(Photo © J. Maus)
May was National Bike Month across the country and Portland (where every month seems like bike month) did its part to join the celebration.
(Photo © J. Maus)
This morning, Shift held its hallmark Breakfast on the Bridges event (on the Steel and Hawthorne bridges) and morning bike commuters were treated to free coffee, pastries, and even fresh pancakes!
The City of Portland’s Transportation Options Division also got in the mood with a slew of events this month. On Wednesday they held an Afternoon Tea on the Steel Bridge complete with scones, cucumber sandwiches, and cookies (Prince Charles was invited but was unable to make it).
PDOT’s SmartTrips Downtown program held a Beginner’s Bike Ride during the lunch hour last week. Newbies got free bike rentals (courtesy of Waterfront Bicycle) and the ride wound through downtown, stopping at Tanner Springs Park in the Pearl District.
pit stop on the Beginner’s Bike Ride.
(Photo: Steve Hoyt-McBeth)
The SmartTrips program will continue with rides each month through summer with the help of 40 new “Bike Champions” PDOT has recruited to help get their co-workers into the bike frame of mind.
(Photo: Jeff Bernards)
The BTA also joined in the May bike action with a very successful bike challenge event that pitted PSU students versus elementary and middle school kids from their Safe Routes to Schools program.
Speaking of being safe, Jeff Bernards and his volunteer crew fitted 110 helmets to the heads of Portland State University students at an event last week. That was just one of many events organized by the PSU Bike Co-op throughout the month.
These were just some of the events held around town in the past few weeks to encourage more Portlanders to go by bike…and if you thought May was full of bike stuff, just wait till June!
Thanks for reading.
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Dang. I saw the cup and saucer chaulk drawings as I approached the Steel Bridge at 9:30 or so. Too late.
Good thing I munched a breakfast cookie at home…
Thanks, anyways. I\’ll make it earlier next time.
Was disappointed not to see the BonB crew on the Broadway bridge this morning…but can\’t complain, it\’s got to take a lot of people to cover all the bridges.
I\’m jealous – too bad Beaverton doesn\’t have \”Breakfast in the Hall Street Bike Lane\” or something like that. (Maybe \”Mimosas on Murray\”??). You Portland cyclists better appreciate how good you\’ve got it! 😉
And what about us who are on the roads at 6am? Where\’s the love? Just kidding, I think it\’s great these things happen. Some time I\’ll just get to work late… 🙂
Pete #3, as a former tech sector employee, I feel you…Crumpets on Cornell? Weenies on Walker? Bagels on Barnes? Let us know what you come up with.
Truffels on Tanasbourne?
Ahem, I think Jonathan you meant \”biscuits\” for the Tea on the Bridges, NOT cookies. The Brits would be appalled! Ah, it was lovely to show my mother our biking fun while she was in town. She enjoyed holding the sign and yelling \”free tea and treats!\” to the bikers passing by and was astounded that not every single one didn\’t stop. Thanks to you all for making these things happen. I love Portland!
BonB was once on Hawthorne and Broadway, but the Broadway would become so crowded it was dangerous. The decision was made to move the Broadway spot to Steel. Lots more room to help get people caffeinated and keep everyone safe. Not too far out of the way if Broadway was your regular commute.