Vancouver resident Branden Shelby outside Torque Coffee.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

(more...)

Paul Cole outside his apartment building in Old Town.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland

Welcome to the latest installment of our Ride Along series, which is sponsored by MetroMile.

Prepare to be envious of Paul Cole's commute. This 29-year-old northwest Portland resident has a commute that's only about 1.5 miles, most of it on relatively low-stress streets, and he also gets to ride over the Willamette River every day.

Cole, who works in marketing for a software firm, lives in an apartment in Old Town at NW 5th and Everett. He moved to Portland from St. Augustine Florida in 2007 and hadn't ridden a bike since childhood when he moved here. One day he stumbled into Bike Gallery during one of their big sales and bought a bike. "I was kind of nervous at first," he recalled, as he packed his panniers and got ready for work (he stores his bike in his apartment).
(more...)

Stasia Honnold does a lot of smiling
on her daily commute.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Welcome to the latest installment of our Ride Along series, which is sponsored by MetroMile.

Last week I joined Stasia Honnold for her morning commute. Stasia, 29, lives just a block south of SE Division near 40th and she rides up to the Oregon Zoo each day where she works in the Zoo's education programs. It's about an eight-mile trip each way, and unlike many commuters that head up and over the West Hills, Stasia rides up through Washington Park instead of hopping on light rail.
(more...)

Julie Kramer gets ready for her daily commute to work.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland

(more...)

Justin Gast, illuminated by his bike light,
in front of his home in Kenton.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Welcome to the latest installment in our Ride Along series. I have an exciting announcement: MetroMile is now the presenting sponsor of this column. Thanks guys! Now onto your regularly scheduled programming...

Last week I joined 36-year-old Justin Gast for his 25 mile (one-way) commute into work. Justin lives in Kenton (near Posies Cafe on N. Denver) and he rides to the Washington County Public Services building in downtown Hillsboro where he works in the solid waste recycling division. This was my first Ride Along that went into Washington County and it was also multi-modal. Sit back and join Justin and I on his pre-dawn commute... (more...)

Molly Fair (right), was a bit unsure of what her first
bike commute into Manhattan would have in store.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

(more...)

The Stedman family — Helena (5), Barbara, and Ken — getting started on their day.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Helena Stedman doesn't fit the stereotype of a Portland bike commuter. At just five years old, she'd rather talk about kindergarten than bike lanes and her most prized bike accessory is her favorite stuffed elephant.

(more...)

Ellen Price grabs a parking spot in front of Bipartisan Cafe on SE Stark and 79th.

(more...)

Paul Jeffery, photographed at
Common Grounds coffee shop
this morning.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

48-year-old southeast Portland resident Paul Jeffery (he goes by PJ) used to enjoy a daily ride from his house near 40th and Salmon to the Goose Hollow MAX stop. From there, he'd zip through the hills and down into Beaverton where he'd pedal the final leg of his journey to his job at Electro Scientific Industries (a producer of high-tech laser systems and industrial production equipment).

PJ's routine changed back in November when he was part of a 10% workforce reduction. In other words, he was laid off.

Without work, PJ missed the routine of getting up and getting out on his bike. So, at the end of January, he started riding to the top of Mt. Tabor each morning. I met him this morning at Common Grounds coffee shop on SE Hawthorne Blvd (a very nice place I must say)...
(more...)

If you can work it into your commute, Forest Park is a perfect respite from busy roads and its winter charms are sure to please.

(more...)