‘Bear Blocks’ will bring new bike-friendly gathering space to Blumenauer Bridge

Coming soon to southeast landing of Blumenauer Bridge. Bridge would be on the left. NE Flanders is at the bottom. (Graphic: TwentyFour7)

A new public space on the south end of the Blumenauer Bridge is set to debut in the coming weeks. ‘Bear Blocks’ is a collaboration between the owner of a paved lot adjacent to the southeast landing of the bridge, a nearby event management company, and a nonprofit.

According to Friends of Green Loop Executive Director Keith Jones, his organization will manage the project in partnership with TwentyFour7, a brand marketing firm located nearby on NE 9th Avenue. TwentyFour7 will be the programming partner and will do the construction build-out. Friends of Green Loop will lease the space from property owner, TBH LLC.

Jones says it’s all part of an effort to increase activation of public spaces in the Lloyd and along the Green Loop — the City of Portland’s six-mile linear park project that is still in its infancy. “We wanted to do something other than a food cart pod,” Jones shared with BikePortland Thursday. Jones — who gives credit to local bike advocate, business owner, and former leader of nonprofit BikeLoud PDX, Kiel Johnson, for getting the idea off the ground — sees a lot of potential for the space.

Concept drawing of view looking north from NE Flanders. Bridge would be on the left.

And Jones isn’t the only one excited about this project: He has already won a $16,500 community livability grant from Prosper Portland to make it happen.

The idea is to have outdoor seating, rotating food and drink vendors, two performance stages, new signage on the bridge, and of course, lots of bike parking. PBOT counts show about 700-1,000 people cross the Blumenauer Bridge per day — that’s an impressive number (about half the weekday total on the Hawthorne) that gives Jones and other project partners lots of optimism that this space can become a biker hangout.

“We see this as a perfect landing spot for cyclists,” Jones said.

And Kiel Johnson shared with BikePortland this morning that, “It is an amazing location that should be an important rallying point for Portland bicycling culture.”

Another idea from TwentyFour7 is to build a bike-thru window where you’ll be able to swing in and grab a breakfast burrito and coffee as you ride across town to work or that morning meeting. Or heck, it’s a cool enough spot to be a ride destination!

Friends of Green Loop Executive Director and Bear Blocks project leader Keith Jones leading a Pedalpalooza ride in 2022. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Jones attended a private party at the space earlier this year and said, “It’s beautiful. You’ve got the bridge lit up and you can see the entire city. And it’s surprisingly quiet and with the music going, it’s amazing.”

And if done right, the spot could also lure the thousands of convention-goers that stay in hotels in the Lloyd just across Sullivan’s Gulch. Right now, many Portland visitors stay in the Lloyd along the busy MLK/Grand couplet — an area that isn’t all that memorable. But if all goes according to plan, they’ll hop on bikes and roll over to Bear Blocks for a true Portland experience closer to their rooms and easier to access than downtown. Jones says he wants local bike advocacy nonprofit BikeLoud PDX to have a permanent presence at the site.

The northern section of the lot is used as employee car parking for local businesses during the week, but on weekends it will be open for use as a market space. Jones already has plans for a holiday market in December.

This is the second example of bike-oriented development (BOD) we’ve heard about since the Blumenauer Bridge opened in July 2022. Earlier this year a bike shop opened nearby and its owner said he feels the new bridge is a “major draw” for his customers.

The build-out of Bear Blocks is imminent and Jones hopes to have it wrapped up in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for announcement of a grand opening party for the bike community. Maybe we’ll help kick off with a group ride from Bike Happy Hour!

Jobs of the Week: Community Cycling Center, Ride with GPS, Intercity Transit, Castelli

Need a job? Want a better job? Just looking for a change?

We’ve got seven excellent opportunities for you to consider. Learn more about each one via the links below…

For a complete list of available jobs, click here.

Be the first to know about new job opportunities by signing up for our daily Job Listings email or by following @BikePortland on Twitter.

These are paid listings. And they work! We’ve helped hundreds of people find great jobs and great staff members. If you’d like to post a job on the Portland region’s most popular bike and transportation news platform, you can purchase a listing online for just $75. Learn more at our Job Listings page.

Book Review: A roadmap to Silicon Valley’s money-hungry mobility motives

Over the past 15 years, my brain has become like a Benson Bubbler, a lot of flow in and out, but not much retention.

That is what makes a book like Paris Marx’s Road to Nowhere: What Silicon Valley Gets Wrong about the Future of Transportation so useful. Surely I read about all this as it was happening, but the author’s clarity and framing brings today’s battle over who is allowed to benefit from a city into focus.

Marx’s contribution is to link the history of automobility in the 20th century to what we are living through now — Silicon Valley’s attempt to remake mobility for their profit.

The book begins with an engaging synopsis of how the car came to dominate US transportation. Its first chapter covers the same ground as Peter Norton’s Fighting Traffic: The Dawn of the Motor Age in the American City, but is shorter and less academic. Marx is a pleasure to read and has a gift for presenting a lot of material so smoothly that it never overwhelms the reader.

the meat of his book, that tech’s attempt to capture transportation perpetuates the problems of automobility, that it does not benefit average people, but rather remakes cities in a form appealing to Silicon Valley’s elite.

He notes that the bicycle and streetcar were early disruptors of urban transportation, and cites researchers John Falcocchio and Herbert Levinson regarding how new transportation technologies have tended to increase travel speeds. The researchers continue, “each time travel speed has increased, the amount of land used for urban growth has increased and population density has decreased.” This explains the fundamental connection between land use and transportation.

But it took the arrival of the automobile, and its mass-production, to alter cities in such a condensed time frame that it can be difficult for us to grasp.

From outrage to normalization

In 1908, there were 8,000 cars on the road. Twelve years later, by 1920, that number had increased by three orders of magnitude to 8 million. Congestion and carnage ensued and reformers pushed back hard.

Children were most vulnerable to the onslaught of cars, and urban residents reached for the language of war to express fury over their deaths. Mothers of children killed by cars were called white- or gold-star mothers, like those who had lost children in Europe. Bells tolled for the dead and lists of names were recited. It was widely publicized that in the four years following Armistice Day more Americans were killed in car crashes than “had died in the battle of France.”

A widespread campaign to restrict automobiles began—Cincinnati residents even pushed for an automatic speed limiter for cars!

If this all sounds a little bit like now, Marx argues that it is, except that mass death by car had yet to be normalized, “Today, if a pedestrian dies by venturing into the street, people often respond by questioning why they were there in the first place.”

In the face of calls for regulation, automakers realized that “the streets did not properly accommodate their product,” and the rest is history. Those set to profit from cars lobbied to redesign cities and succeeded. Pedestrians were restricted to sidewalks and crosswalks, the idea of a “jaywalker” was born.

The con

From that well-trodden history, Marx pivots to the meat of his book, that tech’s attempt to capture transportation perpetuates the problems of automobility, that it does not benefit average people, but rather remakes cities in a form appealing to Silicon Valley’s elite:

These new infrastructures promoted by Musk and Uber executives use egalitarian language to gain public support for a vision of mobility where the urban form and transport systems effectively stay the same, but wealthy people have new ways of paying to opt out of the problems that other residents have to experience every single day.

And in this well-researched and documented book he covers it all: autonomous cars, the 3-D transit system (tunnels and flying cars), electric vehicles, ride-sharing, and dockless micromobility (scooters, bikes). He also details the negative impact the existing services have had on workers, regulation, transit, and congestion. Their presence is not neutral.

Take autonomous cars. One criticism Marx has is that they don’t work, and that testing them has been dangerous. He recounts the cascade of errors and irresponsibility that led to the 2018 death of a woman crossing the street with a bicycle by one of Uber’s self-driving cars. The most shocking aspect of the story to me is the lack of regulatory scrutiny.

Of Uber, Marx writes,

The actions of Uber executives and engineers are in line with the “move fast and break things” culture that is promoted in Silicon Valley, one which is motivated first and foremost by beating competitors to market by launching a minimum viable product and capturing market share as quickly as possible in the pursuit of monopoly.

Unfortunately for all of us, this usually leaves regulators and cities several steps behind in a game of catch-up. But like the automotive interests on the 1920s, tech suggests that maybe the environment should change to better accommodate their products. Autonomous cars would function better if pedestrians wore beacons signaling their presence.

About those pedestrians, Marx’s take on dockless e-scooters shifted my thinking a little. In a chapter titled “The coming fight for the sidewalk,” he presents the encroachment of rental scooters and bikes on the sidewalk in light of the historic relegation of pedestrians to “thin strips” on the side of the road. He also pushes back against the idea that everyone who opposes change is a NIMBY:

The problem with framing the negative response to micromobility as a typical reaction by people who do not know better or simply oppose any and all change is that it ignores the power dynamics at play in the rollout of these services. Residents’ anger at the littering of scooters throughout their communities should instead be seen through the lens of the opposition to the automobile in the 1920s…

Marx ends the book by broadening his discussion beyond transportation to tech’s goal of a “frictionless” society, one in which people don’t get in the way of deliveries, and in which billionaires get their cut of every interaction. Think about that the next time you use Silicon Valley to mediate your food order.

All in all, this book is both a good introduction to transportation issues for someone new to them, and also time well spent for those already familiar with the subject. It is very well researched, with a lot of footnotes, and it is surprisingly easy to read. Marx is a good writer. I think I’ll be keeping this book next to my computer for handy reference.

Bike Route Report: NoPo Kelley Point Park Loop (Video)

I had so much fun creating that video on local bike path conditions a few weeks ago, I decided to do it again. I’m calling this series Bike Route Report and it’s a fun way for me to share routes, highlight the good/bad/ugly conditions along them, and offer some background and insights about the infrastructure along the way.

This episode’s route is one that’s near and dear to my heart. It starts at Peninsula Park and does an 18-mile loop up to Kelley Point Park (where the Willamette and Columbia rivers meet north of downtown St. Johns). This is one of the best routes in Portland and it has been a staple for me for many years.

In this video, you’ll learn about and see up close: The protected bike lanes on North Rosa Parks Way, the conditions on N Willamette Blvd as we wait for the big changes coming soon, how to connect to the 40-Mile Loop under the St. Johns Bridge, the protected bike lanes on N Lombard, the dicey intersection and bridge on Columbia Blvd, the multi-use path out to Kelley Point, the massive new car storage lot at Terminal 6, the off-road trails at Smith & Bybee Lakes park, the Columbia Slough Trail, and more.

Here’s the route:

If you’ve got info to share about this route, feel free to leave a comment. And thanks for riding along with me! If you like the video, subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can also browse all our past videos.

Weekend Event Guide: Bike lane art, Asian solidarity, denim vests, and more

Sunday’s Art in the Bike Lane ride will hunt down stylish sharrows and bike lane characters while celebrating this quirky Portland tradition. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Welcome to the weekend! Here’s our weekly selection of rides and events worth your time. Please note, it’s Pedalpalooza season. That means there are tons of rides every day. See them all here. (Also note that rides usually leave 30 minutes after the posted meet-up time.)

Friday, August 18th

Denim Vest Friday Ride – 5:00 pm at Baerlic Brewing (NE)
Nothing says Portland bike punk like a patched-up denim vest. If that’s your aesthetic, or if you’re like me and merely aspire to be that cool, this is the ride for you. Also will be a patch exchange. More info here.

Opera Ride – 7:00 pm at Oregon Park (NE)
Imagine pedaling in a group next as a carefully curated dramatic playlist with interspersed dialogue reverberates off the walls and surfaces. Then at the end there’s food and live music. Yeah. More info here.

Friday Night Ride – 7:00 pm at Ladd Circle (SE)
A big weekly community ride that goes late and is guaranteed to please. More info here.

Saturday, August 19th

River City Bicycles Cyclocross Clinic – 9:30 am at Colonel Summers Park (SE)
Cross is coming and RCB has your back. Let their extremely fast and extremely nice staff show you all the tricks you’ll need to have the most fun possible this season. More info here.

Pedal to Paddle – 9:30 am at Beaumont Middle School (NE)
Join Columbia Slough Watershed Council for a ride to Whitaker Ponds Nature Park where you’ll get to dip in the water and view wildlife from one of their boats. More info here.

Behind the Bollards Ride – 10:30 am at Ankeny Tap & Table (SE)
The local chapter of Strong Towns wants to recruit you into their cabal of tactical urbanists who are dedicated to placing bollards everywhere in the name of safe and sane cities. Bollards will be installed on this ride (paper ones, but still!). More info here.

Ride With a Buddy Group Ride – 11:00 am at Kerr Bikes and Boats (SE)
Adaptive Biketown is hosting this ride aimed at getting more folks onto the paths under their own power. Come out and reserve one of their amazing bikes that can help almost anyone feel confident enough to ride. More info here.

Asian Solidarity Ride – 4:30 pm at Laurelhurst Park (SE)
“Love in Public” is the mantra for this ride that will center the experiences of Asian and Pacific Islanders and their ongoing struggle to feel safe and seen in public spaces. More info here.

Sunday, August 20th

Ride Westside Ride – 10:30 am at Hillsboro Farmer’s Market (WashCo)
This 20-mile loop (you can cut it in half if you want) will introduce you to the good/bad/ugly of bike infrastructure in Hillsboro. More info here.

Tree Hugger Ride – 10:30 am at Arbor Lodge Park (N)
Let the Arbor Lodge Tree Team take you on a tour of amazing trees while you learn about what makes them so special. Hugging encouraged. More info here.

Art in the Bike Lane – 2:00 pm at Clinton City Park (SE)
The 3rd annual edition of this ride will explore cool bike lane characters in southeast. Come dressed as your fave character and snap a portrait at the photo booth. Special guests and costume contest at the end! More info here.

No Contact Cat – 2:00 pm at Irving Park (NE)
A good, old-fashioned alley cat bike race and scavenger hunt that will raise money for a really good cause. Participants will grab pics of iconic Portland landmarks and complete tasks for extra points. More info here.

Mask First: Gateway Connections – 6:00 pm at Gateway Discovery Park (NE)
Mask First, Then Helmet is a cycling club that believes immunocompromised people are being left out of group bike rides when folks don’t wear masks. This fully-masked ride will be inclusive of all ages and abilities. More info here.

We had a little bike show at Happy Hour and it was rad

MADE Bike Show director Billy Sinkford (green shirt on left) and the crowd on the patio last night. (Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

We did something at Bike Happy Hour last night I’ve dreamt of for a long time, and it turned out to be pretty neat. Our first “Show & Tell” night was all about paying respects to handmade bikes. Despite stifling heat, we had some fantastic folks and spokes show up.

With the MADE Bike Show rolling into town next week (August 24-27), Portland will be the center of the handmade bike world once again. This will be a massive event and I want it to be a big success, so I hooked up with the creator of the show, Billy Sinkford, and we decided to have a little pre-party.

While Happy Hour regulars stayed cool on the Gorges Beer patio by sitting under the misters, sipping cold drinks, and squirting each other with super-soakers, the adjacent parking lot turned into a mini bike show.

Van set the tone with his amazing trio of Portland-made beauties. His 1982 Jim Merz MTB stole the show. Merz was an early local bike influencer who was befriended by a guy named Mike Sinyard from California. Sinyard, who would go onto launch Specialized Bicycles, brought Merz on early to be one of his main builders. Merz actually welded many of the early Stumpjumpers!

Van also brought a 1974 and 2021 Strawberry. The older one was made in northwest Portland by Andy Newlands and the newer one was built by Dave Levy from TiCycles (also in Portland) with Newlands’ blessing.

Then there was Colton’s gold and black Rodeo Labs Flaanimal, Art’s 1989 Salsa A La Carte made by Ross Schafer, Eric and his bamboo bike with hemp lugs that he made himself from a kit(!), Sean from Rendered on the recumbent that’s featured on the Pedalpalooza poster, Mark’s tremendous titanium tall bike, Billy’s brand new and custom Moots/MADE Bike Show collab, Joe’s rare Kinn longtail, Robin’s curvy pink Frances, Jeremy’s Destroy singlespeed, Hurl’s Team 7/11-themed Breadwinner, Mike’s Bantam, Martine’s (aka Bahn Mi By Bike) road bike she made herself, Bob’s 1984 Mark DiNucci (another legendary Portlander builder), and we even had Jake swing by with one of the classic Stumptown models made by (now defunct) Portland brand Mountain Cycle.

And there were even more!

We had local framebuilders show up to represent their craft. Joseph Ahearne of Ahearne Cycles, Bob Kamzelski of Bantam Bicycle Works, and Tony Pereira from Breadwinner Cycles.

Check out the portraits Billy made of all the bikes and their people below:

Mike and his Bantam made in Portland by Bob Kamzelski.

Speaking of Breadwinner, they had the strongest turnout with four of their rigs showing up.

It was a really great night. Thanks to everyone who came out.

And special thanks to Billy for taking these portraits!

Remember, use code BIKEPORTLAND (yes, all caps) to get 15% off admission to the show. See our recent post for more details, follow made.bike on IG and check out the official show website.

See you next week! (Actually, I’ll miss week 21 but Carey Booth will take over hosting duties in my place.)

Job: Financial Accountant – Castelli Sportful USA

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title

Financial Accountant

Company / Organization

Castelli Sportful USA

Job Description

Financial Accountant, Castelli USA
Castelli is a cycling apparel manufacturer based out of Fonzaso Italy. Known for performance and innovation, Castelli is responsible for almost every major innovation in cycling apparel and has outfitted pro peloton riders since 1876.

Castelli Sportful USA is a subsidiary of MVC-Italy and has been in Portland, Oregon since 2006. The scope of the business is inline and custom sales, and the brand is sold directly and through wholesale accounts.

The Financial Accountant is responsible for processing Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable transactions, as well as other general accounting functions. This position reports directly to the Director of Finance. Specific responsibilities include:
• Enter Accounts Payable invoices into the appropriate vendor ledger.
• Ensure vendor payments are processed for payment within vendor terms.
• Process refund payments to customers for approved sales returns.
• Monitor accounts receivable aging, email statements to customers, and recommend changes to customer credit limits.
• Process customer credit card payments and electronically deposit checks.
• Work with TEAM sales to reconcile TEAM A/R accounts.
• Perform month-end reconciliation of designated accounts; create accrual and adjusting journal entries.
• Maintain fixed asset register; record new asset purchases; calculate and record monthly depreciation; record asset retirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge Required for the Position/Qualifications:
• This position requires problem solving skills, the ability to work independently with minimal direction, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• This position requires the ability to work with colleagues individually or in groups for the purpose of problem solving and creating policies and procedures.
• This position requires knowledge in Excel, Word, Outlook and strong general computer skills. Knowledge of other Microsoft Office products is helpful.
• This position requires a 2-year Associate degree in Accounting or equivalent work experience.

Other Information:
Reports to: Director of Finance
Hours: Full Time (40 hours)
Schedule: 5-day week in office
Compensation: Salaried $45K to $50K, Exempt
Benefits: Health, dental and vision, 401(k), PTO

How to Apply

Please forward your resume to the Finance Director at accounting@castelli-us.com

Job: Human Resources Analyst (Recruiter) – Intercity Transit

Job Title

Human Resources Analyst (Recruiter)

Company / Organization

Intercity Transit

Job Description

Walk N Roll Program Representative – Community Bike Shop Educator & Mechanic

Intercity Transit’s Walk N Roll program partners with schools and community organizations to offer activities that educate and encourage youth to walk, bike, roll, and take the bus for transportation. The Walk N Roll program strives to create a healthier, safer, and more active community. We are currently recruiting a Walk N Roll Program Representative to oversee the operations of the Walk N Roll educational bike shop, provide bike mechanic education and oversee the repair and maintenance of bicycles that support Walk N Roll’s bike education programs.

If you have:
Skills in bicycle mechanics including the ability to lead and educate others.
The ability to create a welcoming space that fosters community.
Proven ability to manage completing priorities effectively and work independently.
High level of personal accountability for the quality, safety, and impact of your work
Proven ability to work in a collaborative environment and complete projects within a team.

Then this position is for you!
Intercity Transit is looking for a Walk N Roll Program Representative to oversee all operations related to the Walk N Roll educational bike shop. They will be responsible for the repair and maintenance of donated bicycles while coordinating and implementing bicycle mechanics education, programs, classes, and activities. This is a great opportunity to work with K-12 students, adult community members, school staff, parents, volunteers, and community partners. The Walk N Roll Program Representative will also serve as Intercity Transit’s Employee Transportation Coordinator overseeing the agencies Commute Trip Reduction program.

It’s an exciting time to join IT!
Build a career you enjoy, in an agency that is a nationally recognized urban transit system with diverse services and strong community support. Intercity Transit provides fixed route transit, ADA paratransit and vanpool services in Washington state’s capitol city of Olympia in addition to the neighboring communities of Lacey, Tumwater, and Yelm. This is an exciting time with great opportunities, and we invite you to join us in our mission to provide and promote transportation choices that support an accessible, sustainable, livable, healthy and prosperous community.

As a Walk N Roll Program Representative, you will:
Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Walk N Roll educational bike shop. Responsible for creating and maintaining a safe, organized, and inclusive educational space. Monitor inventory and order bicycle parts and tools.
Implement and maintain systems for the retrieval, storage, and repair of donated and fleet bikes. Ensure program bikes are properly repaired and in safe riding condition.
Coordinate, promote and implement bike shop activities, events, and classes.
Handle the waste stream for unsalvageable bikes and bike parts.
Source, recruit, train, and track bike shop volunteers.
Develop curriculum and provide bike mechanic and maintenance instruction and training to youth and adults.
Provide technical oversight for bicycle repair to volunteers, community members and youth.
Support bike, pedestrian, and transit education, activities, outreach, events, and classes.
Collaborate with other staff and volunteers.
Serve as Intercity Transit’s Employee Transportation Coordinator overseeing the Commute Trip Reduction Program (CTR). Facilitate committee meetings; prepare agendas, minutes, and supporting documents. Track data, create reports, attend networking sessions, and send communications to Intercity Transit employees about the CTR program.
Support other marketing and communication activities. Provides administrative support to the WNR program.

Are you the one we are looking for?
Associates degree or a specialized certificate training in bicycle mechanics, bicycle riding safety, education, or other related field AND three (3) years of experience working in bicycle repair; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
You must have a Washington State driver’s license within the first 30 days of employment and be willing to submit to a criminal background investigation, the results of which must meet the agency’s hiring criteria.
Knowledge of bicycle repair; safe cycling practices and principles; adult and youth education; volunteer recruitment and coordination; collaboration and team-building practices; computers, basic desktop publishing, database and/or spreadsheet design; modern office procedures, methods, and equipment.
Skilled in bicycle mechanics including the ability to ensure that bicycle repairs are done to an excellent standard of safety and functionality; safe, legal, and competent cycling skills; public speaking and presenting; working with the public, youth, educators, and a wide-range of stakeholders; safely operating program van and trailer; using computers and related software applications; prioritizing work and performing multiple tasks; establishing and abiding by project timelines; compiling and distributing data, materials and information; communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interactions with K-12 youth, volunteers, coworkers, supervisor, and the public to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

What’s in it for you?
Receive a competitive salary of $29.21 – $39.47 an hour in addition to annual general wage/cost of living adjustments typically received in January and step increases in July (if not at top of salary range).
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
PERS Retirement Plans (through Washington State Public Employee’s Retirement System) along with voluntary deferred compensation plans (401k and 457) with employer match up to 6.2%.
12 to 25 vacation days per year depending upon date of eligibility and length of service.
12 days of sick leave per year depending upon date of eligibility.
Up to 48 hours of floating holiday time.
$200 incentive for each COVID-19 booster vaccination dose.

Intercity Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer and strives to provide a culturally diverse workforce. We also take pride in being a drug free workplace. Note that Intercity Transit is subject to requirements of the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and CFR Part 40 & Part 655, which prohibit the use of marijuana at any time while employed by Intercity Transit.

How to Apply

Ready to jump on board?
We would love for you to apply! Please submit a complete electronic application online at www.intercitytransit.com/employment. Your application package must include a letter of interest and resume that clearly explains how you meet the qualifications of the position. Be advised, we will not consider incomplete applications. Intercity Transit’s preferred method of communication is via email, so an accurate and active email address is essential.

Completed applications must be received by 5:00pm on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

Riding the reborn SW Capitol Highway

Back in July, the City of Portland finally cut the ribbon on their $30 million makeover of Southwest Capitol Highway. This morning I finally got out there to take a closer look.

The project stretches about one mile from SW Garden Home Road (near Multnomah Village) to SW Taylors Ferry Rd (near I-5). And if you’re wondering why we spent $30 million on one mile of road, keep in mind that this was much more than just a transportation project. In addition to new sidewalks, bikeways, curbs, and pavement, the City also laid down 7,000 linear feet of stormwater pipe, 3,000 linear feet of water main, built three large stormwater treatment gardens and built 13 retaining walls.

Combine all that with the fact that folks have been asking for this for over 30 years, and the City had to cut into the yards of about 100 homes to gain the width for the sidewalk and bikeway — and you understand why it was such a big deal to finally get it done. And in a part of town like southwest, where it’s almost impossible to ride a bike in most areas, having a mile of protected bikeways on a major street is nothing to shake a frame pump at.

This morning I rode it a few times. Scroll down for a full photo gallery and video ride-through.

Beginning of southbound bikeway at Garden Home Rd. (Note tire marks)

This is some of Portland’s best work. Besides the cross-bureau collaboration it took to make this happen, the street itself looks and feels really good. At quick glance, the non-driving space is about as wide as the driving space. That’s a great sign that people will feel comfortable walking and biking.

The biking space feels more like a sidewalk than I prefer. It’s separated from the street by a curb, which is great, but the concrete material is indistinguishable from the sidewalk and the bikeway. PBOT is still in the process of laying down a dividing line stripe which should help a bit, but I’d love to see more use of different colors to mark vehicle spaces (which bike lanes are) from walking spaces. (It’s also notable that the concept drawings on PBOT’s website show the bike lane a different color than the sidewalk.).

The bikeway itself is intuitive to use and feels very safe. Because the street is only one lane of car drivers in each direction and the speed limit is just 25 mph, the overall riding environment is pleasant and calm.

The bikeway crosses a ton of residential driveways. This might not end up being an issue, but any time you have people backing out with their cars over a bikeway, bad things can happen. The fact that PBOT has installed a bunch of yellow caution signs saying, “Warning Look Driveway Slow Down” makes me think they are concerned about this too.

Heading northbound just past Barbur Blvd.

The southbound bikeway is very slightly uphill, so it’s not as wide and has less separation from pedestrians than the northbound (downhill) side. In some spots, both sides feel a bit cramped. If we ever have the type of bike mode share we all expect and dream about, facilities like this will be very tight.

I saw only three bike riders the entire time I was out there (on a sunny, pleasant, weekday morning) and they were all on e-bikes and they were all taking the lane (not even using the new bikeways).

This project is a godsend for runners and walkers! What an amazing new facility for nearby residents.

On both ends of the project, I was sad to see the same thing our bike network suffers from almost everywhere else: the protected environment erodes quickly into narrow, unprotected bike lanes and then drops to nothing right when all the good destinations appear. On the Multnomah Village side, the project dumps riders onto a narrow, paint-only bike lane (that was full of gravel) as it descends into the shops and cafes where it them becomes a shared-lane environment.

At least on the Village end, the street is chill and calm. But on the south side, the project comes to a very ignominious end. In a matter of a few hundred yards, you go from: off-street protected bikeway, to on-street, curb-protected bike lane; then to painted, unprotected bike lane; and then you are discarded into a narrow crossing of a slip lane before being directed onto a narrow sidewalk. Then you come to SW Barbur and I-5 on-ramps where they’ve installed a teeny-tiny bike box. I shudder to think what some folks will do when they reach this point. It takes a big leap of faith to continue southbound to the other side of the freeway.

Overall, this project is a huge step forward for southwest Portland and our bike network in general. It’s a demonstration of what’s possible when the City puts their best foot forward and builds “8-80” all ages bike facilities. I just wish projects like this didn’t take so long to get built. And I wish they connected directly to other bikeways of similar quality.

As it is, with its limited connections and the overall lack of bike-friendly routes in this area, I just hope enough people ride it to solidify the “built it and they will come” narrative that is likely to be increasingly scrutinized in political debates in the months and years to come.

NOTE: I forgot to switch the banner in the second half of the video. Sorry for any confusion.

Here’s how Multnomah County wants to end traffic deaths

Lost amid the protests, politicking, and police statements at last week’s traffic safety press conference was a new report from Multnomah County that offers clear solutions to our staggering increase in crashes, deaths and injuries.

While Portland Transportation Commissioner Mingus Mapps said the focus of the event was to spark a “culture change” on our roads by focusing on individual behaviors, the County’s report recommends shifting away from behavior change and instead building a “safe system” by investing in safer road designs, changing laws to promote safer vehicles, funding health services to create safer vehicle users, and more.

For the first time ever, the County has gone beyond police records and engineering analyses to understand this problem. Instead, their report relied on data compiled from medical examiner investigation records. The report, Public Health Data Report: Traffic Crash Deaths in Multnomah County Taking a Safe System approach to address traffic-related fatality trends & contributing factors, digs into the data from 2020 and 2021 and comes at the problem from an epidemiological perspective.

Brendon Haggerty at the press conference Monday.

At the press conference on Monday, Multnomah County Healthy Homes and Communities Manager Brendon Haggerty said the recent rise in traffic deaths and injuries is an “alarming situation.”

“It’s a leading cause of death, the trend is going up, and what’s especially alarming is that we see racial disparities,” Haggerty said in his remarks in front of City Hall.

The County’s report used data from 170 deaths and focused on several factors that influence crash injury severity: speed and roadway design; race, socio-economic and housing status; and use of intoxicants.

Excessive speed was found to be a factor in 42% of traffic crash deaths in 2020 and 2021. Over that same two-year time frame, the report found that a quarter of all traffic fatalities were homeless people and there’s twice the rate of traffic death among Black people as non-Hispanic whites. And when it comes to the use of intoxicants, four out of five victims tested positive for at least one. “That doesn’t necessarily indicate impairment,” Haggerty cautioned. “But it is a very high proportion.”

To turn things around, Haggerty said the answer is in the “safe systems” approach (of which the concept “vision zero” is just one element). Given the role of human behavior in traffic deaths, Haggerty said, “A critical insight of that approach is that humans make mistakes. And our system should be built so that when mistakes happen, they don’t result in serious injury.”

The County’s direct role will be to help people find more stable housing so they spend less time on the street exposed to high-risk intersections. They can also provide more behavior health and addiction support, so that people are in a healthier state when they get behind the wheel of a car.

On other measures, the County will have to use soft power to have an influence. This report is part of that effort.

Fewer people would die, the report found, if people would drive smaller cars. The report was one of the first from a local government agency to specifically identify the role larger, heavier cars have on the death toll. The County wants to work with state and city officials to increase the registration fee for heavier and taller, non-commercial vehicles.

The report offers a range of detailed recommendations. The ones that caught my eyes were: a 30 mph, countywide urban street speed limit that would be supported by investments in proven traffic calming projects; automated enforcement cameras; the use of more unarmed traffic officers; statewide laws on speed-limiting technology and alcohol detection systems in vehicles; and political opposition to all projects that “increase or do not decrease” vehicle miles traveled.

If Commissioner Mapps was looking for a plan of action, this report from the County would be a great place to start. I highly recommend giving it a read. Find the full report here.

See cool bikes, win MADE show tickets, enjoy new beers, and stay cool at Happy Hour tomorrow

Last week’s patio scene. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Yes I know the weather has been less than ideal for being outside, but you know how they say, “Misery loves company”? Well, that seems to have been made for us this week as we gird ourselves for some time outside at Bike Happy Hour tomorrow (Weds, 8/16).

I hope you’ll join us for community commiseration and conversations as we embrace cooler temperatures (it won’t even reach 100 degrees tomorrow!) and celebrate the excellent bikes of Portland. Yes it is a special “Show & Tell” Happy Hour where we’ll share our love of great bikes and the people who create and build them.

As I mentioned last week, the big MADE Bike Show is coming next week (August 24-27) and to help stoke the stoke, we want you to bring your cool, custom (or customized) bike and get ready to show it off. Whether you’re the lucky few who owns a handmade bike from a custom framebuilder or you’ve just added extra-special details to your beloved commuter, we want to see what you’ve got. (The funny thing about this is I usually take a walk through the racks each week and do this myself anyways, because I love all the neat bikes that show up!).

To spice things up a bit more, MADE Bike Show creator and head honch Billy Sinkford will be our special guest. He’ll give away swag and a few tickets to lucky winners. There’s also a very good chance you’ll get to meet and chat with a local builder or two.

Speaking of spice, Travis (owner of Gorges Beer Co and Ankeny Tap & Table) just told me they’ve got two new beers on the menu that are great for hot days: Golden Eagle Golden Ale (4.0% ABV), named after the king of eastern Oregon’s skies, “this ale is light, while remaining powerfully flavorful with notes of red currant, strawberry, and citrus”; and Augtoberfest Festbier (5.3% ABV), a late summer favorite at Gorges, “this German lager has a rich yellow color with a malty, bready sweetness and a super smooth finish with spicy, herbal and floral characteristics.”

And don’t fret the heat! We’ll have the misters on full-blast, there’s AC inside if you need a break, and I’m bringing two super-soakers just in case.

See you on the patio tomorrow!

Bike safety 101: Let’s help folks feel better on their bikes

What do we talk about when we talk about bike safety? It’s a topic that is so fundamental — almost trite — to so many of us that we rarely address it on BikePortland these days.

That’s why I was happy that the folks at City Cast Portland asked me about it for the latest episode of their podcast. Host Claudia Meza asked me some important questions that I know I didn’t answer completely, so I figured I’d share them here so you can add to and improve my responses.

The thing that stuck with me from our conversation was how new cyclists feel about the dangers on our streets and what they can do to mitigate them. What I mean is, I always feel uncomfortable when media folks ask me, “Are the streets safe for cycling?” because I know my personal feelings about it are very different than other riders — especially people who are new to cycling and/or Portland.

With Pedalpalooza in full swing, and judging by all the newbies I meet at Bike Happy Hour each week (see you tomorrow, right?!), I know there are a lot of folks just coming into cycling that could really use some tips and advice on how to feel and be safer.

So… Below are the questions Claudia asked me. You can hear my responses by listening to the podcast episode (above). And I’d love to hear your responses in the comments. If any of you take the time to share your thoughts, this post could be a good resource for a lot of people. Here are the questions…

Have you noticed commuting by bike getting more dangerous in Portland?
What are some other safety concerns you see while riding?
How can bicyclists find the safest routes to get around?
Are there any routes that are way too dangerous for bicyclists?
Are there any apps or websites where people can plan their trips?
What are the three things you check for before heading out on ride so you’re not accidentally creating a hazard for yourself?
What can drivers be doing better to ensure riders’ safety while sharing the road?

Like I said in the interview, even though fatal bike crashes have remained at zero or very low for years now; every time tragedy strikes — regardless of it happens to a walker, driver, or whoever — cyclists feel it on a visceral level. The more we help each other navigate those feelings and share tips and resources, the more confident, safe and relaxed everyone will be out on our streets.

Thanks for sharing your insights and perspective.

City Cast Portland Podcast, 8/15/23: Biking 101: How to Stay Safe in Portland

‘Bear Blocks’ will bring new bike-friendly gathering space to Blumenauer Bridge

Jobs of the Week: Community Cycling Center, Ride with GPS, Intercity Transit, Castelli

Book Review: A roadmap to Silicon Valley’s money-hungry mobility motives

From outrage to normalization

The con

Bike Route Report: NoPo Kelley Point Park Loop (Video)

Weekend Event Guide: Bike lane art, Asian solidarity, denim vests, and more

Friday, August 18th

Saturday, August 19th

Sunday, August 20th

We had a little bike show at Happy Hour and it was rad

Job: Financial Accountant – Castelli Sportful USA

Job Title

Company / Organization

Job Description

How to Apply

Job: Human Resources Analyst (Recruiter) – Intercity Transit

Job Title

Company / Organization

Job Description

How to Apply

Riding the reborn SW Capitol Highway

Here’s how Multnomah County wants to end traffic deaths

See cool bikes, win MADE show tickets, enjoy new beers, and stay cool at Happy Hour tomorrow

Bike safety 101: Let’s help folks feel better on their bikes

Latest Headlines

Survey roundup: TriMet, PBOT, and Multnomah County

Video: Public weighs in on 82nd Ave Transit Project

State bicycle and pedestrian committee seeks business rep

Facing public and board pressure, TriMet walks back 82nd Ave bus lane decision

From the Archives

Protestor blocks bus and bike lanes on Division with his car