(Photo: Axiom Event Productions)

After launching with a bang in early May, we haven’t heard much about the “Slow Streets” portion of the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Safe Streets Initiative. These are the 120 intersections where PBOT has installed “Local Access Only” and “Go Slow” signs along with barricades in a bid to reduce driving and improve conditions for people who need more space to walk and roll while maintaining a safe distance from each other.

Today a new volunteer program launched that wants to raise the profile of these streets and strengthen the impact of the program. [Read more…]

At an online meeting next week hosted by local activism group Bike Loud PDX you’ll get the chance to hear from a leading expert on the connection between America’s pervasive car culture and a startling rise in deaths of vulnerable road users.

Angie Schmitt’s new book, Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America (Island Press), is due to come out on August 27th and has already received an excellent review from Kirkus (a big deal in the publishing world).

In the book, Schmitt breaks down the policies and products that have contributed to a 50% rise in pedestrian deaths in the last decade.[Read more…]

After finally opening last summer following years of major lawsuits and then facing impacts of a viral pandemic, Timberline Bike Park has had a rough first year.

But with snow clearing from upper sections and thanks to many hours of trail maintenance, the mountain is ready to welcome customers starting tomorrow, July 10th. It’s perfect timing for everyone itching to ride their new bike and bust out of their neighborhood quarantine rut

An announcement yesterday said four trails will be rideable during this phased opening: Gravy Train (long green, beginner/flow trail), Re-Align (blue intermediate machine built flow trail), The Rock (blue hand built intermediate trail), and Camino de Michoacán from Norm’s down (black advanced trail). Timberline says more trails will open within the next few weeks.[Read more…]

Imagine if Portland could ask for a carfree lane on 82nd Ave. Then imagine if ODOT actually listened.

Unlike our Oregon Department of Transportation whose seems to be carrying out a policy to rid their highways of everything but people in cars, the Washington Department of Transportation announced yesterday that it’s getting on the open streets train.

Imagine that. A state DOT voluntarily banning automobile users from lanes and even complete roadways all in the name of safety and health.
[Read more…]

Job Title

Shipping Specialist

Company / Organization

Velotech, Inc.

Job Description

​​Velotech, Inc. is a locally owned business that has operated in Portland since 2002. Velotech is the parent company of BikeTiresDirect, Western Bikeworks, and Trisports.

​​​​​​This position is responsible for picking, packing and shipping customer orders. Qualified Shipping Specialists also execute product put-away, clean their work area, execute physical counts, and available for general physical and/or minor administrative labor.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Pick incoming web orders and warehouse pick up orders
Pack and ship orders according to supervisor’s guidelines
Maintain accurate inventory through regular cycle counting
Assist receiving department with put away of new items
Maintain a clean and organized workspace
Assist with any projects, or assist in other departments as instructed by supervisor
Perform all duties in a safe manner and report all safety concerns immediately to supervisor

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Wear closed toe shoes at all times in warehouse
Be able to lift 25lbs above your head without assistance
Stand for long periods of time
Be able to lift 50lbs without assistance

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

Excellent communication and organizational skills
Solid knowledge of cycling products
Ability to work in a high volume, fast-paced environment
Ability to work independently or with others to manage multiple task with minimal supervision.

BENEFITS:

Generous Employee Discounts
Health Insurance
Paid Time Off

How to Apply

If interested in this position, please click on the link to apply: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=4367&clientkey=F102FCECFB43ED66CAD0C8276CB962A9

Portlander M. Blomberg (in the back) rode the PDX Gold route last week to raise awareness of the campaign.

Portlander Devin Bailly likes to suffer. He’s known in local cycling circles as that crazy guy who loves climbing and is one of the caretakers of the three toughest bike routes in Portland: Ronde PDX, La Doyenne, and Giro PDX. Those three routes rise an average of over 7,000 feet each in only about 50 miles (trust me, that’s tough).

But Bailly knows his suffering is a choice. The death of George Floyd and rise of the Black Lives Matter movement has made him acutely aware that for too many Americans the lifelong suffering from racist actions and policies is never a choice.

To help support the movement Bailly has leveraged his social network, expert route-making skills, and passion for climbing hills into a campaign he calls “BLMtoPDXBikes”. In its first month the effort has raised over $25,000 and he’s looking for more people to get involved — whether that means hopping on a bike or hopping online to be a sponsor or donor.

Here’s how it works:
— Make a donation to a non-profit organization working to advance racial justice.
— Email the receipt(s) to BLMtoPDXbikes@gmail.com before 7/31/2020.
— Campaign sponsors will match your donation.
— BLMtoPDXBikes will email you back a receipt verifying the matching donation was made.[Read more…]

Job Title

Certified Bike Tech

Company / Organization

REI Hillsboro

Job Description

What’s cool about this job:

This is a hands-on position and allows you to work on bike, ski, and snow equipment every day. Your primary responsibility is handling operations of the store’s service department, ensuring safety standards are met and providing extraordinary customer service. To ensure your “pro-status”, within 6 months of hire you will have the opportunity to attend the Barnett Bicycle Institute to receive your REI certification. In addition to being a service savant, typical work for this position includes:

Scheduling and monitoring the production and throughout of shop work to meet customer demand

Identify and inform management of ways to improve shop workflow, growing productivity while maintaining or improving quality

Working with management to build, train, and certify a team of Technicians to carry out shop service and rental department functions

Assisting immediate supervisor in evaluating staff needs including hiring, scheduling and evaluating staff performance

Handling risk to REI by ensuring all shop employees are trained and certified to the level of work they perform and all work meets REI and vendor quality and safety specifications

Preserving complete and accurate shop records and maintaining record keeping systems

Completing Post Accident inspections and reports as necessary

Acting as liaison between customer, store, AHQ, and vendor on resolving highest-level repair problems

Resolving actionsports equipment non-conformity and warranty issues

Researching and reporting significant quality and safety issues to Store Management and the Compliance Manager at AHQ. Advise of alternatives or solutions before proceeding with work

Ordering shop materials, tools, supplies, and parts

Assembling and repairing actionsports equipment to REI and/or vendor standards

Maintaining equipment and ensuring a clean, secure and safe work environment

Bring your passion and expertise

You live and breathe REI equipment. You’re a builder. You’re a trainer. You’re a safety maven. Our Certified Technicians are responsible for operating the store’s service department, ensuring safety standards are met and providing extraordinary customer service. If you like repairing equipment, handling risk, and forming teams of technicians to carry out service department functions then this is the role for you! Read on for the qualifications we look for in our Certified Technicians:

Successful completion of REI (Barnett Bicycle Institute) certification within 6 months of hire.

2 + years previous bike and/or snowsports shop experience or equivalent including assembly, service and repair of bike and snowsports equipment

Actively participates and collaborates with others on one’s own team and across REI for the achievement of business goals

Flexible in one’s viewpoints and positions in order to support the direction taken by others at REI

Uses business knowledge, innovative thinking, and sound judgment in the solution of problems or the pursuit of business opportunities

Consolidates information from various sources including feedback from others to reach sound decisions

Considers the ultimate impact of decisions and actions on internal and external customers

Works smart by setting effective work goals, establishing priorities, and planning well in order to produce quality work

Executes effectively by using resources efficiently, meeting deadlines, and keeping others informed of work plans and progress toward goals

Clearly conveys and accurately receives information by a variety of methods and in various situations

Ability to periodically lift up to 40 pounds, with assistance

At REI we offer an enviable work environment that Fortune Magazine has recognized on the “100 Best Places to Work” list since the award’s inception – 23 years in a row! Sure, we work hard, but it’s balanced with time off to play—a strategy that works for us as we continue to grow and thrive. Want to enjoy a workplace where you can be yourself, be heard and be respected while having a job that challenges you? This is the place.

With more than 160 retail locations (and growing), REI offers unique competitive benefits to its more than 15,000 employees, including healthcare, gear and apparel discounts, free equipment rentals and challenge grants to help employees reach personal outdoor goals, generous retirement plan contributions, public transit subsidy, adoptions assistance, paid sabbaticals, and more.

REI is an Equal Opportunity Employer

How to Apply

Visit REI.com/jobs to apply.

Steel Bridge upper deck during 2012 Pedalpalooza Kickoff Ride.

There’s good news and bad news about TriMet’s upcoming project that will close the upper deck of the Steel Bridge for four weeks in August.[Read more…]