🚨 Please note: BikePortland is currently on hiatus and only publishing guest articles. Learn more here. Thank you. - Jonathan 🙏
This ride recap is sponsored by 21st Avenue Bicycles. They’ve stepped up to bring you more coverage of bikepacking and adventure rides. Stay tuned all year long as we explore the best backroads and bike-camping spots in Portland and beyond.
The Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association is trying to stop Portland from widening the four-foot door-zone bike lanes along four blocks of Woodstock Boulevard.
The four blocks would be a key link in the planned 20s Bikeway, the first continuous all-ages bike route to stretch all the way from Portland’s northern to southern border. But Kurt Krause, chair of the neighborhood association’s bike committee, said the benefits of a continuously comfortable route aren’t worth the costs of removing curbside parking in front of seven large houses that overlook the Reed College campus across the street.
All seven houses have private driveways and garages on their lots.
Here are the bike links from around the world that caught our eyes this week:
Solar e-bike: Thanks to a custom panel design, this one weighs just 37 pounds. (No, there is no mention of price.)
Chinese rebound: Seemingly left behind by history, Chinese bicycle advocates are fighting to restore the Kingdom of the Bicycle.
As someone who didn’t really come to appreciate biking until I was in high school, my mind is sometimes blown by thinking about people born into biking life here in modern Portland.
A comment Wednesday morning from BikePortland reader Katherine, beneath Jonathan’s ride-along with a dad and his four-year-old daughter, conveys it better than I ever could.
Marine Drive is a valuable gem in our regional biking network. Its combination of off-street paths and bike lanes make it an excellent way to connect to Troutdale, the Sandy River, and the gorgeous roads in around the Columbia River Gorge.
Unfortunately, the route most people take from Marine Drive through Troutdale to the Historic Columbia River Highway is a real pain. For years I’ve ridden through that section by going under I-84, then riding a sketchy bike lane adjacent to a huge truck stop and the busy driveways of shops and fast food joints. Now, thanks to a mix of old paths and trails (forgotten sections of the 40-Mile Loop), combined with a recently completed Oregon Department of Transportation project, there’s a much better way to make this connection.
Bureau of Transportation staff have had their say about grumblings in the community that Portland doesn’t deserve its “Platinum” bicycle-friendly status*.
Now it’s City Hall’s turn.
In an statement to kick off National Bike Month in Portland, PBOT spokesperson Diane Dulken said Portland Mayor Charlie Hales will announce next week that May 10-16th will be Active Transportation Week in Portland. The proclamation was written by PBOT Commissioner Steve Novick and will cite, “Portland as a Platinum bicycle-friendly city, Sunday Parkways’ popularity and that bicycling has changed commute choices, reducing single-commuter trips from 64 percent to 57 percent since 2000.”
Job Title
Mechanic/Wheel Builder
Company/Organization
Universal Cycles
Job Description
Are you looking for a job with a great company? Then look no further as Universal Cycles is looking for a new employee to join our team. Our ideal candidate is one who does not mind wearing many different hats as they will be working in the repair shop, building wheel, working the retail floor sometimes and for good measure we may put you into the warehouse every now and then too. We are hoping to find a candidate that has a couple of years of bicycle repair work already under their belt, as we run at a fast pace and need somebody who can start off the first day running full gas. A basic knowledge of disc brakes, suspension and dropper posts would be nice, but is not something that you must have. Knowing how to build wheels is a must as we build up several sets per day. We are open seven days a week and this position would require working on weekends. We like a clean shop, so candidate shouldn’t mind cleaning restroom. We are a team here , managers clean too!
We have four shop cats, so the candidate should like cats.
-We offer high wages for qualified candidates.
-Medical after 90 days.
-Paid vacation is one week after a year, and 2 weeks after 3 years.
– 3 paid sick days.
-Paid closed days for our business are New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
– We are a locally owed business that takes pride in providing a great job for great employees!
How to Apply
Please apply in person and ask for Meiko, Brian, Brad, or Mary
The user-owned bike share system due to launch in Portland in September says that participants won’t have to pump the tires in any bikes shared on their network.
That was one of several tidbits shared Thursday by the CEO of Spinlister, the Santa Monica-based peer-to-peer platform that is planning a first-of-its-kind bike sharing pilot program in Portland.
As BikePortland reported in March, Spinlister says it will buy a line of custom “Smart Bikes,” give them to selected Portlanders for free, and let them float freely around the Portland area like so many car2gos.
We’ve had three great job opportunities listed this week. Learn more about them via the links below…
Welcome to your menu of weekend rides and events, lovingly brought to you by our friends at Hopworks Urban Brewery.
It really doesn’t get any better this. Spring has sprung, today is the first day of National Bike Month, and there are unlimited possibilities of bike events and adventures that await.
I’m headed north to Washington on Saturday for the inaugural Gifford Gravel 50. I’ve been looking forward to exploring the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and this route should be a perfect introduction.
What are in your plans? Whatever you do, have fun!
The Portland Parks & Recreation bureau has completed a project that aims to improve safety on a busy portion of the Springwater Corridor path.
Job Title
Sales Associate
Company/Organization
West End Bikes
Job Description
Downtown bike shop seeking part time sales associate.
Qualified candidates will have a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, top notch customer service skills, and a passion for bicycling.
Previous retail experience required.
How to Apply
Email resume to: jobs@westendbikespdx.com