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

Three secrets hidden in Metro’s great new map of every local traffic collision

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metro area collisions

Every reported traffic collision in the Metro area, 2007-2013.
(Source: Metro Crash Map)

Last spring, the City of Portland created a fantastic new map of every fatality and major injury on its records for a decade. Now, regional government Metro has followed suit with a similar map that includes many other cities and unincorporated areas, too.

It’s not just an essential tool for understanding the context of future traffic collisions. (Should we be arguing about the specific circumstances of collision X, or does something seem to be inherently wrong with the street it happened on?) It’s also a source of some useful insights about road safety in Portland.

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As it pours outside, take a trip to the headquarters of Showers Pass

Showers Pass HQ

Front lobby of Showers Pass HQ in southeast Portland.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

This local business profile was written by BikePortland contributor Jessie Kwak. Her last piece was about how bicycles are helping a Portland man recover from a traumatic brain injury.

When I lived in Seattle, I didn’t own a rain jacket or an umbrella. The city may get a bad rap for rain, but the precipitation most often comes as a week-long drizzle, rather than the heavy rain showers I’ve become familiar with since moving to Portland. And with a particularly rainy winter in the forecast, you can bet I’m looking for a cycling rain jacket that can handle Portland downpours.

Enter Showers Pass.

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BikeCraft is this weekend! Here’s a sneak peek at the vendors

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BikeCraft is here! You have two days to find amazing things. We suggest planning ahead.

The 11th annual BikeCraft holiday gift fair is this weekend. For just two days you’ll get the opportunity to meet local artists and craftmakers who are just as inspired by cycling as you are. And the best part? Everything is for sale. If you are looking to treat yourself or get some holiday shopping done, you should not miss this event.

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Portland celebrates holiday shopping with free parking in downtown garages

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Parking is always free for many shoppers.
(Photo: M.Andersen/BikePortland)

The latest piece of Portland’s ongoing effort to get people to realize that there are places to park cars downtown other than curbs is to offer free parking in its six public garages.

Here’s the word from tourism promotion group Travel Portland:

On three Sundays in December 2015 (Dec. 6, 13 and 20), parking at downtown SmartPark lots is free. Customers who park at SmartPark garages can visit the customer service kiosk at Pioneer Place (lower level near the Gap) or Boys’ Fort (902 S.W. Morrison St.) or PDX Pop-Up Shops (438 N.W. Broadway and 341 N.W. Fifth Ave.) any time between noon and 5 p.m. to show their eligible SmartPark ticket and receive one $5 parking voucher to cover parking for the day.

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How Portland wants to finally close the notorious Naito Gap

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The project would build a new crossing of Naito, add bike lanes, realign the greenway path, and add railroad crossing safety features.
(Graphic: PBOT)

The “Naito gap” is one of the most glaring gaps in Portland’s vaunted bikeway network. Ever since Portland decided to take down a suspended overpass in 2003 (due to, ironically, safety concerns), the 120 feet across Naito Parkway between Waterfront Park and NW 1st Avenue has prevented people from walking and biking between Old Town/Chinatown and the Steel Bridge.

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JOB: Business Donations & Retail Specialist – SCRAP PDX

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Job Title *
Business Donations & Retail Specialist

Company/Organization *
SCRAP PDX

Job Description *
SCRAP PDX is searching for an energetic, outgoing individual to fill a new hybrid position overseeing our Fill Minds Not Landfills (FMNL) program and as a Retail Specialist in our unique store. The FMNL business donations program allows SCRAP PDX to provide a broader range of materials to our customers through working closely with businesses to collect items that would otherwise end up in the waste stream.

This is not a position for the faint of heart. We love the donations we get from our business donors, but they generally have large quantities of materials and the ability to lift 32.5 lbs. frequently during the pickup shifts is required.

Position Description
32 hours/week
Hourly/Non-exempt
Health Benefits (with 50% employee contribution)
Paid Time Off
Monthly craft allowance of $25 which expires – at the end of each month.
Reports to: Retail Operations Manager

JOB SUMMARY: This is a hybrid position responsible for receiving, processing and managing high quality and safe creative reuse materials from businesses and providing excellent customer service in a welcoming and inclusive environment. This position is well-trained in both the retail and business donation duties and will be scheduled in both capacities in any given week dependent upon the needs of the store/business donations.

Duties include, but are not limited to:
Retail Operations: Providing excellent customer service; effective communication; ensure customers are greeted professionally, warmly and helpfully; retail cashiering; opening/closing store as scheduled; sort, stock and organize sections; maintain a clean and orderly shopping environment; assist with display and promotions; offer creative advice as requested; other duties as assigned by the store manager.

Business Donations: Acquiring Materials for SCRAP’s store; with Retail Operations Manager and Materials Supervisor, determine most desirable materials; pick up materials from businesses as directed; sort and distribute those materials into the store or backstock with help from materials staff; work with businesses during pick-ups to ensure they understand the materials that SCRAP takes and does not take; including weekly check-ins with the Retail/Donations management team; primary business donor liaison; maintain FMNL database and records; send out donation receipts in a timely manner; recycling and waste materials management, including hazardous materials; SCRAP vehicle maintenance and upkeep coordination; other duties as assigned by Retail Operations Manager, Materials Supervisor or Portland Director.

Working Conditions: A high frequency of unassisted heavy lifting 32.5 lbs. on a frequent basis per FMNL shift, and the ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.; bending, stooping and climbing; standing and walking for the duration of the shift; working in hot and cold climates.

Expectations of all SCRAP Staff: Work as part of a team with other staff, programs, volunteers and Board of Directors to fulfill SCRAP’s mission; communicate effectively and focus on good stakeholder relations; greet stakeholders professionally, warmly and helpfully; stay current with the environmental services community and sources of information and referral for callers and customers; stay current with developments in recycling and reuse, including legislation and availability of recyclable materials markets; when necessary, say “no” tactfully and suggest other community resources to meet appropriate need; with other staff, act as an Ambassador for SCRAP in the community.

SCRAP does not discriminate in opportunities or practices because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other status protected by law. SCRAP is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from people of color.

How to Apply *
If you are interested in joining the creative and fun SCRAP PDX team, please email cover letter, resume and 3 references, which must include a former manager or supervisor, to lstart@scrappdx,org by Wednesday, December 16, 2015. No phone calls. Only electronic submissions are accepted.

For Vision Zero, Portland will focus on data and equity to combat crash causes

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From a presentation delivered by PBOT to the Vision Zero Task Force on December 3rd.

Nearly four months after it launched, the City of Portland’s ambitious plan to eliminate serious injuries and traffic deaths by 2025 is beginning to take shape. Today the bureau of transportation (PBOT) released an update on their efforts that includes a newly agreed-upon vision statement and a 78-page presentation (PDF) that was given to members of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Vision Zero Task Force last week. The presentation is full of crash data and ideas on how to make our streets safer for all modes.

It offers the first glimpse into the concrete steps PBOT might take in this unprecedented safety effort.

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Parking reforms could include paid permit zones in neighborhoods near main streets

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Parking can be tight on N Michigan, just one block west of the popular commercial district on Mississippi Ave.

People who live on mixed-use corridors might be banned from parking their cars in nearby residential zones under a set of recommendations last week from a citizens’ committee.

After one small change, the committee unanimously approved the city’s proposal.

The committee, which consisted almost entirely of homeowners in residential zones, recommended that the city give its 95 neighborhood associations new powers to regulate curbside parking in their areas.

Neighborhoods would have to opt into the new permit program, and a majority of addresses in the area’s residential zones would have to vote for it. Residents of buildings in adjoining mixed-use zones wouldn’t get to vote.

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The Monday Roundup: Ford’s haunting safe-driving campaign, an LED U-lock and more

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This week’s Monday Roundup is sponsored by Walnut, the Portland-based leather goods maker whose new Travel Dice set is perfect for taking along on your next bike tour.

Are you ready for an industrial-strength jet of bike-related links? Good, because a torrent of interesting articles caught our eyes this week.

Distracted driving: Ford’s Instagram-themed “Don’t Like and Drive” campaign is haunting and effective.

The last highway bill? “Within the next five years, how we drive, where we go, and even the number of cars we use to get there is going to change forever.” That’s Gizmodo on the new five-year federal transportation bill.

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