People on Bikes: The Williams Ave bike corridor

Welcome to the latest installment of People on Bikes.

Yesterday on the way home from work I stopped on the bustling North Williams Avenue bikeway. The images below are just a sampling of what I saw in about 15 minutes. Not surprisingly, I noticed a lot of people riding quite fast. This location was actually one of the more difficult ones to photograph because I had to pan and focus much more quickly than other places. I think people’s high speeds have something to do with the design of the street. Riding on Williams can feel hectic and stressful because of the narrow bike lane, the door zone, and all the fast car and bike traffic swooping by.

There’s a project lined up that should make bicycling on Williams more pleasant. It was supposed to be implemented already; but a lengthy public process resulted in a larger and more costly project, so PBOT has applied for a federal grant which they’re still waiting to hear back about.

With the rain pouring down right now, I also thought these images would be fun to share as they might be the last time we’ll see dry and sunny streets for a while. Check the out below, and I even included a little bonus for your dog lovers 😉 …

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Property owner stands by decision to close off Springwater path

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“All I want to do is protect our members and our property… This is not a freeway.”
— Terry Emmert, owner of the Eastmoreland Racquet Club

Terry Emmert, the owner of the Eastmoreland Racquet Club (and Emmert International), takes full responsibility for erecting an iron gate across a spur of the Springwater Corridor Trail in southeast Portland. Despite outcry from nearby residents who use the short section of the path to access the Springwater, opposition from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), and murky legal standing, Emmert says he’s simply protecting his private property.

Today the City of Portland announced that they have reached an agreement with Emmert to move his gate further west, back onto his own property. While this takes the gate off of City property, public access through the Eastmoreland Racquet Club will remain closed.

I spoke with Emmert about this issue on the phone Wednesday.

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maroon trek 3700 2007

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Year: 2007
Brand: trek
Model: 3700
Color:maroon
Size:16 inch
Stolen in 97211, OR
Stolen:2012-10-11
Stolen From: front of del ray apts on ne 24th and glisan. im am unemployed and relied on for transportation.
Neighborhood: laurelhurst
Owner: travis barger
OwnerEmail: greenmanclan@hotmail.com
Reward: im broke
Description: red rst front shocks,black ritchey neck,silver ritchey bars, has occupy related stickers
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

See what ODOT has in store for new I-205 path undercrossing

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Detail of plans for
new undercrossing.

As we shared last week, the Oregon Department of Transportation is in the final stages of planning for a new undercrossing on the I-205 multi-use path where it crosses SE Division. ODOT staffers report a solid turnout at their open house on Tuesday night where they unveiled the design and asked for public comment.

In case you missed the open house, I just received the official rendering of the design. ODOT is showing two views of the undercrossing.

The aerial view shows how it will connect with the existing path…

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BTA celebrates 1.25 million miles logged in ‘Commute Challenge’

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Jeff Capizzi (L) — shown here with BTA Director
Rob Sadowsky — logged 1,524 miles during September.
(Photo: Will Vanlue/BTA)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) hosted a party in the Rose Quarter Wednesday night to congratulate riders and celebrate another successful Bike Commute Challenge. In the month of September, the event’s 11,745 participants (split into 1,395 teams) logged 1,278,343 miles while riding their bikes to and from work (those numbers are down slightly from 2011, see all results here).

At the party Wednesday night, participants were treated to free pizza, beer, and a big prize raffle. The BTA also awarded individuals for exemplary commuting and teams got to see where they stacked up against the competition. Teams are made up of employees from businesses and organizations across Oregon (split into three categories and then separated by number of employees). The challenge is to get the highest percentage of employees logging trips (it’s not based on total miles).

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Job: Citybikes Apprentice – Citybikes Cooperative

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Sorry, this position has been filled.

Job Title
Citybikes Apprentice

Company/Organization
Citybikes Cooperative

Job Description
What is it?
A way for a cyclist to graduate to a mechanic. Apprentices start in December with once a week Sunday night classes running through April taught by the current staff. In March you’ll start working on the shop floor as a Novice Mechanic and you’ll work 30+ hours April through September 30th, 2013. Afterwards we’ll want you to become a worker-owner.

Yeah but I have to pay you or something?
NO. We pay you. This is a paid apprenticeship. You’ll be paid minimum wage during classes. Upon completion of classes you’ll receive a raise, and at the end of the season in September a review and as is most often the case, a second raise.

Our goal is that after September you’ll want to become a worker-owner. As an apprentice, you can apply for the ownership track after September 30th. The ownership track is 6 months after which the board of owners will take a vote. Owners receive higher wages and benefits.

So what do I learn?
Everything you need to know to work in a shop, and particularly a cooperative. For example, how to build new and used bikes, parts compatibility, cutting tools, shifting, brakes, frame repair, internal hubs, overhauling, wheel building, wheel truing, troubleshooting, and on the cooperative front, consensus based decision making, the coop process, etc.

So what are you looking for?
Folks from all kinds of backgrounds. The program works well for students too! But please do be a cyclist…You do not need to know anything about working on bikes, but it is helpful to be mechanically inclined. We prefer individuals who have some knowledge of cooperatives, consensus based decision making, administrative skills in IT, bookkeeping, Microsoft suite, and other kinds of mechanical or artist skills.

How to Apply
Bring a resume to the 734 SE Ankeny location asap! We also have a small application form to be completed. We’ll begin calling applicants Nov 1st.

Call 503-239-6951, email adsoc[at]citybikes[dot]coop or stop by.

black/teal markings Trek FX 7.5 19" WSD 2008

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Year: 2008
Brand: Trek
Model: FX 7.5 19" WSD
Color:black/teal markings
Serial:WTU333C1619C
Stolen in Portland, OR 97215
Stolen:2012-10-12
Stolen From: stolen from alley garage on SE Ankeny between 44 and 45th
Neighborhood: Laurelhurst
Owner: Jody Coale
OwnerEmail: jody1954@gmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: bike has silver fenders, black bike rack, clipless pedals,mounts for odometer, mount for light, has bell on handlebars
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Dark Blue Specialized Crossroads 2010

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Year: 2010
Brand: Specialized
Model: Crossroads
Color:Dark Blue
Size:Large
Stolen in Portland, OR
Stolen:2012-10-11
Stolen From: In front of PSU Recreation center
Neighborhood: University
Owner: Kyle Lemke
OwnerEmail: lemke058@morris.umn.edu
Reward: 200
Description: Has a back rack with only one foldable black basket on the right side. Also has a specific sticker from Erik’s Bikestore on lower part of frame. Erik’s is a Bikestore only found in the midwest.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T12008670
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Black Cannondale CX6 2010

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Year: 2010
Brand: Cannondale
Model: CX6
Color:Black
Size:58
Serial:UM61110
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/WLwWt.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2012-10-10
Stolen From: Bybee & Mcloughlin (stolen from my locked garage)
Neighborhood: Westmoreland
Owner: Rogan Creswick
OwnerEmail: creswick@gmail.com
Reward: 300
Description: Black canondale cross bike, technically a CX6, but the frame clearly says CAAD8 near the seat post. It now has V brakes (pic. is old) and the front light was hung under the bars, instead of on top, as pictured.

Crank Bros Candy SL pedals

U-Lock *mount* on the seat post (the lock was next to the bike — it was stolen from my locked garage).
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 1289334
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Advisory: Southbound Interstate Bridge path closed for a week

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This just in from ODOT:

Bike/ped path closed on SB Interstate Bridge
Gate protecting the public during bridge lifts inoperable because of electrical problems

The bike and pedestrian path on the southbound span of the Interstate Bridge will be closed until next week to repair electrical problems with the gate.
Bicyclists and pedestrians may use the path on the northbound span as a detour.
The gate, on southern end of the span, keeps bike and pedestrian traffic safe during bridge lifts.
ODOT hopes to open the path by the middle of next week.

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From the Archives

With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike