Yesterday was one of those days where it felt like everyone was out on their bikes. The weather, the day off, is was glorious!
I went out to check on a few things downtown (including the newly finished loading platforms on SW Broadway) and on my way home I spent time observing the Eastbank Esplanade. I find busy bike traffic days very life-affirming and they help restore my optimism for Portland. And yesterday was no exception. Despite the doom-and-gloom and last week’s terrible incident on the nearby Springwater Corridor, the path just south of the Hawthorne bridge was teeming with riders, walkers, and rollers of all types.
Here are some of the folks who passed by my lens.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
So many different types of people and bikes out for a spin. Isn’t it beautiful?! For more People on Bikes galleries, see the archives.
Thanks for reading.
BikePortland has served this community with independent community journalism since 2005. We rely on subscriptions from readers like you to survive. Your financial support is vital in keeping this valuable resource alive and well.
Please subscribe today to strengthen and expand our work.
Rider #18 (who is also top left in the collage) is brakeless. Thanks for the reminder to assume any other road user may crash into you at any time! Brakeless BMX are fine when you’re just endangering yourself in a skatepark, but not cool out on streets and paths with other people.
No brakes, but he does have a giant knife on his hip.
Ooh, and who else can spot the bike with the fork installed backwards?
RE: “I find busy bike traffic days very life-affirming and they help restore my optimism for Portland.”
I appreciate your positive press about the esplanade! I agree with your comment above and would like to add walking traffic as well. As you know, since my “What would Vera Katz think?” post two years ago, I’ve been concerned about the ongoing state of the esplanade. In addition to positive press, I also think continued activation is key. We need to get outside and into our streets (trails, parks, downtown) more often. After two years, I still see much that we can be proud of and smile about; we might need to just look again.