After a hiatus of nearly a decade, the City of Portland will host an official Bike to Work Day celebration at Pioneer Courthouse Square on May 17th, from 7:30-9:00am. Find out all the details in the official press release.
It should be a great party and continuation of a proud tradition that dates back to the 1970s. I thought it’d be fun to get a sense of this bikey legacy so I got in touch with Jeff Smith at the Office Of Transportation. Jeff started as an intern for the City’s Bike Program back in the ’80s and knows a lot about Portland’s bike history, and what he doesn’t know he’s always willing to find out. He dug up some classic old photos that had been gathering dust in archives at the Portland Building. Click on the thumbnails below for a ride down memory lane.
[From L to R: State Rep Chris Beck, Metro Councilor
Ed Washington and Darcelle (c. 1995).
Check out the old BTA banner!]
[Mayor Goldschmidt leads the ride on his last day in office in 1979]
[The incomparable Bud Clark]
[Who can spot the old Transerv helmet?]
[A crew from ODOT, mid 90’s]
It’d be great to hear more about the history of this event. If you’ve been around a while feel free to add your historical perspective…and does anyone know who the heck “Darcelle” is?