An 1899 newspaper ad for a Portland bike shop, from a
presentation by local bike historian Eric Lundgren.
presentation by local bike historian Eric Lundgren.
The first issue of The Morning Oregonian in 1895 included an article that holds up wonderfully well.
It was published one year before the first organized bicycle recreation association formed in Portland; two years before 800 local donors crowd-funded the city’s first dedicated bike path on North Williams and Vancouver Avenues; four years before Oregon governor-elect T.T. Geer bought a bicycle of his own and led the charge for road improvements through the state.
And 119 years later, this short case for the merits of biking still feels like the perfect way to kick off a year of progress.
