People in the Pacific Northwest are known for spending time outdoors, in rain or shine, doing various activities. Some of the most popular include hiking, camping, rock climbing and kayaking. However, one of the best is biking and cycling.
“The Pacific Northwest has, in my opinion, the best biking in the world,” says Luca Hein, a sophomore at Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School who’s on the mountain biking team.
While many use biking and cycling interchangeably, cycling refers to riding on the roads. Biking is a very popular pursuit for many people. Known for providing freedom, adventure and mental wellness. It’s accompanied by many financial, environmental and physical benefits, specifically, cardio and leg strength.
Jay Rishel, a ninth-grade success team leader and an instructional coach who has been biking longer than he can remember, says, “I think it’s stress management for me; I can just decompress. I can see so much more and I like finding new routes to go on, different ways to navigate through the city. Yeah, I just love the feeling of being on a bike.”
E-bikes are similar to conventional bikes. What differentiates them is the motorized component that assists the user, making them more accessible to people with less physical ability. Bikes cost substantially less than cars, and much of the maintenance can be completed by the user with basic tools. It is a really sustainable way to travel as they produce no carbon emissions and take less energy overall.
“They make bikes that are made well and if you maintain them, they will continue to be good long after you buy them. It’s a very sustainable industry,” says Hein.
For many people, such as Rishel, a daily commute by bike can relieve stress and help them enjoy life to the fullest. Being able to enjoy the scenery whilst staying physically active.
Portland, Oregon, is well-known for many things, such as its vast food scene and the “Keep Portland weird” energy. Additionally, it’s highly ranked for its environmentally friendly and sustainable efforts.
As part of Portland’s sustainability is the very well-thought-out and protected bike infrastructure. Since the 1970s, Portland has focused on making the streets better for active transportation users. This led to an abundance of bike paths, which are paved trails separate from the roads; as well as wide bike lanes, which are smaller green lanes on either side of the road. Bike paths and lanes are known to reduce traffic and the need for car parking. They make biking safer and more convenient, making urban areas more accessible.
“I feel really safe on a bike in this city, and I do think it is really easy to navigate through this city on a bike,” says Rishel
A key example of Portland’s infrastructure being aimed towards active transportation users is the Tillikum Crossing Bridge. This bridge was made in 2015 to prioritize light rail trains, buses, streetcars, pedestrians and cyclists. It is known as the “Bridge of the People” and is the largest car-free bridge in the U.S.
There are public bike repair stations around Portland, which typically feature a tire pump and essential tools like screwdrivers, hex keys and other gadgets to ensure you’re able to get home safely. According to the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), there are over 7,000 bike racks native to outside buildings and along streets. Which can be helpful when you need to ensure your bike safety in a public area whilst exploring Portland.
The biking community in Portland is a vast group of people, friendly mechanics, recreational riders, competitive cyclists and participants in the annual “Naked Bike Ride.” There are many groups dedicated to making life easier for cyclists, such as the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC), which ensures cycling is organized and trouble-free.
Portland is no stranger to odd practices that follow in the “Keep Portland Weird” slogan, some of which are annual biking events. One example is the Pedalpalooza Festival, a summer-long celebration of summer’s arrival with over 100 rides throughout the streets. The first ride kickoff is on June 1st, and the Pedalpalooza rides go through early September. “I’ve done a bunch of Pedalpalooza rides, [one] of my favorite rides of all time was the David Bowie/Prince dance off, where we rode around to various parking lots and danced to Bowie and Prince and decided who was better.” Says Rishel
There’s also Sunday Parkways, where the city blocks roads from cars to promote healthy and safe riding for communities. The four parkways planned for 2026 include Southwest Portland on May 17, East Portland on June 28, North Portland on Aug. 2 and Downtown on Sept. 13.
Taking place on Aug. 9th, the Providence Bridge Petal features a dazzling 23-mile route across six of Portland’s best bridges over the Willamette River, even offering shorter routes for less experienced riders.
You can learn more about the upcoming cycling events on the BikePortland website. Additionally, they have incredible job outreach in the cycling field, as well as a podcast full of insightful interviews and interesting findings.
For many people, biking starts at a young age. Lots of kids learn when they’re little to gain independence, confidence and to have fun with their friends and families.
“It’s that first sense of accomplishment that you get, just that exhilarating feel of freedom,” says Rishel.
Biking is more than a sport and a way to commune daily. It’s a way to connect with welcoming communities and embrace staying active outdoors.
You may have heard of the Bike Bus from popular videos online, and it lives up to the hype. The bike bus is a movement built to help kids bike to school on a safe and fun ride. Stemming from Kiel Johnson in 2009, the “Bike Train” was beloved but short-lived. However, Sam Balto picked up the idea on April 22, 2022, and it quickly grew in popularity. Soon, Balto had celebrities supporting his movement, such as famous singer-songwriters Benson Boone, Zara Larsson and Justin Timberlake. Now, there are almost two dozen bike buses throughout elementary schools in Portland.
Petalheads is an organization based around teaching kids how to ride bikes and have fun. They have a few different locations around Portland, and if you’re looking for a fun summer job with flexible hours, they’re a good place to start.
Biking is more than a way to stay fit and commute; it’s a connection to the outside world in a friendly and uplifting environment. It gives people a chance to bond with nature and helps them to be more present in their daily lives.
It’s never too late to start learning how to ride a bike; all it takes is a determined mind, a willingness for scraped knees and someone inclined to teach you.
