The Portland Office of the Transportation is gearing up for National Bike Month in May.
PDOT (in coordination with Shift and the BTA) has 13 events planned throughout the month (see full list below) including a bike/car race on May 1st that will pit the Widmer brothers — Rob and Kurt — against each other to see who can get across town faster.
Widmer Brothers Brewing was founded in 1984 and they still brew beer daily at their North Portland location.
The plan is for Rob Widmer to bike from the Cadillac Cafe (NE Broadway and 18th) to City Hall (1221 SW Fourth Avenue) while his brother Kurt does the same route in a car. Transportation Commissioner Sam Adams will be waiting to congratulate the winner.
The Widmer brothers will leave at 8:00 am, traversing the three-mile route during morning rush-hour (be careful at the N. Williams intersection Rob — it’s a doozy!).
Another cyclist, Kim Seymour, will demonstrate another option by riding on NE Tillamook, a low-traffic bike boulevard street that runs parallel to NE Broadway.
PDOT’s SmartTrips Downtown program is sponsoring the month-long celebration.
Here is the complete list of events:
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Thursday, May 1
8:00 a.m.
Bicycle-Car Commuter Race
NE Broadway & 19th
Friday, May 2
4:30-7:00 p.m.
Mocktails on the Bridge
(Shift event)
Broadway Bridge, eastbound span
Wednesday, May 7
7:30-8:30 a.m.
Bike to Work Breakfast
Pioneer Courthouse Square
Wednesday, May 7
Noon-1:00 p.m.
Bike Commute Workshop
(BTA event)
Multnomah County Central Library
Thursday, May 8
Noon-1:00 p.m.
Beginners Lunchtime Ride
Meet at Waterfront Bikes (10 SW Ash Street #100)
Friday, May 9
Noon-1:00 p.m.
Bike Commute Workshop for Women
(Lunch provided, RSVP required)
Portland Building, 2nd floor, meeting room C
Friday, May 16
4:30-7:00 p.m.
Mocktails on the Bridge
(Shift event)
Hawthorne Bridge, eastbound span
Tuesday, May 20
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Bike Social
(Complimentary snacks & beverage – PDOT/Bike Gallery joint sponsors)
Bike Gallery, downtown location (SW 10th and Salmon)
Thursday, May 22
Noon-1:00 p.m.
Beginners Lunchtime Ride
Meet at Waterfront Bikes (10 SW Ash Street #100)
Wednesday, May 28
Noon-1:00 p.m.
Bike Commute Workshop
(BTA event)
Multnomah County Central Library
Wednesday, May 29
4:00-6:30 p.m.
Tea Time on the Bridge
(British accent not required! – PDOT/Shift joint sponsors)
Steel Bridge lower (bike/ped span, east side)
Friday, May 30
7:30-9:00 a.m.
Breakfast on the Bridges
(Free pastries & coffee to cyclists & pedestrians – Shift event)
Steel Bridge (lower level east side) and Hawthorne Bridge
For more information, view PDOT’s press release.