Heed this wisdom to be a Pedalpalooza pro

It’s here. Hope you’ve been practicing your high-fives.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Portland’s epic month of bike rides and events starts tomorrow. Yes, that’s right, it’s time for the annual Pedalpalooza festival. It’s the 16th year in a row Shift has helped us celebrate the social exhiliration and of bicycling with a slate of rides organized and led by people in the community like you and me. It’s a phenomenonal display of community connectedness unlike anything I’ve seen in the cycling world and we hope you plan to be a part of it

If you are going to join in any one of the 262 rides on the calendar (so far) this month, there are a few things you should know to make sure your experience reaches its full potential. And on a more serious note, there are a few things you should do to make sure your experience doesn’t end up making bad memories (or worse) for you, your friends, or the people around you.

For our annual Pedalalooza primer we once again turn to bike funnist and Shift volunteer Chris “Fool” McCraw. He recently shared some important pits of wisdom:

Tips for maximum Pedalpalooza enjoyment

A well-stocked pannier is always a good idea.

Get that tune-up, stock up on spare tubes, and make sure your butt loves your saddle. It’s the last minute NOW because you want to have your bike ready before the fun really gets started on June 1st!

Now get yourself tuned up — do you know where your summer bike clothes are? Been putting off that doctor’s appt? Been to see the barber? Nobody wants to stop riding with a few thousand of their closest friends to take care of stuff that could happen anytime, and you know you wanna be in top shape to enjoy the rides and be looking sharp for the cutie you’re sure to meet on the happy streets. Might not be a bad idea to get caught up on laundry, too.

Next up it’s time to get stocked! Easy frozen meals to heat & eat when you get home exhausted and just wanna crawl into bed? Favorite hangover cure — available in quantity? Portable intoxicant of choice — need to hit costco or stumptown to get enough? Beer is easy on the fly, but if you’re more of a liquor is quicker, candy is dandy kinda person — do it in advance: visit your local dispensary, or anyway get the things you can’t make happen at a quickie mart mid-ride or en-route done on your schedule instead of missing the pre-party for Loud and Lit because you have to find the last liquor store in town still open.

Almost ready — but is your pedalpalooza survival kit all ready to go? Picnic blanket, hearty snacks, condoms, band-aids & aspirin, flat-fix kit, extra headlight batteries, and fliers for your ride to hand out to folks at other rides are all recommended. Got Costumes for the WNBR and beyond? Might as well figure all that out during the calm before the storm!

Help take care of yourself and others: These three steps go a long way toward creating inclusive, safe(r) bike fun!

Pedalpalooza is a wild ride, with too little sleep and sometimes too much booze. While we’re out having fun, I want to ask YOU to help take care of yourself and others. These three steps go a long way toward creating inclusive, safe(r) bike fun!

1) Have a plan & Look out for your own well being

When you go on rides that may take you out of your comfort zone, know thyself – might you end up riding longer than expected without a food stop that fits your diet? Might you end up somewhere you’ve never been before? These are near-certainties, so make sure you’re prepared – have a spare inner tube, have a bike map, have a friend you can call if you get stranded (very few rides will leave the cell service area, and those that do are generally described as fairly long rides), and have some substantial snacks and water. Make friends on the ride so that even if you don’t have what you need – you now know someone who might let you borrow their phone or share their snack or patch kit.

2) Be aware of your situation

Both on and off the bike, be aware of your environment. We are traffic, but we are mortal, so watch out for anyone operating a vehicle erratically and be defensive about not getting creamed or even bumping someone else – on a bike or in a car! Having a dance party on the springwater? Cool! Just be aware of nearby residents and of wandering off by yourself to pass out or even make out – safety first (or third – but think about it as you go!)

3) Look out for each other

This one is a bit less obvious than the other two, but as a community of bike funnists, we have to take care of each other. Specifically, be on the lookout for folks who seem so intoxicated that they won’t be able to ride safely home, and try to help them figure out a remedy – be that getting them a ride buddy or an Uber. On a similar note, CONSENT IS SEXY. This goes for sexual stuff of course – be the person you want to wake up and see in the mirror tomorrow – but also goes for peer pressure and intoxication – if your new friend doesn’t want to drink another beer or take another toke, don’t shame them into it. We don’t need to make any more depressing statistics or have someone’s life get fucked up. Check out these resources on consent that I hope you’ll read – it’ll take 2 minutes and you’ll be an awesomer person for reading them and helping others who haven’t read them keep them in mind even when drunk.

Have fun out there Portland! I’ll miss the first few days (headed to Montréal tomorrow!) but I can’t wait to join you in the streets when I get back.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

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Help make biking better in Beaverton via this online open house

Beaverton’s bike network will be better if you share your feedback.

The City of Beaverton has opened a virtual open house for their first-ever Active Transportation Plan. The plan, which also includes walking-related infrastructure of course, will help city staff implement the right facilities in the right places.

In their first online open house, Beaverton planners learned that — surprise, surprise — people who want to bike more but are too afraid of traffic have a “clear desire” for separated facilities like multi-use paths and protected bike lanes. “Providing bicycle infrastructure that accommodates this group of ‘Interested but Concerned’ bicyclists has the greatest potential of increasing bicycling in Beaverton,” the city said.

In this open house, the city wants your feedback on two main topics: What streets should be prioritized for bicycle access updates, and what type of bicycle infrastructure should be implemented.

Similar to Portland (and other cities), Beaverton will label their bicycle network into various “functional classifications” ranging from “enhanced major bikeways” (fully-protected lanes on major arterials) to “neighborhood bikeways” (akin to Portland’s neighborhood greenways). The classifications will help determine what types of facilities are suitable in each location.

Bicycle network classifications map.

You also have the opportunity to tell the City of Beaverton what type of facilities you prefer to ride in. Their current proposal includes four facility types: protected bike lanes, buffered bike lanes, regular old bike lanes, and sharrows.

Facility types proposed by City of Beaverton.

Another way to share your feedback is to download the Ride Report app. Data from this app (which anonymously tracks your routes and allows you to rate them as stressful or pleasant) is being used by the City of Beaverton to help decide where to build new bikeways.

After processing community feedback, city staff will spend the next three months creating a project list.

You can sign up for an email list to stay updated on more open house and public outreach events. The plan is scheduled for adoption by Beaverton City Council in October of this year.

It will be a much better plan if you take a few minutes to share your opinions in the online open house.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

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5 Things I learned parenting (mostly) by bike

I spent the past year and a half parenting one, then two kids (now 1.5 and 3 years) mostly by bike. Here are some of my takeaways:

1) It’s totally doable for many people (depending on where you live and work, and other complications).

2) You may end up wanting to be more car-lite than you were before kids (many/most young kids hate car seats in various phases of their lives and scream while in them, and love box-bikes and buses and trains; also, biking may well be your only reliable way to get exercise)

3) You may end up wanting to be less car-lite than you were before kids (the tyranny of naps cuts up your day so much, it’s nice to get from A to B faster. Plus, getting car rides from friends when you have kids is pretty much impossible, and installing/uninstalling car seats in rental cars is a pain, and your time is at a premium)

4) Think through contingency plans. What if it’s too icy to bike but your work and daycare are still open? What if you’re sick? What if you’re sick like half the winter? (You may well be sick like half the winter)

5) Rewarding children is good parenting and preserves your sanity. Keep rewards at the ready.

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Material Girl: Raffia

I’ve been singing raffia’s praises for quite a few years (I’d like to submit this post back in 2013 is hard evidence!) but as the summer months approach I can’t help but get excited about this natural neutral and I want it on EVERYTHING. I’m thinking about how I can incorporate the material into more collections of mine too — cuz it’s so darn good. Also, fun fact: did you know that raffia are the veins of the leaves from the raffia palm? Just in case you’re ever stuck on a desert island you now know how to make dope sun hats and coasters for your coconuts. You’re welcome.

Raffia Shoe with Lucite Heel  | PomPom Raffia Tote Bag | Striped Raffia shoes from Morocco | Raffia mirror with geometric motif | PomPom Pouchette | Lace Up Platforms | Pillow | Raffia Trim Hat | Basket bowl | Raffia Coasters

 

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New path in Waterfront Park part of Naito’s emerging role in bike network

This new path is just one sign of Naito’s emerging significance in the downtown bikeway network.
(Photos J. Maus/BikePortland)

Sorry Portland Business Alliance, but the evolution of downtown streets will continue with or without your approval.

The business lobbying group (known around here as “the PBA”) that used to have considerable sway over downtown decision-making, made their opposition to the Better Naito project clear last week. And while the PBA might feel better when the temporary biking and walking-only lane gets removed in September, they’ll soon realize it’s just one of many moves the Portland Bureau of Transportation is making to update downtown streets. And those updates are all aimed at doing the same thing as Better Naito: create more space for biking so it becomes safer and more convenient for more people.

With Better Naito, a new (permanent) path to connect to the Steel Bridge, and several other recent developments, the future of Portland’s downtown bike network is taking shape and Naito Parkway plays a leading role.

Here’s how just a few parts of this emerging bike network figure into that future…

Naito getting even better

Another view of the new path looking northbound at NW Couch toward Davis.

A new bike path emerged in Waterfront Park last week. PBOT has installed a wide strip of black pavement in Waterfront Park near the Japanese American Historical Plaza. The path begins at NW Couch and ends one block later at Davis. As I alluded to on May 10th, the path is intended to serve as a safer way for northbound bicycle users to cross the tricky intersection of Davis, Naito and the onramp that leads up to the Steel Bridge. By taking bike traffic out of the curbside bike lane, PBOT can create a safer angle between right-turning auto users and northbound bike users at the intersection.

Where the path re-enters the roadway at the Davis on-ramp to the Steel Bridge.

The new path is part of a larger project that will include a new bike-only signal at this intersection and a new, two-way connection between Davis and the Steel Bridge. The signal is coming soon and will give bicycle users a separate signal phase to cross Davis at the Steel Bridge on-ramp without worrying about cross traffic. This signal is key because it will handle two-way bike traffic on Naito. PBOT plans to sign and mark the existing, 12-foot-wide Naito bike lane for north and southbound traffic from the paths in Waterfront Park at the west end of the Steel Bridge to Davis. This new bi-directional bikeway will feed directly into the Better Naito lane.

And Naito’s resurgence as a bikeway doesn’t end at the Steel Bridge. While PBOT recently added a buffer and plastic wands well north of the bridge, there are also plans to install more bike lanes as far north as 19th to accomodate new residential development.

Two Flanders crossings

A new crossing of Naito will connect the Steel Bridge to 2nd/3rd Avenues via Flanders.

The promise of the Flanders bikeway is well over a decade late. When the City of Portland created the West Burnside-Couch couplet without any bike-specific infrastructure, they made a deal with the then-Bicycle Transportation Alliance that they’d create a bike boulevard on Flanders Street from the Willamette to northwest Portland. Currently Flanders isn’t a part of the bike network because it dead-ends at I-405 and at Naito. But both of those gaps will be filled relatively soon.

The Flanders bridge over I-405 is funded and expected to be open by 2019. Adding to that good news is PBOT’s imminent intention to create a crossing of Naito for walkers and bicycle riders between the Steel Bridge/Waterfront Park path and Flanders in Old Town/Chinatown (directly in front of Oregon Department of Transportation Region 1 headquarters). A safer crossing between the Steel Bridge and Flanders would allow people on bikes to easily connect not only to Better Naito, but also to the bikeway couplet that already exists on 2nd and 3rd avenues.

$9 million in protected bike lanes coming soon

More protected bike lanes similar to this one on SW 2nd Avenue, are coming soon.

Adding into this mix is PBOT’s Central City Multimodal Project. You might have forgotten about this project because it’s taking forever to roll out. It has now been well over four years since the city first began planning a network of protected bike lanes downtown. The good news is PBOT has amassed a war chest of $8.8 million to build them (thanks to a $6 million federal grant from Metro and $2.8 million from the new gas tax fund). We don’t know what streets will get the new protected lanes; but it’s safe to say that bicycle circulation on Naito will be impacted and improved by whatever goes in.

PBOT expects to start building these new bikeways next year.

The network effect

A quick sketch of a few existing and planned bikeways show how connected loops are slowly but surely forming.

A bikeway network follows this basic rule: every new connecting piece adds exponential value to the whole. And with each new piece, and every new rider who uses it, the public and political urgency to do even more rises too. This is the positive feedback loop that will finally move the needle for cycling in Portland.

When you stand back and look at all these ongoing projects, it’s reasonable to think that downtown is poised for a major explosion in bike use. (And let’s not forget the Biketown effect. The success of those orange bikes has created a new level of urgency among electeds and city staffers to make streets in the central city safer for cycling.)

Which brings us back to Better Naito. PBOT has promised stakeholders that the existing lane will be returned to its previous use (a standard lane and a bike lane) at the end of September. To make the politics work, PBOT will have to keep their promise and remove the big protected bike lane at that time no matter how successful the project is. But given Better Naito’s popularity and the fact that a high-quality bikeway in that location is imperative to future transportation plans, I would be shocked if PBOT didn’t find a way to make it permanent before spring 2018.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

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Make-Ahead Frittata Squares with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Feta

Think of frittata as an Italian cousin to the French omelet, with a few notable differences.

Instead of folding the omelet around the filling as the French do, Italian frittatas mix the eggs and filling together from the start and then bake them together in one dish. It’s a little like an open-faced omelet that can feed the whole family!

Continue reading "Make-Ahead Frittata Squares with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Feta" »

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Street art celebrating ‘Black Williams’ to be unveiled Saturday

Two of the signs that will be erected as part of the project.
(Project art samples: City of Portland)

Hank’s Dairy, Les Femmes, House of Sound, Fred Hampton’s Health Clinic — these are all important parts of the history of North Williams Avenue that have been all but erased today.

The ‘Black Williams Project‘ — which will be unveiled this Saturday June 3rd — aims to re-insert these places and the people who made them, back into our consciousness.

The project is one of the many tangible outcomes of the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s North Williams Traffic Safety Project. This project began in January 2011 as an attempt to improve the busy bikeway on Williams Avenue; but after concerns of racism from some people in the community and a lack of black voices involved in the planning process, it morphed into a citywide debate about the role bicycles play in gentrification and systemic discrimination. 18 months later a PBOT stakeholder committee decided on a major redesign of the street. In addition, stakeholders felt that users of the street should have a permanent reminder about the vibrant black culture that existed there long before the new high-rise apartments, breweries, and thousands of daily bicycle commuters.

PBOT committed $100,000 of the project’s $1.5 million budget to the Black Williams Project in July 2013. As we reported last year, the project will include interpretations of the neighborhood’s cultural past through a series of sidewalk tiles, signs, sculptures and kiosks created by local artists Cleo Davis and Kayon Talton Davis. There are 40 art pieces in total.

Now the work is ready and PBOT is hosting a “community celebration” for its unveiling. Here’s a snip from the invitation:

Williams Ave. was once the vibrant heart of Portland’s Black community. Formerly known as the “Black Broadway,” the corridor included a concentration of Black churches, businesses, social service organizations and nightclubs that were thriving and active community institutions.

This series of tiles related to the Black Panther Party will be embedded into the sidewalk.

Although the landscape has changed, there is much to remember, celebrate and build upon. In 2012, the Williams Ave. Safety Project Stakeholder Advisory Committee recommended to the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) that these stories be honored through an art history project that would have a prominent place on the corridor. Thus, the community-led Honoring History of Williams Ave. Committee and the Historic Black Williams Project were born.

Since then, local artists Cleo Davis and Kayin Talton Davis have been collecting stories, memories and histories from Black community members… We hope that this project will serve as both a visual archive and an inspiration for future community efforts.

At Saturday’s event you can expect to hear from the artists and neighborhood leaders and there will be group and self-guided walks.

For more on the art, the artists, and the important context around this project, read this story from The Skanner.

Saturday’s event begins at 12:00 pm at Dawson Park. Check out the event listing for more details.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

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A Personal “Mood Board” Can Add Inspiration to Your Decor

There’s a reason that ad agencies, branding firms, and interior designers often start new projects by creating a mood board: It’s a great way to brainstorm, explore ideas, yet remain laser-focused during the design process.

If the term is foreign to you, a mood board is a collection of images, objects, and even text posted on a board that evokes or projects a particular feeling, concept . . . or mood. Think Pinterest on steroids!

As the approach becomes better known, more homeowners and apartment dwellers are creating their own mood boards to produce dynamite do-it-yourself decorating. It’s obviously an economical way to go, but it’s smart too. (Why pay a professional when you can use the same tool to create a “look” that is uniquely yours?)

If you’re of a mind to make your own mood board, start with poster material or a strong piece of cardboard large enough to house a variety of exhibits. This is the canvas to which you’ll affix what inspires you. (Speaking of that, a canvas would work too.)

Begin your board with a single image – perhaps a photograph you took or a magazine tear-out – that embodies your vision. It could show a room you relish, a location you love, a scene from nature, or an attractive color combination found anywhere – on a watercolor painting, some wrapping paper or even the wings of a butterfly!

Use this image as the foundation of your color scheme, but don’t stop there. Post images showing similar colors or different hues that you’re drawn to. See how they work together. Refine the color palette by adding or removing elements as you see fit.

And don’t feel that you have to work only in “flat” art. Three-dimensional items, especially those with texture, add an extra layer of visual interest to a mood board. Weave in fabric swatches, bits of tile, fragments of metal. Make a special effort to include items you expect to make an encore appearance in your room’s décor.

Still, color is the essence of an inspirational mood board and nothing contributes as much to a room as the interior paint scheme. So, visit your local paint store and pick up some color cards in your chosen hues. Then post them on your board alongside the other images and exhibits.

Do the paint colors evoke the ambience you want to create in the room? Would you like the space to feel warmer or cooler? Do you sense the need for a change-of-pace punch color? Make the necessary adjustments with the help of your color cards.

Then, before making a final commitment, give your color scheme a real-life eyeball test by observing it both in daytime and at night, under artificial light. Is it appealing regardless of the hour? If the answer is yes, you’ve come up with a winning combination that you’ll love to live with.

Return to the store and pick up the paint colors you’ve chosen, always favoring the highest quality 100% acrylic latex paint. With a confidence inspired by the appeal of your mood board, you’ll soon be in the mood to paint. And, with that, your creative vision will become a reality!

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The Business of Being Boho: Getting Digitally Organized with Evernote

This Post Was Created In Partnership With Evernote.

My business has evolved SO MUCH over the past couple of years. I went from being a one- woman-show that I ran out of my living room, to moving into a proper office, and this year, hiring my first salaried employees. It was a (very!) big leap. Today, my one-woman show, has grown into a real-live business that has three different ‘branches’: the blog / content creation arm, the design studio arm and the online shop. Each of these branches involve a handful of different skills, tools and people to keep them running well. But, with a small team (there are four or five of us here on most days) one thing is certain — organization and communication are the keys to making everything run smoothly — especially when I’m on the road (which lately is pretty often).

In all candor, organization is not my forte. Blame it on my artist brain, or sheer laziness but my lack of organization is probably one of my worst traits — especially as a business-owner. For example, I have 18,724 unread emails in my email inbox right now. (I’m not kidding.) When I meet other business-owners that have achieved (and maintain!) ’inbox zero’ I am truly in awe. Like I have NO IDEA how they do that. So I am always on the look out for tools that I can integrate into my daily work-flow that help me to be more organized in a un-cumbersome way. If it’s slightly difficult or annoying to set up or use I won’t use it. It has to be seamless.

Since I started to use Evernote it has saved me time, money and headaches. I’m excited to share some of the ways that I use the app to help my work flow and help me and my team get (and STAY!) more organized as we scale our business and things get even crazier.

I first started using the app as a simple note-taking app. I am often in weird places (middle of the night, on a plane) when I’m struck with inspiration and ideas, so I used the app simply as a way to help me remember, keep track of and record all my random ideas. I used to have piles of little notebooks and sticky notes everywhere — now I have digital note books that are collated and tagged so that I can easily go back to an old idea or doodle to prep for a meeting or presentation. It has helped so much with our brainstorming sessions as well.

If I have 18,000 unread emails, you may not be surprised to discover that I have 37,100 photos stored on my phone (and don’t get me started on my desktop!!) Maybe it’s an idea for our home remodel, for a blog post or for a new collection but I take and save thousands of pictures every week. Before I started using Evernote these photos were simply swimming in a sea of tens of thousands of images that I had to scroll to (which was never chic while trying to show something to a potential partner or client). Now, with Evernote Premium, I’ve started collating and tagging images for easy access when I’m switching from one project to another and want to see (or show) ideas to clients and partners.

Besides taking notes — the other function I probably use most is the scan feature. I’ve started to use Evernote to store and organize both business cards and receipts and saves me both time and money.

During a trade show I can simply scan in a business card and Evernote auto-populates the info so it’s all right there. How many times have you been to a conference or a trade show, and come back with a stack of business cards but can’t really remember which person you met goes with which card? Or you can’t even find the card?? This type of thing used to happen to me all the time, so having the ability to scan the card and then add a photo, tag or add it to a specific notebook to help remember relevant info is a total game-changer.

Same is true for scanning receipts. I am able to expense most of my business trips with companies that I’m partnering up with. For so long (I’m talking years!) I would lose receipts, or not expense meals or a taxi ride because maybe it was just $10 here or there and so I’d let it slide, but not anymore! Ten bucks here and there can add up!! Evernote allows me to scan a receipt quickly and easily and then add them to my “Expense” notebook, and then I tag the receipts with the trip name. I even forward digital receipts to Evernote. When I get home I’m able to easily share everything with our office manager who then get our reimbursements.

Evernote is quickly changing the way our office communicates. We’ve begun using the business chat feature. We share files and keep them organized that way. Getting totally digitally organized is a big business goal for me this year and so far I feel like I’m on a positive path. I can already feel my brain feeling more free of clutter, random sticky notes and crumpled receipts. It’s pretty awesome.

This Post Was Created In Partnership With Evernote. All opinions are my own. For more posts in The Business of Being Boho column, go here. 

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Job: Mechanic/sales – Cyclepath

Job Title *
mechanic/sales

Company/Organization *
Cyclepath

Job Description *
We are looking for 2 full time employees.

Position 1: We are hiring someone for our service/build department. We are looking for someone with at least 5 years experience working in a service department. This is a very high end shop and our customer base expects knowledgeable, experienced staff with a very friendly attitude. We will help bring someone up to speed if you have the right attitude, however, please do not apply for this position if you don’t have somewhere near 5 years experience.

Position 2: We are hiring someone for our sales team. We would prefer someone with at least two years experience working in a bike shop in any capacity. More experience is better, however, we will bring someone up to speed who possesses the right attitude.

pay will vary based on experience.

www.cyclepathpdx.com

How to Apply *
Please send your resume to Bill@Cyclepathpdx.com or drop it off at 2436 NE MLK Jr Blvd. Portland, Oregon 97212

The post Job: Mechanic/sales – Cyclepath appeared first on BikePortland.org.

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Job: Inside Sales Representative – Knight Composites (Bend)

Job Title *
Inside Sales Representative

Company/Organization *
Knight Composites

Job Description *
Are you a Sales Rock Star? Do you love bicycles? Have experience in the Bicycle Industry? Let’s chat…
Knight Composites – a premium carbon wheel manufacturer based in Bend, OR, has an immediate opening for an Inside Sales Representative to join our team. We are looking for a self-motivated individual with proven sales skills and knowledge of the bicycle industry. The position will be based in our Bend, OR office.

Requirements
• Possess strong problem solving skills
• Proven inside sales experience
• Strong phone presence and experience managing diverse call volume
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Strong listening and communication skills
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage time effectively
• Knowledge of the bicycle industry at the retail, wholesale and/or manufacturing level
• Technical bicycle product knowledge
• BA/BS degree or equivalent experience

Responsibilities
• Service existing retailer base
• Management of retailer and consumer product queries
• Be an outlet for technical product information
• Support sales through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls and emails
• Close sales and help achieve monthly goals
• Research accounts, identify key players and generate interest
• Provide excellent customer service

Compensation
Base Salary + Commission – based on sales goals.

About Us
Knight Composites is a small, but growing, premium carbon wheel manufacturer, located in Bend, Oregon, a mecca for cycling in the US. We are an energetic group, who are both passionate and professional. Starting just over 3 years ago, Knight has expanded from a National to International brand with models serving the Road, Tri, Gravel, MTB and CCX markets.

Application Deadline – June 15 2017

How to Apply *
Please send your resume to: jim@knightcomposites.com with the subject line: “Inside Sales Representative”.

The post Job: Inside Sales Representative – Knight Composites (Bend) appeared first on BikePortland.org.

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The Monday Roundup: A note on MAX attacks, Seattle bike share, fast toddlers and more

This is not a normal week. I’m not sure when normal will ever return.

While we move on with covering bicycling and related news, my thoughts remain heavy with the many issues surrounding the hate-fueled attacks on innocent people that happened Friday on a light rail train in northeast Portland. I’m not sure what form the incident and its aftermath will take here on BikePortland, but it will have an impact — both on the stories we cover and how we cover them, as well as the content and tone of the daily discussions we have in the comments. On that note, please be extra mindful of other peoples’ feelings and perspectives as we all struggle to cope with the many layers of outrage and newly exposed (for some) reality of these stressful times.

Below are the most noteworthy stories we came across last week…

Questioning car use: A car was used as a deadly weapon in the recent Times Square driving rampage, a fact that has sparked a much-needed debate about the unfettered access we grant auto users in our cities.

Bike share back in Seattle? Our friends to the north are reportedly close to working out regulations that would grant a host of new next-generation bike share operators access to city streets.

Hand over your car keys: A survey found that many urban auto users often feel stressed and frustrated about their daily drives — insights that should motivate planners and policymakers to work harder to give them a better option.

Savage takes and a transit fix: The Stranger’s Dan Savage laid out some refreshingly candid truths — and one bold idea — to reverse the dual problems of gentrification and displacement.

Bike a mile in my shoes: In New South Wales, people who want to get a learner’s permit for driving a car might have to first take a course in urban cycling.

From parking to parks: Fast Company delves into the positive trend of cities turning auto parking lots into human playing plots.

Take a transit ride into the future: The Willamette Week asked: “What if we spent billions to fix the morning commute with something other than cars?”

Rolling coal no more: In Maryland, lawmakers passed a bill that outlaws this absurd, childish behavior and makes it punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Hi-viz doesn’t help: Neon clothing might be easier to see, but one recent study showed that it doesn’t make people give you more room when the pass. That is, unless your hi-viz jacket has “POLICE” emblazoned on it.

Cargo bike attention: It’s always good when a non-bike media outlet gushes about the utility and fun of riding cargo bikes.

Tour de Toddler: Balance bikes are ubiquitous among Portland families — but did you know there’s a racing scene for these tiny, pedal-less bikes?

Big money bike racing: Bike industry ninja Rick Vosper peels back the veil of what it costs to sponsor a major professional cycling team at the highest levels of the sport.

Don’t hold your breath: The Economist covers the autonomous vehicle industry closely and says, “Forget the hype,” about them taking over streets in the near future.

A Tesla warning: A Stanford engineer tested a Tesla’s autopilot mode and said its performance around bicycle users was “frightening.”

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

The post The Monday Roundup: A note on MAX attacks, Seattle bike share, fast toddlers and more appeared first on BikePortland.org.

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Sous Vide French Dip Sandwiches

This recipe is brought to you in partnership with ChefSteps. ChefSteps is offering Simply Recipes readers $20 off both the new edition of their Joule sous vide immersion circulator and their flagship Joule through Thursday, June 1, 2017 — go check it out!

It seems like a magic trick: take a cheap, tough cut of beef, like a top round roast or a chuck roast, cook it for twenty-four hours without peeking, and Abracadabra! Now it’s suddenly filet mignon.

But it’s not magic — this is sous vide cooking!

For the past few months, I’ve been playing around with Joule, an immersion circulator from ChefSteps used for sous vide cooking, and I have slowly found myself won over by this new way of cooking. Have you ever heard of sous vide cooking? Or tried it yourself?

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Job: Bike Tour Guide/ Rental Shop staff – Cycle Portland

Job Title *
Bike Tour Guide/ Rental Shop staff

Company/Organization *
Cycle Portland

Job Description *
We’re looking for individuals that love biking, exploring, and sharing our wonderful city with visitors from across the world. Cycle Portland is Portland’s oldest bike tour & rental company providing sightseeing tours, rentals, and repair at our full service shop in historic Old Town/China Town. Most tours last around 2-3 hours and the pace is about 10mph. Here you’ll flow between providing engaging and insightful tours and helping renters and locals with in shop bike services.

The Tour Guide/Shop Hand we’re looking for has:
Excellent public speaking skills with a genuine desire to work with the public and comfortability with large groups
Strong verbal and written communication abilities
A strong sense of craftsmanship
The itch to grow and learn about Portland, its past, present, and its future
A drive for a mix between fast paced summers, and mellow project oriented winters.
Eagerness to work with a bike shop values a fun, supportive, and inclusive work environment.

Requirements:
Candidate must be available to work at least 20 hours/wk starting.
Must be able to work weekends
Previous guide and shop experience is useful, but is not required.
Must be able to lift and maneuver heavy objects up to 55 pounds.

Compensation:
Position is part-time and seasonal with the potential of full time permanent work for qualified applicants. Pay starts at $12/hr with the potential to move up after a 30 day review.
Interested candidates should send an email to portlandbicycle@gmail.com with a paragraph or two stating your interest in this position, and why you would like to work with us.

How to Apply *
Interested candidates should send an email to portlandbicycle@gmail.com with a paragraph or two stating your interest in this position, and why you would like to work with us.

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Mixed Berry Sangria

Sangria is one of those things that you hardly need a recipe for – or even a particularly good red wine!

I do have a few slight twists I like use for my own sangria recipe. I like to add berries, like blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries. While apples and oranges are more traditional, I find berries infuse more flavor and color into the wine.

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Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles and Lemon-Garlic Butter

A couple of years ago, I had a major bumper crop of zucchini. I found a million ways to eat it and cook with it, but this simple meal of shrimp with zucchini noodles and lemon-garlic butter was one I went back to again and again.

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St. Johns Bridge

I dreamt the St Johns Bridge could look like this in a Vision Zero universe with no rider ever again having to pedal past a ghost bike …

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‘Gorge Express’ bus service returns with major upgrades

The new and improved buses. You can stow your bike down below and get a $5 ride to the Gorge!

In yet another example of the wondrous potential of bus transit, the State of Oregon is starting up their Columbia Gorge Express service starting today.

The service was launched last year by the Oregon Department of Transportation as a response to congestion and parking problems in the Gorge. Because so many people drove their personal cars to the waterfalls and hiking trails, illegal parking was rampant as the few lots that exist often reached capacity. The Historic Columbia River Highway that connects all the destinations would routinely become packed with people and their cars, making it unsafe and unpleasant for all users.

Almost as soon as the service was offered it proved extremely popular. For $5 round-trip, the mid-sized buses picked people up at the Gateway Transit Center and dropped off at two popular spots in the Gorge. In the 18 weekends it was offered last summer, the service exceeded ODOT’s expectations with over 30,000 riders.

This year ODOT is doubling-down. Yesterday they announced larger buses with more amenitites and a host of other service improvements:

– Bigger buses to accommodate more riders and reduce wait times.
– A new stop location among the bus bays at the Gateway Transit Center, closer to bus and MAX stops.
– A new stop location at Rooster Rock State Park with more seating and shaded areas.
– A staff person at Rooster Rock State Park and Multnomah Falls during service hours to smooth operations, answer questions and inform riders when the next bus is due.
– Buses will now accept cash and credit cards, though riders are encouraged to buy tickets online to avoid boarding delays.

We’ve also heard from an ODOT source that the larger buses can accomodate bicycles in the luggage area. Moving blankets will be provided so you can wrap up your bike before stowing it away. Up to three bicycles will be allowed per bus. Last year the buses had a rack that could hold three bikes. It’s likely the luggage area can hold more than three bikes, so — while we wouldn’t count on it — hopefully bus operators will be flexible with the three bike rule. Even if your bike doesn’t fit, there are 12 departures per day. First bus leaves Gateway at 8:45 am and the final bus back to Portland leaves Multnomah Falls at 6:40 pm.

The service begins today and will run through September 24th (including federal holidays).

ODOT says they’re still evaluating the service and it could expand even further next year. In yesterday’s announcement they said the Gorge Express Bus, “could become daily and extend to Hood River with stops at additional Gorge destinations accessible from I-84.”

Check out ColumbiaGorgeExpress.com for more info and start planning your ride today!

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

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Jobs of the Week: Metro, Yakima Products, Santiam Bicycle

Start summer off right with a new job!

Learn more about our latest listings via the links below…

–> Deputy Director – Planning and Development – Metro

–> Consumer Service Rep – Yakima Products

–> Mechanic/sales – Santiam Bicycle

For a complete list of available jobs, click here. These are paid listings. If you’d like to post a job, you can purchase a listing online by visiting our Job Listings page.

You can sign up for all the latest listings via RSS, email, or by following us on Twitter.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

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Job: Mechanic/sales – Santiam Bicycle

Job Title *
Mechanic/sales

Company/Organization *
Santiam Bicycle

Job Description *
We are looking for a seasonal employee at our Tigard store with at least 1-2 years of bike shop experience, pay will vary based on experience.

Responsibilities will primarily include repairs and bike builds but will also include helping on the sales floor occasionally and helping with any other tasks that may need to be done.

We want someone who can work 3-5 days per weeks during peak months. Winter hours are not guaranteed but you will maintain employee discount status all year long.

If you have suspension and brake service experience that is a huge plus!

How to Apply *
Please send your resume to mitch@santiambicycle.com or drop it off in person at 9009 SW Hall Blvd Tigard, OR 97223.

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Oven-Roasted Salmon, Asparagus and New Potatoes

My dad pulled out a favorite recipe from his collection of decades old Food & Wine magazine to make and share with “the people on the website.”

A “discussion” then ensued between the rental units for at least half an hour along the lines of “What do you mean this is a favorite recipe? You always told me you didn’t like salmon.” “What are you talking about? I used to make this all the time.” “You’ve never made it in this house!…” and so on and so on.

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What the Portland Business Alliance really thinks about Better Naito

Make way for the job creators!
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

What does the Portland Business Alliance think about Better Naito; the city’s reconfiguration of Naito Parkway to include a two-way protected bike lane and sidewalk? It depends on who you ask. Or more precisely, it depends on which of their positions will face more public scrutiny.

The PBA, Portland’s most well-established business lobby group with over 1,800 member companies, has issued two official statements on Better Naito. One came in the form of an op-ed from PBA Board of Directors Chair Jim Mark published in the Portland Tribune on Tuesday; the other came from PBA President and CEO Sandra McDonough in the form of a letter dated May 9th and addressed to Portland Bureau of Transportation Commissioner Dan Saltzman. I obtained that letter (PDF) via a public records request along with 12 other emails sent to Saltzman’s office regarding Better Naito over the past month.

“We do not support its implementation generally and this summer in particular.”
— Sandra McDonough, PBA President & CEO

The differences in tone and substance between the two PBA statements is striking and illustrates why the organization is struggling to maintain relevance in our growing and changing city.

On Tuesday, Mark (CEO of Melvin Mark Companies, a commercial real estate firm) wrote an op-ed in the Portland Tribune titled, What happens when the ‘City that Works’ can’t get to work?. It was standard fare from an organization who still (in 2017!) thinks free-flowing auto access is the goal of a city that “works”. But while I was ready to cringe at the piece (given the PBA’s legacy of opposition to the City of Portland’s attempts to upgrade biking and walking access downtown), I came away thinking it was actually pretty soft on Better Naito. And in one key way, he (unintentionally perhaps?) even endorsed the need for less driving and more use of other modes.

Here’s an excerpt:

“… there are downsides when multiple construction projects happen at once. Top of that list is increased traffic congestion, and right now Portlanders are being squeezed to a breaking point. As more people and jobs are added to the city, congestion will increase unless there are shifts to other modes of travel. Portland has developed a well-deserved reputation as a multimodal city. With its light rail system, pioneering the return of urban streetcars, extensive network of bikeways and a well-known pedestrian friendly downtown, people far and wide come to learn from Portland’s experience.

But a vibrant economy and a high quality of life for all depend on an efficient multimodal transportation that works for all system users; that includes alternative modes of transportation as well as vehicles and freight trucks. It means everyone who uses the system must have a voice in how any proposed changes may — or may not — work for them, their businesses, families and employees. And it means it is imperative for the city to listen to everyone affected, including those who provide good jobs and keep the economy moving through vehicles and freight trucks.

That’s why the return of the “Better Naito” project, which has closed one northbound auto lane of Naito Boulevard for a bicycle and pedestrian path, is so puzzling — especially given the significant amount of construction activity and road closures in the central city this year. The traffic impacts are resulting in business delays and reports of complaints from employees.

Bicycling for example, is a great alternative, and one we support, that will work for some. However, it is a less realistic option for many including thousands of people for whom that is not an option because of proximity, health, parenting obligations or a host of other individual circumstances.

When implementing important changes to Portland’s transportation system, city leaders must take a more balanced approach and open up public input processes so the needs of individuals are met along with the city’s goals to keep Portland economically vibrant.”

Mark unfortunately equates “those who provide good jobs and keep the economy moving” with people who drive — which is insulting, makes no sense, and yet is a very a common way to insinuate that people who don’t use cars as being the opposite. (Also note that he wrongly assumes that only people in cars are the ones trying to “get to work.”) Despite his best attempt to not appear as if he is anti-bike, Mark can’t resist presenting auto and truck drivers as a separate class of people who are unfairly victimized when a street is significantly altered to improve access for bicycle users and walkers.

Overall though, Mark’s only major beef with the project seems to be that PBOT could have done more robust public outreach.

Then there’s Sandra McDonough’s letter. She didn’t mince words. She directly questioned PBOT’s values and said Better Naito is an example of decisions they’ve made, “that significantly impact the mobility of the many to benefit the few.” McDonough cited transportation surveys conducted by the PBA to make her case that most Portlanders are against better biking and walking infrastructure.

Here’s an excerpt:

When it comes to Better Naito, McDonough makes her position clear: “We do not support its implementation generally and this summer in particular.” “Naito is one glaring example,” she writes, “of projects that seem designed to inhibit mobility for the vast majority of system users.”

She writes that if PBOT wants to improve safety for festival-goers, they could just “close” the lane only during festivals or create an area in the park (not on Naito itself) for people to stand in line.

McDonough is a big fan of her own statistics, but only when they support her narrative. What about the traffic analysis gathered by The Oregonian last year that found the average, peak-hour increase in travel time for northbound Naito was less than two minutes? “It is inconsistent with what we hear from road users,” she wrote. Even the PBA’s own annual business census found that less than half of people who commute to downtown drive alone.

PBA’s own data shows that the “vast majority of system users” don’t drive alone on Naito Parkway.
(Taken from PBA’s 2015 Downtown Business Census and Survey).

And while McDonough and Mark try to create an illusion of mass complaints about the project, the truth is much different. As we reported last summer, there was strikingly little opposition to Better Naito — even from people who drove on it.

And it’s those same “road users” that McDonough says are victimized by Better Naito because they aren’t “lucky enough” to live downtown or in the inner eastside and have no other choice than to drive: “It does nothing for the thousands of people for whom that is not an option because of proximity, health, parenting obligations, or a host of other individual circumstances.”

McDonough’s comments reveal clear blind-spots. Is she not aware of the high volume traffic that speeds through our city 24/7/365 on major freeways where only those lucky enough to own a car are allowed? Invoking health, income status, and land-use impacts to support driving and criticize a project that vastly improves cycling and walking is mind-boggling.

Fortunately, McDonough’s perspective on transportation isn’t shared by City Hall these days. In his response to McDonough, Commissioner Saltzman strongly supported not just Better Naito, but cycling in general:

“I don’t discount that delays on Naito have been exacerbated by the levels of road, transit and bridge work this season which have increased congestion throughout the Central City…

But I haven’t lost sight of the bigger picture and all the ways Portland has been a victim of its own success in terms of population growth, job growth and tourism. I understand the increased pressure to our roads and the funding challenges to accommodate that pressure. Balancing the growing demands on our transportation infrastructure is not easy and it is not a task that my office nor the staff at PBOT take lightly.

Looking at cities across the country facing similar challenges, it’s clear that there are no silver bullets. And while it might not always be apparent driving Naito at rush hour, Portland’s investments in active transportation are paying off tremendously. According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, the growth in people biking to work in Portland is outpacing all other modes of transportation. Of the 54,673 new commuters we added from 2000-2014, biking accounted for the majority of those new commute trips. Of course, more people are driving to work as well but we must remember how much more congested our Central City would be if we had not laid this groundwork.

I also understand that it is the decades of public-private partnerships that have made our thriving downtown — with new industries, jobs, and residents — possible. In addition to your letter, we have heard from dozens of business on or near Naito who have expressed their overwhelming gratitude for what Better Naito provides them and their staff to make them feel safe commuting to/from work…”

Perhaps what we’re seeing with these competing statements from the PBA are cracks in their conservative armor. They’re likely feeling heat from the more progressive vision presented by the rising Business for a Better Portland — a group created in large part because the PBA is so out-of-touch.

And it’s worth noting that McDonough is on her way out the door. The Oregonian reported last month that she’ll leave the organization in August. “Portland is changing,” McDonough told The Oregonian, “so the PBA and its leadership will need to adapt.”

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland is supported by the community (that means you!). Please become a subscriber or make a donation today.

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