🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏

Tech, tragedy, and triumph: Our 10 most read stories of 2015

“My heart is so full of love for this city, and for everyone far and wide who somehow heard my story and took a moment to care and empathize.”
— Megan Holcomb upon the recovery of her stolen bike back in July.

It’s been the best of times; it’s been the worst of times.

If 2014 was the year when Portland first came to terms in a meaningful way with the fact that it’s no longer the nation’s undisputed biking capital, 2015 has been the year when Portlanders responded. It took a year of tireless work by local volunteers and pros, working alone and in institutions new and old, but it culminated in a series of major victories in late summer and fall:

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Job: SoupCycler – SoupCycle

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Job Title *
SoupCycler

Company/Organization *
SoupCycle`

Job Description *
We are in the midst of our busiest time of the year and we on the search for a couple back-up cyclists to help out as we have people out for vacation or sick leave.

POSITION SUMMARY
Our SoupCyclists are energetic, upbeat and strong-legged people who can brave the winter rains of Portland and still be smiling when they deliver soup to customers. This position is pretty rad if we do say so ourselves. It’s a combination of working in the kitchen one day each week and delivering soups two days/week.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
• Personable and unflappable. There is a lot of customer interaction while you deliver and strong customer service is a must.
• A safe cyclist (uses hand-signals, wears helmet, respects drivers, etc)
• Excitement about food and sharing that with customers during deliveries.
• Excitement to work with a small, local business.
• Physically able to lift 75 lbs and pedal a bike trailer carrying up to 215 lbs.
• A sturdy bike to attach to our soup trailer for deliveries (you get to use your bike, we provide the trailer, and reimburse you for the use of your bike).

HOURS: 6-25 hours a week
PAY: $11.00/hr

How to Apply *
Send 2-3 paragraphs expressing your interest and a resume to nate@soupcycle.com

Job: Project Coordinator (Bicycle Tourism) – Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce

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Job Title *
Project Coordinator

Company/Organization *
Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce

Job Description *
CANDIDATE PROFILE

Enthusiasm and passion for business and biking is a must. The combination of the two will be evident in your cover letter and during the interview process. Independent, self-motivated, wise decision maker who appreciates and values local economies and the possibilities of bringing biking to East Multnomah County ultimately for economic growth. Project oriented, thorough, thoughtful, and high expectations for success. Plays well with others. Strong personal familiarity with East Multnomah County is a plus.

OVERVIEW
Job duration 18-24 months. Renewal determined by continued grant funding.
Current position funded by 3 separate grants.
Reports directly to the Chamber CEO and with other chamber staff engagement.

IN THIS ROLE
The Project Coordinator is responsible for marketing bicycle tourism in East Multnomah County. The Initiative is intended to draw visitors to the East Multnomah County region through bicycling and other events that promote overnight stays and patronizing local businesses. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to list below. In this role you will:

– Develop cycling routes, itineraries, and travel experiences that appeal to a broad range of cyclists including families, distance riders and mountain bikers;
– Work with bicycle tourism groups, travel organizations, chambers and visitor organizations to promote bicycle tourism in East Multnomah County;
– Develop and execute a marketing plan to promote bicycle tourism and East Multnomah County as a destination;
– Create and manage bicycle-related, and family-oriented events to draw visitors to East Multnomah County for day trips and overnight stays;
– Coordinate meetings with Gresham Chamber Executive and full Board, Advisory committee as needed to obtain input on project direction;
– Report and coordinate with funding agencies, including Metro, Travel Portland and Travel Oregon;
– Participate on steering committees and other advisory groups related to bicycle transportation and tourism including other chambers of commerce, visitor centers, Metro and Multnomah County officials.
– Prepare and write grants for continuation of project
– Network with potential funders
– Engage with partners, businesses and communities to better leverage existing community and tourism assets and increase return on investments, overnight stays, tourism activity within east Multnomah County; works with communities, lodging partners, tour operators, and others to support growth of existing and potential tourism related opportunities and activities.
– Respond to public inquiries in person, over the phone and via email

DO YOU QUALIFY?
– Knowledge of bicycle transportation and bicycle tourism
– Ability to develop bicycle routes and itineraries and map them on RidewithGPS or other related programs
– Event planning and tourism development
– Marketing, communications and public relations
– Project management, reporting and budgeting
– Self-starter able to work independently on multiple assignments and projects simultaneously; manage time effectively
– Ability to travel within the region and maintain an acceptable driving record.
– Experience with Microsoft office, GPS and GIS
– Successful grant writing experience
– Must own a bike or can ride one

EDUCATION / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
– Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in transportation, planning, public relations, or communications
– Minimum five years professional experience in related field or industry

SALARY AND BENEFITS
Hourly based on experience approx. 20 hours/wk variable: monthly transit pass and reimbursed mileage and work related expenses.

How to Apply *
Email cover letter and resume to lynn.ceo@greshamchamber.org or mail to Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce, ATTN: Lynn, 1005 N Main, Gresham, Ore 97030
Job posting will be open until Jan 20, 2016 or the most qualified and best candidate is selected.

$99 Bike Fitting Sale at PedalPT ends 12/31

Just an FYI: Our annual end-of-year $99 Bike Fitting special is coming to an end next week on 12/31 for any and all bikes + skill levels. This killer price also good for Gift Certificates!

If you ride regularly, are getting a new bike for X-mas, or have big plans to ride a TON in 2016, it’s a great investment in your overall cycling health. More about us and our comprehensive, experienced bike-fitting service by Physical Therapists –> www.pedalpt.com/bike-fitting/

Happy Holidays!

Two holiday rides worth doing (one of them’s tonight!)

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Riders at last year’s Bike the Lights ride. It happens again tonight (12/28).
(Photo: Tom Howe)

‘Tis the season to be jolly… But it can also be the season of eating, drinking and lounging around inside the comfy confines of your home with family and friends. Now it’s time to break that cabin fever, bundle up, grab your bike, and hit the streets.

There are two holiday rides in Portland worth doing. And one of them is tonight (Monday the 28th). Here are the details…

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The Monday Roundup: Best street changes, smarter traffic tickets & more

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The former “boulevard of death” in New York.
(Photo: NYC DOT)

Welcome to the last week of the year, which is always one of my favorites as a reporter.

Unless we see a lot of breaking news, expect posting to be a bit slower than usual this week, and more focused on the big picture: where Portland biking has come in 2015 and where it’s headed next.

But as always, we’ll start with the bike-related links from around the world that caught our eyes this week:

Best street transformations: Streetsblog’s annual online contest includes inspiring work from Chicago, Columbus, Los Angeles, New York City, Salt Lake City and Seattle.

Smarter enforcement: If you want to change driving behavior, don’t throw the book at a few offenders — instead aim for punishments that are “swift, certain, and fair.”

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Christmas Day By Bike

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SW 3rd.
(Photo: Kiel Johnson)

This post was submitted by BikePortland subscriber Kiel Johnson of Go By Bike.

Today, as children around the world were discovering what was inside of the wrapped boxes under their Christmas tree (or however else they celebrate the holidays). I did the same thing I do most days. I rode my bike around. Except this time Santa gave me the greatest gift of all. A city devoid of cars.

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As a big election year looms, Bike Walk Vote PAC is looking for new leaders

Bike Walk Vote candidate party-11

Future Portland Transportation Commissioner Steve Novick speaks at a 2012 event for Bike Walk Vote-endorsed candidates.
(Photos: J.Maus/BikePortland)

In 2016, Portlanders will vote on a local gas tax, a new mayor, a transportation commissioner, a regional council and a governor.

If you make between approximately $7,000 and $100,000 a year, you’ve probably got $50 in free money from the State of Oregon to spend in 2015 on a candidate or political committee of your choice.

That’s the fact of Oregon’s unusual but underused political tax credit system.

But for people who believe that Oregon should be reducing its dependence on cars, the odd complication is that no political committee active on those issues seems to be asking for that money — even as Portland heads into an election year that will shape transportation issues for years to come.

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The trouble with Lombard: Why ODOT’s road is dangerous by design

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Where the bike lane ends on Lombard under 42nd Avenue.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

For years now, whenever I drive on Lombard where it goes under 42nd Avenue, I’ll shake my head and mumble angrily to myself. “So disrespectful… Makes me sick they can just drop a bike lane like that… Look how dangerous that is!… Grrrr…” My poor family just rolls their eyes in a “There goes dad again” type of a way.

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Despite objections, TriMet installs swing-gates at 11th Avenue rail crossing

New swing gate at the Orange Line crossing
of 11th Avenue.
(Photo: TriMet)

Portland’s regional transit agency has installed swing-out gates that biking advocates say will force people on bikes and trikes to stop or dismount in order to cross its new MAX tracks at SE 11th Avenue.

However, it installed only two out of eight swing gates it had earlier proposed for the area.

As part of a collaboration with the Portland Bureau of Transportation, TriMet crews installed the new gates on Tuesday. The idea is that if people biking are forced to stop and open a gate, they won’t roll onto the tracks without first checking to see if a train is coming.

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Metro edits ‘Bike There’ map after man’s death in bike lane gap

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This dangerous gap in the bike lane on Lombard — where a man was killed on December 12th — is now listed as a caution zone on Metro’s Bike There map.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Maps matter. On December 12th Martin Greenough was killed while biking on a road that looks like a safe bikeway on popular bike maps. While infrastructure can take years to change, maps can be edited quickly. And that’s exactly what is starting to happen.

Metro, our elected regional government and publisher of the Bike There! map, has responded to our reporting on Martin’s death by adding a caution symbol to the bikeway gap where he was killed.

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Bikes for Humanity gives free tune-ups today as money runs low

Bikes for Humanity

Central City Concern tenant Allen Roberts and Bikes for Humanity volunteer Frank Wong work on a donated bike that Roberts will soon call his own.
(Photos: M.Andersen/BikePortland)

One of Portland’s longest-standing volunteer bike nonprofits is struggling to survive the departure of its founder and full-time volunteer staffer.

As a gesture to show “our commitment to the community,” Bikes for Humanity is holding a free “tune-up-athon” today at the corner of Ladd and Division, moving to the People’s Co-op farmer’s market (Southeast 21st and Tibbets) at 2 p.m.

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