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

After pushback, PBOT will make changes to NW in Motion projects

Not going to happen after all.

When a seven-page memo detailing changes to the Northwest in Motion plan was released late last month by the Portland Bureau of Transportation, many advocates were animated in their disapproval.

“All the ways in which Northwest in Motion is being watered down is so incredibly depressing,” NextPortland blogger and transportation reform activist Iain MacKenzie shared on Twitter.

NWIM is the city’s plan to dramatically increase biking, walking and transit use in the Northwest District. When we shared the draft plan back in November it came with an expectation that the projects would double bike use. In the past two years of planning, PBOT has identified a list of projects that are truly unprecedented for this part of town. From five new neighborhood greenways and a district-wide 20 mph speed limit zone, to carfree streets and 12 new diverters that are estimated to take 12,000 cars off the road every day.

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How I learned to cope with climate grief

(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Catie Gould is Co-Chair of Bike Loud PDX and a regular BikePortland contributor. She last wrote about Portland’s housing policy.
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Every Thursday for the last few months, I’ve been attending a small meeting in a back room of the Central Lutheran Church. Sipping tea around a table decorated with fall leaves, I took turns sharing with strangers how I feel about the climate crisis. The ten week program was put together by the Good Grief Network, which is sprouting chapters all over the world.

The support group couldn’t have come at a better time for me. In October I took a trip to Washington DC to visit my brother. At the Museum of Natural History, I was struck by a small sign. It read that the atmosphere was changing faster now than any other mass extinction event in history. I stood there for several minutes, looking at the sign then back at all the other people in the exhibit hall walking past unaware. The science of climate change was not new to me, but this little sign rocked me, and sent me into a cycle of despair. My grief manifested as a shadowy doom that followed me around. It tapped me repeatedly on the shoulder and whispered ‘“mass extinction” in my ear. For nearly a month every transportation meeting I attended left me in tears, often not waiting until I was back home. No one was acting with the urgency that was needed.

For others who might be struggling, I wanted to share some of what I learned over the last few months.

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Job: Installation Technicians / Sales Specialist – ReRack

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title

Installation Technicians / Sales Specialist

Company / Organization

ReRack

Job Description

Seasonal PT & FT Hours Available

ReRack’s mission is to get you out into the great outdoors with a roof rack that not only meets your needs but your wallet as well. We know how expensive a new rack can be, and we want to make sure everyone has the ability to take their gear wherever they want in whatever vehicle they own. So in 2008 we opened as a place to buy, sell and trade used car roof rack parts.
We are locally owned with a focus on reusing and re-purposing roof racks, our drive is to support our customers in enjoying outdoor activities while keeping environmental impacts to a minimum.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:
Installation of Yakima, Thule, Rhino, Inno, Sportrack products and services
Greet customers in a timely, professional and engaging manner.
Demonstrate professionalism and a high level of service so that customers leave the store with a positive image.
Not commission based; Low pressure sales
Consistently seek new product knowledge to act as an expert for the customer.
Work as a team player to ensure each customer receives the best service possible.
Respond with professionalism and good judgment in accepting and revitalizing used gear.
Ensure that stock is replenished and displays are neat and rotated to encourage sales.
Assist with backroom projects and assignments as requested.
Ensure counter areas and restrooms are clean and tidy.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to work in a fast-paced and high energy environment
Attention to detail
Ability to utilize computer systems and PC to find information and problem solve.
Must have a passion for people and the outdoors
Ability to positively and proactively handle customer concerns
Prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
Ability to quickly learn new procedures and processes
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

QUALIFICATIONS:
Basic Math
Comfortable working with hand and power tools
Safety Conscious
Automotive and car rack experience (professional or personal) is an asset, but not required
Ability to work outside in all weather conditions
Valid Driver’s License
Ability to drive a manual transmission is preferred, but not required

COMPETITIVE WAGE AND BENEFITS
$13.50-$15 hourly based on experience
PT/FT/Seasonal
Flexible schedule to ensure you can enjoy the summer and not work all the time
Store discounts
Access to outdoor pro deals

How to Apply

Please send resume to randy@rerack.com and what you love about the great Pacific NW.

Oregon Active Transportation Summit set for March 17-19

The Oregon Active Transportation Summit moves to a new venue this year. The Street Trust’s annual gathering of planning professionals, agency staffersm thinkers and activists takes place at the Oregon Convention Center. The three-day event will have an explicit focus on climate action and transportation justice and will be headlined by Emma Marris, an environmental writer based in Klamath Falls.

As always, OATS will feature workshops, panels, and roundtable discussions aimed at sharpening your transportation planning and advocacy toolkit.

Tamika Butler from Toole Design Group will kick off the summit on Tuesday with a transportation equity and justice workshop.

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Becky Jo’s Carfree Life: Traveler Seeks Cyclists

biking around El Ángel
Biking around El Ángel
(Photos: Robert Wagner)

Our Pacific Northwest Fake-out February sure was glorious. There were a few days I ditched the coat and I’m missing it already. Looking ahead to summer, I’m so excited about this Pedalpalooza stuff. I’ve never heard of these things in my own city, and after last week’s talk about arm signals and bike camps for kids, all of this got me thinking about travel and vacations. Due to our payment plan, we will not be taking any extravagant vacations this year, but we do have an inexpensive and short trip to the Southwest planned.

I’m curious: Do you seek out bike adventures when you travel? Do you look for organized rides? Are you an adventure seeker and travel just for biking new places? If so, do you look for bikes to rent? Or do you ship your own bike? I only know of this last option because there are vans parked within a couple miles of me that advertise a service that will pack your bike for you and ship it. I had no idea that was a thing.

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I was sued for defamation: Here’s what happened next

The only photo I took in the courtoom because I was worried about drawing attention to myself.

When I first heard I was being sued by the subject of one of my stories, I didn’t think it would amount to much. I certainly didn’t think I’d ever find myself squirming in a courtroom bench as my accuser and a judge read through one of my stories word-for-word.

But that’s exactly where I found myself on Friday afternoon as Multnomah County Judge Melvin Oden-Orr considered the merits of case number 19CV47330. A team of four lawyers representing media companies that own The Oregonian, Willamette Week, KATU and others sat on one side of the room and Mark Dickerson — who chose to represent himself — sat on the other.

It all started December 13th when a man knocked on my door and pushed a stack of papers into my wife’s hands. I had been served papers in a lawsuit brought by Dickerson against myself and seven media companies. Dickerson sought $750,000 against each of us for Defamation and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.

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