Scofflaw car drivers are keeping police very busy

The driver of this car seen sliding around on the Fremont Bridge was ultimately arrested and charged with 2 counts of reckless driving, 2 counts of reckless endangering and 2 counts of disorderly conduct.
(Photo: YouTube)

Whether it’s the Coronavirus Effect, a general sense of lawlessness, lack of concern about consequences, or all of the above — the Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division has been very busy with dangerous drivers recently.

You’ve likely seen the headlines about a spike in speeding. This is happening for the aforementioned reasons and because the pandemic has opened up more space on the roads. Any armchair traffic engineer will tell you that when people have more space to operate a vehicle they will use it to go faster (like 107 mph in a 45 mph zone) and take more chances.

Now we have hard data from the PPB about how this phenomenon is playing out locally.

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Nonprofit leaders say Portland streets aren’t ‘open’ for all

Seen in north Portland.
(Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

While some Portlanders ride bikes and walk around their neighborhoods with relative ease, that ostensibly simple act isn’t so easy for many others. Local nonprofit leaders who work with immigrants, people of color, and families that rely on social services, paint a much different picture of neighborhood mobility.

In the case of Oregon Walks, Executive Director Jess Thompson said in a recent member newsletter that many people they serve, “Are not feeling safe leaving home during the pandemic.” “Too many folks do not have enough (or any) access to face coverings or reliable information about how to walk ‘Covid-aware’ and more safely when they walk out the door.”

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Business owners can now apply for temporary pick-up/drop-off spaces

PBOT graphic.

Portland Bureau of Transportation Commissioner Chloe Eudaly has announced another element of the Slow Streets Safe Streets initiative.

Business owners can now fill out a short online application to request that space on their block be repurposed from parking to a “temporary 5-minute pickup/drop-off parking space.”

This part of the program was hinted at when it was launched on April 28th. It’s part of a three-pronged approach that aims to change how we use neighborhood greenways, busy streets, and main streets in an era of increased social distancing.

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With 100 members, the BikePortland Forums are off and running

Screenshot of BikePortland Forums front page.

We’ve got forums!

I’ve been holding back on this announcement because I didn’t want to waste your time if they didn’t pan out. But after launching quietly at the end of March, today we’ve passed the 100-user mark on the new BikePortland Forums and that gives me the confidence to officially announce them here on the Front Page.

BikePortland has always been about fostering good conversations, sharing information, and inspiring people to go out and use it. It’s why we invest so much in our comment section and maintain daily discussions here on the blog as well as on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (not to mention old-fashioned emails and all those private messages).

So why add forums into that mix? Let me count the ways…

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Jobs of the Week: Fat Tire Farm, eBike Store, Sellwood Cycle Repair, Jimmy John’s, Velotech

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

The bad news is many Portlanders have lost their jobs in the past month. The good news is we’ve got a few leads for you.

If you’re looking for a new gig, check the links below…

– Mtn Bike Sales Specialist – The eBike Store

– Mechanic – Sellwood Cycle Repair

– Bike Delivery Rider – Jimmy John’s #1410

– Customer Experience Specialist – Velotech, Inc.

– Mountain Bike Mechanic – Fat Tire Farm

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Job: Mountain Bike Mechanic – Fat Tire Farm

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title

Mountain Bike Mechanic

Company / Organization

Fat Tire Farm

Job Description

The Fat Tire Farm is looking for a full-time, year-round mountain bike mechanic. Our ideal candidate has at least 2 years experience in a high-paced service center and is comfortable servicing hydraulic brakes and performing pivot overhauls. We’re looking for a strong team player who can work collaboratively with our other technicians. Shop hours are Tuesday-Friday 11am-7pm and Saturday 10am-6pm.

Pay is commiserate with experience. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k match, PTO.

How to Apply

Please email resumes to barry@fattirefarm.com

City seeks cycling input on Freight Master Plan update

Scene from the memorial for Kathryn Rickson in 2012 where some people called on Portland to ban large commercial trucks.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has launched an update to the Freight Master Plan and the first place they stopped to ask for feedback was the bicycle advisory committee.

That makes sense given the tragic legacy of death and injury left behind by drivers of big trucks on Portland’s central city streets.

For years we’ve failed to mitigate the immense risks posed by trucks. With a massive boom in e-commerce and new ideas around how we use streets and curb space, the freight plan just might be a perfect opportunity to finally make progress.

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From the Archives

With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike