The Monday Roundup: ‘Unreal’ riding, driving bans, bike theft success, & more

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Beautiful?

Here are the best stories we came across last week…

Uber horror story: This lawyer paints an unsettling picture of what happens when a person on a bicycle gets involved in a collision with an Uber driver.

Language drives culture: The “crash not accident” meme got some solid media coverage following the big Vision Zero vigil in New York City two weeks ago. Vox.com got into the history of automotive industry propaganda and does a great job explaining the power behind word choice.

Slate crashes: On the other hand, Slate isn’t so sure about it. No word yet whether they’ve reconsidered their policy after their article was eviscerated by BikeSnobNYC.

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Job: Bicycle Store Management – Performance Bicycle – FILLED

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Sorry, this job has been filled. Browse more great jobs here.

Job Title *
Bicycle Store Management

Company/Organization *
Peformance Bicycle

Job Description *
Performance Bicycle Portland is NOW HIRING!

Do you ride a bike?

Can you change a flat tire?

Are you eager to learn?

Does getting a great deal on the best cycling brands interest you?

If you answered yes to 3 or more of the above questions, Performance Bicycle might have an exciting and rewarding opportunity for you to work in the bicycle industry.

Performance Bicycle is the nation’s leading retailer of bicycles and cycling related products. We have over 100 stores in 19 states and are still growing!

Performance is actively seeking sales driven, customer focused full-time Sales Manager for our Portland location. We need store management associates who are guest oriented, comfortable talking about cycling and know how to get the best out of their equipment.

Sales Managers have the responsibility of making sure the store and the associates are ready for our customers and are accountable for building and maintaining an exciting, well-merchandised store environment, ad set-up, plan-o-grams and seasonal change over; all aspects that encourage our customers to come back to our store for all their needs. They provide detailed information, education, and support to ensure that our customers have a great cycling experience.

Applicants for the Store Management position should have the following qualifications:
• 2 to 5 years of multi-unit retail management experience
• Outdoor industry and specialty retail preferred, bicycle knowledge and retailing a plus
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent organizational abilities
• A “hands-on” style of management
• The ability to manage and motivate employees

Performance offers competitive wages, opportunities for advancement, generous employee discounts and a benefits package. If you are interested in joining our team, please take a moment to apply by replying to this post (retailhr@performanceinc.com) with your resume, or faxing it to 919-942-5431. You may also visit our store at 9988 SE Washington St., Portland Oregon 97216.

www.performancebike.com/portlandmall205

EOE

How to Apply *
If you are interested in joining our team, please take a moment to apply by replying to retailhr@performanceinc.com with your resume or faxing it to 919-942-5431. You may also visit our store at 9988 SE Washington St., Portland Oregon 97216.

EOE

Fatbiking Ross Island without a boat (video)

*Please see the note below this article: Since posting this video I’ve been informed that, while public access is technically allowed below the high-water mark, there are serious concerns by some people who feel that any encouragement of biking and/or unregulated public access is not advisable on Ross Island due to its status as a natural area.

I figured this video of Dan Kaufman and Nathan Jones floating their fatbikes across the Willamette to Ross Island was the perfect way to head into the weekend.

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Wonk Night recap: Calls for a coalition and more cooperation

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(Photo: Armando Luna)

Special thanks to Lancaster Engineering for hosting and to Omission Beer for donating drinks.

You know that point in a relationship when something starts feeling a bit off and you’re like, “Baby, we need to talk.” That’s how I’ve been feeling about the bike advocacy scene here in Portland. And that’s why I figured it was time to get some people together to hash a few things out.

We didn’t solve everything at Wonk Night last night and I’m sure people left with more questions than answers; but it was a great conversation and I think we’re all better off because of it.

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Woman sues for over $670,000 after collision caused serious injuries

lawsuitlead

via The Oregonian

Cindy Lewellen, a 45-year old Portland resident who’s well-known in the local riding scene, filed a lawsuit this week against two people that she believes are liable for a collision that caused her serious injuries back in November.

It happened on NW St. Helens Road near that notorious intersection of Kittridge and Yeon (where the new Forest Park entrance is slated to go).

According to the lawsuit Lewellen was riding south in the bike lane. As she approached a driveway that led to United Rentals, a person driving in the adjacent lane had stopped for someone who wanted to turn left into the driveway. Here’s what happened next (according to the lawsuit, emphasis mine):

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City and state working to help bicycle users get the green

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PBOT’s new pavement marking.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The transportation agencies at the City of Portland and the State of Oregon want users of bicycles to have more success in triggering green lights at intersections.

At ODOT there’s concern that the passage of SB 533 might create dangerous situations. That bill, signed into law by Governor Kate Brown on May 21st, allows people riding bicycles and motorcycles to proceed through a red light if they’re undetected after one cycle. At PBOT, they also want to increase the number of people who know how to trigger green lights after a 2013 study showed half of Portland’s bike riders don’t know how to use the existing sensors.

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Job: Morning Bike Valet Attendant – Go By Bike

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title *
Morning Bike Valet Attendant

Company/Organization *
Go By Bike

Job Description *
Looking for morning bike valet attendant to assist during summer rush. Job responsibilities include parking bikes and taking in repair orders. No bike mechanic skills necessary.

Must be morning person and friendly.

Job is from August to the end of September
Monday-Thursday 6:30-9:30 am

$10/hour plus bike transportation reimbursement.

Go By Bike runs the largest bike valet service in the country at the bottom of the aerial tram. We look forward to hearing from you!

How to Apply *
Please email gobybikeshop@gmail.com with paragraph saying why you think you would be a good candidate and two character references.

Thanks!

Job filled! Congrats to the new employer and employee.

Weekend Event Guide: Parkways, architecture, bikepacking, and more

Sunday Parkways northeast 2014-35

Explore the streets of Northeast Portland at a biking pace at Sunday Parkways.
(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.

Friday, July 24th

Sprockettes Monthly Ride – 9:15 pm at Irving Park (NE 7th and Fargo)
Ride with the Sprockettes, Portland’s mini-bike dance team. Costumes encouraged and be prepared to swim “with a bathing suit or your birthday suit” if it’s hot. More info here.

Saturday, July 25th

Saturday Morning Medley – 9:30 am at Wilshire Park (NE 36th and Skidmore)
This is a choose-your-own-adventure ride hosted by the Portland Wheelmen Touring Club. Route options include a flat excursion of 35 miles out to Kelley Point Park, a Lacamas Lake loop, or a jaunt into the West Hills. More info here.

Biking About Architecture – 11:00 am at Bipartisan Cafe (7901 SE Stark)
Jenny Fosmire is back and she’s ready to share the wonderful residential architecture of the Mt. Tabor neighborhood in southeast Portland. Expect a 7-mile ride at a laid-back pace while viewing about 25 homes. The ride will end on Hawthorne Blvd so bring some money for post-ride food and drinks. More info here (FB).

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Riding the latest e-bike system from Bosch

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Bosch e-bike system test ride-4.jpg

Murdered out e-cargo bike.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Electric bikes have a very bright future in Portland. There are many reasons why: Many Portlanders love cycling and our city encourages it, we have hills and steep bridges to pedal up, our expensive housing is forcing longer bike commutes, and e-bike technology — as technology tends to do — is always getting better/lighter/cheaper.

On that note, I had the opportunity to test ride the Bosch eBike System last week. From what I’ve heard around the industry, their new mid-drive system is the best on the market. As the largest automotive parts supplier in the world and with over a century of experience, it’s not hard to fathom that Bosch could jump into this market and deliver a solid product.

I also noticed that Xtracycle decided to spec the Bosch system on their Edgerunner cargo bike. That alone is a good sign that the Bosch system is worth paying attention to.

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Learn more about Portland’s new bi-weekly ‘Rush Hour Alleycat’

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
alleycatposterdates

The bike scene in Portland is a wonderfully dynamic thing. It never stops evolving and there are always new people, ideas, and events coming into it. As they do, they keep the scene healthy by forcing it to re-invent itself and absorb new perspectives.

Part of my job is to monitor this ecosystem and understand the role that each piece has on the greater whole. One such piece that I’ve recently heard about is the Rush Hour Alleycat.

Like many new things that appear on the Portland bike scene horizon, it starts with some tweets or maybe at text and email or two from the organizer. Then it might gain a Facebook page or website. The event might fizzle out. Or, if enough people link into it, it might sustain itself and build into something special.

(Side note: Have you noticed how big the weekly Thursday Night Ride has gotten? Organizer Nathan Jones (proprietor of Ride Yr Bike bike shop) started it as a way to keep the Pedalpalooza spirit strong. Now it attracts well over 100 people every week. It meets at 7:30 tonight at Salmon Street Fountain if you’re curious.)

Now, back to this Rush Hour Alleycat…

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