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(Photo © J. Maus)
As the biking spirit grows around the Portland region, so do the number of interesting and noteworthy event rides. Many of these rides benefit a specific cause and others are simply an excellent way to meet new people and explore new roads you wouldn’t otherwise pedal down.
This weekend there are three such rides that deserve your attention.
On Saturday, the Hood River Harvest Ride promises a “family-friendly bike ride through the less-traveled majestic back-roads of the Hood River Valley” (I’m sold). There’s also a lunch and party planned for the finish. The ride is a benefit for the Hood River Valley Residents Committee, a non-profit that works to maintain Hood River’s open spaces and livable communities.
On Sunday, there’s another ride for a very important cause. The first annual Bike For Shelter seeks to raise awareness of teenage prostitution and underage sex trafficking. It might sound like something you’d only hear about in developing countries, but a recent FBI report ranked Portland second in the nation for the number of child prostitutes. Bike For Shelter will tour Portland locations “most relevant to the cause” including Lloyd Center, the Portland International Airport, and the 82nd Avenue of Roses. (Read a Portland Mercury cover story for more about the issue).
Also on Sunday is the 2nd annual Tour de Parks in Hillsboro. I was fortunate enough to join this ride last year and found it to be an eye-opening experience. I had never realized how many nice bike streets and paths there are in Hillsboro and I also met some great local folks who have fully captured the biking bug. In other exciting Hillsboro bike news, Metro has recently submitted a federal stimulus grant application that would pump $21 million in biking and walking improvements to better connect homes and jobs.
Links:
— Hood River Harvest Ride
— Bike for Shelter
— Tour de Parks