Weekend Event Guide: Sunday Parkways, Train Day, MMR & more

East Sunday Parkways-26

Sunday Parkways season arrives in East Portland for Mother’s Day. Perfect timing.
(Photo J. Maus/BikePortland)

Welcome to your menu of weekend rides and events, lovingly brought to you by our friends at Hopworks Urban Brewery.

In the weather this weekend, Friday and Saturday are looking warm but damp — nothing Oregonians can’t handle — with Saturday getting drier as the day goes on. Next week, meanwhile, forecasters are expecting a heat wave into the 80s. But the inflection point on Sunday is likely to be glorious. Get those chains oiled.

Friday, May 9th

Midnight Mystery Ride – 11:59 pm at 8132 SE 13th Ave

It’s heading into the high season for MMR, one of Portland’s most beloved traditions. This month’s leader (whose identity is always secret until the night of) is “a long-time Portland bicycle event planner” who promises that riders are “in for a treat” on this big group ride with a secret destination. Bring a bike that “you (or you and your friends) can lift over a jersey barrier. You know, just in case.”

Consider bringing some firewood, too. More info here.

Saturday, May 10th

Raam Oregon Cycling Challenge – 6:30 am at Hillsboro Civic Center Plaza, 150 East Main Street

Broken into two rides (60 and 120 miles) and two races (200 and 400 miles), this is the national Ride Across America series’ visit to the Portland area. Shorter distances will loop south into the Willamette Valley; the long race will make a huge loop along the Pacific Coast, to Eugene and back. More info here.

Bike, Walk and Fly Family Ride – 9 am-11:30 am at Splendid Cycles, 407 SE Ivon St near Springwater Trail entrance

Part of the Portland By Cycle series of rides and classes, this mostly car-free route is designed to be great for kids. Helmets required. (The flying? That’s on the Portland Aerial Tram.) More info here.

National Train Day ride – 11 am-3 pm at Union Station, 800 NW 6th Ave

True fact: you live where you do because trains roll downhill for free. Join the Urban Adventure League, Dan Haneckow of history blog Cafe Unknown and Sir Andrew for a ride focusing on how trains have helped shape our city. More info here.

Sunday, May 11th

Bridge of the Goddesses ride – 9 am at M. James Gleason parking lot, just east of 4035 NE Marine Drive

This 90-mile day ride is one of three local Cyclofemme rides aimed at women on Mother’s Day. It’ll start in Northeast Portland and cross the I-205 bridge to head up the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge, across the Bridge of the Gods and back, with stops at Multnomah Falls and Crown Point/Vista House. Bring lots of snacks — the ride won’t stop for a meal until at least Cascade Locks — and at least 50 cents for the bicycle toll over the Bridge of the Gods. Email sheljury@earthlink.net for further details.

Women’s Ride in Tualatin – 9 am at Performance Bicycle, 7071 SW Nyberg St., Tualatin, OR

A ride for “beginners and those getting back on the saddle,” this 10-14 mph ride will last about an hour and explore some of Tualatin’s rich and growing bike path network. More info here.

Women on Wheels Cyclofemme Ride – 10 am at
2129 SE Ladd Ave

Local writer and ride leader April Streeter invites you to join a bring-your-own picnic in Glenwood Park wearing “your very own rendition of a skirt.” Afterward, join the Sunday Parkways loop. More info here.

East Portland Sunday Parkways – 11 am-4 pm (see link for route)

This year’s East Portland loop. (Click image for PDF.)

With live music, interactive tables, games and giveaways in five parks, all joined in a loop around East Portland that this year will include the Springwater Corridor, this is a free, once-a-year chance to enjoy riding on the east side without looking over your shoulder for cars. Mother’s Day is a perfect occasion to start the Sunday Parkways season. Map and info here (PDF).

Did we miss anything? Please drop us a line and let us know. Or feel free to promote your event in the comments below. And as always, thanks for reading and riding.

Michael Andersen (Contributor)

Michael Andersen (Contributor)

Michael Andersen was news editor of BikePortland.org from 2013 to 2016 and still pops up occasionally.

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Shoemaker
Shoemaker
9 years ago

So sad to see that year after year Sunday Parkways is broken into tiny pieces and confined to back streets. I think this lessens the joy and the impact while increases the complexity of managing it, thus raising the overhead and creating confusion in the traffic network.

How about a real cross linking of the neighborhoods along major streets for the convenience of the participants?

How about running it from east to west on Burnside and north to south on MLK. Start with a core and branch it from there. If the start small approach is still preferred, major streets can still be used in each of the mini parkways.

People can ride the Springwater any time. Having trouble visioning the future? Why not use Powell and Foster for the Sunday Parkway?

It’s not too late to fix the route for the SE Sunday Parkway (and others). For SE, the route should run on 28th, not avoid it.

Jane
Jane
9 years ago

Looks like Dad needs to learn how to adjust his kid’s helmets properly.

jim
jim
9 years ago

Is there someone there to show kids how to put their helmet on correctly? That kid in the picture loos like he can barely see.

TOM
TOM
9 years ago

I’ve done the SE Sunday parkways ride twice. Was nice to see families get out. Wish they rode more than 1 day a year.

Riding the speed of the flow only, it is constant STOP & GO.

The little untrained ones stop or turn without warning and I was constantly on the brakes.

Then when I stopped for them, some adult following too close hit me from behind , knocking my fender out of alignment, scraping on the tire.

That 7 miles was more fatiguing than any normal 7 miles , even in traffic.

have decided that two times is enough for me, but it is a great community event.

CaptainKarma
CaptainKarma
9 years ago

Perfect for my down syndrome client to get out and ride his three-wheeler and rub shoulders with kids, parents, grandparents and more without worrying about “being in the way” as we seem to be in most biking situations. There’s room for everybody and for that I am grateful!