2024 Archives

New to Portland: Too nice drivers, lost on greenways, IKEA, and more

This is the second post in my “New to Portland” column. In my first post, I shared my thoughts as a visitor to town. Now that I’m here and settling in, I’m excited to share a few tales from my first few weeks as a Portlander.

I moved to Portland at the end of January, and I would be remiss not to acknowledge that I’m lucky to have completely dodged the ice storm. It’s clear the storm has been a hardship on the city, and that residents, businesses, and infrastructure are recovering from its impacts. On my first day in town, I encountered bike lanes filled with gravel and thought about complaining about the inconvenience; but when street sweepers quickly cleaned the bike lanes in my neighborhood, I realized the disruption was only temporary.

In the few weeks I’ve been in Portland, I’ve prioritized bicycling as my form of transit as much as I can. The unseasonably warm and dry weather has made it easy to make this choice. My destinations have included the mundane — the gym, my office, the grocery store — as well as more unique trips like IKEA, several furniture stores, and Bike Happy Hour. When I can remember, I track my riding with a tool called wandrer.earth which lets me know if I’ve ridden any new-to-me stretches of road. According to Wandrer, I’ve ridden 54 new miles in the first week!

*Thank you to the reader who suggested the Portland Bike Map! I’ve kept a copy in my handlebar bag, and it’s been helpful for planning rides.*

*Naito Parkway was filled with gravel. I’m grateful for wider tires, but from 2004 until 2019 I rode a bike with 25mm tires and would have been afraid to ride this.*

*I love dedicated bike boxes in intersections, and the small blue lights which let me know my presence has been detected.*

I’ve made a goal to navigate using neighborhood greenway signs instead of programming a route into my GPS computer, and for the most part, it’s worked well. But, there have been a few mishaps. Occasionally I “lose” a neighborhood greenway. The greenway will zig-zag, and I’ll fail to see the signage, finding myself on a street that doesn’t have protected crossings. I usually realize this when I try to cross Cesar Chavez or Sandy Blvd and don’t have a protected crossing. My most annoying moment of being lost took place on Lloyd Blvd near the Steel Bridge. For the life of me, I couldn’t find the entrance to the Eastbank Esplanade from NE Lloyd Blvd, and rode back and forth along the sidewalk until I spotted a bicyclist using the entrance. I’m not sure I would have found it otherwise!

The only time I departed from the neighborhood greenway strategy was when I went to IKEA. (No, I didn’t plan to carry my furniture home on my gravel bike — my husband met me there after work, and we drove home together with our purchases and my bike.) I planned a route to IKEA via NE Cully Blvd and Lombard, but when I shared my plan with some friends, they suggested I take the “scenic route” via 33rd and Marine Drive instead. I’m so glad that my friends intervened. Not only was my ride along the river relaxing, but after driving home on Lombard, I now realize it would have been a stressful ride during rush hour.

I’m still having some culture shock, specifically related to how drivers interact with me as a rider. Every city has its own unwritten traffic rules. In Pittsburgh, drivers making a left-hand turn do the “Pittsburgh Left” and turn through the intersection before oncoming traffic or pedestrians have a chance to get in the way. I’ve discovered Portland’s quirky traffic habit: the “Portland Wait.” A Portland Wait is what happens when drivers stop for cyclists even when the driver has right of way.

[ Being “nice” is dangerous and could make you at fault in a collision ]

I need to be careful writing this, because it does feel great to be seen and yielded to. But it’s not great when one driver is stopped and anxiously waiting for me to roll forward, but other drivers in the intersection continue to follow right-of-way rules. Sometimes drivers will even wave me on, when I can see there’s oncoming traffic that has not stopped for me. If I were to follow their guidance, I would surely be hit! The worst instance of this happened while crossing MLK near the Morrison Street Bridge. I waited what felt like ages (it was probably a minute or two) while one lane of traffic stopped to allow me to cross while other lanes of traffic continued past. Eventually the driver got fed up, kept driving, and a break in traffic allowed for a safe crossing.

I’m curious; how do BikePortland readers handle these situations?

It’s been a wild week with lots of chores and errands, and I’ve been longing to join rides from the Shift calendar. Now that the boxes are unpacked and the furniture assembled, my evenings and weekends are free for more social rides. I can’t wait to join a few, and get to know other riders in town.

Job: Retail and Workspace Manager – Community Cycling Center

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title

Retail and Workspace Manager

Company / Organization

Community Cycling Center

Job Description

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CYCLING CENTER
We love Portland and bikes. So, we put our two passions together nearly 30 years ago, creating a nonprofit organization on a mission to broaden access to bicycling and its benefits.  Our goal is to help create a healthy, sustainable Portland for all community members. Our vision is to help build a vibrant community where people of all backgrounds use bicycles to stay healthy and connected. We believe that all Portlanders—regardless of income or background—should have the opportunity to experience the joy, freedom and health benefits of bicycling. This is the motivation behind everything we do. 

The Shop Department of the Community Cycling Center consists of a DIY Workspace and retail storefront, warehouse sales and service, our classes, member events, and occasional pop-ups and events. This department is a revenue stream to provide funding for community programs.

This position operates out of our retail storefront at our membership based workspace in NE Portland. The Community Cycling Center (CCC) is an equal opportunity employer and strongly values diversity, equity and inclusion. Individuals with diverse backgrounds, abilities and experiences are encouraged to apply. 

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY
The Retail and Workspace Manager is the main person responsible for keeping the retail store and workspace stocked, organized, and clean and working order. They will be responsible for managing inventory of new and used goods and parts for sale, used bikes for sale, and inventory of consumables used in the workspace. Listening to customers’ will be imperative to ensure the store is curated to best meet their wants and needs. This position works with the Processing and Production Manager and Classes and Membership Manager to set and meet membership, class, and retail goals; and contribute to the budget process. The Retail and Workspace Manager will be responsible for training and managing retail staff.

Seasonally, shop staff will need to provide retail support at pop-ups and events. Staff in all positions at the shop will also be responsible for providing support to the Programs department as needed. This may include working mechanic shifts at one of our free service events or locations, providing ride support at events, or assisting at a learn to ride event.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Retail (30%)
● Create displays to showcase products in innovative and efficient ways
● Analyze sales trends to determine adequate stocking levels and product selection for the Alberta store
● Work in the retail store on Alberta to sell new and used parts, accessories, to customers and members
● Place orders with vendors to fill special orders for customers and restock the retail space
● Regularly communicate needs for used parts and bikes to the Processing and Production Manager
● Market classes to members and customers in the retail and workspace
Workspace (15%)
● Maintain a clean and organized space for members to work
● Maintain stock of consumables used in the workspace
● Manage contracts with vendors for services (rag cleaning, janitorial, etc.)
Strategic Planning and Process Evaluation (30%)
● Collaborate with other shop managers and staff to maintain and improve shop systems and facilities
● Work with the Shop Leadership Team to evaluate opportunities, trends and feedback towards financial growth for the shop and professional development for their team
● Contribute to the Shop’s annual budget process
● Regularly communicate with the Finance direct and Executive Director to stay on top of the budget and make finacle plans that will meet the needs of the organization
Management of Staff & Shop Operations (20%)
● Partner with Shop Leadership Team to hire, train, and evaluate staff based on the quality and effectiveness of their work
● Partner with Shop Leadership Team to develop and ensure adherence to policies and procedures governing shop practices
● Other duties as assigned
● Manage staff timesheets and schedules
● Point of contact for security and facilities at the Alberta location
Other Responsibilities (5%)
● Help advance the mission of the Community Cycling Center across all departments
● Contribute to the standard work environment – answer phones, maintain a safe, clean & organized workspace
● Collaborate with other senior staff to train and support less-experienced mechanics, including youth interns and apprentices
● Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
● 5+ years customer service experience or similar hospitality service
● Strong interpersonal communication skills
● Experience working with a diverse range of customers and being able to adjust to and accommodate a variety of expectations
● 5+ years of professional bike shop retail experience
● 3+ years experience managing staff
● Strong organizational skills including the ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously
● Ability to meet project deadlines and account for detailed objectives
● Experience and success in creating inclusive work environments where people from diverse backgrounds feel safe and welcome
● Ability to lift, bend, squat, climb and more—this is a physically demanding job but reasonable accommodations can be made
● Ability to work nights and weekends
PREFERRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
● Attention to detail and a methodical approach to accomplishing tasks
● Knowledge of local outdoor and cycling activities (bike routes/trails, camping, local cycling related social events, etc.)
● Experience with workflow improvement methods
● Experience in a high-volume shop
● Experience in large event planning
● Experience planning and executing social events
● Valid driver’s license
● Experience with Lightspeed POS, Excel, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe
● Proficiency in Spanish

REPORTS TO: Executive Director
UNION/NON UNION: Non Union
HOURS: Full Time (40 hours)
COMPENSATION: Salaried $50K, Exempt
TERM: Permanent
SCHEDULE: 5-day week, workdays may vary, hours may fluctuate, may work nights occasionally
BENEFITS: Health, dental and vision, PTO and SICK time, HOLIDAY FLEX time

HOW TO APPLY: Send your resume, cover letter, and (3) references with the subject line “Retail and Workspace Manager” to Jobs@CommunityCyclingCenter.org. No phone calls, please.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Community Cycling Center is an equal opportunity employer. We will not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, veteran status, marital status, sensory disabilities, physical disabilities, mental disabilities and/or any other bases protected by state and federal law. We take proactive measures to ensure against discrimination in hiring, compensation, promotions, and termination of staff, selection of volunteers (including board members) and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, customers, clients, volunteers (including board members), subcontractors, vendors, and other members of our community.

How to Apply

HOW TO APPLY: Send your resume, cover letter, and (3) references with the subject line “Retail and Workspace Manager” to Jobs@CommunityCyclingCenter.org. No phone calls, please.

Meet the Boom Bike: Portland’s rocking, rolling, pedal-powered soundstage

A clean energy advocate, bike lover, and fabricator in northeast Portland has launched something that will change Portland streets forever: the Boom Bike — a 100% human-powered mobile soundstage, pedaled behind a trike that can carry 500 pounds of cargo and broadcast live music to a massive audience.

Cully neighborhood resident Mike Cobb built the Boom Bike based on a design by Xtracycle co-founder and carfree musician Kipchoge Spencer. Cobb is no stranger to pedal-powered projects as you might recall his role as an organizer of the Disaster Relief Trials or how he hooked up pedal-powered generators for Dakota Access Pipeline protestors at the Standing Rock Reservation in 2016.

I got an up-close look at the Boom Bike during a visit to Cobb’s workshop last week.

Cobb has known Spencer for years and once worked as a mechanic on his global, bicycle-powered Pleasant Revolution music tour back in 2010. Cobb reconnected with Spencer in 2020 to build five Boom Bikes as part of a massive parade in support of Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign.

Cobb says his latest creation is, “The pinnacle of bicycle powered sound.”

The heavy-duty Coaster Cycles trike has a custom cargo bed that serves as a platform for the stage. Bolted to the stage is an off-the-shelf, Rock The Bike blender generator that can generate up to 100 watts at 120 volts — plenty to power the JBL loudspeaker and various electronic components that allow the music magic to happen.

Very low gearing allows Cobb (or whoever else operates it) to pedal relatively easily at slow speeds on a flat surface. Note that the Boom Bike does not use electric battery power — all the power is generated by the person who pedals right behind the trike operator. If hills are on the route, Cobb will call up two additional team members who will ride skateboards alongside and then quickly stow the boards on-stage while they push from behind.

Mike Cobb (foreground), Rachel Freifelder and Dan Kaufman.

While almost anyone produce the 50 watts needed to power the speaker, and most regular bike riders can easily create the 100 watts for full power, driving the trike will take more strength and skill. To help with that task, Cobb designed a handlebar with multiple leverage points and holding options for maximum rider input and comfort.

Dan Kaufman (of Disco Trike fame) is a local musician and friend of Cobb. To get on the stage where he sings, and plays his harmonica and guitar, Kaufman must walk up a ladder. Then he leans on a backrest and straps in with a sturdy buckle, similar to the set-up on a parade float. Once his helmet is on and wireless mic is in position, he’s ready to go.

“It was a bit off-putting at first because you’re pretty high up,” Kaufman said. “But I think a lot of performers are going to want to get on the back of this once they see how cool it is.”

Kaufman and Cobb are eager to try the Boom Bike at events like Sunday Parkways, protest marches and bike bus rides. They’re working on hooking up to an FM transmitter so other people can link up on a group ride for even more sound.

Rachel Freifelder, another Boom Bike team member who lives nearby and has known Cobb for many years, said she loves it because it helps her feel like a kid again and is a beautiful demonstration of the potential of bicycles. “My whole life I’ve been hearing people say, ‘Oh, but you need a car so you can do this or that,’ buit I think this is just such a beautiful example of things you can do with a bike.”

“And when we did our trial run last week and we’re riding around the neighborhood,” Freifelder continued. “I just couldn’t stop smiling when I saw how many neighbors we were making smile. And people in cars who are like, ‘Whoa, that’s amazing!'”

Watch for the Boom Bike at Portland bike events soon!

Comment of the Week: The urban growth boundary, what gives?

The relation of land use to transportation was in the air last week. On different threads, from different starting points, last week saw many conversations arrive at a discussion about density, what is needed to have a transit network that works well enough, for enough people, in enough areas, that it can replace car trips—and if that is even feasible.

There were a lot of strong comments. I wish I could just bundle them. My favorite ones noticed that there seems to be a disconnect between this site’s heartfelt debates about the density/transportation conundrum and what our elected leaders are actually doing.

And it’s more than just debate and talk, Portland eats volunteer time, and the time of city employees too, on its plethora of advisory committees whose advice frequently winds up on a shelf collecting dust. What gives?

This pithy comment from Watts captured the absurdity and frustration of the present moment. Plus, and this is a once-in-decade-phenomena, Fred, Damien and Prioritarian all seemed to agree with him. Think about that!

Watts’s head-in-hand comment came in response to our post about the 2024 legislative session. In particular, about a bill that is afloat to weaken the urban growth boundary established by Oregon’s signature land-use accomplishment, the 1973 Senate Bill 100.

Here’s what he had to say:

HB 4048: The last thing we need is to make it easier to expand the UGB. Between Portland and the state, there seems to be a real fever to roll back environmental regulations around where and what you can build. It seems to be one of the few things Democrats and Republicans can agree on.

Thank you Watts for this, and all your comments. You can read Watts in the context of other regular commenters actually agreeing with him here.

Monday Roundup: Robotaxi backlash, jaywalking reform, and more

Welcome to the week.

Here are the most notable stories our community came across in the past seven days…

More youth e-bike laws: A California rep from San Diego County wants to ban e-bikes for the 12 and under set and require state-issued IDs and a riders test to get one before hopping on for everyone else. (Rancho Santa Fe Review)

Decriminalize jaywalking: Washington did a statewide analysis of people stopped by police for crossing streets in an illegal way and found disturbing trends in who gets stopped, how they are treated by police, and other things that show legal reform around “jaywalking” cannot happen soon enough. (Streetsblog USA)

Mr. Transit speaks: Portland-based transit expert Jarret Walker has published a new update of his excellent book, Human Transit, and one of America’s foremost transit journalists asked him excellent questions about it. (Bloomberg City Lab)

Autopilot death machines: A man accused of hitting and killing someone with their Tesla told investigators he might have been driving on autopilot and checking emails when it happened. Disgusting regulatory failure! But yes, let’s make sure to regulate kids riding e-bikes ASAP! (Star Tribune)

Equity and traffic death: Road safety advocates in NYC say that city’s Vision Zero program is working — but only in neighborhoods where more white people live. In some parts of the city, the death toll is actually going up. (Gothamist)

Drive-thru dangers: The proximity of a major biking and walking path spurred council members to pass an ordinance that bans drive-throughs and gas stations in Atlanta. (11 Alive)

Cost of (heavy) cars: Another reason many of us are concerned about e-cars is because of their increased weight. Now there’s a study showing how costly and dangerous it is for all of us when these heavy vehicles hit roadway infrastructure like guardrails. (Slate)

Robotaxi outrage: A crowd vandalized, destroyed, and then set ablaza a robotaxi operated by Waymo in San Francisco over the weekend. A reader who shared this with us said it might have been in response to an earlier collision with a bicycle rider. (San Francisco Standard – Reuters)

Thanks to everyone who sent in links this week. The Monday Roundup is a community effort, so please feel free to send us any great stories you come across.

Dispatch from where a 12-year-old was hit and killed while bicycling in Hillsboro

My husband came home from a shopping trip on Saturday, grim-faced and quiet. “A kid on a bike got hit by a car,” he said. I looked at him for more information. “Is he going to be okay? How do you know it was a kid? Did you see the crash?” “I saw the kid’s bike under the car,” he replied, and shook his head. He didn’t see the collision, or glimpse the victim, but from the position of the bike under the car, and the swarm of cop cars that responded, he suspected the worst.

The worst was confirmed by local news reports: A twelve-year-old boy named Joseph Brausen was killed while riding his bike after a collision with a driver of a car just a few blocks from our home in downtown Hillsboro.

Although police and news reports say the collision occurred at or near the intersection of SE 10th Ave and Baseline St, my husband clarified that the car was facing west on the alley by the Starbucks”— that’s SE Gumleaf Lane at 10th Ave.

I wanted to pay my respects, bear witness, and try to figure out what happened, so I rode to the place my husband described. Sure enough, at the exact spot, the family of 12-year old Brausen was there, tying balloons to a nearby pole and trying to put up signs with phrases like “Slow Down” and “Speeding Killed My Son” — but the wind kept blowing the signs down. I felt stupidly helpless and pathetically useless. What good are my tears or condolences to the family who lost their son forever?

View looking north on the sidewalk just before SE Gumleaf Lane where the collision likely occurred. Note balloons and flowers left by family. (Photo: Shannon Johnson/BikePortland)

Still, I wanted to try to figure out what happened. I wish I could rely on the official investigation for answers, but frankly, I don’t have a lot of faith in that process right now. So I went out to have a look for myself.

SE 10th Avenue is a very busy five or six lane road (it changes right at this spot). This section is known as “Calle Diez” by many Spanish-speaking locals because of the concentration of Latino-owned businesses. The City of Hillsboro is working on a plan to “enhance the livability” of this section of 10th because so many people feel it’s stressful and dangerous to walk on. At this location there is a concrete center median, so no left turns are possible onto the Gumleaf alley from northbound Baseline. My husband said the car was facing westbound on Gumleaf, which would suggest it was making a right turn from southbound 10th Ave onto Gumleaf (which is more of an alley or parking lot throughway than an actual street).

I wondered, and then timidly asked a relative standing nearby, “Do you think the boy was riding on the sidewalk?” “Oh yes,” he said, “he only rode on the sidewalk.” The family was very strict about that fact. “He always rode on the sidewalk,” he repeated.

And that made sense. 10th Ave is terrifying. There are no bike lanes. It’s very busy. I don’t even like walking on the sidewalk there, which feels narrow and frighteningly close to the passing cars. I have never biked in the road on that section of 10th Ave, and generally avoid it entirely. I don’t think a kid (nor most adults) would ever ride on the road there. The few times I have ridden it, I have used the sidewalk as the only option.

While it’s possible the boy was riding on Gumleaf, or crossing Gumleaf between the Walgreens and Starbucks parking lots, or even doing some kid bike behavior that an adult may not guess at, I suspect the boy was riding on the sidewalk along 10th Avenue, when the driver hit him as it turned onto the Gumleaf alley. The boy may have been crossing the alley “driveway” on the sidewalk as the car turned right into him. That’s my best guess, based on the few details I could gather. Maybe a surveillance camera from the adjacent Starbucks or Hillsboro PD office or other businesses will have recorded the collision. I hope investigators do a far and thorough investigation.

I have more to say, and much I am thinking about. But nothing I say, or write, or think, will restore the life that has been lost. So for the moment, I just want to offer my condolences. And to say that someone cares. I know there are tons of drivers passing by that very spot every minute, unaware, unknowing, and it may feel like no one cares. But I care, and many other cyclists care, and many other parents care, and many other advocates for safe streets care. And I know I speak for more than myself when I say: I’m so sorry for this untimely loss.

— GoFundMe for Joseph Michael Brausen

Podcast: In the Shed – Ep 12

Eva Frazier and I are back with another episode of “In The Shed.” This episode was recorded earlier today in the BikePortland Shed in north Portland after Eva and I attended the Jason Ruhmshottel ghost bike installation event.

As usual, we had a really great chat about a wide range of stuff. Here’s a taste of the topics this week:

Reflections on our attendance at the Jason Ruhmshottel ghost bike installation event
BikeLoud’s Squeaky Wheel project
PBOT budget update
Commissioner Mingus Mapps goes full Shoupian
East Portland bike tour with Timur Ender
Riding alleyways and through parks
Rolling through stop signs
When cops lecture us
Eva took the bus to Seattle and liked it more than Portland
Why City of Portland doesn’t have a lot of money
Bike shop news – Trek Portland, Gladys, Golden Pliers
How the MAX light rail killed Interstate Ave
New Season Arbor Lodge is the story of Portland
The Boom Bike
Thanks to Brock Dittus of Sprocket Podcast fame for our theme music.
Thanks for listening and see you in the Shed next week!

Thanks to Brock Dittus of Sprocket Podcast fame for our fantastic theme music. Listen in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening!

Ghost bike installed for Jason Ruhmshottel

A few hours ago, a ghost bike was installed where the Smith & Bybee Wetlands path crosses North Portland Road just south of Marine Drive. Jason Ruhmshottel was struck and killed by a driver while riding across this intersection on September 19th, 2023.

Today at the site, Jason’s family — his mother Jill Ruhmshottel, sister Christina Cuanalo, brother-in-law Mario Cuanalo, and niece Michelle Ruhmshottel — met advocates from BikeLoud PDX and held a small ceremony to mark the memorial site with the bike, flowers, and photos.

BikeLoud volunteer Sarah Risser took on a project to make roadside memorials for crash victims (more on that later). This was her first time coordinating a ghost bike. She met the family, and along with other BikeLoud volunteers, they attached signs to the bike and then Mario placed it along the busy road.

Risser knows the pain the family is going through, since she lost a son of her own in a traffic crash. “As a mother who has lost a son. I think there’s a general hesitancy that a lot of people have about showing up for the family or publicly honoring the loss of a loved one. I think in most cases it’s a great comfort to the family to have the community show up and to have the community express love or acknowledgement because it means a lot.”

L to R: Jill Ruhmshottel (mom), Christina Cuanalo (sister), Mario Cuanalo (brother-in-law), Michelle Ruhmshottel (niece)

Christina Cuanalo said she hopes the white bicycle helps people remember her brother. “I want Jason not to be forgotten. I want people to know what happened here,” she said. “For this bike to be here, maybe it will make a statement and something like this won’t happen again.”

While standing out there it becomes very clear how dangerous this crossing is. There is no flashing beacon, no signal, nothing to slow drivers down. People speed by so quickly. Some slowed, but many barely did. It makes it easy to understand how a tragedy like this can happen. Hopefully people take time to not just see Jason’s ghost bike, but to think about what it means for someone to be killed while using our roads — and that each one of us has a responsibility to prevent it from happening in the future.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BikePortland (@bikeportland)

Higher parking fees and registration enforcement will help fill PBOT budget hole

Portland’s transportation bureau walked slowly away from the edge of a financial cliff on City Council budget work session on Thursday. Battered by years of revenue loss made worse by not charging road users enough for the service of safe streets, and a change in travel behaviors exacerbated by the pandemic, the Portland Bureau of Transportation was an agency on the brink when they approached council for help five months ago.

With a $32.4 million shortfall and the prospect of laying off 118 full-time employees that would have been “gutting to the bureau” (according to its director), something had to give. In a proposal shared for the first time yesterday, we learned that PBOT will plug about one-third of that revenue hole by charging drivers more to park and register their vehicles. Combined with funding from the Portland Clean Energy Fund and the expected (but not guaranteed!) passage of the Fixing Our Streets local gas tax renewal in May, PBOT has chiseled that shortfall down to a manageable $4.6 million and just four full-time positions (which likely won’t result in any layoffs).

PBOT’s budget was presented at council yesterday along with the budgets from the water and environmental services bureaus (it was the first time all three bureau directors teamed up under the “Public Works” banner, a nod to the upcoming change in government that will group bureaus into “service areas” to encourage collaboration).

How PBOT will avoid falling over the cliff.

PBOT Director Millicent Williams laid out the plan (at right) by saying it’s long overdue that the city starts to “more efficiently collect resources” owed by drivers who starve parking meters and have expired tags. “Over the course of many, many years,” Williams said, “PBOT has been quite altruistic and has taken on opportunities to be in service to community without necessarily charging… and that’s part of what has added to where we find ourselves now.”

If this new budget plan is adopted, Williams will hire 28 new parking enforcement officers. Six will be assigned to write citations to Portlanders with expired registration and the rest will patrol parking meters and permit districts citywide. PBOT estimates of the one million previously registered vehicles in Portland, about 460,000 are eligible for renewal. Citations for expired tags and other parking infractions could net PBOT $5.5 million in the coming fiscal year.

To soften the blow, Williams told council that revenue from these citations will help her agency preserve popular services like: pavement preservation, block party permits, snow and ice response efforts, homeless camp cleanups (which PBOT does a lot of these days), staff support for the three modal committees (bike, walk, and freight), street plaza activations, parade permits, 823-SAFE request support, and more.

In addition to writing citations for these violations, Williams said having more parking officers on the ground will help general livability because it, “provides an additional set of trained eyes and ears are situations that arise on our streets.”

PBOT also wants to shift payment of the parking meter credit card usage fee from the city to car drivers and index the parking meter rate to inflation with a 20-cent across-the-board increase in all parking districts — moves they estimate will safe them an additional $5.3 million a year. (The 20-cent increase is to make up for previous years’ inflation rates. In future years, the rate will go up eight cents per hour per year.)

Slides shown by PBOT Director Millicent Williams at council work session Thursday.

“There will be some political blowback here,” Commissioner Mingus Mapps said during yesterday’s work session. “We haven’t really been in the business of actually ticketing people for not registering their cars, and we’re going to hand out more tickets when you don’t plug the meter.”

Mapps said he’s also looking to add more paid parking districts around the city and framed it as a necessity given how much demand there is on curb space in dense residential and commercial areas. Sounding like a parking reformer who understands that pricing spaces is key to turnover in busy areas, Mapps added, “The dynamics of parking have changed dramatically in the last five years or so… If you are a small business trying to sell flowers or fresh bread and people can’t pull up to their store to facilitate that, we’re really killing business by not addressing this.”

Director Williams assured council that even with these proposed increases, parking rates in Portland are “still quite low” and would bring our prices up to about $2.60 an hour per meter, about 50% less than most major cities.

One new element of PBOT’s budget plan we learned yesterday was how the PCEF infusion will free up $7.4 million in general fund dollars that can be put to other uses. Specifically, PBOT showed a slide that said they’ll use the money to do more street sweeping, harden bike lanes, daylight intersections, and invest in other traffic calming upgrades.

In discussion among council members that followed the presentation, Commissioner Rene Gonzalez and Mayor Ted Wheeler expressed concern that PBOT still isn’t addressing the fundamental problem the bureau faces: that the behavior we want less of (driving) is largely what pays for everything else.

“I think one of the weaknesses in this for PBOT is that this is always such a transactional discussion… this annual fight between downtown business owners and PBOT over what it’s going to cost them to park,” Gonzalez said. He added that it’s easier for him to get business support if parking rate increases are locked-in and predictable year-over-year, instead of cuts one year and increases the next.

And Mayor Wheeler again expressed concern that many Portlanders feel they are being taxed to death already and can’t afford higher prices to drive. “There’s a lot of people who are driving in the city… who can’t afford to drive. And they’re driving even though they can’t afford to drive because the public transit system isn’t adequate,” he said. Wheeler also urged PBOT to move beyond this annual plea for new fees and “convene a community conversation about ‘How to people want the city to function going forward 25 years? What do we want it to look like?'”

PBOT Director Williams could be seen and heard nodding as Wheeler spoke. She assured him that, “There are a number of of intense and intentional conversations that are happening to ensure that we are thinking creatively about how we can move into a different conversation, one that is more centered on problem-solving versus pointing fingers at who’s to blame and what didn’t happen before.” “But,” she continued, “In the interim, there is the challenge that we have to maintain the system that we have.”

PBOT’s final budget request is due February 16th. Then the debates and politics will continue in the coming weeks and months until the Mayor releases his budget in early May and council takes action to approve a final 2024-2025 budget in lae June. Learn more at the City Budget Office website.

Weekend Event Guide: New to Portland, Light Fest, mutual aid, and more

Grab a bike. Find some friends. Get out there. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

It’s almost Friday, time to plan your weekend.

Here are some fun things to do for bike lovers this weekend…

Friday, February 9th

New to Portland Ride – 12:00 noon at SE Caruthers Plaza on Eastbank Esplanade (SE)
The City of Portland wants to welcome you to our wonderful biking scene with a classic ride around the Willamette River on some of our best paths. More info here.

Saturday, February 3rd

Curated Winter Light Fest Ride – 6:45 pm at Oregon Convention Center (NE)
Join a Portlander who happens to have a huge sound system on their bike as they share a route of their favorite Winter Light Fest installations. Note: This ride isn’t part of the official festival. More info here.

PSU Farmer’s Market Ride – 10:00 am at SE Clinton & 41st (SE)
This weekly ride is sure to bring a smile to your face and a satisfied feeling to your tummy. Meet others who care about the local food ecosystem by supporting the largest farmer’s market in Portland. More info here.

Gaza Sunbirds Ceasefire Now Ride – 1:00 pm at Blumenauer Bridge (NE)
“We are a group of queer, multi-faith Portland riders who support a Free Palestine. We demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire, an end to the illegal occupation, and a stop to the US funding Israel’s military.” More info here.

Lloyd Light It Up Light Fest Ride and Dance Party – 5:30 pm at Broadway Grill (NE)
The Street Trust will host an official PDX Winter Light Fest event where you can get your bike lit, celebrate the night, and move your body as you take in the wonder of beautiful light displays. More info here.

Sunday, February 4th

Overlook Neighborhood Ride – 9:30 am at Stacks Coffeehouse (N)
Roll over to north Portland and get to know the people and places that make the Overlook neighborhood such a cool place to live, work, and play. More info here.

Mutual Aid Distribution Ride – 1:00 pm at Golden Pliers Bike Shop (N)
You’ll ride about 20 miles to various stores and fill up your panniers and racks, and then distribute the goods to free fridges and pantries. More info here.

Corvidae Bike Club Ride – 2:00 pm at Peninsula Park Rose Garden Fountain (N)
Are you Corvidae-curious? This welcoming, fun-loving group will take you on an adventurous route to a tranquil “hidden beach oasis.” More info here.

— Don’t see an event? Please tell us about what’s going on in your neighborhood by filling out our contact form, or just email me at maus.jonathan@gmail.com if it’s easier.

Podcast: Ride east Portland with City Council candidate Timur Ender

I’m excited to bring you this interview-by-bike with Portland City Council District 1 candidate Timur Ender. Timur is running to represent east Portland and he invited me on a ride on Tuesday to get a closer look at his district.

I’ve known Timur since he was fresh out of Lewis & Clark Law School. He showed up to one of our Wonk Night events in February 2013. Timur was a volunteer for tactical urbanist group Better Block PDX and was one of the leading organizers of their Better Naito pilot project that ultimately became the official City of Portland project that we all love riding on today. Timur has worked as transportation policy advisor for former City Commissioner Steve Novick and served a five-year stint at PBOT as part of their capital project team.

In short, I could think of no better person to give me a tour of bike infrastructure in east Portland!

In this episode, you’ll hear Timur and me talk about various bikeway treatments and projects as we pedal a loop (view route map below) from NE Glisan and 102nd, down to SE Powell, then over to 162nd and up to Glendoveer Golf Course. (Don’t worry about getting lost, we call out cross streets at regular intervals. Also note that photos above are in order.) Hear how vital shortcuts and opportunism (like his idea to pave a path through gravel on NE 113th between Oregon and Glisan to connect to a planned new traffic signal as part of a Safe Routes to School project) are key to making cycling better in east Portland.

You’ll also learn about Timur’s ideas for making streets safer and less car-centric — like his vision to create a Barcelona-inspired superblock bounded by 102nd, Glisan, Stark and 122nd.

One thing that struck me during our ride was how much impact a single, dedicated and thoughtful PBOT employee can have on how our streets work. At one point while biking on East Burnside, Timur pointed out a buffer stripe that gives the bike lane more space between car drivers. “I’m really proud of this buffer,” Timur said, as he explained how he was in a meeting and said, “Just paint another line.” And they did.

Timur is someone with a love of east Portland that really comes through in this episode. While biking across SE 122nd near Market he wanted to stop and point out one of his favorite intersections. I figured he’d talk about infrastructure, but he proceeded to point out several small businesses: an Ethiopian restaurant he loves, his favorite bodega, a community space where he had a memorable dinner, and so on.

Interspersed with talk about bus rapid transit (which he sees as “low-hanging fruit” on streets like 122nd, Halsey, and Stark), buffered bike lanes and housing policy (Timur supports more housing in inner neighborhoods because he feels it will decrease displacement in his district); you’ll hear Timur share why he (reluctantly) decided to run for council, how he first fell in love with cycling, why he chose to live in Portland, what it’s like being carfree in east Portland, and much more.

Listen to the full episode above, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Job: Full-time and Part-time Mechanic Openings – Joe Bike

Job Title

Full-time and Part-time Mechanic Openings

Company / Organization

Joe Bike

Job Description

Are you interested in joining our well-rounded crew of talented and diversely-skilled mechanics? At Joe Bike, we pride ourselves on providing excellent service and communication with every customer. We like making personal connections and finding solutions to meet customer needs and budgets. Our team also knows how to have fun and enjoys collaborating on projects. We offer competitive wages based on experience, paid time off, health benefits, and a retirement plan.

How to Apply

If this sounds like you, please send an email to info@joe-bike.com with your resume and answer the following questions to help us get to know you:

1. What are your best mechanical strengths when working with bikes, and what areas are you less confident in?

2. Our bike shop is a busy and dynamic environment. How would you prioritize your time when deciding between working on bikes, helping customers with test rides and product selections, and working on cleaning, organizing, and completing side projects around the store?

3. What is your ideal bike shop environment and why?

New to Portland: Too nice drivers, lost on greenways, IKEA, and more

Job: Retail and Workspace Manager – Community Cycling Center

Job Title

Company / Organization

Job Description

How to Apply

Meet the Boom Bike: Portland’s rocking, rolling, pedal-powered soundstage

Comment of the Week: The urban growth boundary, what gives?

Monday Roundup: Robotaxi backlash, jaywalking reform, and more

Dispatch from where a 12-year-old was hit and killed while bicycling in Hillsboro

Podcast: In the Shed – Ep 12

Ghost bike installed for Jason Ruhmshottel

Higher parking fees and registration enforcement will help fill PBOT budget hole

Weekend Event Guide: New to Portland, Light Fest, mutual aid, and more

Friday, February 9th

Saturday, February 3rd

Sunday, February 4th

Podcast: Ride east Portland with City Council candidate Timur Ender

Job: Full-time and Part-time Mechanic Openings – Joe Bike

Job Title

Company / Organization

Job Description

How to Apply

Latest Headlines

Oregon Senator says ‘Class 3’ in e-bike bill proposal was a misnomer

Comment of the Week: Winning over a palm tree skeptic

Monday Roundup: Telework, Idaho stops, bike shop closures, and more

Podcast: Artist and ride leader Shawn Granton

From the Archives

An epic, carfree, Portland to Seattle, multimodal adventure