Velotech, the company behind two local Western Bikeworks retail stores and BikeTiresDirect.com, has three fresh openings for you to choose from.
Learn more about each one via the links below…
–> Customer Experience Specialist – Velotech
–> Shipping Specialist – Velotech
–> Buyer – Velotech
Five years ago today Portland resident Michelle DePass stood up at a meeting for a transportation project on North Williams Avenue and changed the course of local and national cycling politics forever:
“We have an issue of racism and of the history of this neighborhood,” DePass said. “Until we address that history and… the cultural differences we have in terms of respect, we are not going to move very far.”
While Portland celebrates a strong first day for Biketown, a new report about the factors that drive growth in bike sharing shows how Portland has fallen behind the leading U.S. cities in new infrastructure.
Minneapolis, New York City and San Francisco now have about 50, 20 and 15 percent more bikeways per square mile than Portland respectively, the report found. All three of those cities has seen faster bikeway growth than Portland since 2010, the year Portland passed its ambitious Bike Plan for 2030. In Minneapolis, bike infrastructure has grown three times faster.
These new figures were released Wednesday as part of a report by the National Association for City Transportation Officials, which examined the role quality bike networks play in making bike sharing safe and popular.
Stephanie Noll plans to leave the staff of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance this Friday.
Noll is the organization’s No. 2 employee and has been on the staff since 2007, longer than all but one other employee. She began her tenure as part of what was then a fairly new Safe Routes to School team and is currently serving as the BTA’s deputy director.
Noll’s departure comes a few weeks before the BTA announces a new name at its Aug. 10 members meeting that will mark a new, broader focus on walking and mass transit as well as bike transportation.
“Steph has had an amazing impact on the BTA,” Executive Director Rob Sadowsky said in an interview today. “She has expanded our support base with foundations, allowing us to expand our staff. She launched our Women Bike program, took the Bike More Challenge and Vision Zero to new levels and helped launch Families for Safe Streets.” Sadowsky added that the BTA will evaluate all staffing needs after their strategic planning reboot and big fundraising event in the fall.
Here’s the email Noll sent out to friends and colleagues this morning:
Buried in the “miscellaneous” section of the user agreement for Portland’s new bike-sharing system is a notice that Biketown users are waiving their rights to a jury trial.
Unless, that is, they sent a one-line email to the company that operates Biketown within 30 days of first using the system. If they don’t, a prominent Portland bike lawyer says, their chances of winning any future legal claim against Biketown are slim.
The requirement was spotted this week, just after the system launched, by (among other people) Mark Ginsberg, a Portland attorney who specializes in “bicycle legal needs.” He shared his discovery in a post to friends on his Facebook page:
hey Portland friends who got BikeTown memberships, you read the contract right?
In Section 15, they force you into arbitration, unless you take action within the first 30 days (clarification- within 30 days of first use) to opt out of arbitration.
As your lawyer friend, I’m here to tell you that you should opt out.
don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Last month we were overjoyed to report that automaker Tesla had voluntarily agreed to build a segment of riverfront bike path behind its future showroom on Southwest Macadam.
If a new housing and retail project that entered the city’s development pipeline Monday moves forward, it’d be the final piece of a continuous west-bank greenway from the Sellwood Bridge almost to the Ross Island Bridge — and in the coming years to Tilikum Crossing.
The vacant lot between Southwest Lowell, Lane, Bond and the Willamette River would get four new seven-story buildings with ground-floor retail and 200 to 300 apartments above, under a very early concept plan filed for a pre-application hearing by the local firm GBD Architects, which is representing San Mateo-based Prometheus Real Estate Group. Here’s the site plan for the Prometheus project marking future “recreational trails” with a string of stars:
Not to be outdone by ODOT, Multnomah County has issued a special notice about upcoming chip seal work. This is particularly important for people who ride because the county happens to manage very popular cycling routes like Sauvie Island, Skyline and Larch Mountain.
It hasn’t taken long for Portland to embrace bike share. Just 24 hours after it launched yesterday Biketown is already getting lots of praise from users on social media and in the streets. And the initial statistics back up the enthusiasm.
Not everyone is a fan of course, but I’ve visited a few dozen stations already and everyone I’ve talked to has had a positive reaction. Now we have our first glimpse of data to see how the system is doing.
According to numbers released by Biketown’s operator Motivate Inc. today (at our request), there have been 2,366 trips taken on the system since it was launched yesterday at 11:30 am.
Here are the numbers in more detail (as of 11:00 am or so) along with some other fun stats:
First it was rain jackets, then a hydration system, then came gloves, device covers, baselayers, and an apparel line.
Now southeast Portland-based Showers Pass is rolling into the bag market with the release of the Cloudcover line.
The line includes three models: the Utility Backpack ($214), Transit Backpack ($264) and Refuge Duffel ($189). As you’d expect the bags keep water out thanks to a special fabric coating, fully welded seams and waterproof zippers. Another cool feature are the integrated and removable LED lights that slip into the sides and back of the bags to help you be seen by other road users.
Here are a few more images of the bags followed by the company’s press release:
When all else fails, turn to sasquatch. That’s the thinking from the Oregon Department of Transportation when it comes to educating people about crosswalk safety.
The fabled, hairy creature plays a starring role in a new video from the agency (made in partnership with Metro) released this morning. “Sasquatch stars in a new video spot illustrating the law and the importance of everyone being alert, be they drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists or mythical furry forest creatures,” reads the official statement.
In the video Sasquatch approaches an intersection only to get scared as someone approaches in a car. Then another person calms his fears by reminding him that in Oregon, “every corner is a crosswalk.” It’s a fun video, but it highlights a very serious issue: The number of people who were killed while walking in Oregon was up 50 percent statewide in 2015 (compared to the previous year). 10 people were killed while walking in Portland last year.
Check out the video below:
A local organization that arranges for Portlanders to teach one another niche skills and information is offering a four-week introduction to do-it-yourself street transformation.
From Better Block’s temporary bike lanes to City Repair’s beloved intersection murals to Depave’s manually removed asphalt, Portland is rich with the spirit of “tactical urbanism,” an umbrella term for fast, flexible changes that make city streets better for people.
Now, Portlander Claire Vlach is offering a four-session crash course through the year-old Portland Underground Grad School. Cost: $99 for the eight-hour class.
Job Title *
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE SPECIALIST
Company/Organization *
Velotech
Job Description *
JOB OVERVIEW: This is a unique position which is a combination of Western Bikeworks Customer Experience Specialist (phone) and Western Bikeworks Retail Store Sales Associate which is why it’s being titled “Hybrid Sales Associate” for purposes of this Job Description. The Hybrid Sales Associate position handles and learns day-to-day processes in bicycle retail at Western Bikeworks – keying transactions, returns and exchanges, and handling escalated issues. This position is governed by the Western Bikeworks Retail Mission: “Empowering people to achieve their bike-related goals in whatever form they may take.” This position also is responsible for responding to customer phone calls, emails, and for working directly with customers in our closeout store. He/she provides product information, advice and order assistance and also reviews orders and price match requests and assist with site content, including produc t reviews, photos and descriptions. This role is responsible for treating both their coworkers and customers using the following standards: identifying their goals, finding solutions to help them achieve those goals, and owning their experience from first contact through the resolution of that goal.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
• Operate store Point of Sale equipment
• Assist customers with product selection by spending the time to learn about the customer’s needs and then suggesting appropriate product to satisfy those requirements. This will extend (but not be limited) to bicycle selection and sizing, nutrition selection, and accessory selection
• Provide higher than expected (by the customer) customer service including but not limited to assisting with removal of bicycles from their vehicle, searching all possible avenues for special order or out of stock product, expediting all service and transactions as much as possible, and hand writing thank you cards
• Prepare the retail store for normal operations at opening time (lights, signage, setup PCs, etc) and handle End of Day procedures
• Assist with the setup and teardown of marketing events at the store (movie premieres, vendor presentations, etc)
• Work on receiving, placing product on the floor, store cleanliness, etc. at the discretion of the store manager
• Answer incoming phone calls and respond to incoming customer email
• Has basic level mechanic capabilities (change a flat tire, operate quick release)
• Prepare and serve Coffee and Alcohol in accordance with store policy and OLCC service laws
• Navigate a sophisticated order processing system
• Generate performance reports and recommend improvements
• Coordinate with Returns to assist customers with returns and exchanges
• Retrieve products from the warehouse to assist walk-in customers
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES
• Able to work at either retail location as business need requires
• Able to flex between online Customer Experience Specialist and Retail Store Sales Associate as business need requires.
MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS:
• No specific formal education is required
• A bicycle background is a must
• Must be computer literate
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Solid knowledge of cycling products
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication
• Ability to advocate for cycling in the local community
• Ability to work independently or with others to manage multiple task with minimal supervision.
• Ability to spend time talking to people about bicycles.
How to Apply *
Please apply by clicking on company link below:
https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/index.php?/jobs&clientkey=F102FCECFB43ED66CAD0C8276CB962A9