Bicycling in Portland

Bicycling has become a cultural phenomenon in Portland—possibly the most beloved mode of transportation in the city. Bicycling magazine has named Portland the number one cycling city in the United States. Aside from the sheer numbers of cyclists you see on every road and pathway, notable bike-friendly aspects of this city include well-marked bike lanes on many major streets, bike paths meandering through parks and along the shoreline of the Willamette River, street signs reminding motorists to yield to cyclists at many intersections, and bike racks on the front of Tri-Met buses.

Despite the occasionally daunting hills and frequent wintertime rain, cycling remains one of the best ways to see what Portland offers. Bike paths on both the east and west sides of the Willamette River continue south of downtown, and you can easily make a several-mile loop by crossing bridges to get from one side to the other. (Most bridges, including the Broadway Bridge, the Steel Bridge, the Hawthorne Bridge, and the Sellwood Bridge, are accessible to cyclists.)

Forest Park's Leif Erikson Drive is an 11-mi ride through Northwest Portland's Forest Park, accessible from the west end of Northwest Thurman Street. Parts of this ride and other Forest Park trails are recommended only for mountain bikes. Bicycling on Sauvie Island is a rare treat, with a 12-mi loop around the island with plenty of spots for exploring. To get to Sauvie Island from Portland, you can brave the 10-mi ride in the bike lane of U.S. 30, or you can shuttle your bike there via Tri-Met Bus 17. The Springwater Corridor, when combined with the Esplanade ride on the east side of the Willamette, can take you all the way from downtown to the far reaches of southeast Portland along a former railroad line. The trail heads east beginning near Sellwood, close to Johnson Creek Boulevard.

For more information on bike routes and resources in and around Portland, visit the Department of Transportation (www.portlandonline.com/transportation) Web page. Here you can download maps, or order "Bike There," a glossy detailed bicycle map of the metropolitan area. Bikes can be rented at several places in the city. Rentals can run from $20 to $50 per day and commonly are available for cheaper weekly rates, running from $75 to $150 per week. Bike helmets are generally included in the cost of rental.

Good hybrid bikes for city riding are available at CityBikes Workers Cooperative (734 S.E. Ankeny St. 503/239-6951) on the east side. For treks in Forest Park, mountain bikes can be rented at Fat Tire Farm (2714 N.W. Thurman St., Forest Park. 503/222-3276). For jaunts along the Willamette, try Waterfront Bicycle Rentals (315 S.W. Montgomery St., Suite 3, Downtown. 503/227-1719).