Community Cycling Center Executive Director Kasandra Griffin (L) and ODOT Planner Jessica Horning are excited about the weekend!
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Weekend Event Guide is sponsored by Abus Bike Locks. Thanks Abus!

Welcome to the weekend.

I’m typing this from Schipol Airport in Amsterdam awaiting a flight to Paris. I’m having a great time so far! I hope all is well back in Portland.

If you need some suggestions for rides to do this weekend, we’ve got a few ideas for you. Don’t miss the Town Hall ride on Saturday. It’s a great chance to chat with your state legislators. And of course Sunday Parkways!

Saturday, September 24th

Rapha Prestige – All day, starts in Yamhill
This team event promises to be an all-day adventure with a challenging 90-mile route from Yamhill County wine country up and over the coast range. Registration is closed, so if you aren’t already on the list you might want to flag this one for next year. More info here.
[Read more…]

Detail from PBOT materials to be used in new Safe Routes to School safety campaign.

Sometimes the streets that should be safe for the whole family are unfortunately the most stressful.

Neighborhood Greenways are one example. Because they lack stop signs and are often adjacent to gridlocked arterials, they are increasingly saturated with cut-through drivers. And consider the streets in front of schools. Because too many people use cars — often with complete lack of respect for other road users — streets near schools can be a chaotic, dangerous mess two times every day.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is well aware of this problem. The lack of safety during pick-up and drop-off makes the city’s goal of encouraging more people to bike and walk to school much harder. That’s why the city is launching a new safety campaign aimed at taming this daily street snarl.

[Read more…]

Job Title *
Customer Service Manager

Company/Organization *
Rapha Racing LTD

Job Description *
Rapha has an excellent reputation for the highest standards of Customer Service. As we continue to grow internationally, being able to service and support our customers all over the world is crucial to our continued success. Rapha has a business strategy that has created a unique customer experience through both our website and the Rapha Cycle Clubs.

North America is a key market for Rapha and requires an experienced Customer Service Professional to lead the Customer Service team and support our global operations.

The Role
• Manage the North American Customer Service team to create and inspire a high performing group of Customer Service Advisors.
• Create a coaching culture where the team can develop and reach their full potential.
• Work closely with the Head of Customer Service to recommend improvements and enhancements to our service proposition so we can deliver World Class Service.
• Advise on best practice methods of customer communications including social platforms and live chat.
• Help maintain and develop our Customer Service platform Zendesk and become an expert user.
• Work with our Retail team to ensure the customer experience is consistent across non-web sales channels such as physical retail stores.
• Provide reports to the business including regular customer feedback to the Product and Marketing teams and monthly statistics on productivity and adherence to service levels.
• Ensure efficiency of the team through staff training, preparation of guidance manuals and implementation of performance metrics.
• Develop internal quality tools that will help coach, develop and train staff to ensure a single tone of voice and appropriate Rapha product and general cycling knowledge.
• Work closely with the Logistics team to ensure delivery targets are met and any customer impact is communicated accordingly.
• Deputise for the Head of Customer Service in their absence, attending and contributing to meetings, acting as the main point of contact for Customer Service and ensuring regular and smooth communication takes place with Senior Management and across departments.
• Help develop in-depth product training materials and enable knowledge transfer to the team
• Coordinate with Head Office teams on product launch timing, pricing, policies and promotions.
• Work closely with the 3PL to ensure SLAs are met and troubleshoot any issues that arise.
• Work with our Logistics team to develop and oversee the relationship with our carriers.

The Candidate

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and qualities:

• Experience of best practice customer service operations working in an Omni Channel environment creating solutions across retail and online channels.
• The ability to identify and initiate process improvement using the latest technology and innovations.
• An experienced customer service professional with a clear understanding and commitment to the importance of customer service, ideally in an online, multi-channel retail business.
• Critical analysis/decision making ability.
• High level of self-motivation with a positive, solution focused attitude.
• Strong people management skills with a passion for learning and development.
• A passion for operations management and process improvement.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence and motivate across a global organisation and throughout multiple departments.
• Proven experience in a front line customer service team.
• A genuine appreciation of the impact of world class customer service, and the desire to deliver at an industry-best standard.
• An expert in resource planning and traditional customer service metrics to ensure operational rigour and scalability.
• Knowledge of technical, performance, or luxury products.
• Passion for cycling.

How to Apply *
To apply for this position please email your CV and Cover Letter to: Careers@Rapha.cc

Job Title *
Bike Shop & Transit Hub Manager / Bike Mechanic (Seattle)

Company/Organization *
Bikes Make Life Better

Job Description *
Bikes Make Life Better plans and operates bike programs for large organizations. We run a comprehensive bike program for one of our clients at their Menlo Park, CA headquarters and are expanding to provide on-site support of a brand-new Bike Shop and Transit Hub at their Seattle offices.

If you’re passionate about putting more people on bikes and helping them choose alternatives to driving, this could be the position for you!

We are looking for a dynamic, collaborative, customer-driven individual to manage the Bike Shop and Transit Hub in downtown Seattle, and to provide bike repairs for employees, as well as assist with any bike and alternative transportation questions.

The Bike Shop & Transit Hub Manager will work under the direction of Bikes Make Life Better management (from San Francisco), in collaboration with our client’s Facilities teams (from Menlo Park, CA and Seattle). This position requires an individual who is a self-starter and who has experience managing a small bike operation.

Responsibilities:
This is a new position and will evolve over time. Primary responsibilities include:
• Staff and manage the day-to-day operations of the Bike Shop and Transit Hub
• Help employees with transportation options and bike parking
• Manage the loaner bike program and other bike-related programs such as Bike to Work days
• Develop and manage new bike-related programs that build community and support commuting
• Coordinate classes, rides, and events that promote bike commuting
• Repair employee bikes and loaner bikes
• Manage inventory and stocking of the Hub (with help from our other shops)
• Handle sales of bike accessories through a computer POS system
• Hire/manage other staff as operation grows

Requirements
• Proven track record of outstanding customer service
• Experience running an operation or department, ideally within a larger organization
• 5+ years professional experience as a bike mechanic, ideally in a bike or all-sport shop
• Collaborative, creative and action-oriented approach to problem solving and decision making
• Highly proactive and responsive
• Self directed
• Able to work within a diverse team
• Highly organized, with experience in inventory and financial management
• Superb verbal and written communication skills
• Complete comfort with office and mobile technology/tools and POS systems
• Passionate about cycling and alternative transportation
• Work in a corporate environment a plus
• Familiarity with Seattle a real plus

Bikes Make Life Better is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that is committed to a diverse workforce. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, along with great perks.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background investigation including criminal history and identity checks.

How to Apply *
*** In order to be considered for this position, please send your resume and cover letter to info@bikesmakelifebetter.com, highlighting your experience as it relates to this position and tell us a little about yourself:

* What interests you about this job?
* Why would you be good at it?

Hi everyone. I want to share a quick programming note.

This morning I left Portland for a much-needed vacation. My wife Juli and I (without the kids!) are headed to do some sightseeing in and around Paris. We’ll also take a few days to soak up the culture in Amsterdam.

I won’t be back in Portland until October 5th, so you should expect things to feel a bit different here for the next few weeks: fewer posts, not as much commentary on social media, and a longer lag on emails.

That being said, those of you that know me well know it will be hard for me to make a clean break from BikePortland for a such a long time. This work is a big part of my life and I feel a responsibility to the community to stay on top of things. But I need time away with Juli and I need to remove myself from the day-to-day grind in order to recharge before taking a big step that will ensure an exciting future for BikePortland.
[Read more…]

Job Title *
Manufacturing Assembler

Company/Organization *
OTTO DesignWorks

Job Description *
OTTO DesignWorks, creators of the all-new OTTOLOCK, is currently recruiting for Manufacturing Assemblers. Interested candidates should send resume to jobs@ottodesignworks.com.

Manufacturing Assemblers will be responsible for:
• Assembling units according to required specifications. This involves reading written instructions to assemble parts or products.
• Assemble components
• Identify problems and fix it or report it to a supervisor
• Provide other technicians, engineers, and project managers feedback regarding design, quality, and/or schedule issues
• Ensure quality; look for faulty hardware during the assembly process
• Inspect incoming manufactured parts for quality
• Packaging parts

Knowledge, Skills, and abilities we are looking for:
• Excellent mechanical aptitude
• Excellent documentation ability
• Ability to operate hand tools
• Ability to perform from oral or handwritten instructions
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Good interpersonal, communication and time management skills
• Ability to read, write, and understand English
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear, bend, push, pull and lift up to 50 lbs
• Good hand eye coordination
• Ability to work with small parts

This is a contract position, up to 40 hours per week.

How to Apply *
send resume to jobs@ottodesignworks.com

Here are the best stories we came across in the past week…

$150 million for bikeways in Montreal: Montreal is planning to spend $50 million a year for the next five years to build the projects in their first citywide bike plan.

The Pedestrian’s Tale: Portland transportation engineer and planner Brian Davis performed this poignant and entertaining poem at a recent conference held at Portland State University.

A lot of miles: 24-year-old Amanda Coker rode a record-setting 86,573 miles in the past year. That’s an average of 237.19 miles per day for 365 straight days. Dang.
[Read more…]

(Photo: Jason Bernert/OPB)

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler made his support for the I-5 Rose Quarter project very clear during a radio interview yesterday. He also pushed back rather strongly against the significant grassroots opposition to the project.

As a guest on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Think Out Loud show, Wheeler answered several questions about the project from host Geoff Norcross. The interview came just a few hours before Wheeler would hear more testimony on the project at yesterday’s City Council public hearing on the Central City 2035 Plan. (Also notable at the hearing was that Wheeler invited seven people to testify in favor of the project, including Governor Kate Brown’s top transportation policy advisor Karmen Fore and State Representative Susan McClain.)

Here’s a recap of the short interview:
[Read more…]

Visit them all!
(Click for larger PDF)

Today the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation is using our streets to their fullest potential. Instead of cheap storage for private vehicles, they’ve handed out special permits for creative placemaking installations as part of our local observance of International Park(ing) Day.
[Read more…]

Job Title *
Bookkeeper

Company/Organization *
Community Cycling Center

Job Description *
The Bookkeeper, supervised by the Finance and Administrative Director, is responsible for overall bookkeeping for the Community Cycling Center. The Cycling Center has a unique mix of financial transactions including retail sales from our bike shop and general nonprofit accounting (including grants, donations, and government contracts.)

Successful candidates will have mastery of bookkeeping skills and use of QuickBooks. The Bookkeeper will be personable, collaborative, organized and solution-oriented.

How to Apply *
Please submit a cover letter and resume by email with “Bookkeeper” as the subject line to jobs@communitycyclingcenter.org. No phone calls, please.

As part of your cover letter, please define social equity in your own words and then provide an example of how you have fostered it within the workplace and/or community.

This position will remain open until filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, beginning September 20th.