This is the story of Cory the parking valet for the Marriott City Center Hotel in downtown Portland. He was fired because the words of the cyclist trumped the 20 something valet’s.

It’s a microcosm of Portland’s power, pride and preciousness all wrapped up in one story. 

At about 6:30am–before daybreak–on a brisk October morning, Cory was sent the four blocks down Broadway to retrieve a car from the parking garage. As he was emerging from the garage located at Pine and Broadway, a bicyclist, riding on the sidewalk, nearly hit him.

As usual the buzzer blared and the lights flashed as the car made contact with the sensor which told whoever was nearby that a vehicle was about to emerge.

The cyclist nearly hit the car. While nobody was hurt and no contact was made the incident shook both of them up.

The bicyclist shot Cory the hairy eyeball and apparently yelled at him. Cory drove back to the hotel to give the customer the car. The wheels squealed as he drove around the corner. Cory admits this but says he wasn’t driving erratically.

Usually that is where a story of this kind will end but it didn’t in this case. The cyclist followed the valet and commenced making a scene at the Marriott valet stand shouting to another who would listen, “he’s dangerous!” Customers told Cory that they thought the cyclist was “crazy.” Cory says he apologized but told the cyclist he was at fault.

Uh, oh. Them’s fighting words for cyclists.

The cyclist, whom we now know to be the vice president of a downtown Portland software company and bike racer, demanded to be taken to the manager.

Cory opened the door for him and showed him to the valet manager and ultimately Shane the hotel manager. While Cory was sent the four blocks to fetch another car, the cyclist must have spun SOME kind of tale. By the time Cory came back his boss muttered something about the situation, “being more serious than I thought,” and was told he was suspended for the rest of the day.
No explanation was given and Cory was not, he says, allowed to defend himself.

That was a Friday. By Monday when he showed for work, Cory’s final check was ready and the boss gave him the here’s-your-hat-there’s-the-door-what’s-your-hurry speech. Cory brought with him the city ordinance about riding on the sidewalk and his tick tock of the story but wasn’t allowed to defend himself.

Eight years at the Marriott with what Cory claims was a clean record and now he was told to hit the bricks. All on the say so of one cyclist.

Did the cyclist bluster about how he was some big shot VP and knows people at City Hall? Dunno. All I’m told is that cyclist admitted he was riding on the sidewalk–against the law in this part of Portland–and somehow Cory was the bad guy.

Portland City Bicycle Laws

City of Portland Title 16 Oregon Vehicle Code Regarding Bicycles, Skateboards, Rollerblades, and Scooters

16.70.320 Operating Rules.

(Amended by Ord. No. 165594, July 8, 1992.) No person may:

A. Leave a bicycle so that it obstructs vehicle or pedestrian traffic on a roadway, sidewalk, driveway, handicap access ramp, building entrance, or so that it prevents operation of a parking meter or newspaper rack;

B. Leave a bicycle secured to a fire hydrant or to a police or fire call box;

C. Leave a bicycle on private property without consent of the owner or legal tenant. Consent is implied on private commercial property;

D. Leave a bicycle on a street or other public property for more than 72 hours; or

E. Ride a bicycle on a sidewalk, unless avoiding a traffic hazard in the immediate area, within the area bounded by and including SW Jefferson, Front Avenue, NW Hoyt and 13th Avenue, except:

You’d think that a cyclist–especially one who rode on a racing team sponsored by a bike attorney–would know the law a bit better. But the law apparently didn’t matter here.

Due to the complaint by the cyclist, Cory was fired. Now the Marriott is disputing his unemployment compensation.

Calls and emails appealing to the cyclist to make a call to the Marriott to set the record straight have gone unanswered. He’s been asked to come on the program. We know he’s not on vacation.

Calls to the Marriott to explain a bit more have been rebuffed. Shane the manager has told at least one listener who called (503 226-6300) that there was more to the story. He won’t explain to us, however.

We just want the cyclist with what appears to be a big case of Portland-Bicyclist-Entitlement-Syndrome to man-up and make the call to the hotel to try to get this young man his job back–or at least–his reputation.

I’d “out” this guy, but I’ve seen enough of that kind of this political score settling by leftist agitators around here and I’m sick of it.

Cory and his wife don’t want me to “out” this blowhard, either. Here’s what she emailed me last night:

I’m Cory’s wife.  I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for Cory.

I realize that you’re getting an overwhelming response to reveal the name of the cyclist and the company where he works. However, I would prefer that this doesn’t happen. 

Cory nor I would want people harassing this person just as he did to Cory. It’s not Cory’s intention to seek revenge. 

Thanks again,

One thing’s for sure: those two have more class than that downtown Portland software VP. If I were one of his employees–or his boss for that matter– I’d have serious questions about his ability to work with people, manage underlings, and would wonder about his character.

On second thought, maybe he doesn’t have to care. After all, most of his company’s work is with the government.  I’m sure he has powerful friends at City Hall and the taxpayer supported bike lobby.