🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏

Share of federal bike/walk spending up, and more earmark thoughts

“… But we’re still not really cracking into the heart of the core [federal] programs in a way that our mode share and crash record really demands.”
— Andy Clarke, President, League of American Bicyclists

Number-crunching by the League of American Bicyclists shows that the percentage of funds spent by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on biking and walking projects increased in the 2010 fiscal year (which runs from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010).

In FY 2010, the League calculates that the FHWA spent 2.07 percent, or just over $979 million on on biking and walking projects, up from 1.91 percent in FY 2009. However, while the share of biking and walking projects went up, the overall amount spent on them decreased. That’s because the total spending by the FHWA (on all projects) went down over $11 billion between FY 2010 and 2009.

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Beaverton PD crosswalk enforcement nets 55 tickets in five hours

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seen in Beaverton

Waiting to cross near Beaverton City Hall.
(Photo © J. Maus)

What would happen if police officers in a suburban city went out and did a crosswalk law enforcement action (a.k.a. sting) at a busy intersection? Well, the Beaverton Police Department found out last Wednesday. Beaverton PD officers spent five hours, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, on two “crosswalk details.”

The result? 55 citations and nine warnings. Check the full press release from the Beaverton PD below (emphasis mine).

On November 3, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Beaverton Police Department’s Traffic Team conducted two crosswalk details. The details were conducted at the intersections of S.W. 12th Street and S.W. Hall Boulevard (map) and S.W. 4th Street and S.W. Watson Avenue (map). Officers were looking for vehicles that did not stop and remain stopped for pedestrians while they were using the crosswalk, according to ORS 811.028.

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Jobs of the Week

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Finding yourself underemployed? Underpaid? Underwhelmed? Go get yourself a shiny new job with one of the following fine companies. You were smart enough to read about the opportunity on BikePortland and that should keep your resume on top of the stack. The rest is all you, baby. Good luck!

Follow these links to learn more and apply.

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Job: Customer Service Representative (Castelli USA)- FILLED

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Job Title: Customer Service Representative
Company/Organization: Castelli USA
Job Description:
This job has been filled.

Castelli USA is seeking a Customer Service Representative. The position performs various customer service and sales functions, supporting our US retailers and consumers. If you’re highly motivated, have excellent attention to detail, and are a flexible team player, we encourage you to apply.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Communicate with retailers, sales reps and consumers via phone and email
• Process returns from customers
• Complete tasks and projects within scope of responsibility to support sales and customer service manager
• Data entry and administrative duties supporting US accounts

QUALIFICATIONS
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build professional business relationships
• Must be detail oriented, organized and able to appropriately manage time in order to meet business needs
• Positive attitude and highly motivated

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
High School Diploma
1-2 years customer service experience
Basic PC skills, Word, Excel, Outlook

How to Apply:
Please send cover letter, resume and salary requirements to khumphrey (at) castelli-us (dot) com

PBOT: Streetcar brings changes to bikeways in the Pearl

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Changes to NW Lovejoy-3

New box at Lovejoy and 9th to facilitate
“Copenhagen Left” (instead of crossing new
streetcar tracks at a dangerous angle).
(Photos © J. Maus)

The Portland Streetcar Loop Project has brought major changes to bikeways in the Pearl District. With new tracks, new medians and a new recommended route for bikes, PBOT has released a detailed list about what changes people on bikes can expect.

“These changes will alter the cycling conditions in the vicinity of the west end of the Broadway Bridge and require that all travelers in the area be aware of new signs, lane markings, street and signal configurations and streetcar tracks.”

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New, Portland-based ‘Icarus Lights’ offers custom builds

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Made by Icarus Lights (note: light
shown is not most current design).
(Photo: Icarus Lights)

Icarus Lights is a new, Portland-based company that makes made-to-order bike lights. The company was launched just a few weeks ago by native Portlander and self-described “avid bike racer” (with Team Oregon) Pat Gerke.

I came across the Icarus website yesterday and got in touch with Pat to learn more. Pat says he started thinking about making his own lights last fall when he needed a new one and couldn’t find anything that seemed worth the price tag. “I started tinkering around and building my own lights. It grew from a curiosity to a hobby to a passion and finally to Icarus Lights.”

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Black Research Dynamics Coyote

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Brand: Research Dynamics
Model: Coyote
Color:Black
Size:Med/Large
Photo: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs394.snc4/45747_1579872863895_1447870952_1488612_3766076_n.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2010-10-31
Stolen From: Stolen from Portland Community College Cascade campus just off Killingsworth by the doors to the Moriarty Arts and Humanities building.
Owner: Everett Staley
OwnerEmail: everett.staley@gmail.com
Reward: $200
Description: Medium/Large black RD Coyote bike with large metal baskets front and bike and a large bell. It had a headlamp tied onto the handlebars with leather.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-155334
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Update on bike corral/public art project in Woodlawn

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Detail of sculptural element on
roof of new bike corral coming
to Dekum Street.

Our story last week about a new on-street bike corral coming to Dekum Street in the Woodlawn neighborhood sparked a lot of discussion. Many readers weighed in with negative opinions about the design (especially the car part) and wondered whether or not there would be more opportunity for public input. I followed up with folks behind the project and got some answers to your questions. I can also share a detailed artist’s statement and updated project drawings.

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Opinion: Helmet debate saps energy we need to increase light use

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Bike Light Parade

Whether or not people should wear — or be mandated to wear — helmets is the bike world’s pro-choice/pro-life debate. From Europe to Australia and definitely here in the U.S., people are passionate about the topic and they cling adamantly to their positions. Personal anecdotes about a life saved due to a helmet are on one side and on the other side people simply don’t feel it’s neccessary and want to make their own choice.

Here in bike-centric Portland, it’s not unheard of to get called out by others in traffic for not wearing one. We have programs at local hospitals and events that give helmets out for free. Bike rodeos put on by police and fire stations always include helmet giveaways and our Bureau of Transportation measures helmet use in annual bike counts (but not light use).

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Latest Headlines

Dispatch from hiatus and update on the future

Reminder: No riding through River View Cemetery during Memorial Day Weekend

Guest Article: Demand a pause on PBOT’s SW Alder decision

Guest Opinion: The bike beat lives on in all of us

From the Archives

The 10 busiest bicycling spots in Portland