Guest Article: The Tabor Trail (60s Bikeway) and a safer NE Halsey

A good spot for a bicycle lift? (Graphic: Terry Dublinksi-Milton)

Terry Dublinksi-Milton is a Portland resident and dedicated neighborhood activist and transportation reformer. Last summer we shared his call to create an active transportation network in southeast.

I have worked on and critiqued multiple bikeways over the years and though a smaller bike project than many, I have a personal attachment to the NE 60th and Halsey Improvement project. This project is in my neighborhood of fifteen years and has its own history nearly as long.

That’s why it’s so important for me to get it right. Before I share my concerns on the project and feedback for how to make it better. Here’s a brief look in the rear-view mirror…

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Job: Bicycle Technical & Customer Support Team Member – Bike Friday (Eugene)

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title

Bicycle Technical & Customer Support Team Member

Company / Organization

Bike Friday – EUGENE OREGON

Job Description

Bicycle Technical & Customer Support Team Member / Service Department Mechanic

Ever dream of having a job building something environmentally benign that at the end of the day you can feel good about? We are an ambitious group of people trying to do our part to make the world a better place to live. Green Gear Cycling (Bike Friday) is an internationally recognized manufacturer of high performance folding bicycles for traveling and utilitarian/commuting use. Most of our designs are the market segment benchmark product. We employ lean manufacturing techniques (Toyota Production System) to hand fabricate the bicycles here in Eugene, OR.

This position will be a combination of (primarily) phone / email technical support and a little bit of wrenching. The Bike Friday Service Department handles customer emails, phone calls, walk-in assistance, warranty repairs and elective service for Bike Friday bicycles. Bike Friday empowers our team members to take care of our customers so this responsibility can be quite rewarding (solving people’s problems). When not performing the technical support / customer service role, you will be wrenching on our bicycles (tune ups, overhauls, frame assembly/ alignment, etc). Prior bicycle shop (service mechanic) experience is required.

Qualities/ Skills required:

-Superior mechanical aptitude

-Supremely organized

-Strong bicycle mechanical / repair skills

-Positive, optimistic attitude

-Strong communication skills

-Desire to be held personally accountable

-Ambition

-Exceptional problem solving skills, both in person as well as on the phone with customers

– Previous experience working in bicycle maintenance and repair is a must. Candidates will not be considered without at least 1 year verifiable experience.

What we offer is a challenging environment with supportive co-workers who will be interested in your success. If the position becomes permanent, benefits include 401K options, covered bike parking, shower facilities, discount on bike parts, paid holidays, shop privileges and family friendly. And, you get to build yourself a personal bike on the company’s dime.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $12.00 to $16.00 /hour

How to Apply

To apply, please send a cover letter and references to info@bikefriday.com and include the job title in the subject line.

These summer bike camps still have a spot for your kid

Bike camps teach riding skills, bike maintenance, safety, and friendship.
(Photo: Nat Shreffler for Community Cycling Center)

Portland has a wide variety of summer bike camps: Everything from learn-to-ride camps that ease kids onto two wheels to camps that teach advanced riding and repair skills. You might think it’s late in the game to find a spot in one of them, but most area bike camps still have spaces in some sessions.

My son attended his favorite bike camp back when he was five. He decided he wanted “bike racing camp” instead of “regular bike camp” and I found a new camp offered at a bike coaching facility. They started each morning of the week watching Danny MacAskill bike trick videos before pedaling off via multi-use path to a park where the instructor had stashed an obstacle course in the bushes. In addition to the emphasis on riding and tricks, he came home with more art projects from this camp (we still have a precious old bike cranks and duct tape creation) than from the larger, more traditional bike camps he’s attended.

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‘Missing middle’ housing bill needs a push in Salem

Plenty of “middle housing” in Montreal is one reason why it’s such a great city for biking.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

One of the most important bills we’ve been tracking this legislative session is hanging in the balance.

House Bill 2001 would allow “missing middle” housing (a.k.a. multi-family dwellings) in places currently zoned for only single-family housing. It would have a vast impact on cycling because it would enable more people to live in closer proximity to jobs and other destinations — making a trip by bike more feasible.

According to advocates who support the bill, the time is now to press legislators to move the bill forward. Below is a message from southeast Portland resident Doug Klotz:

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From the Archives

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