Events like Sunday Parkways are known as “open streets” events. But for people who don’t feel comfortable riding in a crowd of people or who don’t have access to a bicycle due to their special needs, the event can feel closed.
“We want our tent of physical exercise for all to be as big as possible and include all who dream of bicycling.”
The North Portland Sunday Parkways on June 24th will be different. That’s because a section of street next to Harper’s Playground in Arbor Lodge will be open only for people using adaptive bikes and other assisted devices. It’s called “Every One Rides” and it’s the work of Oregon cycling advocates A. J. “Jerry” Zelada, a retired optometrist and former Chair of the ODOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and his partner Martine Sacks, a pediatric neurologist at Providence Hospital.
Zelada and Sacks have collaborated with over a dozen organizations to create a free opportunity for people with disabilities to ride and roll. “We’ll provide a small, blocked-off location where families can gather to try out the adaptive bicycles, meet and share with other parents, and be a part of the Sunday Parkways spirit, while still having their own space to ride,” they say.
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Partners on the event include: Providence Transportation Management; Portland Parks & Recreation; Kerr Bikes Adaptive Rentals; Oregon State University; Different Spokes; Adaptive Sports NW; United Cerebral Palsy Association; Portland Hand Cycling; Northwest Down Syndrome Association; Providence Children’s Development Institute; Swindell’s Resource Center; AMBUCS: Oregon/SW Washington Chapter; Portland Bureau of Transportation; and Adaptive Biketown.
For Zelada and Sacks, the event is about broadening access to bicycling. “We want our tent of physical exercise for all to be as big as possible and include all who dream of bicycling.”
In addition to trying out bikes, the event will have an ADA port-a-potty, special assistants to help and welcome participants, and industry experts to share information about equipment.
Here are the details:
Every One Rides at North Portland Sunday Parkways
June 24th from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Harper’s Playground at Arbor Lodge Park (2525 N Dekum St.)
For more information contact Zelada at ajz@zelada[dot]com.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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