Oak Grove [Milwaukie] to SE PDX

[john]

Hello,

I'm finally going to start commuting to work on my bike [despite all the creative excuses I've come up with]. Does anyone know a safe, direct route from River Road into SE Portland [45th and Hawthorne]? The Bike Map has me turning left onto 99E [gulp] then travelling down it to 17th. Is this too dangerous? Is there a better way? Or...am I just making another excuse? Thanks for your input! --john