Like anybody who contributes a lot to their community, the Clinton Street Neighborhood Greenway has acquired a lot of friends in its first 30 years.
Starting this Friday, May 1, fans of Southeast Portland’s original bike arterial will be hosting a month of celebrations of the bikeway’s birthday.
Though the calendar for the month is full of family-oriented fun, the subtext is serious: the event organizers at BikeLoudPDX want to call attention to what some say risks becoming a bikeway in name only because of the number of cars diverting from nearby Division Street.
They figure that one step to building community support for fixes such as traffic diverters will be having a great time on a great street.
Here’s the list of events so far:
Friday morning, May 1: The “Helium Bike Fairy” will be distributing balloons at schools on and off Clinton Street to celebrate walk + bike to school month.
May 1, 4 to 6 p.m.: The fairy will be distributing balloons for the commute home at 23rd and Clinton.
Sunday, May 3, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: A sign-making work*party at Piccolo Park, SE 27th and 28th between Clinton and Division. These yard signs will inform passers-by about the Clinton Street bikeway and invite them to its birthday celebration events.
Wednesday, May 6: Walk+bike to school day.
Friday, May 8, 5 p.m.: The monthly Clinton Street Social Ride from the Portland Autonomous Zone at 16th and Woodward.
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Sunday, May 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: A ride out to East Portland Sunday Parkways. Meets at PAZ, 16th and Woodward.
organizers of the Clinton celebration.
(Photo courtesy Schlosshauer)
Sunday, May 17, to Thursday, May 21: Bike to Shop Clinton Street, a first-of-its-kind local festival in which Clinton Street businesses will offer discounts to participants who arrive by bike.
Sunday, May 17, 2 p.m.: “Tilikum to Gravel: Creating a World Class Clinton” is a ride from the base of the new Tilikum Crossing bridge to the Division Street Green Line MAX stop at Interstate 205. Ride leader Jessica E. will discuss what’d be needed to create a stress-free all-ages bike route through the city.
(Photos J. Maus/BikePortland)
Tuesday, May 19, 7:30 to 9 a.m.: PedalPT and Bike Index will be serving free coffee at 25th and Clinton.
Wednesday, May 20, 7 p.m.: Clinton Street Theater and Bike To Shop will present bike-related classic E.T. at the theater, 26th and Clinton. Free for all ages.
Sunday, May 24, 11 a.m.: A Memorial Day weekend Slow Ride from 12th and Clinton east. “Set your bike to its lowest gear — or better yet, bring a fixie! — and join us as we tour SE Clinton and nearby streets on this super-chill, relax-to-the-max ride. Lollygagging and rubbernecking highly encouraged. I guarantee that even those of you who commute on Clinton daily have never seen the street like this before.”
Friday, May 29, 7 p.m.: A Minis and Heels Ride from Ladd’s Circle, celebrating the fact that spandex and sneakers are not required for biking. “Everyone is welcome on the Minis and Heels Ride as long as you follow the dress code.”
Saturday, May 30, 11 a.m.: A bicycle swap meet and block party at PAZ, 16th and Woodward. “Bikes, tabling, grilling, music, and fun.”
Sunday, May 31, 11 a.m.: Cargo bike Mother’s (Day) picnic at Piccolo Park, 27th and 28th between Clinton and Division.
Learn more and stay up to date with this initiative at the Safer Clinton blog.
Got ideas for events of your own? It seems likely that the organizers would be happy to add you to the list. Contact saferclinton@gmail.com.
Michael Andersen (Contributor)
Michael Andersen was news editor of BikePortland.org from 2013 to 2016 and still pops up occasionally.
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Yesterday, while I was riding home up Clinton, a woman shouted “Get out of the way” at me while driving by. Of course I wound up passing her again at 39th.
And what did you yell back?
For its birthday, Clinton Street wants diverters.
But not Hart Noecker’s guerrilla diverters. Though I guess he’s been banned from Bike Loud PDX too….
He has.
I’ll be there on Friday. One question: does the lift from the helium balloon counteract the drag the balloon creates as I ride? Seems like no, but I wonder how it measures out.
Impressed!
Happy birthday Clinton Street. Please reconsider the balloons! I was surprised to see this as a focus of the event, as balloons seem like a throwback to a time when we didn’t know the environmental damage they cause. Can we give our waterways and wildlife a break? Do we need more plastic in the environment? Ironic that an eco-friendly something like bikes is paired with a scourge like balloons.
The link for BikeLoudPDX is incorrect; the new website is here (http://bikeloudpdx.org/index.php/BikeLoudPDX) and facebook is here (https://www.facebook.com/bikeloud).
http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/258287-128452-activists-aim-to-bike-loud-for-safer-greenway-routes