🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏
The State of Oregon has opened up a new grant program to fund projects that make it easier to walk, bike, and roll to schools.
Looks like we’ll get a reprieve from the heat this weekend. And it’s a good thing because we’ve got some great rides and events to tempt you with.
Here’s what we suggest…
**BP PICK!!** Banana Belt Fat Bike Festival – Gold Beach (Oregon Coast)
Escape the heat and head to the southern Oregon coast for a weekend of fat bikes, beaches, great beer and more. This affordable, family-friendly event is fully supported and a great opportunity to try fat biking and discover a beautiful part of our coastline. More info here.
Electric scooters are hogging headlines right now; but e-bikes are Portland’s quiet transportation revolution. In the past few years the number of people riding with pedal-assisted motors has skyrocketed and local shops have seen a big increase in sales.
While e-bikes have carved out a safe space in Portland’s street culture, they — like their unmotorized brethren — still exist in somewhat of a legal Twilight Zone. Are they bicycles or “motorized vehicles”? Can they be ridden on sidewalks? Those are just some of the questions people often have about them.
A new legal guidebook by the law firm of Thomas, Coon, Newton & Frost aims to answer those questions.
Oregon E-Bike Rights: A Legal Guide for Electric Bike Riders was written by Ray Thomas, Cynthia Newton, Jim Coon, and Chris Thomas. You might recognize that first name as the lawyer behind Pedal Power: A Legal Guide for Oregon Bicyclists, which is now in its 10th printing and is widely considered Oregon’s bike law bible. Thomas and Newton are also BikePortland contributors (and the firm is a major supporter of bike advocacy in Portland, including a sponsor of our work).
TCNF’s 49-page guide is a comprehensive look at laws that govern the use of electric bikes in Oregon. In addition to a rundown of the relevant Oregon Revised Statutes, the guide also covers insurance policy questions, advocacy efforts to change existing e-bike laws and create better ones, and offers a resource guide if you want to probe further.
“While this plan isn’t the best we can do, it reflects the best we can do right now.”
— from Metro’s RTP Formal Comment Period Briefing Book
When it comes to major infrastructure projects, if it’s not in Metro’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), it’s not going to be built. And as our region faces growing population pressure, a mobility revolution, and the impacts of climate change, it’s imperative that the projects listed in this plan reflect our highest values and priorities.
For the past three years Metro and their partners have been working to update the RTP and we’re now just five months away from formal adoption. But before that happens, councilors and policymakers need to hear what you think. An official public comment period is now open and runs through August 13th.
Thanks for all your comments on last week’s post. This week we’ve got another reader profile to share…
Elizabeth Decker is relatively new to family biking and she does it with an infectious glee that’s not uncommon. Because, as many of you already know, biking with a kid in tow really is one of the funnest things a mom can do.
➤ Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
Warehouse Worker
Castelli USA
Castelli USA is seeking a full-time Warehouse Worker for our warehouse in NE Portland. The position performs various warehouse functions (picking, packing, shipping, receiving, etc.). Applicants should be highly motivated with an attention to detail and a team player.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Picking orders correctly, quickly and efficiently
• Packing and shipping orders using UPS Small Package plus some freight
• Receiving inbound products and putting away on shelves
• Keeping warehouse neat and clean
• Helping with physical inventory counts
• Process returns from customers
• Other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
• Must be detail oriented and organized
• Must have a positive attitude and be highly motivated
• Must be punctual and maintain a good attendance record
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
• High School Diploma
• 1-2 years Warehouse experience
• Basic PC skills, Word, Excel, Outlook, UPS Worldship
Our offices are in the Hollywood/Laurelhurst district of NE Portland and close to MAX and bike routes. We offer competitive salary, health care, 401k, profit sharing, PTO, and a generous product allowance.
Send your resume and cover letter to Mike Sheppard, Director of Operations at msheppard@castelli-us.com
Active Transportation Coordinator
Portland Community College
Portland Community College is hiring an Active Transportation Coordinator.
The Active Transportation Coordinator will develop a bike rental program for two PCC campuses and provide alternate transportation information to commuters, direct students, staff, and visitors toward affordable, reliable, healthy, and sustainable transportation through transit, bicycling, walking, etc. and maintain program files and records.
Must be comfortable speaking with all types of people and have a fun, friendly, outgoing personality.
This position pays $16 per hour and is planned as a 30-40 hour per week position.
If interested, please email mark.gorman@pcc.edu for a job description and an application.
Transportation Ambassador
Portland Community College
Portland Community College is hiring a half-time Transportation Ambassador to encourage students, faculty and staff to walk, bike, carpool, and use transit more often.
The Transportation Ambassador will conduct outreach and administrative tasks, invite the PCC community to participate in the program, respond to questions about transportation to, from, and within their neighborhoods, assemble and deliver information packet orders, and identify other opportunities for outreach and partnership.
Must be comfortable speaking with all types of people and have a fun, friendly, outgoing personality.
This position pays $14 per hour.
If interested, please email mark.gorman@pcc.edu for a job description and an application.
Customer Service Representative
Castelli USA
Customer Service Representative
Job Description *
Castelli USA is seeking a Customer Service Representative. The position performs various customer service and sales functions, supporting our US retailers and consumers. If you’re highly motivated, have excellent attention to detail, and are a flexible team player, we encourage you to apply.
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Communicate with retailers, sales reps, team accounts and consumers via phone and email
• Process returns and warranties from customers
• Complete tasks and projects within scope of responsibility to support sales, customer service manager, and team sales
• Data entry and administrative duties supporting US accounts
QUALIFICATIONS
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build professional business relationships
• Must be detail oriented, organized and able to appropriately manage time in order to meet business needs
• Positive attitude and highly motivated
• Familiarity with global cycling culture
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
High School Diploma
1-2 years customer service experience
Basic PC skills, Word, Excel, Outlook
Email cover letter and resume to sales@castelli-us.com
Maria Schur, a.k.a. “Bicycle Kitty” is a Portland-based bike lover and ride leader. You might have sampled her handiwork if you did the Pedalpalooza Kickoff Ride. In this post she shares her experience as a volunteer at the Ride to Defeat ALS earlier this month.
I’m not sure whether to feel terrible for Lou Gehrig because he died young from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), or because his name has become almost synonymous with this debilitating and often fatal disease instead of for his illustrious career as a talented professional baseball player.
I didn’t know much about ALS before joining the Ride to Defeat ALS last Saturday. 75 miles gave me a lot of time to think about the privilege of good health, and the struggle of the folks diagnosed with ALS and their families. ALS is a motor neurone disease, weakening the victim’s muscles until eventually they’re unable to breathe. It’s always fatal and a diagnosis usually means the patient will die within five years.
(In case you haven’t noticed, BikePortland has been in vacation mode since last Friday and will continue to be until middle of next week. That means I’ve been out-of-the-loop on the e-scooter launch (and other things) and I’m up late posting while everyone else is asleep.)
How’s the e-scooter launch going so far Portland?
All I’ve heard so far is that someone at PBOT made a very poor decision about a Twitter post and that the Willamette Week is looking to cover how annoying and dangerous they expect the scooters to be. Oh, and it looks like our friends at TriMet are big fans.
I’ve been a believer in these things since the beginning, so I’m eager to see how it’s all shaking out once I get home next week.
Need a change? Or maybe you’re looking to get your foot in the door of Portland’s dynamic cycling industry? Check out our latest job listings.
Learn more about each one via the links below…
–> Bike Valet Attendants – Go By Bike
–> Warehouse Manager – Castelli USA
