Noelle Eaton (as Patch Flatums) sings “All I Know is Bike” at Scott Elementary School. (Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)
The 15th annual Bike Play production opened Thursday night and it was another smash hit. A large and appreciative crowd cycled with the cast to scenes at several playgrounds and parks in northeast Portland. They all followed along on a journey through the “Game of Bike” a Jumanji-esque adventure where the cast faced a big, bad, Bike Demon and a group of devilish imps.
The production included a script filled with hilarious bike puns, original songs and dances, and enough creativity to tell an enjoyable story with props that could fit inside a bike trailer and costumes so spare the actors could ride in them.
Bike Play is a cherished tradition of Bike Summer’s Pedalpalooza festival. The 10 member cast from Working Theater Collective began rehearsing in April and their hard work clearly paid off. Ashley Hollingshead, who played Mr. Bikeside and an imp, shared in a pre-show interview that they were part of the first year cast. “I don’t know if we imagined it would go on this long, but we definitely felt after the first one like, ‘OK, that was good,’ we’re going to keep doing this.”
View photo gallery below (use arrows to cycle through):
Bike Play is mostly a labor of love, but has received grants (from Portland Film Office and Regional Arts and Culture Council) for the past two years (and they filled several helmets worth of cash from the audience after last night’s performance). But like almost everything in Portland’s vibrant bike scene, it’s not about the money.
There’s a joy that emanates from Bike Play performances that makes it feel like a gift to our community. I left last night thinking about how lucky I was to live in a place where it happens. It’s different than other outdoor theater because of the current of bike love that flows among the actors, the audience, and the group rides between scenes.
Game of Bike Director (and cast member) Hans Ellis said Bike Play pulls actors from Portland’s theater community, but it exists mostly outside of the local scene and tends to attract actors who understand what makes it special. “We’ve talked about how we can merge and be more involved [in the local theater community],” Ellis said. “But a lot of people who do Bike Play just want to do this one thing.”
“We have very sizable audiences,” added Hollingshead, “But much of the Portland theater community doesn’t really know about Bike Play.” That’s just fine in Hollingshead’s view, because for many people it’s the only theater they see each year. “So we’re that thing that people who like bikes see as far as theater goes.”
Another thing that sets Bike Play apart is the cast are bike lovers themselves, so the stories they share are infused with cycling. “We love biking in Portland. It is an important part of our lives. The format has changed over the years as we’ve figured out what works and what doesn’t, but it’s always been a celebration of biking in some way or another.”
“Biking is definitely in the DNA of the stories,” Ellis added.
Game of Bike continues that tradition.
The story revolves around three friends — Schrader (Scott Weidlich), Steph (Lisa Gilham), and Wyatt (Jenny Bunce) — who find themselves pulled into a deal with the devil and sucked into a real-life game. A band of bad little imps and the Bike Demon try to keep them trapped and off their bikes for good.
A highlight of the show is an original song performed by Noelle Eaton as Patch Flatums, a character who’s been trapped in the game for many years and ends up helping the newer trio. It’s called “All I Know is Bike” and here are a few of the lyrics:
I was just a kid Just a kid who wasn’t good at school I knew I weren’t smart I knew I wasn’t cool Then one shiny morn Something glimmered rolling past A wheel, a bell, a zounds, a spell was cast I cleared my head of everything That wasn’t about bike All I know is bike. All I need is bike. All I know is bike. All I need is bike. It’s my day and my night The best part of my life Is cutting through traffic like butter with a hot knife All I know is bike Bike! Bike! Bike!
The cast: Top: Hans Ellis, Kris Mahoney-Watson. Middle: Lisa Gilham, Jenny Bunce, Ashley Hollingshead, Lindsay Liden, Noelle Eaton, Haley Hessler. Bottom: Scott Weidlich, Emilie Weidlich.
Talk about knowing your audience! It was a wonderful moment that had the huge crowd smiling and singing along.
Will this love for cycling overcome the challenges faced by the game players? Or will the Bike Demon rule supreme? You’ll have to see it yourself at an upcoming performance.
Thanks to an expanded run this year (which they did to help spread out the size of the crowds) you’ll have more chances to attend than even before. Bike Play: Game of Bike continues tonight and through Sunday July 14th. It returns on Thursday the 18th and runs through July 20th (with an ASL interpreter on-hand July 19th). Check out Bike Play on Instagram for updates and more information and check tonight’s event listing on the Shift calendar for details.
“Speed kills” is such a well-known mantra in transportation advocacy circles it’s at risk of becoming trite. So how can activists find new ways to communicate the crucial linkage between speeding drivers and the fatal crashes they cause?
One answer to that question comes from a project by Portland Community College Student Jake Veto. Veto partnered with nonprofit group Oregon Walks to create an interactive map that illustrates pedestrian fatalities in Portland between 2017 and 2020. The 48 locations where people where struck and killed are marked on the map alongside colored street segments. The darker red the color, the higher percentage of speeding on that particular street segment.
The combination of speed data to street segments, combined with the location of the fatality, gives us a new context to understand why people on foot are more likely to be killed in certain places. Veto’s map also allows viewers to click on any marked segment and see the the posted speed limit and the percentage of drivers who disobey it.
Heat map of fatal pedestrian crashes.Map detailMap detail
The map uses crash data from the Oregon Department of Transportation and speed monitoring data from the Portland Bureau of Transportation.
One speeding hotspot with two “x” marks for deaths is SE Division between SE 122nd and 145th, where PBOT data shows people drive over the speed limit at a shocking rate of 75% to 83% of the time. The dark red intersection of SW Capitol Hwy and SW Terwilliger reveals that 95.5% of drivers speed through that location (according to 2021 data). I’ll remember that next time in biking or walking through. Yikes! (Note: It’s important to keep in mind that the speed monitoring data is often several years old, so it’s likely that speeds are lower today than what the map shows, since PBOT and other agencies redesign and update several roadways each year.)
Here’s an excerpt from Veto’s writeup of his methodology:
ODOT crash points were filtered to identify pedestrian fatalities within the Portland urban area. A case number field was added to the crash points attribute table for better identification. Manual matching of crash points to police reports was performed using date and cross streets to ensure accuracy. Each matched record was updated with its corresponding case number, and matched points were exported as a new dataset.
Finally, the data from the street sections that each crash was on was joined to the data from the crash points. This allows us to make statements about how often drivers tend to speed near where these crashes occured. Manual validation was performed on the points to make sure they were pulling data from the correct street segment. Many of the fatalities occured in intersections with different data for each of the cross streets, so best judgement and cross reference with the police reports was used to make sure that each point was correctly associated with the right street.
In addition to all the speed and fatality location data in the main map, Veto also created a general pedestrian fatality heat map. This map helps visualize which parts of the city’s road network people are most at risk of being hit and killed.
Veto’s work has illuminated what could be considered red zones for pedestrian safety. It should be a useful resource for planners, engineers, advocates, and anyone else who spends time on foot on Portland streets.
Painted mural on SE 6th outside Milagro Theater. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)
I hope everyone is having fun on all the great rides going on. Remember that it’s Bike Summer / Pedalpalooza season so you’ll want to check the official calendar and/or grab the Bike Fun App (iPhones only) for all the ride options!
Check out my picks for the best things to do for bike lovers this weekend…
Saturday, July 13th
Good Dirt Ride – 9:00 am at Stub Stewart State Park (Buxton) Join the good folks from River City Bicycles and NW Trail Alliance for ride #3 in the Good Dirt series. Grab a solid mountain bike and ride trails with other dirt worshippers, then relive the fun at a tailgate sesh with food and drinks. More info here.
Scavenger Hunt – 10:00 am at Joe Bike (SE) Joe Bike and Portland Design Works have teamed up with bike industry partners on this family-friendly scavenger hunt ride that looks very promising. Show up at the shop and grab a map, then set out to find all the tokens. Kona will host an after-party in Laurelhurst park. Raffle tickets benefit Bikes for Humanity PDX. More info here.
Heavy Bike Hill Climb – 5:00 pm at Jamison Square Park (SW) Got a bike that’s 50+ pounds? As you a masochist? Or someone with very healthy knees? This is the ride for you! This 12th annual gathering will challenge you to a fun ride up to Pittock Mansion with your sturdy steed. More info here.
Bike Play – The Game of Bike – 7:00 pm at Wilshire Park (NE) 15th annual showing of what I’ve called the best event of Pedalpalooza. This is a real theatrical production with professional actors who lead a group bike ride to each scene. Truly a Portland classic and must-see event. First showing is tonight (Thursday, 7/11) but it runs through Sunday (7/14) and then again next week 7/18-7/20. Show up on 7/19 if you need an ASL interpreter. More info here.
Sunday, July 14th
Tour de France Watch Party – 7:30 am at Cyclepath Bike Shop (NE) Roll into the shop and watch the big race with fellow fans while you query experienced racer and cycling journalist Anne-Marije Rook. More info here.
Kidical Mass – 2:30 pm at Westmoreland Park (SE) Grab the little ones and get them some experience on the street in the safety of a large group. Expect a 1.5-mile park-to-park ride, 3.0 for the loop. More info here.
Bike 2 And Through Porch Fest – 4:30 pm at Piccolo Park (SE) Porch Fest is happening again in the Overlook neighborhood and it means dozens of bands and musicians playing live in front yards throughout the ‘hood! This ride will take you from southeast to North Portland so you can soak up all the sounds. More info here.
Breaking Away 45th Anniversary Screening Ride – 7:00 pm at Franklin HS (SE) The movie that started it all (for me at least!). Get to know the “Cutters” in this legendary bike film that captures the spirit of bike racing in a wonderful way. More info here.
— Did I miss your event? Please let me know by filling out our contact form, or just email me at maus.jonathan@gmail.com.
It’s gotten to the point where local transportation agencies need to have a summit to figure out best practices for keeping drivers off bike paths.
Yesterday I learned that a driver of a car managed to roll onto the bike path alongside I-5 north of Marine Drive. A video posted to Reddit shows the driver going northbound on the path over the Columbia River en route to Hayden Island. The video is accompanied by the caption, “They almost hit a bicyclist!” but I didn’t see any rider in the video. The person who shot the video shared with me that the driver and bike rider were headed straight towards each other, “and the car slowed down and the biker swerved then he yelled something at the car and the car sped up and continued on their merry way.”
Yikes. I’m glad no one was hurt; but the mental scars of incidents like this often last longer than physical injuries.
Looking north on the path where video shows the driver.Looking south on the path where video shows the driver.Looking north on the path where video shows the driver.(Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)
And just this morning as I typed up this post, a reader told me she watched a driver turn onto the paths in Waterfront Park from Naito Parkway.
What would the response be if a freight train operator steered intentionally down a neighborhood arterial street? Or if an airline pilot tried used I-5 as a runway just for fun? Or heck, imagine the response if a bicycle rider felt like pedaling along at 12 mph on I-5 just because they could?
We need DOTs, parks bureaus, and any agencies that oversee multi-use paths to come together, trade notes, learn why this keeps happening, and devise a strategy to prevent it. Having drivers on spaces where people go to get away from them is an unacceptable outcome of a system that’s already way too tilted toward people in cars.
I-5 northbound onrampN Union Ct and I-5 northbound off-ramp near Delta Park.North Anchor Way (north of Marine Drive).From Marine Drive/I-5 ramp.
Whether it’s people who get confused and think it’s a legit lane, or folks who live along the path and are just driving “home”, pranksters who think it’s funny, or selfish scofflaws avoiding congestion — we need to make it more difficult for cars to enter these paths.
In this most recent example, there are several spots where a driver could easily roll off the street and enter the path system. I counted four places where a driver would encounter little to no resistance. Take a look at the photos below and you’ll see just how easy it is for someone to roll onto the bike path:
I sympathize with DOTs because they must balance access restrictions with making sure it’s still easy and safe to enter paths by bike or wheelchair or whatever other non-car vehicle someone has. We’ve seen clunky attempts to address this problem many times in the past with large gates and huge concrete barricades.
Surely there’s a better way to do this. But until these agencies coordinate and make an intentional, concerted effort to remedy the issue, we’ll continue to see breaches into these carfree spaces. And with each one, we further erode the trust and confidence of the non-driving public.
We must defend our carfree spaces from these dangerous interlopers, or risk losing these precious refuges forever.
UPDATE, July 12th, 8:30 am: A reader told me he reported a missing bollard onto this path (at Marine Drive and Union Court) to the Oregon Department of Transportation. According to an email from Katherine Wentzel from the Ask ODOT office on April 5th, 2023, “Maintenance staff shared they are having ongoing issues with the bollards being stolen or at times ran over. Staff is exploring options for better bollards or a fix to the problem and do not have plans to reinstall them at this time.”
One of the potential new trails would connect to this sidewalk at the southwest corner of McDaniel High School.
(Source: Portland Parks)
A lot has changed in just two months with the outlook of a major off-road trail project in northeast Portland. When we first reported on the Rose City Recreational Trail Project on May 3rd, we said the $4 million project, “Won’t be built with bicycle riding in mind.” That was based on a Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) survey and slide presentation that failed to even mention bicycling as a visitor option or project goal, and staff who replied with, “We’re not sure yet,” when asked about the potential for bike trails at the first public meeting.
At a meeting with the city’s Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) last night, Parks project managers acknowledged missteps in how the project was first presented to the community and said bicycling access to new trails is now firmly part of the plans. For a project that was initially framed as only including walking trails, it’s an important turnaround that bodes well for future Parks projects — and it validates the Off-Road Cycling Master Plan which recommends bike trails at this and many other urban parks around Portland.
(Source: Portland Parks)
At the BAC meeting last night, PP&R Project Manager Johnny Fain said they’ve completed initial site investigations at are now in the 30% schematic design phase while they continue to seek feedback from interested parties and prep for trail construction in 2026. Fain laid out the latest concepts for the three potential new trail segments that will be built in Rose City Park and Rose City Golf Course.
The “Primary Trail” would span the entire width of the parcel between NE 62nd Drive and the southwest corner of McDaniel High School on NE 82nd Ave. (Note: All trails would be natural surface, unpaved surfaces.) The alignment would cut through Rose City Park and then run along the southern edge of the golf course and NE Tillamook St.
Based in part on feedback they’ve heard from students at McDaniel who want a safe way to bike to school, PP&R plans to connect the eastern terminus of the trail directly to the sidewalk at the high school.
The “Green Bluff Trail & 72nd Connector” would split from the Primary Trail in Rose City Park near NE 62nd Dr and then run up the ridge onto the existing bluff trail along NE Sacramento Street where it would connect to a neighborhood greenway and safe route to McDaniel. It would also connect to 72nd Drive to create north-south access adjacent to the existing 70s greenway route.
Fain said he plans to meet on NE 72nd with “a bunch of folks from the cycling community” (probably members of NW Trail Alliance, who’ve been engaged with Parks on this project since May) tomorrow (Thursday, 7/11) at 4:00 pm. “We’re going to walk the site and get the cycling folks’ input on what they think we can do with this section of the sidewalk,” Fain said, referring to the existing dirt walkway adjacent to the paved road that bisects the park. “We’ve heard from a lot of people that even though PBOT has made a pedestrian-only lane here on the paved section, that a lot of folks would like to walk separately from bikers, or that even bikers would rather have a component of it be off-road. So we’re looking into those options, and we’d love to hear from you guys about that,” Fain added.
The “Yellow Back Nine Nature Trail” would access the northeast corner of the golf course. There would be a standard trail along the edge of the park as well as a “nature trail or single track hiking trail” (dashed yellow in graphic) that would dive down into the golf course through a stand of Douglas Fir trees.
“We’re thinking of that as more of a single, two-to-three foot wide natural surface pathway for walkers,” Fain said. “It could be for cyclists as well but what we’ve heard is a lot of the walkers would like to use that as a way to get away from cars.”
Parks Community Engagement Coordinator Jenna Stathopoulos said the initial survey was meant to be generic (it wasn’t, it included several specific potential activities, but not cycling) and that if they missed something, people could write it in the “other” box. She also said she was trying to “balance and be mindful of not serving people about things that are not possible in a project.” But in the end she told Stein, “You’re right, to have it explicitly laid out or not on the survey, I guess, does make a statement. We could be doing a better job of balancing those things.”
Project presentation slides show a very important change since April.
And Fain, the project manager, said he’s an “avid cyclist” and that, “the omission of cycling was an oversight on my part.” Then he added, “I’m trying to correct that within this project.” It was notable to me how Fain mentioned the project was initially handed to him, “as a pedestrian project,” suggesting that this entire kerfuffle originated from the manager level.
“It has been a process, and I do apologize for it being clunky, and I’m going to be better in the future,” Fain said. “But just know that there’s never been an anti-cycling thing from the beginning. That has literally never been our intention. I just want you to know that.”
Regardless of what happened at the outset, things have changed for the better and now this project is on track to fairly consider the inclusion of cycling access — just as our adopted city policies require. Stay tuned for another survey and other outreach opportunities. If you want to show up Thursday at 4:00 pm for the cycling-specific site visit on NE 72nd Drive, Fain said everyone is welcome.
Kids gotta’ get to the pool somehow. (Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)
Allow me to disabuse you of the notion that an extreme heat event means no one will ride bikes. Despite 100-degree or so heat during this current wave of high temperatures, I was pleasantly surprised at how many folks were out biking around northeast Portland today.
I made a trip to the post office and brought along my camera in case I saw anyone out riding. Turns out, y’all are a hardy bunch! It wasn’t quite normal summer bike traffic volumes, but there were many more people than I expected. And there were folks in all sorts of outfits — from not wearing much at all, to being fully clothed as if it were just another 60-something degree Portland day.
I’ve also noticed that many of the Bike Summer Pedalpalooza rides in the past few days have been very well attended. So there! Biking and the people who do it are quite a resilient bunch and there’s almost no weather that will keep us from riding.
How has the heat been treating you? Are you staying off the streets during the day? Or just going about your business as usual?
Note: All photos in this gallery taken today between 3:15 and 3:55 pm.
Beaverton bike folks at BG Food Cartel in April 2023. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)
I’m excited to share there’s a new Bike Happy Hour happening on the west side! Friends from Beaverton want in on the fun and they’ve planned an inaugural gathering for Monday, July 15th from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at BG Food Cartel.
“Hang out and have a beverage, some great food, and some bike talk! Let’s hang out and talk about… everything but mostly bikes!” reads the event description.
I’ve fielded several requests for more Bike Happy Hour events around town, so it’s really cool to see another one take shape. At the end of last month a reader named Rob Lewis reached out to BikePortland on Instagram. He wants better bicycling in the “west burbs” and thinks an event like Bike Happy Hour will raise the profile of the issue and help bike culture flourish. He’s right!
Rob connected with a few folks and I’m happy to say that Westside Bike Happy Hour will be hosted by Ride Westside and the Westside Wednesday ride — two groups that are doing great things for cycling in and around Beaverton.
You might recall Ride Westside from the ride I joined them on last year. There were just getting started back then and they’ve continued to meet and ride together since. You can learn more about them via Instagram. One of the founding members of the group is Tina Ricks, who has written a few articles recently as our Washington County correspondent. She will be there Monday and is one of the folks who helped make the event happen.
Westside Wednesday is the name of a group ride that happens every two weeks. This fun-loving, adventure-seeking group is in their fourth summer and they consistently pull in several dozen riders. All types of bikes and riders are welcome and they’ve established a great community. See what I mean by perusing their Instagram page.
Much thanks to Rob, Tina, and the Westside Wednesday crew for getting something on the calendar. One of my favorite maxims is that a revolution is only possible if you can get people to show up. I also know great things can begin when just a few people of like minds come together and meet face-to-face.
If you live, work, or ride in Washington County and want to hang with other bike-minded folks, show up next Monday night (7/15), 4:00 to 6:00 pm at BG Food Cartel and hang out with us. I can’t wait to see you! Who knows, maybe Mick (in “The Tron” hat in lead image) will gift you one of these rad stickers?!
TriMet will upgrade its bus fleet with hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicles and boost its work on 82nd Avenue’s forthcoming bus line thanks to a federal grant announced today.
The Federal Transit Administration has awarded TriMet $39,000,000 through their Low or No Emission Grant Program. TriMet’s award was the sixth largest out of 117 grants nationwide that totaled nearly $1.5 billion. TriMet will use the money to purchase 14 articulated, fuel-cell electric buses for the future FX service along 82nd Avenue as well as install infrastructure at their Powell Operations facility needed for fueling the buses and invest in workforce development to get staff up-to-speed on fuel-cell technology.
Metro and the City of Portland are currently working on a major upgrade of the Line 72 bus line as part of the 82nd Avenue Transit Project, which will bring an upgraded bus line between Clackamas Town Center and the Cully Neighborhood. The award comes one year after the FTA gave TriMet $630,000 to plan that project and builds on a $25 million grant TriMet just received last week to build a new operations facility at an industrial site in northeast Portland that will someday house and maintain the agency’s fleet of battery and fuel-cell powered buses.
These two awards push TriMet far along toward their goal of a 100% zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040.
“We know we need to be leaders in the region and step forward to move the demand for green hydrogen forward in the region,” said TriMet project manager Michael Kiser at TriMet’s June 26th board meeting. “These buses out in the community is just a much better outcome. If we look at Cully as a terminus option, having zero emission buses at that layover facility is something I want to see. I don’t want to have our diesel vehicles out there idling.”
But emissions aren’t the only reason TriMet and the Biden administration want to invest in 82nd Avenue. The portion of Line 72 along 82nd is the busiest bus line in the Portland region and it also has some of the most frustrating service delays. Metro’s locally preferred alternative for the transit project is to develop a new “FX” bus line similar to the one that opened in fall of 2022 on SE Division. The buses will be faster, larger, and will come with upgrades to stops throughout the corridor.
US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg toured 82nd Avenue in a bus last summer, so he appreciates the transformative impact major investments can make.
Outgoing Portland Congressman Earl Blumenauer is the one who invited Buttigieg on that tour and said in a statement today, “Secretary Buttigieg saw first-hand the case for investment on 82nd Avenue. Today, the Biden-Harris Administration delivered.” Blumenauer sees the award as proof the community is united behind a shared vision for 82nd — “Transforming a once neglected area into a thriving corridor in a low-carbon, equitable fashion” — and that the grant will make the vision reality.
TriMet launched its first electric battery powered bus in 2019, but hydrogen fuel-cell technology might be a better fit. Fuel-cell buses cost more up front, ($1.2 million per vehicle versus $750,000 for an electric one, according to one estimate I found) but they have several advantages over battery electric models: they can refuel in a matter of minutes (versus overnight), have greater range and longer run time, are more efficient, and are more resilient to temperature swings.
But unlike battery electric buses, fuel-cell power has emissions. Thankfully, it’s just water.
TriMet says the new bus line should be constructed in 2027 and will begin service in 2029.
Local bike advocacy nonprofit BikeLoud PDX asked all City of Portland candidates* to answer eight questions gleaned from their members. The third question, “What is your vision for transportation in Portland?” was answered by 39 city council candidates and four mayoral candidates.
I’ve gone through the submissions and pulled out a short quote from each candidate. These very abbreviated answers below are based on what I personally found to be the most interesting/notable/newsworthy parts of their responses. For the full answers, visit BikeLoud’s website. I’ve also shared photos of each candidate in the order their responses were shared (if you’re on mobile, be sure to hit the arrow and scroll through the images.) The photos were taken from the Rose City Reform candidate tracker.
Read edited responses from all 43 candidates below:
Timur EnderSonja MckenzieSteph RouthDavid LinnAll candidate photos are in order of answers below and taken from the excellent new Rose City Reform website. (If reading on mobile, please click the arrow on the right to view candidate gallery.)
City Council District 1
Timur Ender
I am committed to a future where more of our arterials have bus rapid transit given the importance of reducing commute times and the impact this has on upward economic mobility and life expectancy.
Sonja Mckenzie
To have accessible and safe transportation for all Portlanders, regardless of their zip code.
Steph Routh
People can age in community with dignity because they have options that allow them to get around at any age… Businesses, particularly small businesses, can thrive as more people connect with them while walking or biking by. Families can live more easily on their incomes and have more time together.
David Linn
That everyone can get where they need to go safely, with negligible impacts to our environment, and that is affordable to working class Portlanders.
We should be honest about who, where, and why, cars will be needed so that we can plan appropriately while also investing for denser neighborhoods with safe bike corridors, pedestrian friendly opportunities, and rapid transit.
Christopher Olson
More public transportation options… Safe biking and pedestrian infrastructure across the city… public transportation should be fareless.
Nat West
Narrower streets, with more walkable neighborhoods, and less commuting between housing, retail, and work… I also want to plant a seed for eventual removal of I-5 on the east side of the river. We did it for Harbor Drive.
Michelle DePass
The vision is of closed streets in front of elementary schools; a car free downtown, and a Portland whose bike infrastructure works for all.
Debbie Kitchin
My vision for Portland includes a multi-modal transportation system that has robust transit, safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure, plans for freight transportation and cars.
Mariah Hudson
Imagine a Portland where we are connected by a vibrant Green Loop, a continuous ribbon of green space bustling with bikes, pedestrians, and lively plazas… We build housing with transit in mind, creating vibrant, mixed-use developments that are seamlessly integrated with public transit.
Jonathan Tasini
Any vision of transportation should be driven by making Portland a more equal city where the people come first. Any vision of just transportation for the city of Portland means just housing in Portland.
Mike Marshall
… as we “rethink” downtown due to permanent changes in work place behaviors, we should consider creating car-free zones that foster community through walking and bike riding.
Laura Streib
Ideally we would have all electric vehicles, spaces for bike/wheels and walkers – buses & street cars that can get people moving to their destinations in a timely manner.
Will Mespelt
… expanding TriMet, particularly the light rail system. Part of what I would advocate for would be including bike infrastructure installation alongside improvement and expansion of public transportation.
Quiet, calm, safe passage for all with maximum access through better land use planning and street design.
Theo Hathaway Saner
… a forward-thinking, inclusive, and sustainable system that prioritizes the needs of its residents and the health of the environment.
Daniel Gilk
By liberalizing our zoning restrictions throughout the neighborhoods, we can 1) create more employment and commercial opportunities closer to where we live and 2) create the density that can better support bus and train lines.
Angelita Morillo
I want transportation in Portland to serve all Portlanders, regardless of age, income, disability status, or ability to drive. Transit should be an affordable and accessible way to get from anywhere in the city to any other place, and bicycling should be both a safe and efficient option to do so as well.
Jonathan Walker
It is not mathematically possible to really grow the city without endless sprawl or getting more people in it to transition to walking, transit, biking, and smaller electric transportation devices. To do that, we need to make transit safer, more convenient, and pleasant.
Matthew Thomas Anderson
Separation.
Daniel DeMelo
… we need to invest in visionary infrastructure that will continue to support Portland’s growth and development. This includes supporting the construction of the downtown MAX tunnel, which would significantly increase the capacity and efficiency of our light rail system.
Philippe Knab
… creating a safe, sustainable, and accessible system that meets the needs of all residents. This includes expanding and improving bike infrastructure, such as adding more protected bike lanes and ensuring they are well-connected throughout the city.
Sandeep Bali
A fine healthy balance between cars, bikes, public transport.
Jesse Cornett
… my vision is Vision Zero. We must aspire to stop the deaths. That means we will be far more walkable and bikeable than we are today.
Chris Flanary
Walkable neighborhoods and multi-modal transportation options are our way forward. Even folks who continue to drive will benefit. I would explore potential alternative uses of street space like the outdoor dining project or street fairs, but on a more permanent basis to create gathering spaces for communities.
Luke Zak
I envision Portland thriving with a community-centered transportation system that is low-barrier, low-risk, and high-convenience that is so woven into the fabric of our city that using multimodal transportation and investing in its infrastructure is second-nature.
Mike DiNapoliOlivia ClarkBen HuffordChad LykinsSarah SilkieMichael TrimbleEli ArnoldAndra VltavínEric ZimmermanLisa FreemanBob WeinsteinMitch Green
Council – District 4
Mike DiNapoli
Our city needs to refocus on our cities ‘Walkability’ and engineering neighborhoods to be inclusive of what’s needed inside of 15 minutes (without a car).
Olivia Clark
Traffic calming, more safety measures, get neighborhood associations actively involved in transportation safety.
Ben Hufford
We need to move towards systems less dependent on single car/single driver use, and towards shared transportation resources.
Chad Lykins
My vision is to connect transportation, housing, economic development, and public safety in an integrated system that supports human flourishing.
Sarah Strawberry Silkie
I would like to see more park n ride lots so that people living in less dense areas can drive from where there is no public transit and then park and either bike, ride or walk in the more dense parts of the city.
Michael Trimble
I envision a fare free public transit (like Albuquerque) with all the MAX and street car lines along with more of the frequent trip bus lines running 24/7.
Eli Arnold
I believe making public transportation more appealing and creating paths like the Springwater Corridor are crucial.
Andra Vltavín
To turn almost all streets into communal gathering spaces and food-growing spaces.
Eric Zimmerman
Safe, sensical, and standardized. I think for the immediate future we need to spend time focusing on improving safety and standardizing our streets and the various lanes available for use.
Lisa Freeman
I believe in walkable, bikeable neighborhoods that allow us to come together as communities and reliable, affordable public transit to take us anywhere else we want to go.
Bob Weinstein
My vision for transportation in Portland is to create a safe, equitable, and sustainable system that serves all residents while reducing our carbon footprint.
Mitch Green
I want to live in a Portland where… transit is free at the point of service, and there are bike-share depots at every major node… where the students walking home from Jackson Middle School don’t have to walk on the side of the road as drivers speed by… where there are no car drop off lines, because parents feel comfortable knowing that it’s safe to cycle and walk to and from school.
Liv OsthusDurrell Javon Kinsey BeyKeith WilsonCarmen Rubio
Mayor
Liv Østhus
To have access to transportation (including bikes) to be seen through the lens of class and class seen through the lens of environmental collapse (as in the lower class suffers climate crises more than the upper class).
Durrell Javon Kinsey Bey
Economic Optimism is one of my campaign values and with that, regarding transportation I see TriMet and many other local small transportation businesses contributing to this Vision.
Keith Wilson
My vision for TriMet is 120 million boardings per year in 2030, double that of 2023. I also want a focus on micromobility.
Carmen Rubio
I envision a city where people can get where they need with as little carbon, danger, and stress as possible, and as quickly as possible. I support free public transportation and want to see more and more high-frequency routes that can transfer riders wherever they need to go… Above all, I want a compassionate city where people truly see each other and each others’ needs — whether they traverse the city on a bike, foot, in a wheelchair, in an electric car or on a bus.
I think questions like this are interesting because it reveals which candidates are able to transcend a conventional response and really let loose with something visionary. In my opinion, Portlanders are hungry for a new vision and leaders who can not just explain it but have the chops to get us there. Did any of these candidates impress you with their answer to this one?
BikeLoud will post more responses in the weeks to come. Stay tuned for question #4 and see more 2024 election coverage here.
*BikeLoud sent the questionnaire to all candidates that had filed a letter of intent as of May 27th.
Chris King Precision Components is a U.S. manufacturer of the finest bicycle components in the world. We are a socially and environmentally minded company and take pride in each and every part that gets made under one roof right here in Portland, Oregon.
If you are passionate about cycling, enjoy creating long lasting relationships with customers and are interested in working hard for a progressive company that you can believe in, we just might have something for you! We are searching for a dependable, kind, self starter, responsive professional with amazing customer service skills. As the face of our company, our Customer Service team plays a crucial role in delivering exceptional sales and service to our customers. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a proven ability to work both as a team and autonomously, showing self-motivation and a proactive approach to tasks without constant oversight. They should also be receptive to feedback, actively pursue opportunities for growth and development, and embody a commitment to continuous improvement. This includes maintaining and cultivating relationships with existing customers, as well as establishing new connections to foster trust and drive sales growth.
We offer a full benefit package and the perks of being in the bicycle industry.
Schedule for this role is Monday – Friday from 8:30 – 5pm
We do require a drug screen within 30 days after your first day working.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OPERATIONS:
Provide excellent customer service through inbound and outbound telephone and email communication.
Maintain and expand relationships with existing and new customers to increase trust, loyalty, and sales.
Practice effective communication.
Proactively communicate with current and potential customers.
Demonstrate positive morale, professionalism and enthusiasm for company products, operations and initiatives.
Address customer concerns related to products, shipping, and other company-related matters to ensure swift and effective resolution.
Process all orders as indicated by policy and procedures.
Follow up with current and prospective customers through email and phone communication.
Possess product and technical knowledge, with a commitment to continuous learning.
Process and record information accurately.
Maintain integrity of orders, credit memos and all other paperwork.
Able to adapt to changing circumstances and effectively solve customer needs.
Serve as a backup in Shipping when needed.
Prepares reports as requested.
Treat all coworkers with courtesy and professionalism.
Able to work harmoniously across all company departments.
Take initiative and prioritize tasks to ensure work is completed.
Participate as needed in events such as bike races, trade shows and in-house events.
Adhere to our environmental and social philosophy when making decisions and recommendations.
Complete other tasks and projects as assigned.
Capacity to learn technical problem-solving.
Skills and Requirements:
Reasoning: Ability to solve complex problems.
Planning/Organization: Ability to handle various assignments while meeting deadlines with attention to detail.
Interpersonal: Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Language: Effective written and oral communication skills.
Mathematical: Ability to work with advanced mathematical concepts.
Computer: Proficiency in basic office software, ERP systems, and experience with Microsoft Office Suite and Apple products.
Physical Requirements:
Continuously: Sit, use a computer, use hands and fingers, talk, hear, speak. Frequently: Reach, bend, twist. Occasionally: Stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, lift up to 50lbs.
Environment:
Exposure to fumes or airborne particles. The noise level varies, from quiet to loud, depending on job functions.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
2+ years of delivering a superior customer experience, through utilization of ERP systems and solid understanding of CRM account management (preferably as a retail sales lead or assistant manager).
Knowledge of bike components, maintenance, compatibilities and installation.
Capacity to learn technical problem solving.
1 year in outdoor industry preferable.
Requires computer literacy, experience with a Microsoft Office Suite and Apple products helpful.
Benefits include, but are not limited to:
100 hours of paid time off (PTO) during your first year of employment
8 Paid Holidays per year
Company sponsored health insurance, vision, short term disability, long term disability, and life insurance
Voluntary dental insurance
401(k) Qualified Retirement Plan eligibility with match
Section 125-plan participation eligibility
Commuter credits for using alternative transportation ie: biking, walking, e-vehicle, bus, carpool etc.
Employee purchase program for internal CKPC and outdoor/cycling industry products
Bi-annual bike commute challenges to earn up to 20 additional hours of PTO per year
***Please include a cover letter when applying***
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $19.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40 per week
Experience level: 2 years
Shift: Day shift
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 5 pm
Work setting: In-person Office
King Cycle Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
Life imitates art as a scorching MAX train glides by public art fireballs on the rail bridge above North Denver Ave just south of Kenton. (Photo: TriMet)
It’s a cruel irony that you can get a free ride to a cooling center on TriMet’s MAX light rail, but you might suffer heat exhaustion waiting for the train to get there.
If there’s one truism when it comes to Portland transportation, it’s that when temperatures go up, the speed of light rail goes down. That’s not ideal, because not only do many folks rely on the MAX system, it’s another way public transit fails in the mode choice competition with cars.
Today is hopefully the last day of extreme heat, at least until the next wave hits us. And as per tradition, TriMet has told MAX riders to expect delays of up to 15-30 minutes due to the heat. Why does this keep happening?
(Labels: BikePortland – Photo: TriMet)
It has to do with the overhead wires that provide electricity to power the trains. Known as catenary wires, these wires must maintain tension in order for train operators to travel at normal speeds. When overheated, the contact wire expands and starts to sag. If an operator goes too fast, the catenary wire could lose contact with the train’s pantograph (a tensioned arm on the roof of the train that connects to the wire) and stall out completely. The slower train speeds and/or temporary stoppages have a ripple effect across the entire system, and delays are inevitable.
Also inevitable are angry customers who just want to get out of the heat. A few days ago after a Timbers game, riders experienced delays of more than 30 minutes. Stories like this lead to frustration and further erode the public’s confidence in public transit at a time when the system desperately needs to win back riders.
Put another way, when catenary wires lose tension, Portlanders gain it.
To counter the increasingly common phenomenon of extreme heat and its impact to their light rail network, TriMet uses a system of weights attached to the poles that hold catenary wires (see video above). As temperature rises, the weights (which weigh about one ton) sag to tension the wires. The weights can rise or fall as much as one inch per degree of temperature change. Sometimes it’s so hot the weights come to rest on the ground and TriMet has no choice but to tell operators to slow way down in order to maintain consistent connection between the pantograph arm and the wire.
With 100 degree-plus temps forecasted today, delays will likely hit the system once again.
So what’s a transit agency to do about the all-powerful sun whose heat is becoming an ever larger force in our daily lives? One problem in Portland is that our light rail system wasn’t built with frequent extreme heat events in mind. In a statement issued last month, TriMet said their MAX system, “was originally designed to operate in the climate Portland enjoyed in the 20th century.” And despite investments they’ve made for heat resiliency since 2018, temperatures above 100 degrees can still cripple their system.
Mitch Green is an energy economist and candidate for City Council District 4. Before this current heat wave, he shared messages on social media that Portland needs to re-invest in its basic infrastructure to handle extreme weather events, lest we remain, “in a state of precariousness.”
Green replied to TriMet’s latest announcement about MAX delays on X yesterday by saying, “We’ve got a situation where the structures and systems we have today, as a product of past investment, are no longer calibrated to the urgency of the moment. But, we don’t throw up our hands: we invest again.” Green says MAX delays aren’t TriMet’s fault and that settling into finger-pointing and status quo investment levels will never allow us to build the “truly resilient systems” we need.
So next time you’re mad about a MAX delay, after pointing your finger at TriMet, point it at the sun — and then point it at yourself. We’re all in this together and it will take a collective effort to fix these problems.
Over the weekend my son and I biked to the Columbia River. We have a tradition where we load our inflatable paddleboards into a trailer, load up my bike full of beach stuff, and ride to a sandbar just east of Broughton Beach.
This year, our ride had a pleasant surprise and an unpleasant one.
To get to the beach, we ride on NE 33rd Avenue/Drive to connect between the NE Holman neighborhood greenway and the bike path along Marine Drive. As you might recall from my 2022 video of this ride or the video I shared last summer, a huge feature of 33rd Drive for the past several years has been the folks who live in RVs and other vehicles alongside the bike lane.
The presence of all those people, their car-homes, and belongings made riding on 33rd much more dangerous and stressful than it should be. That’s why I was very pleasantly surprised to see that efforts to address the encampments have succeeded. There was not one person living in a vehicle along the entire stretch of the road.
Some agency (either PBOT or Port of Portland) has placed large concrete blocks and new guardrails in the parking lane to prevent camps from being formed. They’ve also established an “RV Safe Park” just a block away. That special shelter is run by Salvation Army and holds spots for 55 vehicles. It looked full to my passing eyes and seemed to be a well-managed space.
That was such a pleasant surprise!
Unfortunately as we continued home, riding south on 33rd Drive south of NE Sunderland Ave, there was something else making this street unsafe: overgrown vegetation. A massive hedgerow and other bushes along the eastern edge of the Riverside Golf & Country Club golf course is growing well into the bike lane. With a 35 mph speed limit and a paint-only bike lane, 33rd isn’t a low-stress place to ride even when it’s unobstructed. But when people have to bike in the general travel lane to avoid overgrowth, the situation becomes much more risky.
Branches and bushes growing into bike lanes is a huge problem this year. Based on my personal experience (I got swatted in the face by a branch on N Rosa Parks Way while biking just after dusk a few nights ago) and from what I’m hearing in the community, the number of problem spots is much higher than it’s been in the past. Our wet spring and warm summer have led to ideal growing conditions. That’s great if you’re a farmer or a gardener; but not if you’re trying to navigate curbside bike lanes around Portland.
Someone tagged BikePortland in this photo of NE Couch and 6th.
It’s time to get out your lawn shears and clippers and cut what you can. You should also have PBOT’s maintenance hotline and/or email — 503-823-1700/pdxroads@portlandoregon.gov — in your phone. This is an important issue that needs to be addressed. Thankfully PBOT’s system for tracking these is good and they will respond to your complaints (an email sent to that address got a human response four minutes after I sent it today), but it’s a bummer to have yet another thing making roads unsafe for non-drivers.
Homeless encampments are a very difficult issue to handle. Overgrown weeds and trees are simple. Just get out there and cut them back.
