Biking
One of the best ways to explore the Rose City is on two wheels.
With miles of protected bike lanes (many of which are adorned with special designs), one of the world’s largest naked bike rides, and even a months-long bike festival every summer, Portland is any bicyclist’s dream.
Bike-Friendly Portland
Pedaling through Portland on two wheels is a summertime must. With almost 400 miles (650 km) of bikeways woven throughout the city, Portland is consistently listed as one of the most bike-friendly cities in America.
Portland’s bikeways are made up of bike paths, designated bike lanes and neighborhood “greenways” where bicycles and pedestrians are given priority over cars. In just a few minutes, cyclists can go from riding beneath a canopy of trees in Ladd’s Addition to biking along the Eastbank Esplanade and watching the sunset over the Willamette River. If you don’t have your own wheels, Portland’s many bike rental services and Biketown bike-share program have you covered.
Ways to Rent Two-Wheels
Biketown Bike-Share in Portland
Introduced in 2016, Portland’s bike-share program brings 1,000 smart bicycles to the central city.
Portland Bike Tours
Bike tours let you see Portland like a local, rolling through neighborhoods along this cycling-friendly city’s many bike paths, trails and lanes.
Electric Scooters (E-Scooters) in Portland
E-scooter sharing lets users rent vehicles via an app for one-way trips. Before boarding, check out our dos and don’ts for riding e-scooters in Portland.
Bike Safety Tips
The Portland Bureau of Transportation provides a page with all the relevant state and city laws pertaining to cyclists.
Know Before You Go
Portland city ordinances prohibit riding bicycles on sidewalks in the downtown area bounded by SW Jefferson Street, SW Naito Parkway, NW Hoyt Street and 13th Avenue.
Sharing the Road
Most Portland drivers are comfortable sharing the road with bicyclists — in fact, many of those drivers are counting the hours until they can get on their own bikes and ride. However, it’s still a good idea for cyclists to be careful and ride defensively. Some Portland streets are geared more toward cyclists than others, so it’s a good idea to review the biking and walking maps from the Portland Bureau of Transportation.
Bike Boxes
Portland has 15 intersections with green “bike boxes.” These are designed to prevent collisions between cyclists using bike lanes and motorists making right turns. Here’s how they work:
- When the light is red, bicyclists should stop inside the green box. (Motorists must stop at the white line behind the box.)
- Bicyclists can turn right on a red light at bike box intersections; drivers cannot.
- Bicyclists have the right of way on a green light.
Bike Lane Variations
The city is testing two other alternatives to traditional bike lanes downtown: the Portland State University Cycle Track demonstration project on Southwest Broadway from Clay to Jackson; and buffered bike lanes on Southwest Oak between Naito Parkway and Ninth Avenue, and Southwest Harvey Milk Street between Naito and 13th. Use the links above to learn more.
Biking Events
Bike-loving Portlanders have come up with all sorts of rides and events that fill the calendar with two-wheeled shenanigans. Read on for our top biking events by month, and check out BikePortland for more Portland-based biking news and upcoming events
Worst Day of The Year Ride
March
Die-hard riders will spend 12 months of the year behind handlebars, but anyone worth their chain stains makes it to the Worst Day of the Year Ride. Timed to coincide with the year’s worst weather day, the 15-mile (24 km) fun ride (or 42-mile [67 km] challenge course) ends with cold beer and hot soup at Southeast Portland’s Lucky Labrador Brew Pub .
Tweed Ride
April
The dream of the 1890s is alive during the Tweed Ride, an annual affair in which dozens of riders don their most dapper duds and take a spin on vintage bikes. Expect to see waxed mustaches, fancy hats and a few penny farthings (and don’t miss the after-party!).
Summer Biking Events
Sunday Parkways
May-September
Held in several different neighborhoods each year, Portland’s free Sunday Parkways rides convert city streets into car-free zones, encouraging cyclists to explore different parts of the city. Each event features stops in city parks along the route, with entertainment, food and activities.
Each Sunday Parkways route is closed off to cars and other motorized vehicles from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., allowing cyclists full access to the city streets. Dozens of volunteers are stationed along the route, directing traffic at busy street crossings and providing additional safety measures (and encouragement) for young and less experienced riders. Learn more on the Sunday Parkways website.
Pedalpalooza
June-September
For the expansive months in the summer, bike geeks organize about 200+ events to celebrate all that is cycling during Pedalpalooza. There’s a major menu of rides, performance art, races, taco stand tours, gay pride bike parades, bike polo and more.
Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride
August
The World Naked Bike Ride is a global event, with rides held in 74 cities from Amsterdam to Perth, but Portland lays claim to the world’s largest ride, drawing over 10,000 cyclists clad in various combinations of swimsuits, underwear, body paint and smiles in 2014. And don’t worry, riding naked in Portland is legal; the event is considered a protest and, therefore, nudity is permitted under Oregon’s liberal free speech laws.
Bridge Pedal
August
The Bridge Pedal is your one chance to pedal fancy- and car-free with nearly 20,000 other cyclists across Portland’s Willamette River bridges, from the Sellwood to the St. Johns Bridge and most others in between. The event’s route includes the top decks of the Marquam and Fremont bridges, normally open only to automobile traffic on interstates 5 and 84.
Year-Round Biking Events
Every Sunday
The recipe is insane but simple: The Zoobombers gather every Sunday evening at the corner of Southwest 13th Avenue and West Burnside Street, ride MAX Light Rail to the Washington Park station (Oregon Zoo stop) and bomb back down via the streets of Portland’s West Hills. Regulars prefer to ride small children’s bikes or their own customized contraptions. If you’d rather just get a taste of this particular slice of Portland culture, visit the People’s Bike Library of Portland sculpture at 13th and Burnside
Upcoming Biking Events
Enjoy the city's biking culture with these upcoming events.
Reach the Beach | Cycle for Air
Reach the Beach, Oregon, will celebrate its 34th anniversary in 2024. Their mission, to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, is still in hyper-drive. The dollars riders are raising are making a difference at this critical time. The route starts on Sauvie Island and ends in the heart of Astoria at…
East Portland Sunday Parkways
Celebrate National Bike Month and open streets during the East Portland Sunday Parkways event presented by Kaiser Permanente. The East Portland 3.3-mile down-and-back route will feature Gateway Discovery Park, Ventura Park, and Lincoln Park. Start anywhere on the route and bike, walk, or roll as you explore the neighborhood greenways and other infrastructure, parks, and…
Portland Sunday Parkways
Sunday Parkways Presented by Kaiser Permanente, promotes healthy, active living through a series of free events opening the city's largest public space – its streets – to walk, bike, roll, and discover active transportation.
Pedalpalooza
Portland's cycling culture peaks during summer's multi-week Pedalpalooza, featuring 200+ local-led, themed rides, all open to the public.
Kids Pride Parade
4th annual Lewis Elementary Kids Pride parade. Come march or ride — kid and family-friendly. Meet at 10:00 am. The parade starts at 10:30 and will last approximately 40 min, with events following. Especially looking for extra adults to ride, help cork, and help keep the march safe.
PSU Portland Farmers Market Ride
PSU Portland Farmers Market Ride — Pedalpalooza Edition. An all-ages/all-abilities, conversational-pace, meditative ride from SE PDX to the PSU Farmers Market to help support local farmers, bakers and makers of all kinds while building community in a relaxed, informal setting. Rain or shine! A post-ride adventure that is only loosely planned beforehand occasionally follows. Riders are…
Breakfast on the Bluffs
Come kickoff Pedalpalooza with coffee and breakfast on the bluffs. Feel free to bring something to share. Leading a ride? Bring your flyers and promote it.
Terri Sue Webb Naked Ride
Sunny Naked Ride honoring Terri Sue Webb, one of Oregon's pioneering body freedom activists. Ride naked or nearly so on the streets of Portland, through sunshine or liquid sunshine, enjoying body acceptance and healthy fresh air on your privates. This is a lighthearted protest ride. Bring signs and body paint. It will also be a…
R2R Woodstock
Ride with friends to the Kickoff Ride, all the way to NW Portland. Meet at 2:45+, ride at 3:30 to give folks time to do merch pickup if they need to. The ride is no-one left behind, and should take around 30 minutes +/-.
Bike Summer Kickoff Ride
This is the official ride that kicks off the festivities every year. Volunteers will be selling Bike Summer merch from 3:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. There will be a limited amount of pennants and stickers for sale at the park, as well as shirts for you to try on before you buy online. There will also…
Derry Girls Ride
Join a pedal-powered tribute to the hit TV show Derry Girls. Get ready to embrace the spirit of Erin, Orla, Clare, Michelle, and James as we cycle through the streets of Derry/Londonderry. Feel free to come in your best Derry Girls outfit inspired by the show. From hilarious banter to heartfelt moments, this themed bike…
Was That a Dog? Gear Ride
Meet and share our assemblies of your gear for taking your dog on your bike rides, then take an easy-pace, 4-mile loop ride. Meet at Good Dog PDX on Stark St. The ride will cruise over Rainbow Road, then down to Ladd’s for barks and bells before returning to Good Dog PDX. Come to check…
Slut Pedal
Celebrate International S*x Worker Day by celebrating and uplifting local S*x Workers in PDX. This ride is centered around BIPOC and Queer S*x Workers, but ALL local dancers, S*x Workers, performers, sluts, and whores are welcome for this fun, community-oriented ride and party event. Wear what makes you feel confident, sexy, and comfortable on a bike….
Sing-A-Long Ride
Come along and sing well-known songs. Submit your song requests to Moorland or volunteers before the start or at any of the refreshment stops made. There will be a big sound system, disco lights..maybe even a fog machine. There will be karaoke at stops and sing-a-long songs on the ride. This ride was one of the…
Pride Ride
Join the ride at Director Park for National Bicycle Day. Poison Waters will be leading this family-friendly ride. All Wheels Welcome. Enjoy a stately (i.e., slow) parade of 1.5 fabulous miles that will ride past spots from Portland’s rich 2SLGBTQIA+ history. The parade will end at the Cart Blocks Food Cart Pod with a dance…
Star Trek Ride
It's time to take the helm and shift gears to Warp 9. Explore strange new roads and seek out new pit stops and new destinations. Along the way, expect trivia, music, costumes, and prizes.
The Goonies and Pirates Ride
The film was released on June 7th, 1985, and this day is the 39th anniversary. (Ride merges welcome as we hunt for the sacred jewels of Purple…Pirate costumes FTW.) Will you find the treasure? The purple gems and amethyst? The special purple ones? Where will one-eyed Willy lead you? Will you save Albina and Alberta St….
Prince4Ever
Kicking off Pedalpalooza with a BANG and celebrating Prince's Birthday on Friday, June 7. He would have turned 66 years old this year, and though Prince didn't celebrate birthdays and would often say: "You only had ONE birthday, the day of your birth!" we are going to celebrate him, his life, his music and his…
Pioneer Century
The Pioneer is an annual bicycle event organized by the Portland Bicycling Club to raise money in support of their mission to promote safe and enjoyable bicycling. Three fully-supported, non-competitive distance options of 33 miles (53km), 62 miles (100km), or 101 miles (163km). Each route starts at Columbia Distributing in Canby and loops back to…
Marine Drive Dry Triathlon
A choose-your-own-adventure multi-sport race. Sports are running, biking, and skating, and participants may complete all (in any order) or choose just one or two. People collect a "sport token" for each to attach to their medal. Each lap is 7.4 miles (12km), paved, mostly flat, with no road crossings. Participants can do a shorter distance…
Northeast Cully Sunday Parkways
Celebrate Father’s Day and open streets during the NE Cully Portland Sunday Parkways event presented by Kaiser Permanente. The Northeast Cully 6.2-mile looped route rises significantly as one travels from north to south, stopping at Fernhill Park, Kʰunamokwst Park, Wellington Park, and Roseway Parkway. Start anywhere on the route and bike, walk, or roll as…
Magical Fantasy & Fae Bike Ride
Did you read all of the Sarah J Mass universe and want to be Feyre Archeron or Manon Blackbeak for a day? Do you get through your work day to really thrive in your DnD campaign? Want to be a wizard like Harry or Gandalf? Planning on moving to the rolling hills of the shire…
KMHD Ride
Do you love jazz? Do you love KMHD? Do you love… riding bikes? THEN THIS IS THE RIDE FOR YOU. Join a gaggle of public radio, jazz, and bike-riding enthusiasts and ride through town blasting your favorite radio station, 89.1 FM KMHD. Plan to ride during the second hour of beloved host, The Baby Boomer's…
Petal Pedal
Petal Pedal is a gourmet distance bike ride like no other. You’ll journey along scenic, quiet roads along mostly flat routes (with a hilly option to visit Silver Falls) as you drift away to another world. The ride starts and finishes at The Oregon Garden, Oregon’s premier botanical garden with over 80 acres of specialty…
CF Cycle For Life
Join in on the 15th annual CF Cycle for Life event and ride through some of the most picturesque and scenic terrains in the Willamette Valley’s famed wine country. Start the ride in the heart of wine country, beginning and ending at Lady Hill Winery, located in St. Paul, OR, across from Historic Champoeg State Park,…
Bridge Pedal
Portland's annual Bridge Pedal is a community celebration of the city's iconic bridges and biking culture. Join your friends and neighbors for the one opportunity each year to bike or walk on Portland’s car-free streets and bridges (including the upper decks of both the Marquam and Fremont bridges). Portland’s Bridge Pedal is one of the largest…
Portland Criterium Cycle Race
The Portland Criterium will return to the Portland North Park Blocks in August. This exciting form of bicycle racing will thrill racers and spectators alike as the race speeds around the streets over 30 mph. Bring the entire family to join a fun afternoon of racing and car-free events featuring some of the best athletes…
Southwest Portland Sunday Parkways
Celebrate World Car-Free Day and open streets during the SW Portland Sunday Parkways event presented by Kaiser Permanente. The Southwest Portland route will feature a 2-mile multi-modal route and a separate 1.5-mile walking route. Start anywhere on the route and bike, walk, or roll as you explore the neighborhood greenways and other infrastructure, parks, and…
Biking Beyond Portland
Explore gorgeous areas outside Portland by bike using these handy guides.
Bicycling the Banks-Vernonia State Trail
The small logging town of Vernonia has become a central hub for bike routes through the surrounding state forest.
Columbia River Gorge
Starting just 30 miles east of Portland, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area offers amazing vistas, trails and more than 90 waterfalls.
Guide to Gresham
Looking to venture off the beaten path like a Portlander? This neighboring town is where locals go to slow down, stroll through quaint historic architecture and feast on international fare.
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