BikePortland

The Monday Roundup: Dutch distractions, China’s bus boondoggle & more

Gotta check.
(Photo: J.Maus/BikePortland)

Good morning! Starting today it’s summer vacation season on BikePortland, with first me and then Jonathan taking a little time to decoil. So expect slightly slower posting than usual for the next month or so — though you’ll usually be able to count on at least two posts almost every weekday.

(If you’ve been yearning for a chance to put together a guest post, this means it’s a golden opportunity. Get in touch!)

This week’s Monday Roundup is sponsored by Western Bikeworks. Check out their big 5-year anniversary sale going on now through June 5th.

Here are the bike-related links from around the world that caught our eyes this week:

Distracted biking: Even the Dutch are considering a mobile-phone ban.

Straddle bus: The thing about China’s new bus that drives over congestion is that you could achieve basically the same thing with a dedicated bus lane, says Canaan Merchant.

Sleeping driver: A camera caught a man dozing behind the wheel of an “autopiloted” Tesla Model S.

There was a fatal collision on SW Multnomah Blvd today that involved a person who was riding a bicycle.

According to the Portland Police Bureau the collision happened at 4:00 pm on the 6300 block of Multnomah — just a few tenths of a mile east of where it splits with Garden Home. Both the bicycle rider and the automobile driver were going east prior to the collision.

Northwest 13th Avenue during Sunday Parkways, 2011.
(Photo: J.Maus/BikePortland)

Curb-protected bike lanes are cool and all, but they’ve got nothing on building-protected bike lanes.

That’s roughly the position from BikePortland reader Andrew, who added the first comment to Tuesday’s post about possible downtown protected bike lanes with a very different vision for one of Portland’s most unique streets: Northwest 13th Avenue.

Here’s what Andrew had to say:

Ask BikePortland is a regular column. Browse the archives or drop us a line if you have a question you’d like us to answer.

Today’s question is about Better Naito, the temporary project that has created a two-way, 15-foot lane for biking and walking on Naito Parkway.

Reader Skip Winters lives in West Linn and commutes into northeast Portland (thanks to an electric bike he says). His favorite part of the ride is Naito Parkway, especially now with the generous amount of space and safety afforded by the new alignment. But he’s confused about the signals.

I want to share two videos that I think will help broaden your understanding of the homelessness crisis and give you some new perspective on it. And here’s why I’m doing it:

Over the past few months I’ve gotten many emails from people who bike by homeless camps and then write in to say: “The homeless situation is out of hand and something needs to be done about it.” In part because of emails like that we’ve covered the topic several times recently.

This might make you wonder: Why are bicycle riders talking about the local homelessness crisis? Why am I reading about this on a bike blog?

Part of the answer is that when you experience a city by bike, you are physically and mentally much more a part of your surroundings than people who drive or use transit. Bicycle riders experience the street environment in a very direct way, so it’s no surprise that all this camping — much of it happening directly adjacent to multi-use paths — is on many people’s minds at the end of their commute.

The scene this morning on the Esplanade at the Steel Bridge.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

If you’re new to biking in Portland you might notice something afoot on the last Friday of every month as you pedal into downtown: A bunch of happy-looking people standing around with coffee and donuts in their hands.

Next time you see this, consider stopping: It’s for you!

What you’re seeing is an old Portland tradition known as Breakfast on the Bridges. For the past 14 years (14!) a hardy bunch of volunteers affiliated with Shift have been serving food and drinks and smiles on downtown bridges from 7:00 to 9:00 am. It currently happens on the Hawthorne (west end), Steel (east end), and the Tillikum (east end). The selection of eats varies from month-to-month. I’ve seen everything from bagels and bacon to made-to-order pancakes. This morning on the Tillikum Lilian Karabaic and friends offered chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies and banana muffins.

If you’re wary of stopping because you think you’ll have to sign up for something or listen to someone’s political or product pitch, don’t worry. “B on B” (as the locals call it) has no agenda (although politicians have been known to show up). Like everything Shift makes happen (Pedalpalooza and the World Naked Bike Ride included), the goal is simply to have fun and meet people.

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Looking for a new place to work? We’ve got six great job opportunities that just went up this week.

Learn more about each one via the links below…

–> Lead Bike Technician – BIKETOWN

–> Warehouse/Customer Service Coordinator – Portland Design Works

–> Rider / Brand Ambassador – B-line Sustainable Urban Delivery

–> Consumer Service Rep – Yakima Products

–> Go By Bike Morning Attendant – Go By Bike Shop

–> Bike Mechanic/Sales – First City Cycles

Job Title *
Bike Mechanic/Sales

Company/Organization *
First City Cycles

Job Description *
First City Cycles, located in downtown Oregon City, has an immediate opportunity for an experienced bicycle mechanic and sales consultant. We’re looking for a team player with at least 3 years of in-shop and hands-on bike maintenance experience. This person should also enjoy interacting with customers and participating in group rides. The right person will be able to handle inventory management and work with suppliers on parts orders. Small shop experience a must. Our shop is actively involved in the local community and works closely with the Oregon City Trail Alliance to help plan, build, and maintain local bike/ped trails in Clackamas County. Only qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview.

How to Apply *
If interested in joining our team, please send your resume and brief cover letter to: mark@fccycles.net. No phone calls please.

Portland’s ‘Lawyer Ride,’ now 25 years old, is still pedaling strong

Lawyer Ride founder Ray Thomas in Pioneer Courthouse Square where friends and colleagues have been starting a weekly training ride for the past 25 years.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

In 1991 two Portland lawyers, Jim Coon and Ray Thomas, started riding in the west hills above Portland twice a week during their lunch hour to stay in shape and let off a bit of steam. 25 years later both men are still doing those rides — every week, rain-or-shine. Today I finally joined them.

WES at Beaverton Transit Center.
(Photo: Thomas Le Ngo)

TriMet’s Westside Express Service commuter rail line, built for the equivalent of $178 million in 2008, is getting some new investment.

The line between Beaverton Transit Center and Wilsonville costs TriMet $135,000 per week to operate and serves something like 900 to 1,000 people per weekday.

That comes out to a cost of $14.83 per boarding in April, compared to $2.68 per boarding of a frequent-service bus line or $2.36 per MAX boarding.

The Oregonian reported Monday that the regional transit agency was agreeing this week to spend another $2 million to buy and retrofit two rail cars from Texas:

https://vimeo.com/166666767
Welcome to this week’s roundup! I’ve been travelling and otherwise busy the last few weeks, it’s nice to catch up on all the cycling videos. I watched 103 vids this week. We’re starting off with a local video, documentation of the Better Block Broadway project from TransitSleuth. There’s one colorful rant in the middle. There are more vids from him below.

It’ll be an introduction to transportation careers.
(Photo: J.Maus/BikePortland)

If you’re a female high schooler with a yen for understanding how cities work and how to help them evolve, Portland State Unviersity has a deal for you.

PSU’s Transportation Research and Education Center is offering its first-ever Summer Transportation Institute, a two-week course designed to introduce young women (rising into grades 9-12) to the possibilities of a career in shaping streets. It’ll be divided between (a) guest lectures from prominent women in Portland’s transportation world and (b) “field tours of Portland’s transportation infrastructure and public spaces.”

Here’s how the course description puts it:

The Monday Roundup: Dutch distractions, China’s bus boondoggle & more

Man dies after being struck while bicycling on SW Multnomah

Comment of the Week: The car-free destiny of NW 13th Avenue

Ask BikePortland: Do I have to stop for red lights while riding on ‘Better Naito’?

Two videos that will help you understand homelessness in Portland

Why are all those people drinking coffee and eating donuts on the bike path?

Jobs of the Week: BIKETOWN, Portland Design Works, B-line, Yakima, Go By Bike, First City Cycles

Job: Bike Mechanic/Sales – First City Cycles

Portland’s ‘Lawyer Ride,’ now 25 years old, is still pedaling strong

As TriMet puts another $2 million into WES, some imagine the bike trail that wasn’t

Weekly Video Roundup: playing on closed streets, bikepacking Norway, more

Reform school: PSU will host a free ‘Summer Transportation Institute’ for girls

Latest Headlines

BikeCraft makes triumphant return with festive fun for everyone

Escape into far-flung adventures at bike touring slideshow

Local gas tax will fund two new crossings on SE Division

Guest article: ‘High crash’ intersections and what Portland is doing about them

From the Archives

Portland’s invisible machine: Behind the scenes at the World Naked Bike Ride