🎄🚨: BikeCraft is back! Our holiday gift bazaar happens Wednesday, 12/17 at Migration Brewing on N Williams Ave.
See full vendor list here.

Must-see videos: Birds on bikes, bikes on trains, and BRT

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In the last few hours I’ve come across three videos that you don’t want to miss.

The first is the latest from Streetfilms. In their first-ever foray into Asia, it focuses on the bustling metropolis of Guangzhou, China. One of the fastest growing cities in the world, Guangzhou is “winning the future” with the most inspiring example of Bus Rapid Transit I have ever seen.

According to Streetfilms, the Guangzhou BRT system opened in February 2010 and it now carries 800,000 passengers a day, “seamlessly connecting riders to both the metro system and the city’s new bike-share network.” BRT is fascinating to me and it seems to be a big success whenever it’s done right. Trouble is, in America BRT seems to have taken a back seat to rail transit (which is a lot more expensive and takes years to implement). My gut says there’s a lot of cultural bias and politics wrapped into that trend. Maybe China’s success will raise some eyebrows…

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Job: Service Dept. Manager (Western Bikeworks) – Filled

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Job Title: Service Dept. Manager
Company/Organization: Western Bikeworks
Job Description:
This position has been filled.

Seeking professional service department manager for new bike shop opening soon. Must have 3-5 years mechanic experience and 1-2 years management experience.

Requirements include:
– Extensive knowledge of road/mountain/hybrid/etc bike repair

– Proven ability to train, motivate and coach employees

– Ability to work flexible schedule to meet the needs of the business, including evening and weekends

– Ability to stand for several hours and lift up to 50 lbs.

– Outstanding customer service skills

How to Apply:
Qualified applicants should email resume and cover letter to joelt (at) Velotech (dot) com.

Black/white Orbea Orca 2009

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Year: 2009
Brand: Orbea
Model: Orca
Color:Black/white
Size:60 cm
Stolen in Portland, OR 97202
Stolen:2011-03-31
Stolen From: Inside garage.
Neighborhood: Reed neighborhood (just north of the athletic field)
Owner: David Foster
OwnerEmail: dsfoster69@hotmail.com
Reward: $750
Description: SRAM Force components, Zipp bars, headset, seat post, Fizik saddle, Campagnolo Zonda wheels
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 11-25311
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Bike to Blazers update: Join a group ride from your ‘hood

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Bike to Blazers 2010-12

Bring the kids!
(Photo © J. Maus)

Bike to Blazers is this Sunday (4/3)! I hope you’re ready to show the NBA how we roll in Portland.

We still have a few tickets left, so if you haven’t grabbed some already, you can order them online here (don’t forget to use passcode “bikeblazers” to get special package).

After our post with all the event details last week, I’m happy to announce that five people have stepped up to lead group rides to the Rose Garden. Below are the meet-up spots and times (for reference, the game starts at 6:00 pm):

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Job: SoupCycler (SoupCycle)

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Job Title: SoupCycler
Company/Organization: SoupCycle
Job Description:

SoupCycle is looking for an energetic, upbeat and strong-legged person who can brave the winter rains of Portland and still be smiling when they deliver soup to customers. Someone willing to jump in wherever needed and a passion for sustainability and bicycles is a must. You must be physically able to lift 75 lbs and pedal a bike trailer carrying up to 215 lbs.

The position is 22-25 hours/week split Mondays-Wednesdays, with most of your time out on the bike and helping the soup crew in the kitchen. As we grow, so will your weekly hours- eventually maxing out at 30-35 hours/week in the fall and winter. You’ll need a sturdy bike to attach to our soup trailer for deliveries.

Here’s what we’re looking for:
-Someone who genuinely likes people. There’ll be a lot of customer interaction while you deliver, so strong customer service is a must.
-A safe cyclist (use those hand-signals!)
-Good at representing SoupCycle to your fellow Portlanders.
-Excitement about food and sharing that with customers during deliveries.
-Ability to wield a kitchen knife and chop vegetables like it’s nobody’s business.
-Occasional help at weekend street fairs and catering gigs.
-Other business skills are a major plus- including sales, cooking/kitchen experience, business experience.
-A one year minimum commitment.

Pay is $10 an hour plus a small monthly bike upkeep stipend and a generous soup allowance.

How to Apply:
If you’re interested in being an integral part of a bicycle-based business then jump aboard our soupy sailboat. To apply send 2-3 paragraphs by Sunday, April 10th telling us why you’re interested in working for SoupCycle, your bicycling background and all relevant skills to jed(at)soupcycle(dot)com.

Happy Slurping,
Jed
www.soupcycle.com

Job: Consumer Service Rep, Seasonal Temporary, Full-Time (Yakima Products, Inc)

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Job Title: Consumer Service Rep, Seasonal Temporary, Full-Time
Company/Organization: Yakima Products, Inc.

The strong demand for Yakima products has provided additional opportunities for seasonal consumer service reps. The duration of the work is through August, 2011.

General Description:

The position is responsible to respond to, and follows through on consumers’ requests for service and product information. In addition this position supports Yakima Products end users by providing technical product information, product / vehicle fit information, and warranty support and evaluation. Responsibilities include processing a high number of phone calls, emails and sales orders. Further, this position will execute and support projects with teammates to deliver against initiatives in Yakima’s strategic and annual plans.

Scope and Responsibilities:

•Troubleshoot, analyze, and resolve consumer problems in a timely, efficient, and professional manner, and within established guidelines
•Process sales orders, including follow-up and documentation
•Provide technical product support to consumers by phone and email
•Increase sales through suggestive selling to consumers

Specific Duties:

•Promptly and professionally answer a high volume of incoming calls
•Knowledge of company procedures, products and services
•Accurately and timely process sales orders
•Answer consumer emails in a timely, accurate, and professional manner
•Conduct records search, problem/complaint investigation, policy interpretation, and adjustment or correction
•Recommend products and services appropriate to consumer needs
•Provide technical product information to consumers
•Refer non-routine or major problems to other departments or higher authorities
•Complete all assigned tasks in a timely manner
•Complete general office work and consumer account administration in an accurate and timely manner
•Provide timely and accurate consumer feedback to appropriate sales and customer service staff
•Complete other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

•AA degree from an accredited college, or equivalent experience preferred
•One year customer service experience in outdoor retail sales, and experience selling Yakima racks preferred
•Intermediate level with Pac’s: Microsoft Office Suite; Outlook
•Ability to effectively develop work systems to manage workload, work independently and efficiently, have a keen ability to prioritize, and ability to identify and address needs in advance
•Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal/external customers and consumers
•Professional level communicator ~ both oral and written correspondence
•Data base experience preferred
•Mechanical aptitude
•Able to visualize and understand geometric and spatial relationships

Physical Requirements:

•Able to sit and work at a computer keyboard for extended periods of time
•Able to perform activities such as stooping, kneeling, bending at the waist and reaching on a daily basis
•Able to perform general office administrative duties: copying, filing, and using a telephone
•Able to lift objects up to 75 pounds occasionally
•Corrected 20/30 vision
•Overtime as required

Compensation:

DOE
Benefit package provided

How to Apply:

To apply for this position send your resume and salary requirements to cssvcreptemp(at)yakima(dot)com

Summit panel urges stronger connection between mobility, race, health

The panelists: L to R: Dr. Philip Wu,
Olivia Quiroz, Mychal Tetteh, Noelle Dobson.
(Photos: BikePortland/Patrick Croasdaile)

In recent years, the fields of public health, equity and transportation policy have become increasingly linked. At a breakout session at the Active Transportation Summit yesterday, advocates and experts came together to learn more about why these issues are linked and discuss how to make that link stronger.

According to Dr. Phil Wu, a pediatric obesity specialist at Kaiser Permanente, “There’s no way to deal with obesity unless we start dealing with issues of transportation.”

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Impressive list of builders signed up for Oregon Manifest Design Challenge

Screen grab from OregonManifest.com.

The list of entrants for the 2011 Oregon Manifest Design Challenge is now posted online. The builders, who will compete to build the ultimate utility bike, include some of the most innovative and respected builders in America today. In total there are 34 builders from 11 states and six student teams.

Last month we were at the event launch where organizers unveiled Levi’s as the title sponsor and introduced a trio of exciting “Creative Collaborations” (select bike builders partnered with leading industrial design firms).

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Putting the spotlight on the Sullivan’s Gulch Trail

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Looking west into the gulch. The yellow
lines are proposed trail alignments
from a 2004 study.
(Photo: Portland State University)

Next week (4/6), the Portland Parks Board will hold a public meeting in St. Johns. The meeting notice caught my attention because one of the three “important” agenda items is the Sullivan’s Gulch Trail.

Why am I sharing something seemingly so minor as a meeting that will include a discussion of this project? Because for some reason (at least from my perspective), the Sullivan’s Gulch Trail needs all the attention it can get.

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What Trek CEO John Burke will tell Congressional leaders today

Blumenauer fundraiser ride-shindig-4

Trek CEO John Burke, shown here
riding on Portland’s Eastbank Esplanade,
will make the case for bicycling
on Capitol Hill today.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Today, the CEO of Trek Bicycle Corporation (America’s largest bike company), John Burke, will make the case for bicycling on Capitol Hill. Burke has been invited by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit to be a part of a hearing titled, “Improving and Reforming the Nation’s Surface Transportation Programs.”

Yesterday at the Oregon Active Transportation Summit I sat down with Tim Blumenthal of Bikes Belong to get the scoop on what exactly Mr. Burke plans to share with the men and women who will write our nation’s transportation bill.

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