The Monday Roundup: Christchurch’s post-quake bikeways, China’s perverse incentives & more

christchurch

A rendering of the Promenade,
a rebuilt street in Christchurch.
(Image: Christchurch Central Development Unit)

— This week’s Monday Roundup is sponsored by Abraham Fixes Bikes, that great little bike shop on N Williams and Fremont.

Happy Labor Day! Posting will be lighter than usual today in honor of jobs well done. Whatever you’re working on these days, take a moment today to be proud of it.

And now, your regularly scheduled roundup of the bike-related links from around the world that caught our eyes this week:

Bike-friendly rebuild: “You shouldn’t have to have an earthquake for this to happen,” says a transportation engineer from Christchurch, New Zealand, about his city’s return to its biking roots.

Chinese incentives: In China, people are regularly caught on camera deliberately backing their cars over people they’ve already injured, including young children and seniors. The reason: if you injure someone, you support them for the rest of their life, but if they die you’ll often get off.

Read more

Thank you! Your (ongoing) support is exactly what we need

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Last Friday I did something I’ve never done before: I made a request for your support and I got real about the current state of BikePortland — and what it means for our future.

Your response has made me very happy. I asked you to step up, and you did. So far about 340 of you have contributed over $13,000. I have been smiling all week as I see all these new and familiar names come across my desk with supportive words and contributions.

I had no idea what to expect when I published that post; but that response, combined with all the supportive emails, hand-written letters, comments, and phone calls I’ve received is exactly what I needed to keep moving forward.

Read more

Weekend Event Guide: Camping, trails, ‘cross, pubs and more

wkndguidewomen

These ladies are ready to shred — indoors and out.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

This menu of delicious rides and events is brought to you by our friends at Hopworks Urban Brewery. Their support makes BikePortland possible.

Don’t let the recent drop in the mercury and drops from the sky get you down. The weather should be sunny and pleasant this weekend. For some of you it’s time for ‘cross. Others are hoping to get those last big adventures in before summer is officially over.

Whatever’s in your plans we hope you have an awesome weekend.

Friday, September 4th

Bike Repair Stand Dedication – 5:00 pm in Milwaukie (10722 SE Main Street)
The City of Milwaukie has installed a public bike repair stand. To mark the occasion they’re hosting a small dedication ceremony. The stand was donated by Bike Milwaukie, who raised money via a crowdfunding campaign. It’s also First Friday so there will be music, food, and all sorts of things to do. More info here (FB).

Read more

Job: Customer Services Advisor – Islabikes

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title *
Customer Services Advisor

Company/Organization *
Islabikes

Job Description *
Islabikes has single-handedly redefined the notion of a child’s bicycle with a product unparalleled in its depth of design detail. Islabikes believes in striving for excellence and efficiency, not just in their products but in their workforce too. Every member of our growing team is committed to delivering the best for our customers.

Do you love cycling and want to turn a hobby into a career?

Or maybe you are passionate about the health and well-being of children and want to do your part!

As a Customer Services Advisor you will answer customer enquiries, via phone, email, and social media, advising them at every stage of the customer journey. You will also sell additional products in a first-class manner. Additionally you will help customers face to face in our fitting studio and when we go to events across the country.

What skills will you need?

• Fantastic customer service skills
• Ability to multi-task, organize yourself and communicate very effectively
• Enthusiasm for bicycles with innovative design and exceptional quality
• Team player
• Knowledge of bicycle mechanics would be an advantage.

How to Apply *
Is this the job for you?

If so send your resume and a covering letter/email telling us why you would like to work at Islabikes and how you could contribute to the business to info@islabikes.com

Closing date: September 16th 2015

Portland artists featured in Artcrank’s new online store

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
2015_WEB_Rory_Phillips_Ride_Like_Hell_1000pxss

Detail of Rory Phillips’ poster.

We’re big fans of Artcrank, billed by its founder Charles Youel as “A poster party for bike people.” The event first came to Portland in 2009 and has returned each year since to inspire and entertain us with its creative representations of the thing we all know and love

While it won’t be back this year, Youel got in touch with us yesterday to share the news that Portland is still in his plans. He’s scaling back live events and has turned his focus toward a new website which launched this week. Similar to his live shows Artcrank.com features 30 artists who’ve created bike-inspired posters.

Of the 30 artists featured in his first online exhibition, three of them are from Portland.

Read more

City looks for alternatives to door-zone bike lane on new street in South Waterfront

Screenshot 2015-08-31 at 1.53.09 PM

Yes, apparently city engineers sometimes use the Unipiper to designate bike lanes. We’ll call it affectionate good humor.
(Images from a city engineer’s design dated April 2015)

Well, this would definitely be odd if it happened.

Despite a continuing gusher of evidence that adding some sort of vertical separation to bike lanes makes them much better at getting people to actually ride bicycles, the City of Portland was, as recently as April, drawing up “preliminary” plans for an entirely new street in the South Waterfront that had a bike lane painted into the door zone of a road bed.

Two days after we emailed him about the plans, city spokesman Dylan Rivera said the sketch (which is dated May 5, 2015 and lists April 2015 as its “date approved”) was “per the 2009 city council approved street plan for the area” and that “we are considering other options.”

Read more

People on Bikes: Colombia

IMG_3468

Avenida Carrera 11, Bogotá.
(Photos: M.Andersen/BikePortland)

It’s likely that more bike trips happen in Bogotá, Colombia, than any other city in the Western Hemisphere.

With 8.8 million residents — a number that has grown by about 12,000 every month for the last 50 years — Bogotá’s estimated 4 percent of trips by bike makes it approximately as bikey as the Portland metro area (2.2 million, with about 2.2 percent of commutes by bike) but much, much bigger.

Read more

Join Us for Wonk Night and learn what’s next for Portland

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
My first walk across Tilikum Bridge-29

Tilikum is soooo 2015.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Next Wednesday (September 9th), just three days before the official opening of the Tilikum Crossing Bridge and the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Line, we’ll already be thinking about what comes next. And we’re not the only ones.

Portland’s elder statesman of transportation, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, told us in an interview back in December that he has made it his “personal mission” to get people to realize that after Tilikum there’s nothing in the federal pipeline. That marks the first time in over half a century that a major federal transportation project isn’t waiting to break ground.

This situation represents a major opportunity for the community to get educated and engaged about what should come next.

Read more

Job: Bike Tour Guide – Worldwide – Trek Travel

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title *
Bike Tour Guide – Worldwide

Company/Organization *
Trek Travel

Job Description *
Do you want to bike around the world while getting paid? GREAT! We can’t wait to hear from you!

TREK TRAVEL, the world’s leading cycling tour company is currently looking for individuals who are passionate about people, cycling and travel to lead unforgettable bicycle vacations for us this upcoming season worldwide. We are especially interested in candidates with strong bike mechanic skills, travel experience and fluent in another language.

How to Apply *
If you are interested in finding out what it takes to be a Trek Travel Guide, please use the following link to read the full job description and apply online via Trek Travel’s website: http://www.trektravel.com/employment

Application Deadline: January 1, 2016. Completed applications are reviewed and processed in the order they are received.

Job: Retail Sales Associate – Western Bikeworks/Tigard

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title *
Retail Sales Associate

Company/Organization *
Western Bikeworks/Tigard

Job Description *
Retail Sales Associate

Western Bikeworks is looking to hire an additional sales/customer service associate to join our amazing team at our new Tigard location. This position works to maintain the high standards of the company throughout the store to offer outstanding customer service to every customer.

Job Qualifications:
• Sales and customer service experience
• Passion for cycling and bike knowledge
• Great oral and written communication skills
• Basic computer and register knowledge

Duties:
• Welcome customers and assess their needs, promote sales
• Follow procedures outlined for sales, returns, and exchanges
• General housekeeping task to keep the retail space clean and organized
• Assist with special project for different community events
• Merchandising, stocking, cycle counting and more

This is an hourly position with commission bonuses, premium level medical, dental, vision insurance, and a generous vacation package.

Western Bikeworks is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship, pregnancy or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

How to Apply *
Please send your cover letter and resume to Jobs@velotech.com

Latest Headlines

The bills I’m tracking this legislative session

District 3 councilors talk transportation at City Club forum

Weekend Event Guide: Winter Light Festival, big bike sale, and more

A showdown looms over robotaxis on Portland streets

From the Archives

With six kids and no car, this mom does it all by bike