Startup by former Alta executives scores Philadelphia bike share contract

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Former Alta Bicycle Share president Alison Cohen, CEO
of Bicycle Transit Systems, spoke in Philadelphia Thursday.
(Photo: Bicycle Transit Systems)

A bike share operations startup founded by five ex-Alta Bicycle Share employees, three of them based in Portland, scored a major new contract Thursday.

Bicycle Transit Systems, which like its CEO Alison Cohen is headquartered in Philadelphia, will operate that city’s bike share system, which is scheduled to launch in spring 2015 with at least 600 stations.

It’s the first time in years that Portland-based Alta Bicycle Share, the market leader and operator of the popular systems in Washington DC, Boston, New York City and Chicago, has missed out on such a big new contract.

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Portland made ‘Truck Trike’ will help haul Citi Bikes in New York

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The Truck Trike by Bill Stites-7

Bill Stites on his Truck Trike in 2010.
(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)

A Portland company has developed a new tool that will help New York City’s Citi Bike bike share system perform the important job of “rebalancing.”

Bill Stites of Stites Design has worked with Citi Bike vendor Alta Bicycle Share to create a prototype “truck trike” that will haul bike share bikes between kiosks in New York City’s crowded streets. (We profiled Stites’ trike back in 2010.) We’re getting a closer look at the trike today and Alta has just sent out the following statement about a media/launch event on Monday:

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black Canondale CAADX Disc Ultegra 2013

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Year: 2013
Brand: Canondale
Model: CAADX Disc Ultegra
Color:black
Size:56cm
Serial: JM83256
Photo: http://www.thebikelist.co.uk/images/models/Cannondale/2013/caadx-disc-ultegra/Main.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97201
Stolen:2014-04-24
Stolen From: NW 9th and NW Johnson outside Hot Lips Pizza on east side of Eco Trust Building. Between 6:00 and 9:00pm on 4/24
Neighborhood: Pearl District
Owner: Rob Ross
OwnerEmail: robgreenflash(A T)gmail.com
Reward: $200
Description: Bike is only 3 months old, in perfect condition. It has all stock components, shimano petals
Police record with: Not filed yet
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Light Blue Madsen Madsen Utility Bucket 2009

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Year: 2009
Brand: Madsen
Model: Madsen Utility Bucket
Color:Light Blue
Size:Large
Serial: madsen0197
Photo: http://i.imgur.com/8TlNs36.jpg,http://i.imgur.com/9aQmcxp.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97206
Stolen:2014-04-24
Stolen From: 5221 SE Gladstone St
Neighborhood: Kenilworth
Owner: Todd McIlhenny
OwnerEmail: todd.mcilhenny( atsign )gmail.com
Reward: $50
Description: Madsend cargo bike with a severely bent chain guard, stickers and a reflective triangle on the back.
Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: T14004146

Parking power prevails (for now): PBOT pulls plug on 28th Ave bike lanes

A ride with the family-6

The city’s new “interim solution” for the Buckman/Kerns commercial district (that is, keep things pretty much like they are now).
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation on Thursday backed off from its proposal to replace about 100 auto parking spaces on 28th Avenue near Burnside with a buffered bike lane.

Available auto parking is “a very, very big deal” for neighborhood commercial districts like this one, project manager Rich Newlands told the 20s Bikeway Project stakeholder advisory committee at their meeting last night.

The city completed its first multi-street count of the neighborhood’s parking demand in time for Thursday’s meeting, which had been slated as the committee’s last. The results showed that many nearby blocks in the free-parking neighborhood were near capacity.

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Jobs of the Week

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We’ve had another busy week on the Job Listings. Judging from all the mechanic positions available, it’s clear that the season of cycling is starting. Check out the latest jobs via the links below…

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State’s $1.9 million gift says it: flashing beacons are the safety tool of the moment

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An active warning beacon in North Portland.
(Photo: City of Portland)

Two state legislators’ announcement this week that $1.9 million from the state’s general fund would pay for new flashing beacons and traffic islands at 18 East Portland crosswalks communicated two things about Portland streets.

First: that street safety is one of State Rep. Shemia Fagan’s core issues, something she’s consistently putting political capital behind. Second: that rectangular rapid-flash beacons, which communicate a person’s desire to cross without using red lights to stop traffic completely, have become one of the city’s go-to safety tools.

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PSU grad students want to ‘Activate’ Waterfront Park

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Waterfront Park is typically considered a bright spot in Portland’s urban planning legacy. And it should be. After all, it used to be an urban freeway known as Harbor Drive that was closed in 1974. In its place is the tree-lined park we now enjoy and that has become one of the city’s best public spaces.

But how can take Waterfront Park from good to great? How can we make it a more attractive and accessible place for all Portlanders? Those are some of the questions being asked by a new project dubbed “Activate the Waterfront“.

The effort is being led by Watermark Planning, which is six graduate students from Portland State University’s vaunted Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning program (MURP). They’ve partnered up with city agencies (including Portland Parks and Recreation and the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability) to develop a Downtown Portland Waterfront Activation Plan. The project is a six-month endeavor that will fulfill the student’s degree capstone requirement.

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Job: Mechanic/Sales – Beaverton Bike N Hike

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Job Title
Mechanic/Sales

Company/Organization
Beaverton Bike N Hike

Job Description
Beaverton Bike N Hike is currently hiring for multiple positions in both sales and service. Bike mechanic applicants must have shop experience. Sales position applicants must have a positive attitude and a love for bicycles, no shop experience required.

How to Apply
Drop off a Resume at our Beaverton shop, located at 10120 SW Beaverton-hillsdale Hwy, Beaverton, OR 97005. Or email a Resume to beaverton@bikenhike.com.

Latest Headlines

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From the Archives

Protestor blocks bus and bike lanes on Division with his car