BikePortland

Bike Loud PDX volunteers look to bolster greenways with markings of their own

Bike Loud volunteer Paul Buchanan and one of the new markings on North Houghton.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Portland-based B-Line has stood the test of time. And they also stand as an excellent illustration of how pedal-powered cargo trikes can have a positive, climate-friendly impact on urban freight delivery.

In 2020, the B-Line crew pedaled their fleet of electric-assisted trikes a total of 573,160 miles. That’s just one of the eye-popping stats in the company’s just-released annual impact report (PDF). The company launched in 2009 and moved their headquarters to the central eastside in 2015. Over the past decade, co-founder and current CEO Franklin Jones has stayed true to the company’s mission. They don’t just deliver freight (everything from bread to sports drinks), they’ve expanded to benefit the community in many other ways.

Oregon is home to many electric bike businesses and believers. But so far, the revolutionary vehicles have failed to crack into the mainstream political discourse. Now a group of e-bike advocates will take concrete steps to change that by getting legislators and policymakers into the saddle.

Electric Bikes For All (EB4A) is a group that’s been meeting since 2019. It started informally thanks to leadership from Joseph Wachunas, program manager for Forth, a nonprofit working to boost electric vehicle use and policy in Oregon. Wachunas shared with BikePortland that EB4A first got together to plan an electric bike expo event. Portland hosted a successful e-bike expo in 2016, but it was cancelled in 2017 when “solar eclipse mania” swept the region and organizers had trouble finding necessary equipment to host the event.

Screen Shot 2021-07-26 at 4.59.48 PM — Slide from presentation shared at IBR Program July meeting.

Will the Columbia River Crossing project’s multibillion dollar successor fully integrate climate change into its design and construction? Or will climate change merely be a box that is checked on the way to a wider I-5 that encourages more driving and more emissions? That question took center stage at the July meeting of the Interstate Bridge Replacement project’s Executive Steering Group.

Hopefully Suzanne Carlson hasn’t forgotten her roots.

The newly-hired director of the Oregon Department of Transportation Climate Office got her start in the transportation world in the 1990s by starting Bike Works, a Seattle-based nonprofit that runs a community bike shop and teaches young people how to refurbish used bikes (similar to Portland’s Community Cycling Center).

Aftermath of the hit-and-run collision. (Photo: City of Portland/PPB)

(Aftermath of high-speed hit-and-run on NE Glisan last week. Photos by PPB)

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title

Production/Shop Assistant

Company / Organization

Black Magic Paint LLC

Job Description

Black Magic (located at 414 NE 80th Ave) has been a premier custom bicycle painter in Portland, OR since 2015. We specialize in custom finishes and building custom bicycles for clients around the world looking for a one of a kind bike, both new and vintage.

Black Magic is currently expanding and we are seeking someone to join our team as a Production/Shop Assistant!

Our Ideal Candidate:

-Positive, friendly and professional
-Well organized, with the ability to manage time and prioritize workflow
-Strong attention to detail
-Adaptable and teachable
-Excellent written and verbal communication skills
-Reliable

Some of the Major Job Responsibilities Include:
-Intake and prep of all bikes, frames and components
-Cleaning frames and parts, media blasting and paint stripping
-Sanding, buffing and polishing frames and components
-Assist with anodizing titanium
-General maintenance and clean up
-Bike build and mechanical work
-Occasional off-site errands

Preferred Skills:
-General knowledge of bicycles and components. Knowledge and experience with high end components like Sram eTap, Shimano Di2, hydraulic disc brakes, tubeless systems, and BMP product lines preferred
-Auto body experience or technical training
-Computer knowledge and skills
-Buffing/polishing experience.
-Sanding experience
-Media blasting experience
-Shipping/receiving and warehouse experience
-Drivers license
-Desire to learn and perform
-Self motivated, good communication, asks questions when they are not 100% sure
-Familiarity with Illustrator (for making paint masks)

Physical Requirements:
-Able to lift 25 lbs above your head without assistance
-Stand for long periods of time
-Able to lift 50 lbs without assistance
-Wear closed toe shoes at all times

Schedule:
Full time, 40hrs/wk, Monday-Friday, year round
Competitive wages for qualified candidates

Benefits: (after a 90 day probationary period)
Paid time off
Sick time off
Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance
Employee Purchase

Our approach to diversity is simple. It’s about embracing everyone, regardless of an employee’s culture, ethnicity, race, gender identity, beliefs, age, sexual orientation and/or disability status. We want all of our employees to feel valued, appreciated and free to be who they are at work. We are doing what we can to build an inclusive world for all.

If you are interested in in working with us, please send us a cover letter and a resume to the email address listed.