Bike Theft Chronicles: ‘They snapped the sign off the pole’

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

This installment comes in the form of a Twitter conversation:

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Bike-friendly convenience store blows past sales targets and prepares to expand

Bike parking at Green Zebra Grocery-16

Bike parking at Green Zebra Grocery.
(Photo: J.Maus/BikePortland)

The “healthy convenience store” startup founded by the former CEO of New Seasons Market says it’s exceeded its sales expectations thanks in part to even more non-car traffic than expected.

Last year, Green Zebra Grocery founder Lisa Sedlar told us she needed about 400 to 600 transactions a day for her model — higher quality, higher prices — to be viable. She was also counting on 30 percent of those customers to arrive by means other than a car — if only to prevent the 14-space parking lot from filling up.

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Bike Theft Chronicles: Stolen from TriMet bus rack

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

From RM on 9/24/14:

“About two weeks ago my husband’s bike was stolen off the front of a TriMet bus. It was not taken by another rider. It was taken by a random person on the street who ran up to the bus, grabbed his bike and rode off. The driver alerted our friend, who had borrowed the bike but by the time she got off the bus the thief could not be caught. I contacted TriMet and got a weak sorry from them but no hint that they could or would compensate us for the loss. The person I spoke to said, “it’s public transit,” like that somehow made it all go away. From what I understand, this type of thing is a rarity and I would think that TriMet’s Risk department or some such would have a way to compensate (even a small amount) for the loss of something that was put in their care while someone is riding the bus. I’ve made a report to the police but am not holding my breath for a result. Our homeowner’s policy has a deductible greater than the value of the bike. I don’t know if you have any suggestions or influence in a matter of this sort, but any input or help would be greatly appreciated.”

— Read more Bike Theft Chronicles

Join us for Wonk Night October 15th: Romp in the Comp Plan

Wonk Night -4

Wonk Night is where people and policy mix.

We’re excited to announce our next Wonk Night.

On Wednesday, October 15th (one week from today) we’ll take a Romp in the Comp Plan. The City of Portland is updating our Comprehensive Plan and the time is now to make sure they hear your feedback. A draft plan has been released and the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability needs to hear your comments before the plan is officially adopted by City Council early next year.

The Comp Plan is big; and it’s a big deal. It guides Portland’s land-use and infrastructure decisions. It includes a list of specific infrastructure projects, sets long-term goals and aspirations, and the all-important Transportation System Plan is folded directly into it.

Here’s how the plan sits in relation to local, regional, and statewide transportation policy documents:

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Five Walktober ambles worth checking out

walklead

In the 2012 Situationist Walk, attendees concocted
bizarre rules to govern their own behavior as they
strolled through Southeast Portland.
(Photo: Oregon Walks)

Portland’s annual three-week festival of fun on foot, inspired by PedalPalooza, has its first big burst of action this Saturday.

Walktober is run by advocacy group Oregon Walks. Like PedalPalooza, anyone can create an event online; the most interesting will survive.

With lots of good contenders for people interested in exploring, learning more about the city or just sampling many kinds of beer without worrying about the bike home, we thought we’d pull a few highlights from this month’s calendar of walking events.

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E Burnside project adds auto parking, leaves out bike lanes

E Burnside lane redesign project-11

The new design on East Burnside requires westbound cars to enter the new turn lane while passing westbound bikes.
(Photos: J.Maus/BikePortland)

Saying that any removal of on-street parking during a redesign of East Burnside Street would have required more time and money than the city could afford, the Portland Bureau of Transportation is boosting on-street parking instead.

The East Burnside Transportation Safety Project between 14th and 32nd Avenues, part of the city’s high-crash corridor program, has converted one westbound lane west of 32nd into a center turn lane and converted the rush-hour-only lanes east of 32nd into permanent parking lanes.

For people who ride bicycles west on Burnside, one result is that space that often functioned as a de-facto bike lane — the curbside auto lane — has been eliminated.

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Portland needs to invoke the lifeboat rule

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward
kid on bike

Amsterdammers are made, not born.
(Photo in Amsterdam by J. Maus/BikePortland)

America's Next Bicycle Capital

Part of our series, America’s Next Bicycle Capital, where we share community voices about the future of biking in Portland. This week’s guest writer is A.J. Zelada, who chaired the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee from 2011 to 2013.

The lifeboat rule needs to be invoked: parents and children first.

I returned from the Netherlands a few weeks ago and I was struck, of course, by how different it was. I admit, I am not so sure it is reproducible here as much as I’ve hawked it in the past. My partner and I bicycled from Bruges, Belgium to Amsterdam up the North Sea coast line but catching Ghent, Delft, Leiden and many other towns along the incredible segregated bike lanes that simply connect everything. [Publisher’s note: Follow Jerry’s adventures here.]

What struck me was that Americans have a missing childhood developmental stage of being an infant, a toddler, and a child on a bike before they get on a bike independently. And even though little Americans are propped up in a baby trailer or behind the rider’s seat, they still miss what parents in Belgium and the Netherlands teach their kids.

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Why Portland’s new Chief of Police is good news for bicycling

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New Chief of Police Larry O’Dea outside City Hall in 2008. He’s standing with former Bicycle Liaison Officer Robert Pickett.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

Portland Police Chief Mike Reese announced his retirement today, and when the new chief steps in to replace him in January, his name might sound familiar to some BikePortland readers.

Larry O’Dea, a former captain of the bureau’s Traffic Division, is the new Chief of Police.

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Job: Mechanic – Bike Gallery (Downtown)

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title
Mechanic

Company/Organization
Bike Gallery – Downtown

Job Description
The Bike Gallery is looking for a full time mechanic at our downtown store.

Responsibilities:

* Be able to diagnose and service a wide range of performance complaints for a wide range of equipment types
* Be able to diagnose and service a wide range of noise complaints for a wide range of equipment types
* Be able to complete a bicycle assembly for any product carried, to the established quality standard, and within the established time parameters for the product in question
* Be able to identify and perform all aspects of replacement part installation to the established time and quality standards
* Be able to deliver established service packages (tune-ups, overhauls, etc.) to the established time and quality standards
* Be able to recognize and respond to changes in the work priorities of the service department as indicated by volume or other circumstances
* Test ride all completed service work to verify performance
* Be able to recognize and respond to opportunities to build customer loyalty through the delivery of prompt, accurate service
* Be prepared to demonstrate the value of the service menu pricing and as well as all work performed
* Stay current with equipment manufacturer specifications and product developments that affect service procedures or compatibility issues
* Greeting customers who are picking up or dropping off bikes for service
* Provide estimates for service and repairs based upon customer interaction and an evaluation of the bike in question
* Write service tickets that are clear and legible
* Provide customers with an estimated time for completion of the work; remind customers of our service hours and that they will be called when the work is done
* Investigate and capitalize on opportunities to sell customers upgrades in repair or replacement parts
* Investigate and capitalize on opportunities to sell customers replacement rubber
* Be able to answer customer questions about accessory compatibility and installation with confidence
* Initiate contact with customers when service work is completed

How to Apply
Send Resume and Cover to:

BGResumes@bikegallery.com

Rave reviews roll in for temporary ‘Better Block’ on 3rd Ave

3rd Avenue Better Block PDX

The temporary plaza in front of Ankeny Alley and Voodoo Doughnut was bustling with commerce and enjoyment for most of the weekend.
(Photos: Greg Raisman unless noted)

This weekend in downtown Portland’s slightly seedy north side, a citizen group temporarily converted two lanes of auto parking, a big expanse of empty pavement and two traditional travel lanes into a huge new pedestrian plaza, rows of street seats and ping-pong tables and a protected bike lane.

And it was, more or less, a huge hit.

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From the Archives

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