In stark contrast to some downtown businesses who have made it clear to the Bureau of Transportation that they have reservations about the value of bicycling, a long list of businesses on N. Williams Avenue want to let the city know that they understand bicycling is great for their bottom line.
Local bike part and accessory company Portland Design Works (PDW) has organized Rider Appreciation Day. The event will take place next Wednesday (7/11) from 4:00 to – 6:00 pm. According to a statement, PDW says the event is being done to “offer a token of gratitude” to the many people who ride up Williams Avenue on their daily commute.
PDW co-founder Erik Olson said, “We watch people ride their bicycles through our neighborhood every day and we were looking for a way to connect with them and say thanks for going by bike.” Olson’s company is located just a half block off of Williams on Hancock. “Bicycles mean business to our neighborhood.”
During the event on Wednesday, PDW will team up with 20 other businesses located along the N Williams corridor to host rest stops where gifts of thanks and other incentives for bicycling will be handed out. A list of participating businesses will be handed at the corner of Williams and Hancock, where people can also enter for a chance to win a set of PDW bike lights.
Here’s the list of Williams Avenue-based businesses that are participating in the event:
- Elemental Fitness Lab
- RH Brown
- Planet X
- Metropolis Cycle Repair
- Corsa Concepts
- The Waypost
- Abraham Fixes Bikes
- Sugar Wheelworks
- Sweetpea Bicycles
- Tinymeat
- Cha! Cha! Cha!
- Ristretto Roasters
- 5th Quadrant
- Hopworks Bike Bar
- United Bicycle Institute
- Queen Bee Creations
It’s great to see businesses proactively supporting bicycling. We need more of this in Portland!