After host network failure, we’re back from the dead

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Our home page yesterday.

Just a quick note to say sorry for the site being down almost all of yesterday. We noticed the site stopped loading in the morning and it didn’t return until the wee hours of last night.

Here’s what happened: Our server host, Hostgator, experienced a network outage at one of their data centers that took down thousands of sites across the web (here are the latest details if you’re so inclined). It was their problem, which meant we couldn’t do anything but sit back, wait, and hope they could fix it quickly.

We’ve had our share of server issues over the past nine years; but things have stabilized a lot recently thanks to the help of our phenomenal system/server admin, Ryan Aslett. We have a dedicated server at Hostgator which we devote a fair amount of cash to each month, so we expect it to be reliable. While a tiny bit of downtime is just part of doing business on the web and is somewhat expected, an entire day is rare and quite disruptive.

Now we’ll sort things out with Hostgator and make sure everything is where it should be now that the lights are back on.

Before we get back to our regularly scheduled programming, we thought you’d enjoy the fun tweets some of our friends shared yesterday as the hours of outage dragged on and on and on…

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Does Oregon really need the NACTO guide?

The parking-protected bike lane near Portland
State University, from page 1-30 of ODOT’s
Bicycle and Pedestrian Design Guide.

On Monday, we highlighted a few bike ideas from around the country that Oregon might imitate, but so far hasn’t. One of them: formally endorsing the National Association of City Transportation Officials design guides.

But Jessica Horning, the transit and active transportation liaison for the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Region 1 (which contains the Portland metro area) replied to our question about this with a fair argument: Oregon’s in-house design guide is already really good.

Developed by practitioners in Portland and other cities around the country, the NACTO guides are a sort of professional Pinterest for human-friendly street designs such as protected bike lanes and traffic diverters. Images are well-annotated and informed by extensive research about safety and performance.

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Domino’s Pizza now delivers by cargo trike in downtown Portland

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Scott Kealer of Domino’s Pizza on SW 4th Avenue
with his shop’s new vehicle.
(Photo by M.Andersen/BikePortland)

Portland’s pedal-cargo delivery scene has hit a new milestone: even Domino’s has bought a trike.

Cheap, fast and classy, cargo bikes and trikes have been in use for years from Old Town Pizza to Good Neighbor Pizzeria. Last fall, Scott Kealer did the math and decided his downtown Portland Domino’s Pizza franchise should join their ranks.

“I’ve got a corporate name on the front of the door that says ‘Domino’s,’ but it’s really my pizza shop,” said Kealer, owner of the local store on 4th Avenue near Portland State University.

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White Raleigh Gran Sport 1970

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Year: 1970
Brand: Raleigh
Model: Gran Sport
Color:White
Size:56cm
Photo: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BDdWIaS0UGE/TGwyGKd5_WI/AAAAAAAAHs4/N4sWJ0hQNaM/s800/GrandSportsKickback1.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2013-04-14
Stolen From: Buffalo and Rodney
Neighborhood: Piedmont
Owner: Alex Rosenblatt
OwnerEmail: rosenblatt.alex@gmail.com
Reward: TBD
Description: My bike is the same color pattern as the image but much, much more beat up. It is a conversion fixie with a blue-accented tire in the back and flat bars, cut short,
It’s ugly, but I love it.
Pedals are clips with leather straps and its equipped with a grey front rack. On the top of the fork engraved in the crown is a name.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

red/blue/yellow Gary Fisher

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Brand: Gary Fisher
Color:red/blue/yellow
Serial: ww1743291
Stolen in Portland, OR 97203
Stolen:2014-04-16
Stolen From: My bike was stolen from the PCC Cascade Campus during class today.
Neighborhood: Albina Killingsworth
Owner: Joe Chastain
OwnerEmail: aechastain(at sign)gmail.com
Description: The bike has mountain bike tires, a blue bag under the seat and a water bottle holder on the frame. The front of the frame is red and the stem and rear is blue with yellow writing.
Police record with: Report Is filed.
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Census shows Hosford-Abernethy is Portland’s bikingest neighborhood (updated)

Tour de Ladd-13.jpg

The Tour de Ladd in 2008.
(Photo by J.Maus/BikePortland)

Update 4/17: City Clock has now updated its post using a revised methodology.

We don’t usually devote much space to the endless lists ranking Portland among the best this or that for biking, and with good reason — most of them aren’t worth much. One list that was published yesterday has some noteworthy tidbits, but wouldn’t have been worth mentioning here if it hadn’t hornswaggled us at first.

An article on cityclock.org titled “Top 10 cycling communities in America” (later changed to “Top 12 cycling areas”) claimed that Census commute data showed central Eugene to be the best neighborhood in the country for biking, and that Portland’s Hosford-Abernethy — Hawthorne to Powell, 29th to the Willamette, including Ladd’s Addition — ranked 10th.

Both of these are very good places to ride bikes, and biking to work is more popular in those neighborhoods than elsewhere in each city. But beyond that, the methodology the site used doesn’t really stand up.

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Job: eBike Mechanic / Sales – eBike Store

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Job Title
eBike Mechanic / Sales

Company/Organization
eBike Store

Job Description
eBIKE MECHANIC JOB DESCRIPTION & RESPONSIBILITIES
Our small team is dynamic, creative and energetic – just like our brand. We value self-awareness, empathy, honesty, positive attitudes and
judgment, often over experience. Based on these virtues we foster an “every-person-takes-their-pull” environment where creativity and
individuality are appreciated and encouraged. Hard work, perseverance and communication climb fast and with ease. All while
making time for humor, fun and the celebration of big efforts – on and off the bike.

We are in need of a qualified bicycle mechanic who will also assist on the sales floor. His/her primary responsibilities include building, tuning and maintaining bikes at our North Portland location.

The bicycle mechanic’s job is very important as we depend on well built and maintained bicycles to make the customer’s experience a great one.

The bicycle mechanic is expected to be proactive and be able to manage his or her own time and responsibilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Repair, check, and fix bikes following eBike Store standards
• Prepare and build complete bikes for in-store and online bike orders
• Take notes of all the works done on bikes & update in our customer database
• Keep the inventory of the workshop updated
• Keep the bench and the workshop clean
• Provide feedback about bicycles and be a part of the mechanic, retail and office team
• Deliver bicycles to local customers throughout the Greater Portland Area
• Be customer service oriented and personable as you are the face of our company when you deliver repaired bicycles
• Assist with general retail duties such as customer service, sales, and inventory management.
• Contact customers via phone or email to communicate repair and sales related information.
• Demonstrate safe, professional and courteous customer service.

SKILLS
• Ability manage his or her own time and prioritize
• Good team player and communicate clearly with customers
• Capable computer skills & experience using point of sale systems
• Able to problem solve and work in a fast paced environment
• Ability to potentially work longer hours during busy sales seasons
• Ability to help guide customers through the sales and service processes

BICYCLE MECHANIC SKILLS
We usually require 3-5 years of shop experience, although exceptions will be considered for worthy candidates. Besides the usual
knowledge about a bicycle, we require the following skills:
• Assembling/disassembling and identify different types of bottom brackets, headsets and other industry standards
• Wheel building, wheel truing, tire changing (tubular, clincher and tubeless)
• Crank arm replacement
• Change derailleurs
• Headset overhaul
• Changing brakes, brake levers and shifter levers, cable (mechanical, electronic or hydraulic)
• Limit screws adjustment (both derailleurs)
• Chain check, replacement
Above all, we need a bicycle mechanic who has an eye for detail in terms of professional level bike building and someone who would
make a great fit with our team.

How to Apply
Please send a resume and cover letter to wake@ebikestore.com

Black Norco Yorkville 2008

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Year: 2008
Brand: Norco
Model: Yorkville
Color:Black
Photo: http://imgur.com/TE6t56v
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2014-04-15
Stolen From: NE 12th & Skidmore
Neighborhood: Sabin
Owner: Katie Leaper
OwnerEmail: Kaytress(AT)gmail.com
Reward: $
Description: Women’s Norco Hybrid. Shimano components. Hot pink cable, hot green handles. Had a baby bike seat on the back at the time of the theft.
Police record with: Portland
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Judge dismisses Medford man’s protest over citation for leaving bike lane

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Still from police video of traffic stop.

A Medford man issued a citation last year for pedaling outside of a bike lane to avoid debris says a judge has sided with the officer who pulled him over, saying he should have steered his bike around the rocks and sticks without leaving the bike lane.

We reported on this incident in October, including a video of Dallas Smith’s encounter with Ashland police officer Steve MacLennan.

“I get flats when I ride over there,” Smith tells Ofc. MacLennan in the video, which was captured by the officer’s dashboard camera. “I got two flats riding (unclear) last week.”

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Gray Russ Denny Velo Bum Custom 2006

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Year: 2006
Brand: Russ Denny
Model: Velo Bum Custom
Color:Gray
Size:51cm
Photo: http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r126/IronMartin1/RussDennyBike_OldpIcture.jpg
Stolen in Portland, OR 97211
Stolen:2012-04-15
Neighborhood: King/Sabin
Owner: Martin Carroll
OwnerEmail: martywcarroll@gmail.com
Reward: Yes
Description: Custom frame with parts built over time.

Russ Denny Custom Frame
Reynolds Ouza Pro Fork
Mavic Ksyrium SL Wheelset (rear wheel has 1 black spoke)
FSA SLK Light Crankset
FSA K Force Seatpost
Fizik Aliante Kurve Saddle
FSA OS-99 CSI Stem 80mm
Ultegra 6700 Groupset (Shifters, front derailleur, rear derailluer, brakes, chain)
Dura Ace Track pedals

More Photos:
Part List- http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r126/IronMartin1/RussDennyParts.png
Old Photo- http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r126/IronMartin1/RussDennyBike_OldpIcture.jpg

Police record with: Portland PD
Police reference#: 12-305-83