You’ve simply got to watch this new video put out by the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation. PBOT is just over a one month away from their first Sunday Parkways event of the year (May 11th) and the video was made to kick off their fundraising efforts.
Each Sunday Parkways event costs PBOT about $100,000 to put on and the city’s budget only pays for about one-third of the costs. Vendor fees and corporate sponsorships cover most of the remaining expenses; but PBOT relies on donations from individuals to fill the remaining $20,000 funding gap.
The video is aimed at selling the event and it features only a gentle (maybe too gentle?) request for donations at the very end.
What stood out to me while watching it was how professional it looks and what an excellent job PBOT did of telling the story about what Sunday Parkways is, why it matters so much, and why it deserves support (not that anyone opposes it or anything). And my favorite part was the very end, when the narrator said, “And come to think of it, why wait for Sunday Parkways?” as the camera panned out to show a family rolling out for a bike ride.
Nice job PBOT! And kudos are also due to the man behind the film, Matt Giraud of Gyroscope Pictures.
Here’s the link on YouTube.
Thanks for reading.
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I almost started to tear up watching that video. amazing.
Hands Down “PORTLAND’S BEST BIKE EVENT” and be sure to “DONATE TODAY”
Can’t wait!
This is so great! If I didn’t live here already, I’d want to move here!
Thanks BikePortland! Love you too.
How can this kind of program get started in another city. Did it get started just because PBOT wanted to do it?
PBOT and PP&R worked with interested and active citizens and neighborhood groups to get SP rolling, and many other cities also have cyclovia days:
http://bikeportland.org/tag/sunday-parkways/page/7
http://bikeportland.org/2008/04/14/bicycle-brown-bag-sunday-parkways-7220
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciclov%C3%ADa
We started back in 2008 because PBOT has, as part of its mission, a goal to get more people riding bikes and walking as part of their every day mobility. What better way to entice them then to show off the great, family-friendly neighborhood streets – where you can have a Sunday Parkways experience every day!
Good video! Great time. My ugly beard doesn’t even ruin the video, I guess riding with a cute kid is the way to get into the video!
Looks like Fun!
I’m both thrilled and humbled that you all enjoyed it! It was an honor (and a huge amount of fun) to create — but as you say, Jonathan, all the credit goes to the incredible event that inspired it in the first place. Yes, please, please donate! Special shout out to Bill Stites and the incredible Truck Trike he piloted us around on…
yeehaw! more hoop’n! more costumes! more dancing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEty_Nsy9n0
Bicycles are a beautiful mechanical creation. People riding bicycles is an even more beautiful thing. Sunday Parkways is a coalescence of all these beautiful things.
The video had me beaming with pride in our community and all fuzzy inside.
And, the final segment of the video is ever poignant, yes, why wait for Sunday Parkways when you can ride your bicycle each day?! My ride today was full of spring vitality. And I look forward to my rides on the many morrows to come.
Way to go, Matt Giraud and PBOT!
Yup, awesome is the word.
Beautifully done! Great camera work with all the flowing motion. Nice job all around, Mr. Giraud.
The fade at the 23s mark from cars to bikes is brilliant. Great video Matt Giraud!
Great video! I too love the fade from cars to bikes… perhaps a window into a parallel universe? In honor of the “why wait” sentiment — I’m headed out for a ride!
is it summer yet?
I love Sunday Parkways, and it, overall, is a great video, but to be honest I felt it could have been a minute or so shorter, the pacing better.
Ok I’m officially full of it! Watched it again and it feels just fine. Must have had my grumpy pants on when I first watched last night.
This is an amazing video …when I first moved here (I live in buckman) I remember being blown away by the Belmont street fair because the streets were closed to traffic and suddenly the entire neighborhood was out riding. I still talk about it and its one of the first things that made me fall in love with this town …I hope I can make it out to one of these days this year as I can’t wait to actually be riding a bike in it with everyone else
You guys are awesome