4/25: Hello readers and friends. I'm still recovering from a surgery I had on 4/11, so I'm unable to attend events and do typical coverage. See this post for the latest update. I'll work as I can and I'm improving every day! Thanks for all your support 🙏. - Jonathan Maus, BikePortland Publisher and Editor
“I’m a little disappointed [advocates are] so singularly focused on this issue that they can’t really take into consideration the full breadth of what I’m dealing with as transportation commissioner.”
— Chloe Eudaly, City Commissioner
Publisher’s note: This article was written by Riley Gabriel, a program mechanic at the Community Cycling Center.
Are you frustrated? Maybe a little bit? I love seeing my neighbors out on their bikes more, but I’m frustrated our city isn’t giving more road ownership to pedestrians and cyclists during this unprecedented time.
I’m just now getting comfortable enough to bike anywhere for a 20-25 mile roundtrip, but I certainly can’t get my kids to go that far, nor would I want to in these conditions. How are you doing with the increased reckless driving versus less traffic? What about kids biking in it? Some kids on the 2nd grader’s classroom calls are saying they’re out biking all over on their own; but you have to take a kids’ statements with a grain of salt, you know?
Earlier this month we shared that the leader of the Portland Police Bureau Bike Theft Task Force said we could “end bike theft overnight” if everyone registered their bikes online.
Now Task Force leader Officer Dave Sanders is putting u-locks where his mouth is.
Thanks to an ongoing partnership with Abus Locks, the Portland Bureau of Transportation and registration site Project 529, the Task Force is adding a new twist to their “U Lock U Rock!” program. Once live events like Sunday Parkways start up again, they’ll be doing more cable-lock-for-u-lock exchanges. For now, all you need is a phone and an internet connection.
As the debate rages about whether or not Portland should add space and safety to streets for vulnerable people, a former mayor thinks it’s time to move forward.
Sam Adams was on Portland City Council from 2005 to 2012 — first as a commissioner, then as mayor. Throughout his tenure he was in charge of the Portland Bureau of Transportation and the agency was one of this top priorities. Adams now finds himself on the outside looking in as he eyes the council seat occupied by the current PBOT Commissioner Chloe Eudaly.
Mtn Bike Sales Specialist
The eBike Store
The eBike Store is seeking a bike-savvy team member for the 2020 summer season and likely beyond. We focus exclusively on electric bikes, and this team member will play an integral part in our customers’ experience on a day-to-day basis, especially, but not exclusively working with customers who are looking for eMTBs.
Opening our doors in 2009, we are Portland first all-electric bicycle shop. We own our building and have built our business on earning customer trust one conversation at a time. During the summer season, there is never a dull moment!
Our Team is fun-loving, hard working and passionate about e-bikes. Prior experience with e-bikes is a bonus, but not a must. Prior bike mechanic experience is strongly preferred. We like to pay living wages and seek a long term employee.
With Covid and all, we have reduced hours and are by appointment only. Please be flexible with us during this time. We value your safety and would rather close than put you (or anyone else) in an unsafe working environment. Mask use inside the building is mandatory (masks provided) and sanitization is part of the position and expected of you as well.
send resume to info@ebikestore.com
“Pilot extended sidewalks using temporary materials along Civic Corridors, Pedestrian Districts, parks, grocery stores and other essential services.”
— Bike Loud PDX
Welcome to the first edition of Forums Friday, a new thing we’re doing to highlight notable posts from the BikePortland Forums (you should grab a log-in and join us!).
We know. It’s a bummer. Wearing a mask while riding a bike isn’t great — especially when it’s above 50-degrees. They cause glasses to fog up, they make you breathe your own warm breathe, they fill with sweat and snot, they make it impossible to eat and drink on-the-fly.
But they also might save your life or the life another person. And you should be wearing one.
As we adjust to this new normal, I felt the post from Forum member “amandaSEPDX” deserved more attention. Here’s (a slightly edited version of) what she posted:
