Hi everyone. It’s been a while since I shared an update on BikePortland and my role in it going forward.
After a lot of thought, I’ve decided to step aside. Stepping aside does not mean stepping away. Like I said a few days ago, the BikePortland website (and social channels) will remain and continue to be a platform. However, I want to be clear that I will not return to my previous role as an active journalist and community concierge.
My goal at this stage is to publish more guest articles and opinions, as well as other light news items and announcements. I am also seeking an intern in the hopes of training someone to grab the handlebars and pedal us forward. Portland still needs quality coverage of transportation, mobility, streets, public space and urbanism. If you or someone you know wants to learn how to do advocacy journalism that puts community first and makes change possible, please reach out and connect with me (maus.jonathan@gmail.com). I’ll share a more formal job listing soon.
I share this with mixed emotions. On one hand, I know in my heart it’s time to move on. On the other hand, I know there’s more work to do, there are more battles to fight, and our community’s advocacy ecosystem is weaker without BikePortland’s voice in the mix. So while I will no longer do that work, I want to help make that work possible.
It took me a long time to share this because doing this work every day was the only life I’d known for 21 years. I wanted to be sure the time was right to move on. And it is!
I’ve started my first season as a college basketball coach and could not be more excited. I’ve been hired as assistant coach for the women’s basketball team at Warner Pacific University (a small school located south of Mt. Tabor off SE Division). As challenging as it is to begin a new career in a completely different community and be “the new guy” at age 51, working around the game of basketball allows me to tap into a passion that’s been buried inside me since I was a teenager. And yes, I know “assistant basketball coach” isn’t the most sensible decision from a career perspective, but neither was starting a bike blog in 2005!
On that note, if you or your organization needs someone with 21 years of experience managing a community media outlet, please get in touch. I’m searching for flexible, part-time work and would love to hear your ideas.
As the next chapter continues, I can’t even describe what doing BikePortland has meant to me. All the people, stories, events, controversies, tragedies and triumphs. I gave everything I could to this community and to BikePortland. Yes, I made some mistakes, but I am very proud of what we built. And for better or worse, all my ideas, decisions and opinions remain part of the public record — as long as you don’t mind clicking through thousands of comments and stories!
And finally, I deeply appreciate all of my subscribers and supporters. There were so many moments when I needed to know people had my back, and the well of support you’ve provided has meant everything. I hope you stick around to help maintain this library-like archive of community information and inspiration — and help BikePortland transition into its next chapter with me in an advisory role.
Stay tuned, thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the streets (and gyms)!
Thanks for reading.
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