(Photos © J. Maus)
Leave it to Portland to give a hero’s send-off to a cross-country velomobile tour.
Today about 50 velomobiles assembled at Salmon Street Fountain just before taking off for the Roll Over America Coast to Coast Velomobile Tour. The four week, 5,000 km journey will do wonders for the image and awareness of velomobiles if the huge turnout today is any indication.
Scores of people — from tourists to local bike enthusiasts — gawked at the machines and asked questions of the riders today. At noon, a representative from the Portland Bureau of Transportation read the official proclamation making today Velomobile Day in Portland.
After the gathering at the fountain, the velomobiles rolled out, over the Hawthorne Bridge and down the Springwater Corridor Trail. They’ll take the Gresham Fairview Trail north and then head east through the Gorge to begin their journey.
Check out the photos below for more scenes from the big send-off…
Good luck ROAMers! Follow their progress on the ROAM website.
Velomobiles amass in Portland prior to ‘Roll Over America’ tour