It’s that time again … when you realize that Pedalpalooza is almost over for the year and you’d better savor its final week. Here are a few highlights of bike fun from the seven days to come.
Comment of the week: A TriMet bus driver on letting bikes pass first
What’s it like to drive a bus in a city full of bikes?
The first commenter we’re highlighting in our new weekly feature, TriMet bus operator Dan Christensen, explained a little bit of the experience beneath our post this week about an alleged bike-bus collision at a Milwaukie bus stop.
Truck driver does ‘rolling coal’ on riders, and one of them is a bike cop
Off-duty Washington County Sheriff deputy
writing up the truck driver in a parking lot
off SW Murray Blvd.
(Photo: Scolgan/Reddit)
writing up the truck driver in a parking lot
off SW Murray Blvd.
(Photo: Scolgan/Reddit)
A man driving a truck along SW Murray Road in Beaverton yesterday thought it’d fun to harass a group of bike riders; but he got more than he bargained for.
According to a Reddit user named “Scolgan”, the man driving the truck pulled close the riders and then as he pulled away, “he really got on the gas and covered them in a big black cloud of diesel exhaust.” What he didn’t know is that one of the people on bikes was an off-duty Washington County Sheriff deputy.
Here’s more from Scolgan:
PBOT ad campaign: ‘This is why drivers should slow down’
Detail from PBOT advertisement.
It’s a sad fact that too many people are killed while walking on Portland streets. Despite having some of the safest roads in the country, we still lose too many of our fellow citizens this way. Recently, these troubling tragedies have caused advocates to sound the alarm and local electeds to use “improving pedestrian safety” as a rallying cry in their effort to raise new local transportation revenue.
Another way our city has reacted is with a new marketing campaign aimed at addressing some of the root causes of these collisions: speed and road user behavior. The other day I cam across a new promotional ad created by PBOT with the goal of getting people to slow down and be more aware when using the streets.
The main title of the piece is “Put the brakes on: This is why drivers should slow down.” The ad also shares the infamous “speed kills” graphic that lays out how an even 10 mph difference can mean life or death. The bulk of the piece focused on tips for walkers — with a list of seven tips translated into eight different languages.
Sharon White, a traffic safety specialist at PBOT who works on the High Crash Corridor program (among other things), said the “Put the brakes on Pedestrian Deaths” ad campaign is being inserted into high school newspapers. Specifically, PBOT has placed the graphic in two schools located close to SE Powell Blvd, one of the most dangerous streets in Portland: the Franklin High School Post and the Cleveland High School Clarion.
Mayor Greg Ballard will bring wisdom from Indianapolis to Portland next month
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.
(Photo by Rob Annis)
(Photo by Rob Annis)
Though the flow of gawkers from other city governments to Portland may have ebbed a bit, our city still draws its share of leaders from around the country to see our streets in action.
But next month, Cycle Oregon is turning that tradition on its head: at the suggestion of Portland Bicycle Planning Coordinator Roger Geller, it’s bringing the mayor of Indianapolis on its 10th annual Policymakers’ Ride (a.k.a. the Visionary Voyage), so one of the country’s bike-friendliest mayors can offer insights to his counterparts here in Portland.
Dogs and bikes: A ‘Puppy-Palooza’ inspired photo gallery
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)
What is it about dogs and bikes? Is there a reason that what some people consider America’s best city for biking is also ranked as the best city for dogs?
Jobs of the Week
This week we had two job opportunities come in from north of the border. If you’re looking for a change in scenery and wouldn’t mind a bike job in Seattle or Longview, Washington, check out the listings below…
- Bicycle Mechanic / Sales – Canyonview Cyclery
- Recycle and Reuse Manager – Bike Works Seattle
- Bike Mechanic / Sales – Cycle Portland
A six-point plan to make Portland a better place to grow up
A Portland Safe Routes to School event in 2010.
(Photos J.Maus/BikePortland)
(Photos J.Maus/BikePortland)
Part of our new series of guest posts: America’s Next Bicycle Capital. This week’s guest writer is Kari Schlosshauer of Safe Routes to School Pacific Northwest.
After living in Copenhagen, I moved to Portland because it would be the place in the United States with the greatest opportunity to bicycle calmly, safely, and in good company. I had a bit of a shock when I got here: I realized right away that there was so much still to do.
But it is possible.
Weekend Event Guide: Parkways, parties, art & more
Riding along the bluffs of Willamette Blvd (that’s Forest Park in the background) is just one reason to be excited for Sunday Parkways in north Portland this weekend.
(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)
(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)
Welcome to your menu of weekend rides and events, lovingly brought to you by our friends at Hopworks Urban Brewery.
With that crazy hail and rain storm behind us, it’s looking like nothing but blue skies this weekend. And that’s good news because there are lots of reasons to be out in it on your bike.
As per usual this month we’re devoting separate posts to Pedalpalooza events so take a look at our latest ride picks and stay tuned here on the Front Page (or follow us on Twitter) for our next preview that will publish Saturday morning.
For now, here’s our selection of the best (non-Pedalpalooza) events of the weekend…
Job: Bicycle Mechanic/Sales – Canyonview Cyclery (Longview, WA)
Job Title
Bicycle Mechanic/Sales
Company/Organization
Canyonview Cyclery
Job Description
Canyonview Cyclery in Longview, WA is seeking a knowledgeable and experienced cycling professional to add to our team. You must have at least 2 years bicycle shop experience. The open position is for a full or part-time seasonal bicycle mechanic. UBI or other certification preferred but not required.
We offer a generous employee purchase program.
Pay depends on experience.
Duties Include:
– New Bicycle Assembly
– Service Estimating
– Bicycle Repair (Tune-ups, Hydraulic Brakes & Suspension)
– Customer Service/Sales
What SW Washington offers:
– World Class Mountain Biking
– Conveniently located 45 miles from Portland
– Less than 70 miles from both Seaside and Longbeach
Canyonview Cyclery is a full service, locally owned bicycle shop. We feature Pivot, Raleigh, Norco, and Sun bicycles.
How to Apply
If you are interested and meet the qualifications please email a cover letter and resumé to Mark at canyonviewcyclery@gmail.com.
Man injured after being clipped by rear-view mirror on Highway 26
Oregon State Police photograph showing location of collision.
Yesterday just after 3:00 pm a man was struck while bicycling on the shoulder of Highway 26 about seven miles east of Sandy (at the bottom of Cherryville Hill, map).
According to an Oregon State Police statement, the collision involved Irma Swearengen, an 80-year-old woman who was driving a 1998 Pymouth Voyager mini-van and Kennedy Salveter, a 20-year-old man who was riding a triathlon bike. Both of them live in Sandy.
PBOT details fix for Marine Drive rumble strip slip-up
A reader sent in this photo of the method used
by a PBOT contractor to warn people about
the dangerous and incorrectly installed
rumble strips on Marine Drive.
by a PBOT contractor to warn people about
the dangerous and incorrectly installed
rumble strips on Marine Drive.
PBOT’s effort to implement safety upgrades on Marine Drive as part of their High Crash Corridor program took a bit of a detour last week when one of their contractors incorrectly installed rumble strips in the bike lane near NE 122nd Ave. The grooves in the pavement have created dangerous bicycling conditions and have sparked major concerns from road users.
Because the of the incorrect installation and location of the grooves, the usable biking space has been cut in half (creating a space so narrow that it falls below even FHWA standards). And when you are forced to roll over them, the impact is so jarring it could lead to crashes, swerving, equipment failure, and so on.
Thankfully, PBOT admitted the error and they’re working to make things right.