BTA finance director Roopal Patel resigns

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Roopal Patel
(Photos: Elly Blue)

Roopal Patel, who was hired as the first ever Finance Director of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance back in April 2009, has decided to leave the organization. Patel becomes the fourth BTA director-level staffer to have either resigned or be fired in the past year.

Rob Sadowsky, the BTA’s new Executive Director, confirmed Patel’s resignation and said she’ll stay on through August to help with the hiring process. No reasons were cited for the resignation. Sadowsky says Patel was simply “ready to move on.”

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A new coalition emerges behind freight funding push

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“A disproportionate share of… dollars available for transportation projects… are being allocated to… bicycle, pedestrian, and commuter infrastructure while critical freight-related projects go unfunded.”
— From a BEST coalition document

As I detailed on Wednesday, active transportation advocates are mobilizing to thwart an attempt by freight and business advocates to get a larger piece of an important infrastructure funding source.

This freight activism has raised eyebrows because it’s coming from what I’ve recently learned is the state’s first privately-funded, professionally represented coalition whose sole purpose is to make the case for freight infrastructure and to remedy what they see as a “disproportionate share of funding” going to biking and walking projects.

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Job: Assistant to the CEO (Alta Planning + Design)

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Job Title
Assistant to the CEO

Company/Organization
Alta Planning + Design

Job Description
Alta Planning + Design is a 65-person consulting firm with a mission to provide green infrastructure and program solutions that help people have active daily lives. We specialize in bicycle, pedestrian, trail, park, and greenway planning, design, and implementation, in addition to outreach and education programs. For more information, see our website at www.altaplanning.com.

Alta Planning + Design’s Portland office is seeking to hire an Executive Assistant to the CEO, Mia Birk (www.miabirk.com). The ideal candidate will be experienced in handling a wide range of administrative and executive support related tasks and will be able to work independently with little or no supervision. The ability to interact with staff (at all levels) in a fast paced environment, sometimes under pressure, remaining flexible, proactive, resourceful and efficient, with a high level of professionalism and confidentiality is crucial to this role. Expert level written and verbal communication skills, strong decision making ability and attention to detail are equally important.

In August, Mia will launch her book Joyride: Pedaling Towards a Healthier Planet. Her assistant will help with all aspects of Joyride marketing, including speeches, book distribution, communication, travel, etc.

The Executive Assistant will:
•Be responsible for heavy calendar management, requiring interaction with both internal and external executives and assistants, as well as consultants, to coordinate a variety of complex executive meetings
•Always be a “step ahead” in forecasting and preparing the CEO for anything on the agenda, from daily tasks to major events
•Communicate and handle incoming and outgoing electronic communications on behalf of the CEO and Principals
•Assist CEO with preparation of presentation materials
•Review and summarize miscellaneous reports and documents; prepare background documents and outgoing mail as necessary
•Prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, and follow through on issues in a timely manner
•Arrange travel schedule and reservations as needed
•Travel as needed to provide support on the road

Must have:
•B.A. in English, Business, Communications, or other relevant field
•Experience supporting the executive level
•Excellent calendar management skills, including experience with shared calendar systems
•Experience assisting with the creation of PowerPoint presentations, memos, and reports
•Amazing organization skills, high energy, and calm under pressure
•Advanced proficiency in MS Office Suite and expert internet research skills
•Experience scheduling travel arrangements for management
•A genuine desire to work in the bicycle/pedestrian planning field
•Positive attitude, energy, ability to adapt quickly

Strongly Prefer:
•Experience in the bicycle/pedestrian/advocacy field

This job will be based out of the Portland office but requires ability to travel, run errands, and be highly mobile.

Salary: $30,000 – $40,000. Alta offers excellent benefits, flexible work schedules, and a fun, collaborative work environment with an extremely dedicated and skilled group of planners and designers.


How to apply:
Please send cover letter, resume, and three references resumes+ea@altaplanning.com. Please, no phone calls.

Anger at Holgate bike lane meeting: PBOT plans a follow up

Buffered bike lanes on SE Holgate-2

Buffered bike lanes on Holgate.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Last week, the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) held a public forum in the Lents Neighborhood to get feedback on their buffered bike lanes on SE Holgate Ave. The lanes have stirred a bit of controversy since being installed back in August 2009 and PBOT has heard complaints about the lanes from nearby residents and business owners.

Nearly 100 people showed up to the meeting to voice their feedback. Several people who were there reported that many of them were angry. Lents resident and journalist Nick Christensen said the vast majority “strongly opposed the bike lanes” and the prevailing sentiment in the room was, “We want our street back.”

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Red Gary Fisher Tassajara 2003

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Year: 2003
Brand: Gary Fisher
Model: Tassajara
Color:Red
Size:15.5
Stolen in Portland, OR 97232
Stolen:2010-06-27
Stolen From: Oregon convention center, bicycle racks facing NE Holladay St.
Neighborhood: Rose quarter
Owner: Wai Leong
OwnerEmail: thedivinebovine@gmail.com
Description: Mostly stock components.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: pending
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Black Trek PDX 2010

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Year: 2010
Brand: Trek
Model: PDX
Color:Black
Size:17 in
Serial: WTU292C1695E
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2010-07-01
Stolen From: In front of the Tango Berretin studio at 6305 SE Foster Rd (and Holgate).
Neighborhood: FoPo (Foster-Powell)
Owner: Juanita Heimann
OwnerEmail: juanita.heimann@comcast.net
Description: Flat, black hybrid-style bike with disk brakes, black plastic fenders on both wheels, a black over-wheel rack and black side basket on back. There was also a red cable lock wrapped around the seat post when stolen. The bike was purchased about 2 and a half months ago so it’s in relatively good shape with a few nicks and scratches to the paint job and some minor damage to the ridges on the left pedal.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T10004066 (temporary)
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

New plan: Broadway Bridge will close to bike traffic too

Flagger at Broadway Williams-5

Streetcar construction means a full closure
of the Broadway Bridge later this month
— even for bike traffic.
(Photo © J. Maus)

When we last chimed in about a two month closure to the Broadway Bridge slated to begin on July 6th, the plan from PBOT and Portland Streetcar Inc. was to maintain biking and walking access on the south sidewalk throughout the entire length of the construction project.

Now, that plan has changed.

PBOT spokesperson Dan Anderson has confirmed that the bridge will be completely closed to biking and walking traffic for a yet-to-be determined length of time.

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Light Blue Specialized Hard Rock

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Brand: Specialized
Model: Hard Rock
Color:Light Blue
Size:18″
Serial: D53I16212
Photo: http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a261/artsypicchik/DCIMbatch092.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2010-06-29
Stolen From: SE Belmont/52nd, residence
Neighborhood: SE Belmont
Owner: Noelle Boosinger
OwnerEmail: sobe_lizzard@msn.com
Description: Women’s step-through mountain bike frame with commuter tires, gray/light blue/black seat, metal handlebar basket, black Planet Bike fenders, Acera X derailluer, Shimano crankset, Sram handlebar gear-shifts, a CityBikes sticker on frame. *Photo was taken before basket added and seat changed.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 10-152845
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Portlanders get amped up with bike sound systems

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Bowie v. Prince Ride-14

Spotted this sound system at the
Bowie vs. Prince ride.
(Photos © J. Maus)

I can remember a time when bike-mounted sound systems were a novelty. When someone rolled up with tunes blaring they’d be met with oohs, aaahs, and a crowd of smiling onlookers. The smiles are still there, but the novelty has warn off a bit as bike sound systems have become much more common.

While riding around Sunday Parkways and all the parades and mobile dance party rides of Pedalpalooza it was obvious that, although they’ve become more popular, the systems are far from standardized. There are about as many set-ups as there are people using them and they range in sophistication and size.

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Bikes don’t make the cut in PBS film ‘Beyond Motor City’

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A scene from the film.
(Photos © J. Maus)

If aliens dropped into the free screening of PBS’s documentary Beyond Motor City at the Bagdad Theater Tuesday night, they would have gotten a crash course in America’s transportation history and the challenges we face as a nation to recover from our love affair with highways and automobiles.

Unfortunately, they would have also come away without knowledge of one of the most obvious solutions to that recovery — the bicycle.

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