BikePortland

Portland asks for up to $47 million in federal funding for key infrastructure projects

Screen Shot 2022-03-29 at 11.14.14 AM — East 122nd Ave, one of the most dangerous streets in Portland, could see an influx of federal funding. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), passed last year, has given Portland an opportunity to fund several key projects.

While this funding will be competitive – many other agencies across the country are lining up to fix their neglected infrastructure – the Portland Bureau of Transportation thinks we stand a chance to receive funding for several projects.

“We’ve had our sleeves rolled up for a while in Portland, and we’ve developed some really good projects that we think can move forward,” PBOT Analyst Mark Lear said at Wednesday’s Portland City Council meeting. “We think we’re in a strong position.”

On Wednesday, Portland City Council agreed to send off applications for up to $47 million in federal funding, distributed between the following projects:

‘Safe Systems on 122nd Avenue’ plan to address safety needs on east Portland’s 122nd Ave via the 122nd Avenue Plan. PBOT will ask for $20 million in federal Safe Streets for All funds with a $5 local match from Fixing Our Streets funds to make it safer to walk, bike and use transit on 122nd Ave via a variety of proposed projects.
Burgard Bridge Replacement – $16 million from the federal Railroad Crossing Elimination Program (RCEP) with a local match of $4 million to replace the Burgard Bridge in north Portland. According to PBOT, bridge is “a critical link in the transportation network in North Portland, particularly for heavy freight movement, and is in very poor condition and seismically vulnerable,” making it a high priority for funding.
Central Eastside Railroad Crossing Elimination Study – $1-1.5 million from the RCEP to “study in detail the persistent and growing issue of long freight train blockages of multiple at-grade railroad crossings in the Central Eastside and identify projects and strategies to address these issues.” The city will provide a $400k in-kind match from already-budgeted General Transportation Revenue in the planning division budget. (Check out our recent story on this issue.)

PBOT says that if these grants are awarded, the resourced projects wouldn’t change PBOTs current budget allocations.

In addition to these three Portland-initiated projects, City Council also officially gave their support to the Oregon Department of Transportation’s $100 million grant application to the federal Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. This program provides $1 billion in funding over the next 5 years to mitigate some of the damage urban highways have caused to many places in America (as detailed visually in the NY Times this week).

This $100 million grant would give the state, city and its community partner, Albina Vision Trust (AVT), an initial investment to construct I-5 freeway caps over the new Rose Quarter expansion to “reconnect” the lower Albina neighborhood.

PBOT Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty demonstrated strong support for this project at Wednesday’s Council meeting, appearing relieved that the city, state and AVT could finally come to an agreement on the I-5 freeway expansion. (Those who are more wary of ODOT’s intentions with the freeway expansion, however, are unlikely to be satisfied by the agreement.)

“If you’d have told me a year or a year and a half ago that we would be here in partnership with ODOT, Albina Vision Trust and PBOT, I would have told you that you were out of your mind,” Hardesty said. “But the reality is that the Rose Quarter project is now in a place where we have the potential to get significant federal resources to help reimagine how we reconnect the community that was torn apart by previous freeway expansion projects.”

Albina Vision Trust members will return to Council before the October deadline for this grant and provide more information about their plan for this grant funding, as well as their plans to apply for a planning grant for what to do with the freeway caps once they’re constructed.

According to PBOT, these won’t be the only opportunities for the city to get federal funds through the IIJA over the next five years. We’ll keep you posted on how these projects move forward.

Arson at Mt. Tabor Park spreads fears of larger blaze – UPDATED

Late Thursday night, the Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association (MTNA) posted an urgent message on their Facebook page: “Urgent: Fire watch needed for Mt. Tabor Park,” it read.

The reason? According to witness reports and the MTNA, 33 fires have been set by arsonists in the past week or so. They say the burn areas are along Southeast Yamhill above 60th and on line SE Lincoln Street near the off-leash dog park.

Mt. Tabor is a beloved, 196-acre park with trails, viewpoints, and picnic areas nestled alongside an extinct volcano. It’s paved roads are a favorite route for cyclists and this past June the park played host to the 70th annual Mt. Tabor Circuit Race.

We first heard about the fires from southeast Portlander Leslie Carlson. She posted a burned patch of hillside in the park on Twitter last week and wrote, “I will be crushed if that park catches fire. It’s been my physical/mental refuge throughout the pandemic.”

“I ride up there a lot of mornings so I was able to see the burns increase over a few days,” Carlson shared with me this morning. “It was alarming because it is so dry. I’m not a forester, but it looks to me like the whole park could go up if the fire got big enough.”

We’ve also seen a report on Reddit of multiple fires at Powell Butte, a popular off-road cycling area also in southeast Portland. Also due to fire risks, Weyerhaeuser has closed the Rocky Point Trail Area until further notice.

All this comes as fire officials and local leaders are girding for extremely high fire danger in the coming days due to a mix of dry, hot weather and strong wind gusts.

On Tabor, the MTNA isn’t waiting for help. They’re organizing volunteer fire patrols to report any suspicious activity and try to thwart new fires. According to their Facebook post, people who live next to the park have been walking all night with shovels to bury fires and have already reported several of them to 911. “The fire watch needs to be a community wide effort, given the burden. And this weekend winds will be higher than they have been so there is a real risk fires (if started) will spread quickly,” the message reads.

There’s an emergency neighborhood meeting tonight (Friday, September 9th) at 6:00 pm. A Parks rep and the city’s lead fire investigator are slated to attend. You can pre-register for the meeting via Zoom here.

If you spot a fire of any size while out biking, please report it to 911. And think good thoughts for our beloved parks!

UPDATE, 9/11: Portland Fire have arrested three people on suspicion of arson.

Jobs of the Week: Clever Cycles, the CCC, Velotech

Need a new job? Want a better job?

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

– Bicycle Mechanic / Service Manager – Clever Cycles

– Retail Manager – Community Cycling Center

– Shipping Specialist – Velotech, Inc.

– Service Manager – Community Cycling Center

– Bike Shop Director – Community Cycling Center

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! 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.

Portland’s all-volunteer ‘Bike Farm’ needs more volunteers

The volunteer-run bike repair education space has cut hours in a bid to survive.

“I’ve only been here one time before, but I’m already in love with it.”
– Julian Day-Cooney

Even if you ride your bike everyday, you might be intimidated by the technical world of bike repair. I feel comfortable biking just about anywhere in the city, but I’ll be honest: until very recently, I barely knew how to reattach my chain if it came loose. While I don’t think it’s necessary to be an expert mechanic in order to have a good time riding your bike, it’s helpful to know how to make basic repairs.

If this sounds appealing to you, look no further than northeast Portland’s Bike Farm (1810 NE 1st Ave): a volunteer-run organization that provides people with the tools and assistance they need to repair their own bikes. The Bike Farm’s goal is to make it easier for people to be self-sufficient, confident riders by giving them a safe, inclusive space to learn about bikes.

People who support the Bike Farm say they’d like it to be available as a resource all the time. But due to a lack of volunteer support, they’ve recently had to pare down their hours and cut the weekend shift – and they’re asking for your support to help change that.

“The fact that the the Bike Farm exists is a continuous miracle,” David S., who has been volunteering with the organization for years, told me when I swung by their building yesterday. “We want to demystify and democratize bike repair to make it the most affordable transportation mode.”

The Bike Farm offers time on their repair stands for $5 an hour. Or you can pay a flat fee of $20 a month, $60 a year, or $200 for a lifetime membership and have unlimited use of the shop during their open hours, which includes all their tools and volunteers at-the-ready to answer any questions you might have. The volunteers won’t fix your bike for you – the point is to get you acquainted with bike repair.

In addition to the technical help and tools, the Bike Farm is also a great place to meet like-minded people who can help get you accustomed to biking in Portland. Julian Day-Cooney is relatively new to the city, having moved here during the height of the pandemic. He’s only been to the Bike Farm a couple times, but he said he has felt really welcomed by the volunteers, and they’ve made him want to become even more involved in the world of Portland biking.

“I’ve only been here one time before, but I’m already in love with it,” Day-Cooney told me.

So check out Bike Farm! And volunteer!

If you want to do it but are wary of your mechanical skills, don’t fear. David said he didn’t know anything about fixing bikes when he first volunteered. But with time and assistance, he now feels confident helping people who come in to utilize their services as well as fixing his own bike.

“It’s empowering to be able to do your own work on your bike. I like to share that empowerment with other people,” he said. “You don’t know if it’s for you or not until you try it.”

Bike Farm is currently open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-8:30 pm, and you can stop into the shop during those hours to volunteer and learn more. Every fourth Thursday they host a volunteer orientation, and this month (September 22nd), Armando Luna (@dudeluna) will lead a group ride over to the orientation to get more people involved. You can also get in contact via email at bikefarm@bikefarm.org or follow them on IG via @bikefarmpdx

Weekend Event Guide: El Grito, Yohhei, Zoobomb’s 20th, and more

You don’t have to be a kid to fall in love with Leif Erikson Drive in Forest Park. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Who’s ready for the weekend? Here’s our hand-picked selection of the best rides and events in the coming few days (including a special event on Monday!).

(Please note: We tend to list meet-up times, not ride start times.)

Friday, September 9th

Cyclocross Playground – 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Rose City Park (NE)
A beginner-friendly ‘cross clinic led by the wonderful Mielle Blomberg. Come for the skills and learning, stay for the cold drinks and chance to win free entry at an upcoming race. More info here.

El Grito Ride – 6:30 pm at Salmon Street Springs (SW)
Everyone is welcome at this ride to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month and uplift and support our local Hispanic and BIPOC friends and neighbors. More info here.

Yohhei Sato Legacy Ride – 7:00 pm at Creston Park (SE)
A memorial celebration gathering and ride for Yohhei to “Keep party going.” More info here.

Saturday, September 10th

Bike Town Hall – 9:00 am at McDaniel H.S. (NE)
Join Oregon state legislators at this annual event to network, talk policy, ask questions and enjoy a bike ride together. More info here.

Sunday, September 11th

Kenton Garage Sale Ride – 8:30 am at Posies Bakery (N)
There’s no better way to explore all the fun sales than by bike. Meet other riders and compare your finds! More info here.

Leif Erikson Gravel Ride – 9:30 am at Chapman Elementary School (NW)
Join two experienced ride leaders from the Portland Bicycling Club and get to know the ins-and-outs of a fun Forest Park loop. More info here.

Cherry Bomb Zoobomb – 6:00 pm at the Pyle (SW)
Help Zoobomb celebrate 20 years (!) with this newbie-oriented bomb. Meet at the Pyle (SW 13th & Burnside), have MAX fare, and be ready to ride downhill! More info here.

Monday, September 12th

LaFART – 7:45 pm at Ladd Circle Park
This looks like it will be very interesting and fun. Don’t ask me any other details, because I don’t really understand what will happen. It’s organized by Eric Ivy though, so you know it’ll be neato! More info here.

PBOT Bicycle Advisory Committee September meeting agenda

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Announcements (6:00-6:15)

Vision Zero Update

Committee member hot topics

Requested Letters (6:15-6:45)

The BAC will consider three letters. The first two are being requested by PBOT staff. The third is being generated internally by the committee:

Burgard Bridge Replacement Grant. Support requested for a federal grant to pay for full reconstruction of the Burgard Bridge near Terminal Rd in North Portland. This Bridge includes the two-way Lombard-Burgard protected bikeway.
Central Eastside Railroad Crossing Elimination Study. This is for a planning grant to study all the at-grade rail crossing in the Central Eastside that are frequently blocked by trains.
Consideration of a letter regarding violent behavior at the East Portland Sunday Parkways event.

World Bicycle Day (6:45-7:05)

Leszek Sibilski will present his project of getting cities to name a street or an infrastructure after World Bicycle Day. Sibilski succeeded in getting the United Nations General Assembly to declare June 3^rd as World Bicycle Day, and also to recognize the importance of cycling as part of a general transportation network. The intent is to raise awareness of cycling’s benefits to individuals and society and translate that into increased funding.

Modal Committee Evaluation (7:05-7:30)

Francesca Jones will report to the committee the findings from discussions with past and current members and PBOT staff and share a draft problem statement and objectives for feedback.

Maintenance and Strategy Subcommittee Report (7:30-7:45)

Joseph Perez will provide a report on the first meeting of the BAC Maintenance and Strategy Subcommittee.

Next month’s meeting / future agenda items (7:45-7:55)

Public Comment (7:55-8:00)

Adjourn (8:00)

Job: Bike Shop Director – Community Cycling Center

Job Title

Bike Shop Director

Company / Organization

Community Cycling Center

Job Description

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
We love Portland and bikes. So, we put our two loves together over 25 years ago, creating a nonprofit organization on a mission to broaden access to bicycling and its benefits.

Our vision is to help build a vibrant community where people of all backgrounds use bicycles to stay healthy and connected. We believe that all Portlanders—regardless of income or background—should have the opportunity to experience the joy, freedom and health benefits of bicycling. This is the motivation behind everything we do.

In addition to delivering dynamic programs that benefit underserved communities, we operate a full-service bike shop in NE Portland that is staffed by highly experienced staff from diverse cycling backgrounds. Our programs and shop services combined help riders build their skills and confidence; empower young people to ride to school and adults to ride to work; offer educational opportunities for teens to earn school credit; and support everyone in riding for health and recreation. We also collaborate with numerous community partners to generate pathways to employment and engagement within the growing bicycle movement by training new educators, leaders, advocates, and mechanics.

JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Associate Director, the Bike Shop Director will help create a welcoming, positive, and productive environment for employees and customers who enter the shop. Here at the Community Cycling Center, we welcome folks from all communities and look for others to be a part of that. The person we are looking for is enthusiastic, has a managerial background, knowledgeable about bicycles, and can work with folks from all walks of life. This person will collaborate with leadership and other departments to keep the Community Cycling Center moving forward. This position is responsible for making sure the shop runs smoothly, managing supervisors and shop staff. We want customer service to be a main priority. Tasks will include overseeing timesheets, quality standards for retail sales, repairs and bike productions, evaluation and development of mechanic and retail sales staff, repairs and production performance and preparing the yearly shop budget. To manage these resources, the Bike Shop Director will work closely with the organizational leadership team to ensure successful operations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Management (55%)
• Hire, Train, supervise and evaluate employees
• Prepare employees work schedules
• Engage management team, in developing a budget, maintain direct and indirect expenses, track cost of goods sold, in-kind contributions, sales, and donations
• manage daily cash flow, point of sales system, and donations
• Motivate employees to reach sales goals and provide great customer service
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to product and program knowledge through strategies such as staff training, coaching, leading by example, and a participatory management style
• Work collaboratively with other organizational leads through proactive and transparent communication
• Be a visible and supportive presence in all areas of Bike Shop operations
• Respond to customer complaints
Operations (35%)
• Manage and assist with ordering, recording, and managing inventory
• Establish and manage strategic goals for the Bike Shop, including production, retail, service, inventory management, purchasing, product pricing, and recycling
• Understand and manage inventory levels within budget and with a focus on maintaining margins and reducing shrink
• Ensuring the shop is adequately stocked, clean, and visually appealing
• Manage and approve shop teams timesheets
• Work with Executive Director to support annual budget creation
• Maintain the bike shop and storage facilities to be a safe, compliant, and welcoming work environment
Education and Outreach (10%)
• Cultivate a culture of commitment to organizational values – Community, Diversity, Creativity, Accountability, and Sustainability
• Work with the development team to ensure the shop’s participation in fundraising activities
• Commitment to assist with training interns and volunteers when they work at the Bike Shop
• Support to the program department when working and having events at the Bike Shop
• Build and maintain relationships with the businesses and residents in the community surrounding the Bike Shop

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS:
REQUIRED
• 4 years managerial experience
• Ability to strategize, implement, and clearly communicate a vision for the Community Cycling Center Bike Shop
• Significant professional retail experience (preferably Bike Shop experience) with a focus on customer satisfaction
• Demonstrated ability to create a culture that values and respects diversity, inclusion, and teamwork
• Strong managerial capabilities and demonstrated leadership skills
• An enthusiasm for Community Cycling Center’s programs and an understanding of mission-based, nonprofit work
• A commitment to sustainability – environmental, programmatic, and financial
• Basic knowledge of accounting skills
• Solid, confident decision maker
• Enthusiasm for working with the public
• Organized, analytical, high attention to detail
• Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends.
PREFERRED
• Degree in Business Administration or related field or equivalent experience
• Cross-sector management experience in non-profit and social venture work environments.
• Fluency in one or more language(s) spoken in Portland’s marginalized communities, e.g. Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese or others.
• Lived and/or work experience in BIPOC or Immigrant communities is valued
• Proficient in Microsoft office suite, Adobe, Lightspeed, SharePoint and POS systems

START DATE: ASAP
REPORTS TO: Associate Director
STATUS: Full-time, Exempt
LOCATION: Portland OR
SALARY: $60,000
BENEFITS: Medical, Dental, Vision, and 401k

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume by email with “Bike Shop Director” as the subject line to jobs@communitycyclingcenter.org

Job: Service Manager – Community Cycling Center

Job Title

Service Manager

Company / Organization

Community Cycling Center

Job Description

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CYCLING CENTER
We love Portland and bikes. So, we put our two loves together over 25 years ago, creating a nonprofit organization on a mission to broaden access to bicycling and its benefits. Our vision is to help build a vibrant community where people of all backgrounds use bicycles to stay healthy and connected. We believe that all Portlanders—regardless of income or background—should have the opportunity to experience the joy, freedom and health benefits of bicycling. This is the motivation behind everything we do.

In addition to delivering dynamic programs that benefit underserved communities, we operate a full-service bike shop in NE Portland that is staffed by highly experienced mechanics from diverse cycling backgrounds. Our programs and shop services combined help riders build their skills and confidence; empower young people to ride to school and adults to ride to work; offer educational opportunities for teens to earn school credit; and support everyone in riding for health and recreation. We also collaborate with numerous community partners to generate pathways to employment and engagement within the growing bicycle movement by training new educators, leaders, advocates and mechanics. Our goal is to help create a healthy, sustainable Portland for all community members.

The Community Cycling Center is an equal opportunity employer and strongly values diversity, equity and inclusion. Individuals with diverse backgrounds, abilities and experiences are encouraged to apply.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY
The Service Manager is responsible for the improvement and maintenance of the Community Cycling Center’s Service Department. Working collaboratively with the Shop Leadership Team, the Service Manager will cultivate the delivery of consistent quality in repair services for our customers. Experience in a high-volume shop environment, clear communication skills, proven effectiveness in training staff, and the ability to develop and adapt systems are crucial to the success of this position.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

MANAGEMENT OF SHOP OPERATIONS (70%)
• Lead by example, providing excellent customer service with the consistent delivery of quality estimates and repair services (24-32 hrs/wk)
• Provide training for new mechanics and ongoing development opportunities for experienced mechanics
• Continually develop and refine service writing methods that help reduce cost and confusion while providing consistently excellent service
• Work with difficult customer situations to ensure successful and timely resolution
• Oversee the delivery of warranty-related work

STRATEGIC ANALYSIS AND PROCESS EVALUATION (15%)
• Maintain and develop service standards, policies and procedures that balance a quality work environment with customer service demands
• Work with shop management team to evaluate opportunities, trends and feedback to maximize delivery on objectives
• Track and evaluate trends and collaborate with Shop Leadership Team to problem solve
• Conduct evaluation of labor menu and gather feedback from shop staff and customers to ensure quality and value of services provided

STAFF AND ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT (15%)
• Partner with Shop Leadership Team to hire, train, and evaluate staff
• Partner with Shop Leadership Team to develop and ensure adherence to policies and procedures governing shop practices

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
• Managerial experience, including supervising, training, and supporting staff
• Minimum of 5 years of professional bike mechanic experience
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills including the ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously
• Ability to meet project deadlines and account for detailed objectives
• Success creating inclusive work environments where people from diverse backgrounds feel safe

PREFERRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
• Two or more years working as a manager in bike shop
• Experience working in a used bike shop
• Fluency in spreadsheet software and comfort navigating inventory management systems
• Fluency in or familiarity with Spanish and/or American Sign Language
• Basic knowledge of Adobe software

REPORTS TO: General Manager
PAY: $22.50/hr
SCHEDULE: Permanent position, 40 hrs/wk, workdays may vary
BENEFITS: Health, dental, vision, life and more w/ approx. value of $4,800/yr; access to 401k; 18 days/yr PTO to start for FT, annual Used Parts Allowance, cost +10% on new parts

How to Apply

Send your resume, cover letter, and (3) references to jobs@CommunityCyclingCenter.org. No phone calls, please.

Here’s why Portland International Raceway directed drivers onto a bike path

Turns out that allowing people to drive across the Columbia Slough bike path is part of a traffic control plan endorsed by the City of Portland.

After I witnessed a dangerous scene unfold Sunday afternoon as drivers left the Indycar event at Portland International Raceway and rolled head-on into me and several other groups of bike riders, I reached out to Portland Parks & Recreation to find out why it happened.

Along the way I learned something new: This section of the path, where the Slough trail goes under North Denver Ave (Hwy 99W) has not been completely decommissioned as a road as I previously thought. As I said in our previous story, this used to be N Schmeer Road, but it was repurposed to a multi-use path by the Oregon Department of Transportation in 2014.

Metro’s Bike There map. PIR is in the upper left.

What I’ve since learned is that it is also an emergency access road maintained by Portland Fire & Rescue*. Parks spokesperson Mark Ross clarified that the path crosses over this emergency access road. And it was this road that PIR staff directed car traffic onto.

(Note: There is zero information available to the general public that this is anything other than a bike path. And on Metro’s Bike There map, this section of path is given the highest quality possible bikeway designation. See graphic at right.)

Ross said what happened Sunday was all according to plan. The race promoter had a permit and a traffic control plan approved by Oregon Department of Transportation (since they manage Denver Ave/Hwy 99). The permit covers several large events at PIR each year including a NASCAR event, the Oregon Trail Rally, large swap meets, and so on.

Ross also said the plan requires PIR and their flagging contractor (in this case D & H Flagging) to do things that clearly were not taking place on Sunday. Ross said, “Five signs were placed along the bike path and about 40 cones sectioning off lanes,” and “There were three flaggers at this section of roadway.”

@bikeportland
Someone thought it’d be fine to route drivers onto the bike path outside Portland International Raceway with very little warning signage and no flaggers! WTF? #portland #pdxbikes #bikepaths #bikepath #portlandoregon #portlandinternationalraceway
♬ original sound – bikeportland

I told Ross that the plan is nice, but it was not implemented properly. When I was there on Sunday, there was inadequate signage, a lack of cones to separate path users from drivers, and no flaggers present at all. He said he’d pass my concerns along.

I then got a call from PIR Manager Ron Huegli. He said using the path after large events is a necessity because there’s no way to get 5,000+ people out of the main entrance, “Without it being a problem on I-5.”

Huegli disagreed with my assertion that the traffic plan wasn’t carried out as thoroughly as it should have been. I told him there were no flaggers present; he said they must have been on a potty break. I told him the cones were placed in only one small section; he said bike riders should have known not to even ride on the underpass. I told him the signage was totally inadequate; he said my video (which he watched), “Didn’t get it fully shown the way it was” (meaning, my video was an inaccurate portrayal of actual conditions).

Huegli saw how things went Saturday night. I know what I saw on Sunday night.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I know that PIR is a cherished venue for local bike racing and other events and Huegli and his team are a great asset to cycling in Portland. In fact, it took him a while to call me back because he was helping organizers of Tuesday’s PDX Trophy Cup cyclocross race with their event. We are lucky to have such dedicated folks who work on this stuff.

But when it comes to executing this particular traffic control plan, they must do a better job next time. Bike paths are sacred. We cannot just put up a few orange signs, direct car traffic onto them and hope folks figure it out! Huegli said he’d take my concerns into consideration. For that I’m grateful.

If you ride here, please let us know how it goes at future events.

Esplanade ramp closed due to low water in Willamette River

Looking south toward the Burnside Bridge. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Portland Parks & Recreation has closed one of the two sets of ramps on the Eastbank Esplanade until further notice.

People using the path today were given no prior warning before coming to chain-link fence and sign announcing the closure. A QR code on the sign links to a page on Parks’ website that says, “Due to a safety hazard, related to low water levels in the river, there is currently no northbound or southbound access along the Eastbank Esplanade (between the Steel Bridge and the Burnside Bridge). Please use an alternate route.”

This is the ramp just south of the Duckworth Dock. That dock is still open, you just have to access it from the south.

River level chart via National Weather Service.

According to the National Weather Service, the current stage of the river (measured at the nearby Morrison Bridge) as of 1:30 pm today (Wednesday) is 1.28 feet. The NWS defines “Low” stage as 1.0 feet. The previous three days of this week, the river had been even lower, reaching a stage near 0 feet just yesterday. That level was among the top 20 or so lowest ever recorded by the NWS.

The forecast (right) shows water levels will increase steadily over the next few days.

Just three months ago, this same section of the Esplanade closed due to high water levels.

The ramps on the Esplanade between the Steel and Burnside float on the river, so Parks must monitor them to make sure the inclines and declines are within a safe range for all users.

Keep this closure in mind when you plan your route. The best detour is to either head over to the west side of the river via the Steel Bridge path or stay on the surface streets through the Central Eastside.

UPDATE, 3:53 pm: A reader says they were on their morning commute Tuesday morning when they saw police activity and a dead body at the end of the Duckworth Dock. By that afternoon the closure had gone up. We have not confirmed this with Parks yet.

With missed grant deadline and no political support, Frog Ferry takes on more water

“Portland used to be a mecca for transportation innovation.”
– Nina Byrd, Friends of Frog Ferry

It was just last summer when supporters of the non-profit initiative Friends of Frog Ferry (FOFF) announced their pilot program for a ferry to whisk passengers up and down the Willamette River was set for imminent launch. But a lot can change in a year. On Tuesday officials behind the project announced the dream of a Willamette River ferry system is no longer alive in Portland – at least for the time being.

FOFF members, who have been advocating for this new transportation mode since 2018, needed a public agency – either TriMet or the City of Portland – to partner with them in order to apply for a Federal Transit Administration grant to develop the ferry pilot. That deadline came and went on Tuesday and Frog Ferry struck out.

The non-profit has received financial support from the City of Portland and State of Oregon the past; but local political will for the ferry project has fallen flat, and Frog Ferry leaders say they now have no choice but to put the program on an indefinite pause.

“We are able to a put a boat on the water within 18 months. We will not be able to do so until our City Leaders also make it a priority,” reads an email sent to supporters yesterday.

Group of people inside standing behind someone at a lectern in front of an old city building. — FOFF founder Susan Bladholm speaks in front of City Hall at an April press conference. (Photo: Taylor Griggs/BikePortland)

To FOFF supporters, this saga indicates the City of Portland is failing to innovate like it used to.

“Portland used to be a mecca for transportation innovation. If that’s a title that we were proud of, we’ll have to continue to evolve,” FOFF board member Nina Byrd told BikePortland on a phone call this morning. “[That evolution] requires robust transportation infrastructure, which includes a ferry system. It’s really not rocket science.”

But ferry-skeptical City of Portland leaders say they don’t have the bandwidth to take a project like this on right now. When Portland City Council discussed the ferry pilot back in April, Portland Bureau of Transportation Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty appeared particularly wary of allocating resources to FOFF.

“I realize you’re interested in seeing PBOT tackle transport transformative transportation projects. The challenge is that the Bureau is already tackling numerous transformative transportation projects,” Hardesty said at the time.

Byrd said PBOT can do multiple things at once, and given that FOFF doesn’t need city money right now, all they’d have to do is help sign off on the federal grant application.

“This project has been seen as just an additional burden on behalf of our Bureau. I really do think it’s just a lack of sophistication in terms of bandwidth capacity,” Byrd said. “I get that, but it’s not an excuse to not innovate and to continue to grow our transportation system.”

However, Hardesty was also put off by a financial dispute between FOFF and TriMet, who was in charge of doling out the $500,000 in state funds to the ferry program. In April, TriMet officials wrote to city staff to express concerns that FOFF’s founder Susan Bladholm was asking the transit agency for questionable reimbursements. Bladholm has denied these allegations. To FOFF, TriMet is making up baseless accusations in order to withhold a chunk of the money allocated to the project.

“The level of scrutiny this project is under seems to be mired in political realities and personal opinion on behalf of our government leaders,” Byrd said. “[Accusations of financial impropriety] are nothing but absurdity.”

It’s not just the public agencies who are skeptical of the ferry proposal. Joe Cortright took his disagreements with Frog Ferry to City Observatory in April, writing that the ferry’s claims of expediency and practicality are outlandish.

“It’s not possible for a regular ferry service to travel faster between Vancouver and Portland than a car, or even today’s bus service. In the real world, boats are slower than both cars and buses,” Cortright wrote. “Water transportation, especially given the circuitous water route between Vancouver and Portland, the slow speeds of even “fast” ferries, the need to minimize damaging wakes at higher speeds, and the relative remoteness of docks from actual destinations, means that ferries in Portland are an unwise, uneconomic folly.”

But the FOFF concept will likely persist. Byrd told BikePortland the ferry is popular and inevitable in Portland, and even though the project is currently a sinking ship, they’re still asking for support.

“We believe that by and large, the majority of Portlanders are for the project. We believe there’s a pathway forward, but the public agencies have to step up and sponsor it,” she said. “We will have a ferry system one day. To say otherwise is like saying we’re not going to build another bridge or bike loop.”

Class action lawsuit says City of Portland violates ADA law by not keeping sidewalks clear

Davis Wright Tremaine lawyer John DiLorenzo speaks to the media in front of plaintiffs at the press conference in downtown Portland this morning. (Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

“The City has failed and continues to fail to maintain its sidewalks clear of debris and tent encampments, which is necessary to make its sidewalks readily accessible to people with mobility disabilities.”
– Tozer (et al) v City of Portland

The City of Portland must clear its sidewalks of tents and campers so that people with disabilities can safely navigate around them. That’s one of several claims for relief made by Portland law firm Davis Wright Tremaine in a class action lawsuit filed Tuesday (read it below).

Today, lead lawyer John DiLorenzo said the 10 plaintiffs named in the suit — all of whom have some form of disability — are “being deprived of city services” because so many of the city’s sidewalks are impassable. Quoting C.E.S. Wood’s, “Good citizens are the riches of the city,” DiLorenzo said he was proud to represent the “good citizens” who are brave enough to come forward and push for their rights.

The lawsuit accuses the City of Portland of being in violation of federal law that requires cities to keep its programs and services, “readily accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities.” The suit doesn’t seek any monetary damages. Instead it asks for several actions: for the City to admit they are in violation of the ADA law; to “clear and maintain all City’s sidewalks from debris and tent encampments”; keep them clear; and provide emergency shelter for anyone impacted by the judgment.

Here’s an excerpt from the intro to the 55-page complaint:

The City has failed and continues to fail to maintain its sidewalks clear of debris and tent encampments, which is necessary to make its sidewalks readily accessible to people with mobility disabilities. Indeed, a substantial number of the City’s sidewalks—particularly those in the City’s busiest business corridors—do not comply with applicable federal statutes and regulations because they are blocked by tent encampments and attendant debris, rendering the sidewalks inaccessible, dangerous, and unsanitary for people with mobility disabilities.

The first person DiLorenzo called to speak at today’s press conference was Vadim Mozyrsky, an administrative law judge with a speciality in disability cases and a former city council candidate (who lost to Rene Gonzalez in a bid to defeat Jo Ann Hardesty)

“I believe this is a momentous day because I think we will have resolution to the heart-wrenching stories of the many disabled people in Portland,” Mozyrsky said.

Both Mozyrsky and DiLorenzo repeatedly said they believe the City has the resources to clear sidewalks, they are just choosing to not take care of them.

According to the complaint (which includes many photos of encampments) the impact of Portland’s many blocked sidewalks are that people with mobility issues and disabilities are put in unsafe situations. Several of them spoke out at the press conference and relayed stories of altercations with homeless people, having to go into the street to avoid a blocked sidewalk, and so on.

The lead plaintiff is 54-year-old Irvington neighborhood resident Tiana Tozer, who was hit by a drunk driver when she was 20. Since then she has had 36 reconstructive surgeries for injuries to her legs that made her unable to walk. Tozer has spent years in physical therapy. “My mobility has been hard-won over and over and over again,” she said today. “The camping that blocks the sidewalks just adds insult to injury.” (Tozer is the same person who was removed from the City of Portland Vision Zero Task Force in 2019 following posts to Twitter where she referred to people as “stoopid” and “idiot”).

Images taken from Tozer v City of Portland complaint.

Steve Jackson, 47, is legally blind. He takes the bus from his home in northeast to his job downtown. Jackson uses a cane and said he will often hit a tent with it as he tries to navigate the sidewalks. “Then people get mad at me because they think I’m attacking them,” Jackson shared. “But I’m just trying to get to work.”

Several other plaintiffs shared their fears and concerns.

62-year old Barbara Jacobsen lives in Old Town and said, “When I leave my house I feel very scared. I think, ‘Is today the day I get attacked? Or hit by a stray bullet?'”

21-year-old Lorien Welchoff is a student at Pacific Northwest College of Art and lives in the nearby Pearl District. She described how it takes her three hours to clean her mobility scooter when she runs over human feces left on the street by people who live on sidewalks next to campus.

At the end of the press conference, DiLorenzo criticized the City of Portland for being too focused on providing permanent housing for homeless people, as opposed to constructing emergency shelter. “They’re building homes that will cost $450,000 and will take five years to build — at which time many of these people will have perished. That is inhumane.”

This lawsuit comes less than a month since Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announced an expansion of his homeless emergency declaration that gave him authority to address camps on sidewalks on designated Safe Routes to School routes.

Read the full complaint below (or click here if it’s taking too long to load):

Tozer v City of Portland Complaint

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