Still from new Travel Oregon video.

Travel Oregon has just released the first in a series of new videos in their ongoing effort to promote Oregon's burgeoning network of officially designated State Scenic Bikeways. Last week we shared a bikeways marketing push that made its way onto a jumbotron in New York City's Times Square.

To make the two-minute video (watch it below), the agency commissioned the Portland-based bike touring advocacy and journalism duo of Russ Roca and his partner Laura Crawford of Path Less Pedaled. Kristin Dahl, senior manager of destination development for Travel Oregon, said they plan to do a similar video for each of the nine officially designated scenic bikeway routes and they'll be rolled out through spring of next year.

(more...)

It was nice to finally meet Otto Miller.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

On Saturday I finally explored Otto Miller Road. I say finally, because I've heard about it for years; but I just haven't gotten out to do it. Now that I'm finally riding a bit more and have some legs under me, I figured it was time to find this legendary road and give it a try. And I'm glad I did.

Before I share any more, I should thank Rapha — the awesome bike apparel/lifestyle company based in the UK with its North American headquarters right here in Portland. The first time I heard about Otto Miller was (I think) on a tag inside one of their jerseys. I figured it was some legendary European rider. It wasn't until a few months later I realized it was actually a road. And they simply loved riding on it.

About 20 miles north of Portland on Highway 30, just as you enter Scappoose, you come to Dutch Canyon Road. Take that about 5 miles west and you'll find Otto Miller Road. It's a gravel road that climbs southward for about 3 miles, with a few extra miles of rollers before you make your way back up to the southern tip of NW Skyline.
(more...)

The Peninsula Crossing Trail awaits six-year old Danica Maus en route to Smith and Bybee Lakes.
(Photos © J. Maus)

(more...)

People from different ethnic,
economic, and social
backgrounds will come together
for the Equity Bike Ride.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Equity is a very big topic in transportation circles right now. From a debate over how to allocate space on the newly carfree SW Ankeny Blvd in downtown Portland, to larger discussions about where our region should prioritize transportation spending, to its connections to health outcomes — equity has become a fundamental part of mobility discussions (just ask Mayor Adams).

If you're interested to learn more about this issue, the Equity Bike Ride would be a great place to start. Now in its second year, the ride brings people from different backgrounds and a wide range of organizations together: Think of it like a transportation equity summit on wheels.
(more...)

- More images below/Gallery -
(Photos © J. Maus)

(more...)

We've got a great lineup of events this weekend, and the weather promises to be at least partly cooperative.

Friday, September 18

Friday is Park(ing) Day
On Park(ing) Day, on-street car parking spots are temporarily turned into parks of all sorts. Metro is celebrating the occasion all over the region to promote its Intertwine trail network (and to contribute to it, at least until the parking meters run out).

5:30: Kidical Mass Downtown
Bring your parents and meet at the playground at NW Park and Davis for a friendly ride around downtown. (more...)

The Portland Wheelmen’s annual Pioneer Century ride is coming up soon, Saturday, June 6th, to kick off the summer road riding season. This is one of the most popular road rides of the year — last year’s Pioneer Century drew over 1,200 participants.

The Pioneer Century is a very flexible ride. The usual route is a 55-mile loop through the Canby-Molalla areas, with a challenging climb up the Cascade foothills to Kokel Corner. The second ride option is a very rural and scenic 45-mile loop, from Canby to Champoeg (pronounced "shampoo-ey"), out to the Willamette and back. Do the whole century by riding the 55-mile loop through Molalla first, then riding the Champoeg loop.

New to this year will be a shorter, 32-mile route through Canby and Molalla, without the climb up to Kokel Corner. Beautiful rural Oregon with only 1000ft of elevation gain — you won’t even notice that you’ve gone uphill! If you’re feeling ambitious, you can also follow-up the 32-mile ride with the Champoeg loop for a three-quarters century ride.

The ride starts at around 9am from the Clackamas County Fairgrounds in Canby (south of Oregon City); the course opens at 7am, and riders depart around 9am.

Breakfast is being provided by Bob’s Red Mill; lunch and raffle prizes are being provided by Chris King. Online registration ($25) is open now at the Wheelmen’s site, and your cheerful author is probably going to get the very awesome souvenir socks that are available too.

What: Portland Wheelmen Pioneer Century
Where: Clackamas Fairgrounds, Canby
When: Saturday, June 6; course opens at 7am, 55 and 100 mile rides must leave by 9am

Vegetable spoke cards inspire bike2market riders
(Photo by Dan Liu)

One of the best things about living in Portland is meeting other fun people and their bikes, and going on group rides lends a bit of camaraderie to a sometimes-lonely activity. Last year, on one of his weekly rides to the Portland Farmers’ Market at PSU, Sean Sullivan decided his life would be not unimproved by a little more fun and camaraderie, in addition to the two staples of biking and local produce.

What does it take to organize a ragtag bunch like this? "I just announced it to friends Facebook, Twitter, the Shift list, even Craigslist…and people show up," said Sullivan, who has dubbed his effort "bike2market."

The ride meets at Ladd’s Circle every Saturday at 9:30am. So far, the rides are small, manageable and growing: two weeks ago when I tagged along, there were seven of us, double the last week’s attendance.

Sullivan says that he’d eventually like to start other, simultaneous rides around town. “What I’m hoping to do is eventually organize rides in North or Northeast Portland, but this one needs to become self-sustaining first — maybe, twenty committed riders a week.”

As a bonus for coming along with Sullivan, each of us received a collectible vegetable spoke card which he had designed, printed, and laminated as a fun bonus. With this year’s farmers’ markets stretching all the way to mid-December, collecting ’em all will be only for the truly ambitious -- and the pair of Brompton riders who came along for the ride certainly do not have enough spokes.

Speaking of which: there is, as always, a fine line between the beautifully practical and the wonderfully ridiculous, all of which are on display on any group ride. In addition to the Brompton afficionados with their integrated front-mounted messenger bags (!); and one participant sported a vintage mountain bike paired with a custom powdercoated, bright red Bob trailer that matched the bike frame.

If you too, want to ride with a group in style to the Farmers Market on Saturday, you can meet-up with Sean and the group, Saturdays, 9:30am at Ladd’s Circle, in front of Palio. Go get your vegetable spoke card!

Dress up for a hoppin'
good time this Sunday.
-Slideshow below-
(Photos © J. Maus)

Continuing a proud tradition that started in Portland in 2004, this Sunday (4/12) bikers all over the city will don their best bunny costumes to help ring in Easter and the spring season.

My family and I have taken part in the Bunny on a Bike ride for several years now and it's always one of the most enjoyable rides of the year. It's a great way meet some great folks, enjoy a ride through your neighborhood and show off your bike-fun flair.

The ride starts from multiple locations throughout the city (see list below) and then converges on the Eastbank Esplanade (near Vera Katz statue). From there, the entire group will ride to a final, secret destination for a big potluck and Easter Egg Hunt. (more...)