Are parking permits a solution to neighborhood parking wars?

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Auto parking on Southeast Division Street.
(Photo by M.Andersen)

As the city’s transportation director says Portland should stop giving away so much of its on-street parking space for free, a local parking expert is floating one way to do it.

From the embattled 20s Bikeway to Foster’s broken bike lanes to the chronic shortage of rental housing in low-car-friendly parts of town, residents’ annoyance over the lack of on-street auto parking in central Portland is making it harder for the city to become bike-friendlier. At the Oregon Active Transportation Summit Monday, parking consultant Rick Williams said a paid parking permit program could be the solution — but there are a couple catches.

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Job: Backup SoupCycler – SoupCycle

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Job Title
Backup SoupCycler

Company/Organization
SoupCycle

Job Description
Do you get excited by the challenge of working on your bike, pulling a hefty trailer and chopping fresh, organic produce? We’re a small Portland company that makes and delivers organic soups using local ingredients. So far we’ve done 119,000 bicycle deliveries, and we’re hiring a new Backup SoupCycler.

We’re looking for an energetic, upbeat and strong-legged person who can brave the winter rains of Portland and still be smiling when they deliver soup to customers.

This is a backup position. There are no guaranteed/set hours. You’ll be fully trained and ready to go for when we have an open shift for kitchen help, bicycle deliveries or catering. The right candidate for this position will already have a flexible schedule and an established income source from another job.

Job Title
Backup SoupCycler

Company
SoupCycle

A Few Requirements
-Able to commit to this position for six months minimum
-Has a pre-existing source of income/another job that doesn’t conflict with SoupCycle’s needed hours listed below
-Physically able to lift 75 lbs and pedal a bike trailer carrying 215 lbs
-The owner of a sturdy and well-maintained bike to attach to our soup trailer for deliveries (you use your bike, we provide the trailer).
-An authentic people-person. There’ll be a lot of customer interaction while you deliver and strong customer service is a must.
-A safe cyclist (uses hand-signals, wears helmet, respects drivers, etc)
-Able to wield a kitchen knife and chop vegetables like it’s nobody’s business.
-Excited about food and sharing that with customers during deliveries.

Possible hours are…
Sundays (kitchen): 8am-5pm
Mondays (kitchen): 8am-6pm
Tuesdays (kitchen or deliveries): 8am-6pm
Wednesdays (deliveries): 8am-4pm
Thursdays (deliveries): 8am-4pm

Compensation
$11.00/hour
Generous soup allowance.
The ability to work for a mission-driven company with passionate coworkers

Happy Slurping!
The SoupCycle Crew

How to Apply
Send an email to yesplease@soupcycle.com with 2-3 paragraphs outlining:
1) Why you’re interested in working for SoupCycle
2) Your bicycling and kitchen experience
3) Your current job situation and availability

County says Hawthorne Bridge bike lane speed bumps will be removed in 2015

New rumble strips Hawthorne Bridge-11

(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)

Multnomah County has confirmed that they plan to remove a set of bicycle speed bumps on SE Madison Avenue. The bumps were installed in November of last year with the goal of slowing people down as they transitioned from the bike lane onto a sidewalk near a TriMet bus stop (see larger photo below). However, despite these good intentions, the bumps were instantly panned as being ineffective and potentially dangerous in their own right.

The County’s own Bicycle and Pedestrian Citizen Advisory Committee (BPCAC) voted unanimously to remove the thermoplastic strips at their meeting on November 13th. In the minutes of that meeting, the committee said that, “BPCAC members felt that while the raised bumps are not terrible, the bumps do not serve the intended desire of slowing down the speeding cyclists either.” The BPCAC also pointed out that County engineering staff did no public process before installing the strips.

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Teens arrested for throwing bricks at three men riding on NE Tillamook

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Adrian Richardson was struck in the face with a brick.
(Photo by Henry Scholz)

The Portland Police Bureau arrested two teenagers for allegedly throwing bricks at three people who were bicycling in inner northeast Portland last night.

One of the victims, 26-year-old Adrian Richardson, was hit in the face and was taken to the hospital. Richardson is a serious local bike racer who works at Showers Pass.

Here’s the official statement from the PPB:

On Sunday April 20, 2014, at 1:21 a.m., North Precinct officers responded to the area of Northeast 7th Avenue and Tillamook Street on the report that two males threw a brick at a bicyclist, striking him in the face.

The victim provided descriptions of the suspects for police and waited for medical personnel to respond to the scene.

Several officers arrived in the area and contacted the victim. Officers also located the suspects at Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Knott Street and took them into custody. Two additional victims were located by police.

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Job: Mechanic – 21st Avenue Bicycles

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Job Title
Mechanic

Company/Organization
21st Avenue Bicycles

Job Description
21st Avenue Bicycles is looking for a friendly and experienced mechanic. Our service department is our public face and we pride ourselves on excellence in mechanical and customer service alike.
We specialize in on and off-road touring bikes as well as our dedicated neighborhood client base of commuting, recreational and family cyclists.
Position may be part time or full time depending on qualifications and availability, and is seasonal with long-term potential.

Responsibilities:
Greeting and assisting customers in a prompt and friendly fashion
Performing a Variety of Mechanical Services on a daily basis
Assembling new bikes from boxes to company standards
Maintain a clean and organized workspace
Make frequent contributions to our social media

Minimum Qualifications:
2 years of Bicycle Retail Sales or Service experience
Proficiency with common computer programs
Demonstrated ability to assemble and tune a new bike from a box.

Additional Qualifications include:
Specialized BG Fit Training
Custom Wheelbuilding Expereince
Extensive Touring/Randonneuring/Bikepacking Experience
Fender Ninja and/or Rack Wizard training

How to Apply
Please email your resume and a cover letter detailing why you would like to work with us to nick@21stbikes.com.

Job: Bike Mechanic/Warehouse Expert – Planet X USA

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Job Title
Bike Mechanic/Warehouse Expert

Company/Organization
Planet X USA

Job Description
Planet X is the 2nd largest bicycle assembler in the UK, with a direct to consumer business model where online sales and no dealer network result in some of the best value, quality bicycles in the industry.

Our US operation is a rapidly growing business with a crew of committed bike geeks who follow the UK’s ethos of outstanding customer service, unbelievable prices and superb products.

As we are focused on expanding the complete bike sales component of our business, we need an experienced bike mechanic who is fast, organized, creative, and determined. Someone with a proven history of effective problem solving and great efficiency.
This individual must be able to multitask without losing sight of priorities, take directions without losing the ability to be self-directed and take initiative.
They must seek out projects of importance and see them through to completion, despite any obstacles that may arise.

Warehouse experience and attention to detail are also crucial skills that the right candidate will possess, as there will be shipping/receiving, and inventory/warehouse organization responsibilities in this role as well.

Above all, the ideal candidate will possess the ambition to learn and improve, the flexibility to handle whatever comes their way, and the motivation to grow with a company whose place in the industry has been well established over the last 25 years.

How to Apply
Send your resume and cover letter in PDF format to michael@planet-x-usa.com with “Bike Mechanic/Warehouse Support” in the subject line.

Job: Materials Processor – Chris King Precision Components

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Job Title
Materials Processor

Company/Organization
Chris King Precision Components

Job Description
We are seeking qualified applicants for our machine shop. Job duties include moving materials through the production process by performing various tasks from receiving/preparing raw materials (steel and aluminum barstock) and cutting barstock to sanding, buffing and basic machining. Material Processors are also responsible for a variety of tasks including recycling efforts, washing equipment, minor assembly operations, inventory and general shop help. Must have strong mechanical aptitude. Must be able to lift and manuever up to 50 lbs, stand for long hours and perform repetitive motions. This job entails working in a loud environment and wearing the following personal protective equipment: work boots, aprons, safety glasses, hearing protection and optional dust masks.

How to Apply
The successful applicant will be team oriented, eager to learn, enthusiastic and have a strong commitment to the community, the environment and excellence in general. Please furnish a letter of interest and resume in the body of an e-mail to jobs@chrisking.com (no attachments will be accepted). A drug free environment and equal opportunity employer. Visit our website at www.chrisking.com.

The Monday Roundup: Stolen bike statistics, glowing road paint & more

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sad sight

A permanent parting?
(Photo by J.Maus/BikePortland)

This week’s Monday Roundup is sponsored by Urban Office Renewal, now offering newly renovated bike-friendly office space at SW 9th and Oak.

Here are the bike links from around the world that caught our eyes this week:

Theft facts: Seven percent of bike theft victims never replace their bikes. That’s one of eight depressing (and unusually interesting) factoids about bike theft.

Theft investigation: Seattle police dedicated months to investigating used-bike shop Bicycle Pull-Apart, concluding among other things that “more than half of the bikes bought by the shop between February 2013 and January 2014 were bought from convicted felons.” Owner Eric Patchen said he “always followed the letter of the law.”

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Black Norco Torrent 2005

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Year: 2005
Brand: Norco Torrent
Color:Black
Size:29″ wheels
Stolen in Portland, OR 97266
Stolen:2014-04-20
Stolen From: 8435 S.E. Insley st.
Apt. #28
Garden Villa Apartments
Neighborhood: Lents Park
Owner: Lindsay Robinett
OwnerEmail: lindsay.thrower( atsign )yahoo.com
Description: 8435 S.E. Insley st.
Apt. #28
Bike has 29″ wheels, Hayz 9 disk Brakes, Thompson Stem, Norco Torrent Frame, Junior T Dual Crown Forks, Black Market Seat w/purple and blue Machine guns, Stickers include- OG One ghost Industries, and Diamond Back stickers

U-Lock was still on bike when stolen
Police record with: Portland
This registrant does not have proof of ownership of this bike

Silver Specialised Sirrus Elite 2009

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Year: 2009
Brand: Specialised
Model: Sirrus Elite
Color:Silver
Size:Small
Serial: WUD80508681D
Stolen in Portland, OR 97201
Stolen:2014-04-14
Stolen From: Broken into a bike storage unit in the south end of waterfront
Neighborhood: Downtown
OwnerEmail: evama1616(at sign)yahoo.com
Description: With blue handle bars for comfort
Gel Seat cushion
Infinity Tires
the frame is dirty
Police record with: Porltand
Police reference#: 1430659
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Black/Charcoal Specialized Crosstrail Elite 2009

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Year: 2009
Brand: Specialized
Model: Crosstrail Elite
Color:Black/Charcoal
Size:XL
Serial:WUD8434908
Stolen in Portland, OR 97214
Stolen:2013-04-18
Stolen From: Parking lot at 3300 Division Street near Roman Candle/Bliss Salon
Neighborhood: Division
Owner: Megan Rawson
OwnerEmail: megan.b.rawson@gmail.com
Description: Black/charcoal Specialized Crosstrail Elite 24-speed mountain bike with intermediate tires, should have light clip on seat mount, missing front tire reflector
Police record with: Portland PD
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Brown Specialized Awol 2014

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Year: 2014
Brand: Specialized
Model: Awol
Color:Brown
Size:Large
Serial: wsbc609000262i
Photo: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/road/awol/awol
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2014-04-18
Stolen From: Everett and 16th
Neighborhood: Pearl Dostrict
Owner: Justin Wood
OwnerEmail: justinwood86(at sign)gmail.com
Reward: $100.00
Description: Bike was stolen from the corner of Everett and 16th. It has fenders and brackets for front and rear lights.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T14003866
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike