NY Times says: Bring a bike when you visit Portland, in any weather
Posted by Elly Blue (Columnist) on April 3rd, 2009 at 9:29 am
"Visitors will find that special bike-crossing signals and bike lanes highlighted in bright green help to guide traffic in the most complicated intersections. Breaking up a ride with a stop at a cafe or a pub adds to the pleasure." - Matt Furber, New York Times
Portland's bike-friendliness earned prominent billing in the Escapes section of today's New York Times. An article called "Portland, Portland Style: Touring by Bicycle" encourages travelers to bring their bikes to Portland to see the city the way locals do.
The article extensively quotes Roger Geller, the city's bicycle coordinator, discussing the "exponential" growth in the number of people on bikes in recent years, and saying that the city's "goal is to become a world class bicycling city."
Unlike many bike-oriented travel articles that focus on renting a cruiser for a summer jaunt down Waterfront Park and back along the Eastbank Esplanade before heading to a fancy downtown restaurant, this piece focuses on citywide infrastructure, amenities and destinations.
The story recommends visitors make use of Metro's Bike There! map, the network of signed, low traffic streets commonly referred to as bike boulevards, and most important, Portland's numerous breweries and coffeeshops.
A recurring theme is the ease of riding year-round, in all weather, for reasons other than recreation. Grey skies provide a backdrop for the article's accompanying photos, one of which features a line of jeans-clad riders heading over the Broadway Bridge wearing sensible shoes and riding city bikes with baskets, buckets, and panniers.
The story includes a side box with links to many websites familiar to Portland's bike-literate, including BikePortland, the Bycycle.org route planner, bike fun group Shift, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance advocacy group, and more.
This isn't the only coverage of Portland's bikability in the news this week. OPB's Oregon Field Guide program has just released a segment on Portland Biking.
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Congrats Portland (and to Roger)!
RecommendedThat's Susan Peithman of Veloforma in the lead photo. I don't think she knew they took her picture. You go, girl!
RecommendedDon't forget to bring your bike when you make the decide to make the trip to the Wood River Valley as well!
http://www.galenalodge.com/
RecommendedI recently visited PDX and instead of the hassle of trying to bring my bike, I rented both (on separate days) a Brompton Folder and a Bakfiets Cargo bike from Clever Cycles. I rode my local friend to the top of Mt. Tabor in the bakfiets and we rode all over the city, stopping at coffee shops and breweries: a total blast and a new experience for her! The Bromptons are drool worthy: I wish I had one, as I'd take it with me everywhere! I have to say, I love riding around PDX: it's a very bicycle friendly city, and the fixie riders for the most part even make attempts to stop at the lights (unlike most San Francisco fixie riders)!
RecommendedWhole lotta Idaho Stoppin' going on in the pictureof the team/club training ride.
RecommendedThe article also mentions and links to byCycle.org.
RecommendedIf you listen to alot of the people on this site, you'd think that Portland was a horrible place to bike.
Sometimes it takes an outsider's view to see things objectively.
RecommendedMaybe soon such an article can also mention an attraction that Portland is still missing - good trail riding.
Frank Selker
RecommendedEverything ive heard sounds like traveling with a bike is a hassle and over priced (except for the train). I really wish someone would set up a bike rental coop. Bike rentals seem expensive and you get a cruiser. Someone just needs to piece together like 20+ good old 80s steel bikes, and charge something reasonable with a decent deductible for damages. Seems like it is an untapped little niche.
RecommendedGreat article- It painted a nice picture both of Portland and of our great bike facilities without being cliche.
Recommendedlove it!! :D
RecommendedThe article also gives a shout out to the Portland built bike trip planner: bycycle.org. Hurray for national coverage of locally built community tools like this and Shift (also mentioned) that help make Portland the bike friendly city that it is!
Recommendedalso you see so much more with a bike.
RecommendedPortland gets a lot of love from the NY Times. Subscribers should see the article on paper this weekend. As for carrying bicycles on airliners, I have done it with half-bikes and tandems and it is indeed a hassle. That says nothing about the discrimination of accepting huge golf bags and other gear including trade show cases for free, but charging bicyclists for the privilege. Our tired eyes must turn once again to Europe where the major carriers there simply put it on board, carefully, and never say a word. At least in my experience.
RecommendedI wish someone would tell the NYT to find a new love interest. I'm sick of the latest newcomers. SO much trendier and more vapid than ever before.
RecommendedI'm sick of the latest newcomers.
This sounds like something a high school junior says about a freshman.
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