Sunday Parkways in Northwest
Portland last year.
(Photo © J. Maus)
Portland last year.
(Photo © J. Maus)
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has just announced dates and locations for their five Sunday Parkways events. PBOT has also announced that the routes will be longer in length this year.
Sunday Parkways will begin this May with an opening event in East Portland. See the dates and locations below:
- May 22 – East Portland
- June 26 – North Portland
- July 24 – Northwest/Downtown Portland
- August 28 – Southeast Portland
- September 25 – Northeast Portland
Portland Mayor Sam Adams had this to say about the events via a press release: “This year, we’re including more neighborhoods and making each Sunday Parkways longer in response to supportive feedback.”
This year the first four events will last from 11-4 pm, with the September edition going from 12-5 pm. PBOT is yet to announce exact route locations. Check out SundayParkways.org for more info.
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I’m a little bummed about the start times being so late. We have a five-year-old who did the routes without a problem last year, so this year should be even more fun, but starting this late kicks things into nap time. I don’t think we’re alone in this.
If I recall, last year the event was from 10-3pm
So how is 11-4 longer? The Sept. event will be an hour longer, thank you. Personally, I like starting early, like 9 and going to 4. I wish! And yes, I have volunteered for all of them save one.
It’s not longer, nor are more neighborhood involved. It’s the same five-event schedule as last year.
The times are not longer – the routes are. And September’s start time is noon-5pm because there is another event that happens that morning that requires police.
I understand about the nap time, however, we decided to change the time because before 11 am the routes were pretty quiet. And at 3pm the streets were still packed. The feedback we got was that people wanted the event to go to a later hour, so we pushed the times back.
We wish the fun could last all day too.
We’re in favor of the later times. They’ll make it easier to volunteer the morning shifts, as well!
What doesn’t make sense about that logic is that most similar events all start at daybreak. Sunday Parkways seems to be going for the late-night crowd, or… this just does not make sense to me.
It seems like you are comparing Parkways to recreational rides and races. The two are many ways very different. Rides and races often have mass starts or wave starts and are more individual oriented. Parkways is a steady street party, and more family oriented. Parkways works best when there are moderate crowds to enjoy. Parkways is meant to be the primary destination event for people for that day. Parkways is more enjoyable when the weather is warmer – later in the day – given the slow pace. It would be easier to have the event at 7am because of less traffic conflicts, but I don’t think the turnout would be very good.
complain much? Jeez, be thankful these things exist, that the companies donate money towards them and that there are enough volunteers to staff the damn things.
Agreed.
No kidding. And if your 5 year old needs a nap that’s your own issue, not the city’s to plan around. “nap time”. Of all the things…
If midday nap time (which varies for every kid) seriously cramps your ability to get out & about, you may want to consider getting a bike set-up that your kiddo can retreat to when s/he’s to tired to keep pedaling. A cozy trailer with the kid bike strapped to the back? A blanket-adorned bakfiets? That way, when s/he wakes up, it’s back to the fun! 🙂
The funny thing is that it doesn’t begin to cramp our ability to get around. Our kid goes on eight mile hikes, and goes cross-country skiing for hours. An 11-4 time frame does make most nap times impossible. What’s interesting is that it appears that the city is going with those who want to sleep in, while telling those who need naps to take a hike. The negative and defensive responses are a bit bizarre.
Ah, but it appears that the city is planning around the sleeping in habits of others. Interesting that this is lost in the equation of those who must bash away at my opinion without even attempting the slightest bit of empathy. What is happening in this town?
Late night crowd? 4pm is catering to the Late Night crowd?
Yes. Look at the responses on this board. Everyone who loves the new time is happy that they can sleep in, after their night out.
Schrauf: I think you just made my argument, except for the bizarre red herring about warm temperatures in the summer time. I suspect that the turnout would be quite good regardless of the time. Unfortunately, questionnaires passed out, apparently late in the day (I’ve yet to see one), get more precedence than actual research.
Not sure if you understand the term “red herring”. I’m not diverting attention away from the issue, I am listing one of the benefits of later start times for Parkways. Most summer days here start out in the fifties. That is a bit cool for a slow-paced hang-out ride. Perfectly doable of course, but most people would prefer a little warmer, and that is the point. Again, this is not a race where a 7 am start is beneficial in the summer because of the cool conditions. If you want that, pick any of the other dozens of options. You will be home in time for your nap.
Slow-paced or not, people are still active, and one SP event that occurs on 90 plus degree day is going to change that theory fast. Half this town wears shorts when the temps are freezing, so I don’t buy your argument. If the participants had all been flown up from Arizona, that might be a genuine concern. Further, few of the events that start early are serious races. They are mostly group activities, raising money, or enjoying a cycle across the city’s bridges. I’ve clearly lost the “argument,” but my opinion has yet to be swayed. If the streets are actually packed at 11, then I’ll give my nod, to some extent, but I’m betting that 11 this year will look a lot like 10 last year.
wait, how many police does it take to provide a safe way for a family to cross a street in portland? Who, exactly, required that the PPB was the best way to officiate traffic control over various crosswalks and traffic lights.
I wonder why we don’t have a Platinum bike safety rating 😉
Police have the authority to regulate and enforce traffic laws.
I have volunteered at several of these events…as volunteers we are not allowed to TELL motorists what to do, as we are not the licensed authority to do so. The Police are.
Kurt, you’re shouting. You’ve left 5 of 10 comments here about your nap issue, and 6 of 16 comments over on the Sunday Parkways page on the same topic. You’ve made your views known. It would be nice if you could let others have some airtime too.
Maybe he needs to take a nap.
Defensive much?
get used to it, Kurt, as they say, “that is portland”!
I think this is a good change. In an event designed for 20,000 people, there will always be scheduling conflicts, but I agree that attendance seems to swell as the day progresses. I also think focusing more on the middle of the day will help attract more food vendors, a part of the experience that we particularly enjoy. And for the record, I think summer mornings in Portland frequently are chilly when I’m on my bike, so I like the midday warmth.
Great news!
With longer routes come more intersections to be monitored – they’re going to need more volunteers to pull this off. So if you love your Sunday Parkways, return some of that love and volunteer as an Intersection Superhero for a few hours! Be a part of something you care about.
I, for one, am excited about the later start times. I tend to “nap” all morning and appreciate not missing the start of the rides this year. May my soundsystem rattle the window panes at a decent hour!
And good point Rebecca, what better way to get involved than to put your money (or time) where your mouth is. I’ll put in my time and volunteer this year.
I usually eat lunch about noon so 11 is too early to start this thing. And tea time starts as early as 3pm. This just won’t do.
I’m also happy about the later start time. My family likes to take our time on the weekends. This will definitely fit our schedule better.
I have a pile of old baseball cards that I have been trying to sell/give away for years. This year I’m going to setup a booth at all 5 of the Sunday Parkways. With this booth I will give away the cards to kids and teach them how to install them on their spokes!
Wow, what’s with so many people complaining. We are incredibly lucky to have a city that supports the great family events that are the Sunday Parkways. Look at the cuts that are being made all over the country right now and feel fortunate that Portland values this type of event and is willing to put the nominal amount of money that it takes.
The Parkways make thousands of families happy, bring neighborhoods closer together, encourage more people to get on their bikes and are a great forum for sharing information.
We have all of this and people are complaining about the fact that it is starting an hour later this year? How petty.
the city does not “support it”. they “tolerate it”
Like many students and much of the working youth in this city, I work Sunday mornings. I found it almost impossible to watch more than one hour of the parkways last year. Pushing back the start will help me enjoy these more.
One issue completely lost on many of the complainers here is the impact to the people along the routes.
Be thankful you have these rides, and realize YOU are not the only people “impacted” by these “awful” hours.
Might as well complain that your caviar was not cold enough.
People, people — Sunday Parkways is not [yet] a right — it is a thing that had to be fought and agitated for and one we will have to give as much as we can to help keep going until the world wakes up and realizes how good it is for all cities.
I invite the complainers to hush up, step up and get involved by volunteering and/or donating a little money– it might change your perspective on just what a MASSIVE undertaking this series of events really is.
I think having the downtown/Northwest event mid summer is a good idea….less people live downtown & when it was later in the year the turn out was lame because of the weather.
I would like to see a SW version. Multnomah Village, Gabriel Park, Hillsdale, etc. Not complaining…just saying.
Me, too! It sometimes seems that CoP doesn’t love SW, but more likely it’s just that most SW streets are highways, there’s BIG hills in the rest, and so it’s harder to pick a spot that has anything interesting without seriously impacting getting “there” from “here”.
I suspect another bonus of later start times is that community members who worship on Sunday mornings will be able to get back home before the event begins and streets are closed down.
I think many more would be just letting out around noon, and may still feel “trapped” when their cars aren’t allowed to go home.
the cars are allowed to go home, albeit, perhaps. 5 minutes late ;). luckily, the police allow them through. this is why, in portland, they need the PPB to arbitrate; in other places, people just talk to people. radical idea, I know.
See, in my opinion, comments hoping that the events get expanded into new places and with more dates are really cool. Right now there are a lot of parts of the city that are not being represented or given the opportunity to participate. the more they can make their voices heard, the better. We don’t want to be “preaching to the choir” with all of this, but expanding our base.
I hope to see a lot of you at the five scheduled events and, if you make your voices heard, even more in future years.