructions and mitigation plan for the closure aren’t good enough. Betsy Reese is a veteran local transportation advocate who has worked with PBOT and other agencies for years on a variety of issues. She started an email chain this week that includes many top PBOT officials, other advocates, and members of the media.

Reese thinks the detour route recommended by PBOT is “dangerously impossible” because it has people crossing over SE Powell Blvd several times. A better detour, Reese says, is to stay on the north side of Powell and use the path underpass — a route that is easier and shorter; but is also prone to overgrown vegetation, lighting outages, and has often been the home of street campers. Reese adds that the situation will likely get worse as more people try to access the elevator when the forthcoming Gideon Street Temporary Alternative Shelter opens nearby later this summer. That site will be Portland’s largest homeless shelter with 140 living pods.

A resident of the nearby Brooklyn neighborhood on Reese’s email chain said he expects these issues to be addressed by the City as part of a good neighbor agreement related to the new shelter that is currently in the works .

Yesterday, PBOT Communications Director Hannah Schafer responded to Reese. “It is important for us to emphasize that these elevators are very complicated machines and are not breaking down due to neglect,” Schafer explained in an email. “We’re doing some additional investigations around the continued motor failure issues and recognize this is a frustrating situation for all!” Schafer said PBOT offers free rides, 24/7, for anyone who needs ADA accommodation when the elevators are out of service.

So far, Reese isn’t satisfied with that response.

“Either figure out how to keep elevators operational or figure out an alternative to them and stop installing them,” she wrote back to Schafer. “Clean up and maintain the vegetation on the underpass, and give correct detour instructions to use it.”

Stay tuned. We hope to share a remedy to the elevators and associated problems soon.

Pedalpalooza photo gallery: The Cat Ride

Pedalpalooza purred on last night at the 5th annual Cat Ride. A few hundred (or so), feline friends met up at Colonel Summers Park in southeast, most of them donning sort of cat-inspired outfit and/or makeup.

Beyond all the happy and wonderful people I got to spend time with, my favorite part of the ride were the t-shirts. They were hilarious! “Best Cat Dad Ever,” “Cat GPT”, “All I need to know about life I learned from my cat,” “I love cats, it’s people who annoy me.” Where do folks find such gems?!

And I’d be remiss to not mention the folks flying the CLAWS flag — it stands for Cat Lovers Against White Supremacy.

Instead of loud music, the sound that emanated from the huge crowd as they rolled through neighborhoods and past businesses was — you guessed it — “meow, meow, meow”. Imagine having dinner outside and suddenly you look up and there are hundreds of people dressed like cats, meowing and clawing in your direction!

Thanks to the ride leaders and to everyone who makes Pedalpalooza pawsitively purrfect (sorry, couldn’t resist). For great rides everyday from now through the end of August, check out the calendar.

Here are the rest of my photos:

Job: Processing Coordinator – Community Cycling Center

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title

Processing Coordinator

Company / Organization

Community Cycling Center

Job Description

The Processing Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the receipt and processing of donated goods and used inventory, storage of inventory, transportation of inventory between CCC locations, posting inventory on online platforms for sale, and managing timely shipping for goods leaving the organization. They supervise mechanics who perform teardowns and direct what components to save to be processed as used inventory. Working under the direction of the Shop Leadership Team, they will cultivate the delivery of consistent quality, help meet sales goals and support staff working in their department.

How to Apply

Please send cover letter and resume to jobs@communitycyclingcenter.org

Job: Bicycle Production Coordinator – Community Cycling Center

Job Title

Bicycle Production Coordinator

Company / Organization

Community Cycling Center

Job Description

The Bicycle Production Coordinator is responsible for the smooth operation of used bicycle production and new bike builds. They will supervise mechanics who prepare bikes for sale in our shop or delivery through our Programs department. Working under the direction of the Shop Leadership Team, they will cultivate the delivery of consistent quality, help meet sales goals and support staff working in their department.

How to Apply

Please send cover letter and resume to jobs@communitycyclingcenter.org

Opinion: Let’s have the right conversations after tragic Bend e-bike death

About one year ago, we shared a guest article from Hood River cycling advocate Megan Ramey. In Dawn of the throttle kids, Ramey laid out her take on a phenomenon in Oregon cities where throngs of tweens and teens are taking to electric bikes.

“All it’s going to take to have this conversation explode,” would be a high profile crash, Ramey wrote. “If it happens with someone who is underage riding an e-bike, the media frenzy would be harsh. We could see overly restrictive laws passed, police changing their enforcement stance, and a general public backlash that sets bike advocacy back decades. As always, it’s best to get ahead of the issue and create these laws in advance, and not in reaction to a tragedy.”

I’m sad to say that 11 months later, a 15-year-old riding an e-bike was killed in a collision with a car driver. It happened in Bend June 17th, and the response has been almost exactly what Ramey predicted. It has sparked a big conversation about bike safety and enforcement (the victim was 15 years old and not wearing a helmet, both of which are a traffic violation). Right on cue, folks are pointing fingers at kids on bikes and calling for mandatory licensing. On Friday, the editorial board of The Bend Bulletin called on schools and parents to step education efforts.

And just yesterday, OPB’s daily news analysis show Think Out Loud welcomed a Bend Bulletin reporter and I onto the show to talk about the issue. I encourage you to listen to the segment. Host Dave Miller posed some important questions and I hope my responses to them help direct us to the best possible outcome.

As I shared with Miller on the show (listen above or read a not-perfect transcription here), it’s very important we don’t get into the standard, knee-jerk reactions that always happen when something new bursts onto the scene. Yes we need to take action to address how these new types of bikes are being used and increase awareness of the dangers they pose when used incorrectly. But as we process this tragedy and map out next steps, we must have a healthy perspective on what’s going on here.

Folks need to less time pointing fingers and more time in front of a mirror. I’m hearing a lot of people demand “more education!”, “more enforcement!”, “more laws!” Those are lazy responses because they put the onus on someone else to do something. If we want to make streets safe for everyone, we must reflect on our own behaviors. One of the major tenets of the “safe systems” approach to traffic safety (that PBOT and many other cities are working on as part of their vision zero goal) is that our streets should allow people to make small errors in judgment without the consequence of death.

Death is not a normal part of moving around a city. If you think it is, then consider this question: Which one of your loved ones are you willing to sacrifice to that belief?

Views of deadly intersection on Hwy 20 and Dean Swift Rd in Bend. Yellow arrow is path of bicycle rider.

We also can’t forget that our transportation system and our society on the whole is very car-centric. Everything outside of a car is an outsider, an interloper, the “other.” That strong bias often blinds us from good decision-making, especially when emotions are high following a tragedy.

I’m also concerned that not enough folks in Bend are talking about the role of road design. Just look where this fatal collision happened (above): A very dangerous urban highway and a side street built for getting onto it with as much ease and speed as possible. That wide turning radius is akin to a freeway onramp and should never exist in this type of context. And many people are questioning the teen’s decision to ride on the sidewalk; but would you ride in that bike lane? Do we really expect a bike rider to cross a five-lane arterial twice just to get to their destination?

Riding on the sidewalk in the opposition direction of road traffic was likely the safest choice they could have made given the alternatives.

And speaking of alternatives… What if all these kids lost their love of bikes? How would they get around instead? As folks like Ramey (who leads Safe Routes to School programs) and other parents of tweens and teens know all too well, it’s not easy to get them out of cars and away from their video games. So let’s be careful how we respond to this tragedy. Let’s embrace these bikes, and not let our penchant for finger-wagging and othering squander this opportunity to get kids outside.

Job: Everybody Bikes! Coordinator – p:ear

Job Title

Everybody Bikes! Coordinator

Company / Organization

p:ear

Job Description

Job Title: Everybody Bikes! Coordinator
Position: Contract Full-Time
FTE 7/1/2023 – 6/30/2026 Requires occasional evenings and weekends
Reports To: p:ear Works Director
Compensation: $55,000 Annually

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 through our Everybody Bikes! program. As a seasoned bike mechanic, you will oversee and expand our Everybody Bikes! (EB!) Program as well as increase our capacity to partner at community events. Bikes will be procured through community donations or through our partnership with Free Bikes 4 Kids (FB4K). Working with our existing partner The Rosewood Initiative, you will expand the program to include an additional 2-3 organizations to provide free rebuilt bicycles & helmets to youth, adults, & families living in East County. You will be responsible for providing up to 15 bicycles a month for recreational and health purposes, as well as up to 10 commuter ready bicycles for adults, providing fenders, lights, and locks. Additionally, this position will support our SRTS Coordinator and our educational bike fleet, providing quarterly maintenance.

We believe that everyone should have access to cycling for fun, exercise, year-round reliable transportation and the freedom and agency that bicycles provide. Referrals are accepted from our partners on a rolling basis and fulfilled on a first come, first serve basis. Because systemic racism and inequality denies resources to members of marginalized communities, the Everybody Bikes! program was created to increase access for:
– Youth – People from low-income households – Black, Indigenous, People of Color – Women – Trans – non-binary individuals – Immigrants and Refugees – People experiencing homelessness – People with disabilities

Required Qualifications & Competencies
• Committed to the goals, values and mission of bike works by p:ear
• Thorough bike mechanic skills. Staff management and community bike shop experience preferred
• Experience building trusting, healthy relationships with people and organizations
• Commitment to social justice, racial equity and trauma informed care
• Commitment to building strong partnerships/relationships with the communities of East County
• Excellent interpersonal skills. Must be a positive and strong role model, have a collaborative,
team-oriented work style and strong strategic and problem-solving skills
• Highly adaptable sense of humor
• Ability to make and sustain relationships with diverse populations
• Commitment to non-violence and compassionate responses
• Commitment to personal and professional growth
• BBI/UBI or similar certification or equivalent work experience
• Excellent customer service and communication skills
• Able to work independently, problem solve and complete tasks with minimal oversight
• Must possess a valid driver’s license
• Bilingual preferred

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Create avenue for access to bicycles for underserved children, families, and individuals through the creation of 2-3 new core partners
Provide up to 15 refurbished bicycles/month for underserved children, ages 3-18, w/ our core partners Provide up to 10 refurbished commuter bicycles/month for underserved adults w/ our core partners

Increase our capacity to provide bike education opportunities in the community as well as mechanic support at community rides and bike fairs.

Will work to coordinate and provide mechanical support for East Portland SRTS Coordinator and its bike fleet. Additionally, basic bike mechanic education and teaching will be provided as the need arises

Expansion of 2-day classes at Rockwood Library to be quarterly Increase ridership in East Portland and Gresham through commuter bicycles

Quarterly Grant Reporting

Keep a list and description of all events, including: Date, Location, Number of Participants or Bikes Serviced, Photos Record log for number of bicycles worked on (SRTS).

Spreadsheet of all collected data on our referral forms

SRTS Support
Up to 40 bikes serviced quarterly. This will keep programming fluid, bikes running smoothly, and mostly importantly kids staying safe.
Events

4-8 SRTS events annually with other CBO’s that will include some aspect of bike repair and/or mechanic education and instruction (proper innertube replacement, basic bike care etc).

Provide mechanical support at East Portland cycling events List and description of all events, including:

Quarterly (2 day) bike mechanic classes for middle and high school students at Rockwood Library Makerspace.
Mechanic support for riders during East Portland Sunday Parkways. Mechanic support for cyclists during East Portland Bike Fairs. Program measurement, evaluation, and improvement suggestions

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 nathan@bikeworkspdx.org with “EB! 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 EB! Coordinator position in East County? Please provide specific examples.
2. Please share a time when you’ve built and maintained strong programmatic relationships with other organizations.
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 can 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.
bike works by p:ear
The Everybody Bikes! Coordinator will work with the p:ear Works Director who is looking for an experienced mechanic and dynamic individual to help run and expand our Everybody Bikes! free bike referral program through our social purpose enterprise community bike shop in East Portland. In partnership with the Rosewood Initiative, bike works supports Portland’s Eastside communities, providing low cost, low barrier access to bike education, repair and sales of refurbished bicycles and parts. Prior community bike shop experience is a big advantage. Our shop is located at 14127 SE Stark St.

Job: Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Coordinator! – p:ear

Job Title

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Coordinator!

Company / Organization

p:ear

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 through bicycle and pedestrian education and safety for the communities in East County. The SRTS Coordinator will assist with planning, organizing, implementing, and teaching bicycle 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. This position will be responsible for implementing new bike focused education and safety lessons, while working to coordinate the maintenance of our bike fleet.
Outside of events, in-person meetings and mechanic work withing the shop, this position is remote.

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
• Experience with maintaining and repairing bicycles
• Experience in writing lesson plans and curriculums in order to provide bicycle safety lessons
• Ability to drive large vehicle while hauling a 20’ trailer
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 quarterly
• Communicate and correspond with colleagues, stakeholders, community partners, schools,
etc. as requested or required
• Maintain the educational bicycle fleet and ensure that all bicycles are safe for students to ride
• Ensure that all equipment, bicycles, and tools within the trailer are well-organized, stocked, and taken care of
• Promote safe, active transportation in the East Multnomah County area and provide resources and tools to encourage pedestrian and cyclist engagement
• Provide bicycle engagement events by hosting bike rodeos, bike rides, and other bike- themed events in collaboration with other community partners

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.

Travel
Travel expected in the Portland/Gresham Metro area for this position.

How to Apply

TO APPLY: Please send resume and answers as PDFs to the questions in lieu of a cover letter to nathan@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 in East County? Please provide specific examples.
2. Please share a time when you’ve provided education/facilitation for kids in elementary and/or middle school.

Dispatch from the first 82nd Avenue project workshop

The event was at McDaniel High School on NE 82nd. (Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

It’s been 14 months since the City of Portland took the keys to 82nd Avenue away from the Oregon Department of Transportation. This jurisdictional transfer has been hailed by community leaders and advocates as a way to transform the former state highway into a more pleasant main street with better transit service and more safe places to walk and bike.

With $185 million already committed to the plan, PBOT and their partners at Metro and TriMet have begun to set the foundation of what 82nd will look like when all the dust settles in 2030. As with any project like this, a big part of the process is public outreach. And Tuesday night at McDaniel High School project leaders hosted the first of three district workshops. It was the north district workshop, with similar events for the central and south districts coming next month.

Curious about where things stand with this project, I rolled over to check it out.

It was a relatively good turnout for a weeknight transportation project, but I bet over half the crowd were agency staff, professional advocates and/or consultants who were paid to be there. There was a loop of posterboards where folks could see project details and lots of Metro, PBOT, and TriMet staff available to answer questions. Folks were chatting at tables and filling out post-it notes with their comments. One of the first people I ran into was Micah Meskel. Turns out he’s the Interim Urban Conservation Director for Portland Audubon, so it was no surprise our chat centered around the role of trees in the future design of 82nd.

Asked what his focus for this project is, Meskel said, “Trees are a top priority, especially using them to create safer pedestrian access and traffic calming.”

It’s not just conservationists like Meskel who are thinking about trees. Given their ability to reduce the heat island effect (and myriad other benefits) they are one of the project’s top priorities and they appear in medians in the earliest conceptual designs.

How would Meskel balance the preservation of trees with a safer street design? “We know that existing trees are so much better at suppressing carbon, creating shade, and all that stuff. And yes, sometimes they come in conflict with the best design. And so it’s sort of a case-by-case basis,” he replied. “I start in the position of ‘let’s see how we can work around the tree,’ and so whether that’s realignment of the sidewalk or whether that’s thinking of loosening the standards at one pinch-point spot.”

Along with street trees, the project laid out other priorities last night: a vibrant streetscape, safety, and bicycling.

While this might sound like conceptual fluff, you’ll be happy to know that work on 82nd has already begun in earnest. PBOT has a list of critical maintenance needs and crossings they’re working on. By 2026, they say, they will have invested $101.6 million into 82nd Avenue. A lot of that money is going into repaving. PBOT expects 46% of the street between Lombard and Clackamas Town Center to have fresh, smooth pavement by the end of 2026. Also in the next three years, they promise to: complete all new street lighting needs; add 23 new or updated crossing treatments; and to replace and modernize nine traffic signals.

While they work on those immediate needs, gears are already turning around the larger discussions like lane reconfigurations, bikeways, and future transit service. The goal is that by 2030, the transformation — including new paving, full ADA compliance, new bus service, wider sidewalks, bikeways and other upgrades — will be complete.

The nature of the transit service and how bicycling and driving will figure into the project are still very much up in the air; but initial conversations that will shape these important outcomes have begun.

TriMet Project Director Michael Kiser, fresh of leading the Division Transit Project, was hanging out at the TriMet posters. Asked what type of transit we can expect on 82nd, and whether it be like the FX line on Division or something better, Kiser was coy. He didn’t want to step on any toes. “I’d like to say, ‘We did Division, now let’s go bigger’ But we don’t control the right-of-way and want to work with our partners.”

It’s assumed that bus service will get much better as part of this project. It’s also assumed that car users will have access to the street. Interestingly, the same can’t be said for bicycling access. Currently, 82nd is a classic, five-lane arterial with two standard lanes and a center turn lane. The current thinking is to use two of those lanes for buses, add a bunch of center median islands, and keep two lanes for drivers.

I haven’t heard anyone talk seriously about a dedicated bike lane on 82nd Ave at this juncture. I’ve been hearing things like, “We can’t fit everything,” and “The community still wants/needs to drive.” It will be an interesting choice — given the climate crisis and our stated goals to reduce driving — if we exclude bicycle access and maintain car access on such an important corridor.

There’s a lot of talk about improving parallel routes and east-west connections to 82nd; but not only would that not equate to easy and direct bicycle access, there will likely be no guarantee of funding to do those projects. I think we’ll need to get very creative and we should not shy away from the difficult conversations about the type of city we want to build and how driving and cycling play a role in that.

I was happy to hear from planning staff last night that at least there’s recognition of the importance of bike access beyond the chorus of folks already capitulating and saying, “let’s just make a good neighborhood greenway” somewhere nearby. On some (albeit very few) sections of 82nd it might be possible to widen the sidewalk and create a shared bike/walk facility, or even a multi-use path.

If we end up with no bikeway on 82nd (the most likely scenario given current politics), the next best thing might be to make sure the new bus lane explicitly allows bicycling. If designed properly, a shared bike/bus lane on 82nd might be a good outcome. On that note, if we do our job taming and reducing car traffic, there’s a percentage of biking Portlanders that might even feel comfortable sharing the non-bus lane with car drivers for a block or two (much like folks do now on streets like Hawthorne and Alberta).

It will be fascinating to see how this conversation evolves in the coming months and years. One thing I learned last night that will make it even more interesting is that the Oregon Department of Transportation still owns three portions of the street: the northernmost section from NE Alberta to Lombard, the bridge over I-84 and the area around the MAX station, and the SE Powell Blvd intersection.

If you want to learn more about this project, I recommend checking out one of these workshops. There are two more planned for July 20th (center district) and 29th (south district). Find out the details at PBOT’s Building a Better 82nd project website.

Take a tour of the posterboards in the embedded PDF below:

82nd Ave_North Workshop Boards 6.27.23 Download

What does local gas tax fund? A new sidewalk in north Portland (for starters)

This is North Willis looking westbound toward the school. The new sidewalk will be built on that grass on the left.

The other day, local activist/journalist Angela Todd of PDXReal turned her daily criticisms of Portland government toward the transportation bureau. “What are they actually doing with all of this money?” she asked her many followers, in a tweet about the city’s 10-cents-per-gallon local gas tax program known as Fixing Our Streets.

If you have followed Todd at all, you’ll know that she harbors a deep distrust (hate might be a better word) of city government and she clearly framed her tweet (which has been viewed over 15,000 times) with a conspiratorial tone that was meant to discredit the Fixing Our Streets program.

Two days after Todd’s tweet, PBOT sent out an email newsletter from their Safe Routes to School program. Among the highlights of that email was the announcement of a new sidewalk project in north Portland. The source of funding? None other than the 10-cent per gallon local gas tax.

That project will build about seven blocks of new sidewalk on the south side of North Willis Boulevard in the Portsmouth neighborhood. This section of Willis has been identified by the city as an important connection for students and families who attend César Chávez K-8 School. “Walking routes and challenging connections were highlighted by school communities during a Safe Routes to School outreach process held throughout 2017,” the city says on the project website.

Once the project is complete, there will be a nice new sidewalk and ADA curb ramps between Newman and Chautauqua. Construction is slated for later this year.

And that’s just one of the many projects PBOT spends the local gas tax on. If you can’t support kids being able to walk and bike to school more safely, perhaps you can appreciate that, of the $64 million they expect to raise form this tax between 2020 and 2024, $25 million will go to paving, $13 million will go toward basic maintenance (like filling potholes), $4.5 million will go toward street lights, $6 million will toward making neighborhood streets safer, $5 million will be spent on signals and beacons, and so on.

So that’s what PBOT is spending the 10-cent citywide gas tax on.

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Dispatch from the first 82nd Avenue project workshop

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