Commuting - Yeah Portland!!

This message probably has limited appeal, but I just needed to share. I moved to Portland, OR about 6 months ago from Chicago. Before moving I had gathered some opinions about commuting in the city and surrounding suburbs: Portland Area Commuting Help (http://64.191.20.129/showthread.php?t=29491)

Anyway, all I can say, is I'm glad I took the plunge and came out here, especially on 75 degree sunny days in March (I know it's somewhat unusual). For Portland residents, I commute from NE Portland to Hillsboro. In the mornings I ride to the Goose Hollow Max station, and usually take it all the way to Hillsboro. At night I have the option of doing the reverse if the weather's crappy or if I'm tired. Lots of times I just take the train for the 2 stops through the tunnel, or on days like today I ride the whole way over the West Hills. It's a good workout, with some nice views of the city, and it's always fun going back down.

Chicago was a pretty bike friendly city, but it's at least an order of magnitude better out here, and the sheer number of cyclists still surprises me. I woudn't have believed it if I hadn't see it with my own eyes. As an added bonus, you're in the country 10-15 miles from downtown Portland. Yeah Urban Growth Boundary! We did some riding this weekend in Washington county with a nice combination of flats, hills, and views. In Chicago, you'd have to drive 1.5 hours or more to Wisconsin to get something comparable, and you'd probably have to wait until May for decent weather.

the weather was great today for sure. I broke my averages going both ways.

Y'know, I have travelled and lived all over this country from Boston to Phoenix and I have always wanted to go to Portland. For, like, fourteen years at least. As I grew up and matured, different things gained importance and they always seemed to point back to Portland. From all accounts it has everything I like in a city. And then I read about the attitue towards cycling and mass transit and urban development, and I'm like "I can't believe that's an American city!". Is it really as bike friendly and easy to get around as I've read? Someday I'll get around to getting up there. Good for you!

Is it really as bike friendly and easy to get around as I've read?
basically yes... but you can't expect TOO much from an American city. I also had heard so much about Portland and had developed high expectations... but it was WAY more than i expected (i lived there 3 years: 1997-2000). i think the most significant difference is the ATTITUDE: i mean Portland does have advantages in that with the urban growth boundary the city is more compact and so distances more reasonable and there is great planning and support for cyclists in road-building and design and while the weather is often wet there is little extreme weather so you can cycle EVERY single day of the year with few problems, and the average citizen is very open and concerned about the environment and social conditions (not the average "ME" of suburban America: give me my big SUV, my big house, good schools for my kid, big roads for ME and to hell with everyone else). BUT what really makes the difference is the attitudes of the average citizen. like when you commute to work in bad weather many of the "average lazy Americans" in Portland still think you are a little crazy, but enough people in some way support/relate or are jealous so it is just a totally different experience than for example my commute in Houston Texas where my coworkers REALLY believed i was a freak for biking (EVERY day i rode i was aked when my car would be out of the shop and offered numerous rides and NO ONE believed i voluntary rode a bicycle in downtown Houston).

and the only thing that really keeps Portland from REALLY being great are the political forces OUTSIDE of Portland --- the State of Oregon since it also includes the very conservative and in general very unsupportive rural areas does much to undermine cycling and the urban growth boundary and such. and some of the far-out suburbs (Vanciouver Washington proabably the worst) also undermine with stuff like Vancouvers blowing the original north-south light rail in 1999 by backing out at the last minute or the pressure to build more highways freeways or increase the urban growth boundary... all things that would hurt rather that help cycling in Porland.

my living in Germany has given me a great comparative perspective. here in munich the oevrall percentage of bike usage is MUCH higher with the real difference being that "normal" people also cycle (guys in suits, little old ladies, the entire family out for a day or to go shopping, etc). there are also more bike paths and many people who do not have cars (when you ask for directions they ask car, rail or bike? and no one looks at you funny when you ask for directions WITHOUT using the interstate).

BUT compared to Portland the "feeling" of cycling is not as strong here. in Portland it just feels "cool" to bike and as i bike through traffic i always imagined that most fo the people were jealous thinking "man, i wish i were biking like that guy!". and the show of support for cycling is in Portland more visible - people who go out of their way to make a point that they cycle or businesses that put bike nice racks right in front of the door (bike parking in Munich SUCKS)

Portland breathes cycling and that is really cool!

I've been in Portland almost three years now, and only in the last six months have I really begun to appreciate the cycling opportunities and attitudes. I think the hard part is changing one's lifestyle to accomodate commuting and cycling on a regular basis. Nothing is more easy than an inactive lifestyle, and sometimes nothing is harder than working out kids' and wife's commutes in a equitable way so that I can ride instead of drive people around all the time.

What's wonderful about Portland is that when the schedule is created, the opportunities are there for good (or great) commuting and riding. Living in Washington DC, the sitiuation wasn't terribly different. For 8 years I commuted on Rock Creek path, W&OD, C&O Towpath, city streets, the Mall, and did club rides with the PPTC club. Many cities have good or great riding opportunites-- it's making and taking the time that's hard.

Just to satisfy my curiosity, when you ride the entire way from NE to Hillsboro, what is your exact route; what roads do you use?

Joel: Welcome to the great NorthWest. I spent 1980-1990 in the Portland/Vancouver area. It has a lot to offer in outdoor recreation. Also, if you flyfish, check out the Washougall River. Don

Just to satisfy my curiosity, when you ride the entire way from NE to Hillsboro, what is your exact route; what roads do you use?

So far, I've only gone the entire way from Hillsboro to NE, but it wouldn't be too different in the opposite direction (although I think it's steeper coming up the east side). Anyway, from Hillsboro I basically start at 229th and Cornell, and take Cornell until it splits into Barnes. Cornell has a bike lane almost the entire way. Traffice is fast (45 MPH speed limit in parts) but it's lighter than I thought it would be. It's not a very scenic route or terribly pleasant, and I tend to catch a lot of lights, but it's alright. Barnes also has a decent shoulder for most of the way. Plus I have the option of bailing out and getting on the Max at the Sunset Transit Center. If I'm riding though, I take Barnes all the way up to Skyline. Once Burnside and Barnes split, there is hardly any traffic on Barnes. From Skyline it took me a few times to find my way down the hill without going too far out of my way, but now I usually take Fairview down. When I'm trying to be direct I'll find my way over to Everett from 23rd and then cross over the river on the Broadway bridge. I live in Sabin, so once I get across the river there are a bunch of ways to get home.

lots of bike paths that I don't use too often. over in SE they can be a bit old. the one along 205 is ok with roots pushing up. the one along johnson creek is liek a washboard. with too many roads crossing then it goes through some nice wilderness but exits onto a gravel road then a regular road with speed bumps and a triangle bar to cross over.
I can go accross town jsut as fast or faster. lots of roads have bike lanes that I sometimes use.
I notice too many riders tend to go clear to the right at a stopsign. I am usualy the only one behind a car. but then I end up passing them (G)

Joel,
My wife and I are taking the plunge in August and moving from Chicago (Oak Park) to Portland.

Chicago is a pretty bike friendly place but you are right Portland trumps it hands down when it comes to bike culture and access to great rides. I ride with a group here on the weekends and commute year round. I will not miss the 15 deg rides thru the west side to and from work in the middle of winter.

We are coming to Portland in early June for a week to hunt for housing, I hope to bring a bike with me to get in some riding.
Cheers,
Mark

Joel,
My wife and I are taking the plunge in August and moving from Chicago (Oak Park) to Portland.

Chicago is a pretty bike friendly place but you are right Portland trumps it hands down when it comes to bike culture and access to great rides. I ride with a group here on the weekends and commute year round. I will not miss the 15 deg rides thru the west side to and from work in the middle of winter.

We are coming to Portland in early June for a week to hunt for housing, I hope to bring a bike with me to get in some riding.
Cheers,
Mark

I'm debating Portland, Vancouver, or Toulouse after I graduate...sure as hell hope to get out of Minnesota...

I'm debating Portland, Vancouver, or Toulouse after I graduate...sure as hell hope to get out of Minnesota...

If Toulouse is a serious option then is it really a question, you must do it. 165 kilometers to the Mediterranean, 130 kilometers to skiing in the Pyrenees, Barcelona just a half a days drive, not to mention all that beautiful sunshine in southern France... ahh Midi-Pyrénées...

...hmmm, I wonder if I can convince my wife to move there instead of Portland.

I'm debating Portland, Vancouver, or Toulouse after I graduate...sure as hell hope to get out of Minnesota...

Hey, be nice. ;)

Toulouse would be a possibility if I can get a job working for CNES or Arianespace upon graduation.

Sure would be cool to build rockets and live in Europe!