There are a lot of Russian cabbies in Portland - and a great Russian restaurant on SE Foster.
Это правда.
Here's a traffic volume map of Portland and other cities - -
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TDATA/...ments_2005.pdf
And of the whole state - -
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TDATA/...p_GIS_2005.pdf
Although I don't live there, I have frequently begun or ended bike tours around Portland and have visited many. many times - twice this summer - going back to 1987. Yeah, they had bicycles AND electricity back then.
Coast - There's a great route from Scappoose thru Pittsburg and Jewell to Astoria using Scapoose-Vernonia Road, OR 47, and OR 202. Very nice and quiet. County campground near Mist. NE Skyline takes you almost to Scappoose. Also, WA 4 on the other side of the Columbia is really nice - problem is getting to Longview. The bridge at Longview has been requilt and is MUCH safer for cyclists. US 30 is O.K. - high traffic, but shoulders. Back roads north of Vancouver are better, but you have to get on I-5 for a few miles around Kalama.
Mountains - Speaking of SE Foster - you can ride out Foster to Damascus and cut over to OR 224 and up to Three Lynx. State Park at Estacada and forest campsites above the reservoir. Warning - I got the worst case of sand fleas from stealth camping along a creek up there.
Here are some nice parks in Columbia County:
http://www.co.columbia.or.us/colparks/index.asp