🚨 Please note that BikePortland slows down during this time of year as I have family in town and just need a break! Please don't expect typical volume of news stories and content. I'll be back in regular form after the new year. Thanks. - Jonathan 🙏

First look at TriMet’s new multimodal trip planner

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Bibiana McHugh of TriMet gave a
special sneak preview of the tool today.
(Photo: Michael Andersen)

This guest post is by Michael Andersen of Portland Afoot, PDX’s 10-minute newsmagazine and wiki for transit commuters.

Already known internationally for its top-notch website and pioneering use of open data, Portland’s transit agency is about to take another leap toward making low-car life easy and intuitive.

With the launch of its new Regional Trip Planner – that’s the link to the latest version, which will go live on TriMet’s website tomorrow – TriMet will be the first American transit agency whose website uses open-source software to plan trips the way low-car humans do: by figuring out the best combination of bike, train, bus, foot and even, eventually (gasp) automobile.

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Job: Social Media Specialist (Community Cycling Center)

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Job Title
Social Media Specialist

Company/Organization
Community Cycling Center

Job Description
Social Media Specialist Position

About the Community Cycling Center
We believe that a bicycle is a tool for empowerment and a vehicle for change. The Community Cycling Center is a 501(c) 3 that broadens access to bicycling and its benefits through our hands-on programs, volunteer projects, and neighborhood shop. The Community Cycling Center is an energetic workplace with a collaborative style. Visit www.CommunityCyclingCenter.org for more information about us. The Community Cycling Center is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals with diverse abilities and experiences are encouraged to apply.

Essential Job Functions:
We are seeking a part-time, temporary Social Media Specialist who will be responsible for communicating messages across various social media platforms, e.g. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogs. The candidate should be passionate about social media and capable of writing compelling content for our online audiences.

The Social Media Specialist is responsible for the day-to-day execution of social media campaigns; tasks include daily writing, community listening, maintenance, community engagement/conversation, monitoring and response. This position will be the Community Cycling Center’s brand voice as expressed through all channels of interactive marketing and social media, enhancing the brand’s image, building customer and community loyalty, and increasing awareness of our bike shop, programs and services, all while being mindful of the Community Cycling Center’s mission and values. The Social Media Specialist will also assist the Communications and Marketing department with graphic design projects when needed as directed by the supervisor.

Duties:
Social Media:
• Build our fan base on our social media platforms by engaging our community with impactful, relevant posts and offerings.
• Write daily posts for our Facebook and Twitter accounts. Help build our communities on both platforms to allow for real-time marketing to our customers, partners, and community members.
• Write web posts on a weekly basis, cross-post to Twitter and Facebook.
• Work under direction of Communications and Marketing Manager to ensure proper messaging is being executed online and that it is relevant for our community while complementing our brand.
• Work under direction of Communications and Marketing Manager to update editorial calendars each month.
• Use online listening, supplemental research and daily community learning to provide insights for improving social media programs and enhancing program successes.
• Utilize resources efficiently to maintain/build presence.
• Develop and design tools to support social media initiatives, e.g. landing pages for social media contests, Facebook promotional pages.
• Write and program e-mail communications on a monthly basis using EmailNow (newsletters, promotional emails, etc.).

Graphic Design:
• Provide support for online graphic needs.
• Assistance with production of posters, fliers, and other marketing materials as needed.
• Work under direction of Communications and Marketing Manager to ensure that the design of our marketing materials meet our brand guidelines.

General Duties:
• Attend staff meetings as directed
• Coordinate shared use of office space and computer equipment with supervisor and other users
• All other duties as assigned.

General Qualifications:
• 2+ years background in creating Web content and developing social media strategies.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; the demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally and be a creative thinker.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, resourcefulness, innovative and forward thinking, and demonstrated skills as a team player.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule while remaining organized and meeting assigned deadlines.
• Experience with the use of HTML and CSS and building basic web pages.
• Working knowledge of Photoshop and InDesign.
• Experience with WordPress content management system is helpful.

Position type: Temporary Employee, November – February 2012. We are aiming to hire this position as soon as possible.

Pay range: $12.50 – $16 per hour, depending on experience

Reports to: Communications & Marketing Manager
Hours: Approx. 5 – 20 hours per week, on average 15 hours a week, with a maximum of 20 hours per week. Schedule determined by supervisor on a weekly basis.

How to apply: Please send a cover letter, resume, 2 writing samples (with a social media or journalistic focus) and 2 graphic design samples to: communications@communitycyclingcenter.org

silver Trek 7200 early 2000

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Year: early 2000
Brand: Trek
Model: 7200
Color:silver
Size:large
Stolen in Portland, OR 97212
Stolen:2011-10-14
Stolen From: NE Portland, Hollywood Fred Meyer bike rack (cut through the cable lock)
Neighborhood: sullivans gulch
Owner: Kathy Cooke
OwnerEmail: kcooke88@gmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: Front and rear fenders, cat eye headlight, rear rack Mountain hdwr., Zion natl. park sticker on seat post,
Police record with: not yet
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

City Council extends carfree SW Ankeny permit through January 2012

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Carfree SW Ankeny-10

Carfree SW Ankeny.
(Photo © J. Maus)

On Wednesday, the Portland City Council decided to extend the temporary permit for a carfree SW Ankeny Street between SW 2nd and 3rd Avenues through January 31st of next year.

The project is supported by adjacent businesses, who have agreed to pay the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) for lost parking meter revenue. The initial permit was granted on June 20th and was set to expire on November 1st.

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General Motors: An apology… and an opportunity?

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“We’re in the business of transportation… we are looking at other modes of transportation because not everybody wants to get around in a vehicle and not everyone needs to own a car.”
— Tom Henderson, GM Media Relations

Last night I got a phone call from General Motors’ self-described “PR Guy” Tom Henderson (actual title is Manager, Cross Brand Communications and Media Relations). I had mentioned I wanted to talk with someone from GM about their “Stop pedaling… start driving” ad and Henderson was the guy who came forward.

Our conversation happened before Mark Degnan, Director of Local Advertising and Marketing for GM, posted a statement about the ad on the company’s “Fast Lane” blog (which has since been unanimously panned by commenters).

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A closer look at bike projects coming soon to East Portland

If all goes well, this will become
a more frequent sight in East Portland.
(Photo © J. Maus)

As we shared on Wednesday, the Portland Bureau of Transportation is ready to roll on a set of projects that are likely to give a major jolt to the anemic active transportation network in East Portland.

The draft East Portland in Motion implementation strategy an impressive body of work that combines PBOT’s strengths in bikeway engineering, a collaborative planning approach, and their commitment to fund projects that aren’t car-centric. It’s also noteworthy for the level of knowledge and engagement brought to the table by citizen groups like the East Portland Action Plan bike subcommittee (a.k.a. EPAPBike).

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Teal Specialized Allez 199?

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Year: 199?
Brand: Specialized
Model: Allez
Color:Teal
Size:14 or 15 inch frame
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2011-10-13
Stolen From: directly outside of Pine State Biscuits 3640 Southeast Belmont Street
Neighborhood: se belmont
Owner: Eva Schifter
OwnerEmail: evaschifter@gmail.com
Reward: $100
Description: The bike is Teal with Yellow lettering and purple bar tape. There is a green stripe all around the tires. There is a dent in the downtube about the size of a silver dollar. Please contact me if you have any info 541-490-6745.
Police record with: Portland police bureau
Police reference#: 11-155698
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Security concerns, drug-use along Springwater Corridor give some riders pause

East Sunday Parkways-30

The Springwater at I-205.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Far from just a recreational trail, the Springwater Corridor is a vital active transportation route for thousands of Portlanders. Unfortunately, it’s also a place many people don’t feel safe bicycling through. In the past few weeks I’ve heard a growing number of concerned citizens who feel like certain sections of the Springwater in Southeast Portland are becoming too crime-ridden and dangerous to travel through.

Heidi Swift, who writes the Grit & Glimmer bike blog and writes a column in The Oregonian told us she was bicycling on the Springwater and almost ran into someone who came “stumbling out of the bushes.” “I never take it when it’s dark,” she added, “It’s really dicey back there and I definitely don’t feel safe.” Swift says the area between SE Bell Avenue and 82nd (where you turn off Johnson Creek Blvd) is the worst. “When I’m riding through that section at dusk or dark, I think about all the self-defense skills I know: my voice, fighting from the ground, my proximity to help, etc. I’m on full guard. It’s a shame, because it’s such a useful path.”

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Giant remakes GM ad and other reactions to the story

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Detail of Giant Bicycles response
to GM ad.
-See it below-

It’s been two days since we first shared the “Stop pedaling… Start driving.” General Motors ad and the story — and the ad itself — is still getting a lot of attention. GM themselves has responded by saying they’ll pull the ad out of rotation, several people (and one bike company) have offered their own versions of the ad, the national and local media has taken an interest, and the story has spurred an interesting discussion about the state — and the style — of bike advocacy in America.

Not long after word of the ad spread, GM began apologizing profusely about it via their Twitter stream. They said the “didn’t mean to offend,” that it was created with the help of students, and that they were open to the feedback and working on changes. Then the Los Angeles reported that GM decided to pull the ad saying that, “We respect bikers and many of us here are cyclists.”

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PGE work will close several sections of Springwater for one week

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Closures start tomorrow (10/14) and last one week. Check the press release below for info:

PGE upgrade work to temporarily affect Springwater Trail

WHAT: Portland General Electric is upgrading electrical equipment along the Springwater Trail that will temporarily affect bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

WHERE: Detours will be in place between SE Bell Ave. at SE Johnson Creek Blvd to SE 82nd Ave; SE 82nd Ave to SE 92nd Ave; and SE 92nd Ave to SE Foster Rd.

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 14 – Friday, Oct. 21

WHY: This upgrade work is part of PGE’s ongoing effort to improve service and reliability for its customers.

Job: Mechanic/Sales Person (Lucky 13 Bikes)

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Sorry. This job has been filled. See more jobs here.

Job Title
mechanic / sales person

Company/Organization
Lucky13bikes

Job Description
We are looking for a trustworthy and dependable person with bike shop experience.
We are a full service shop, so the right person will be able to handle tune-ups, bike builds, and a myriad of repairs with confidence. Wheel building, suspension, and disc brake knowledge is a plus. Other general sales duties include helping customers with new bikes, parts, and accessories. The ideal person will be able to work both with and without supervision. Salary commensurate with experience.

How to Apply
please send resume to lucky13bikes (at) gmail (dot) com or drop it off in person at 5020 se division