Portland by bike

Judging from the vibe I pick up around here, and the big wall mural I couldn't help but notice downtown the other day, Portlanders tend to think of themselves as a really friendly city toward bikers. I'm an avid biker and when living in the Phoenix area usually rode my bike to work each day for about 8 years. In Africa, I'm on my bike constantly. I love it and it just makes sense.

So it makes me just tickled pink to see a city that takes biking seriously and has spent a significant investment in creating bike trails and constantly reminding driver to be aware of bikes around them. From stop lights that bikers can control (where a bike path crosses a busy road, for example) to unique road laws, Portland has a lot going for it in terms of biking.

My trip took me from the southeast edge of the city of Portland, along the Springwater Corridor Trail, to the edge of the river and up to Hawthorne Bridge which I used to cross into the city. It was about 26 or so miles and this map isn't totally accurate, but at least gives a good representation of Thursday's ride.

crossing on Hawthorne Bridge

Voodoo Doughnuts is a popular Portland eatery

the parks around Portland are full of a mix of families, young urban professionals and homeless

there are tons of public water fountains for drinking and playing in throughout the city (see here for more info)