Portland,Or.
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: N.Y. State (for now)
Posts: 102
Bikes: 1 Fix,2 SSs-more to come
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Portland,Or.
My apologies in advance if this question has been asked before on this forum--
I'm looking for any info on Portland,Or. I'm considering moving there because I keep hearing that it's the most bike friendly town in the country. I know alot of you on this forum are there or have have been there. I'd like to hear anything you'd have to say about it.
I'm looking for any info on Portland,Or. I'm considering moving there because I keep hearing that it's the most bike friendly town in the country. I know alot of you on this forum are there or have have been there. I'd like to hear anything you'd have to say about it.
#2
Spoked to Death
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 1,335
Bikes: Salsa La Cruz w/ Alfine 8, Specialized Fuse Pro 27.5+, Surly 1x1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
They have good weeeeed, man.
Actually, I've never lived there, but its a nice city, and I've got a few friends there. I've always loved the pacific northwest, and would love to move to that region sometime. Plus the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has some interesting job openings (museums are my biz)....
peace,
sam
Actually, I've never lived there, but its a nice city, and I've got a few friends there. I've always loved the pacific northwest, and would love to move to that region sometime. Plus the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has some interesting job openings (museums are my biz)....
peace,
sam
#3
Patrick Barber
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 888
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
my partner and i are moving to Portland in early 2006. We visited in March and rode many miles on rented bikes, exploring the city. it's the best city for bicycling that I have seen. i've lived/cycled in Colorado Springs, Seattle, San Francisco and Oakland, fwiw.
It rains a lot, and is cloudy or overcast for most of the months that are not summer. Also it rains a lot.
check out www.dampfixie.org, a somewhat skeletal site that gives you some links to bike/fixed-related things.
along with the weeeeed, food, beer, the transit system, and local produce are also good. I understand that unemployment is high.
to continue the adulation, please see https://www.pdbd.com/henwaller/index.php?p=28
It rains a lot, and is cloudy or overcast for most of the months that are not summer. Also it rains a lot.
check out www.dampfixie.org, a somewhat skeletal site that gives you some links to bike/fixed-related things.
along with the weeeeed, food, beer, the transit system, and local produce are also good. I understand that unemployment is high.
to continue the adulation, please see https://www.pdbd.com/henwaller/index.php?p=28
#5
Ha Ha! Boss.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: pdx, or
Posts: 879
Bikes: Univega custom 14sp mixte + Sears 3sp groceryhoggg
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
line up a job, or have a load of money saved up.
or lose a finger.
edit: Well, the job market is better than it was when I first got here, I can say that much. Seems like temp agencies around here are on a hiring bug... you could go the non-profit route, too.
Or you could claim unemployment from your home state and have the checks sent to you in Or. I know somebody that did that...-
or lose a finger.
edit: Well, the job market is better than it was when I first got here, I can say that much. Seems like temp agencies around here are on a hiring bug... you could go the non-profit route, too.
Or you could claim unemployment from your home state and have the checks sent to you in Or. I know somebody that did that...-
Last edited by SpokesInMyPoop; 06-20-05 at 10:17 AM. Reason: more info!
#7
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Portland
Posts: 2,535
Bikes: Mercier Kilo TT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i'm going up there for a week on wednesday to check it out, if its awesome i'll start saving for a move
#8
wonderer, wanderer
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: portland, or
Posts: 1,712
Bikes: surly crosscheck, yeti 575, salsa moto rapido, kona ute
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Originally Posted by tehz
i'm going up there for a week on wednesday to check it out, if its awesome i'll start saving for a move
__________________
Bicycle-eye
Bicycle-eye
#9
Patrick Barber
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 888
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i am green w/envy re Pedalpalooza.
teh z, check out this handy site for some solid advice imho
https://web.pdx.edu/~nac/pdxdirtcheap/
teh z, check out this handy site for some solid advice imho
https://web.pdx.edu/~nac/pdxdirtcheap/
#10
Lurker for Life
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Posts: 908
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Check out the Portland Transportation Office bicycle maps for a neighborhood that has a lot of bicycle-friendly streets. Public transportation will let you take your bike, so you can cover most of the city fairly quickly.
Generally, the further you get from downtown, the more car-centric the roads become. Hawthorne and Belmont areas have a lot of riders and shops, and the rent is reasonably cheap. Similarly, Northwest/Pearl has a lot of traffic, but you can get around by bike fairly easily. The rent in that area isn't too bad either.
Generally, the further you get from downtown, the more car-centric the roads become. Hawthorne and Belmont areas have a lot of riders and shops, and the rent is reasonably cheap. Similarly, Northwest/Pearl has a lot of traffic, but you can get around by bike fairly easily. The rent in that area isn't too bad either.
#11
Lurker for Life
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Posts: 908
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by gonesh9
Just in time!!! Pedalpalooza is going on until the 25th. Make sure you at least check out the Multnomah County Bike Fair on the 25th.
#12
more ape than man
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: nyc
Posts: 8,091
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
i used to live there...downtown. Since the downtown area is so compact it takes no time to get around. i had a job i hated though and i wasn't having much luck finding anything else i wanted to do, so i bailed on it.
#13
Patrick Barber
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 888
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
also most bike stores have free office-of-transportation bike maps that show the various recommended bike routes. You want a good regular map, too, since the bike maps leave out a lot of streets.
this is only if you are a mappy guy like me of course...
and check out the springwater corridor on the east side of the river, it goes by a gorgeous wetland
this is only if you are a mappy guy like me of course...
and check out the springwater corridor on the east side of the river, it goes by a gorgeous wetland
#14
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Portland
Posts: 2,535
Bikes: Mercier Kilo TT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by weed eater
i am green w/envy re Pedalpalooza.
teh z, check out this handy site for some solid advice imho
https://web.pdx.edu/~nac/pdxdirtcheap/
teh z, check out this handy site for some solid advice imho
https://web.pdx.edu/~nac/pdxdirtcheap/
downtown and alberta seem nice enough. i want to live somewhere thats like >4 miles from food and stores, and that i can afford to live in with only a little job
and i'll try to check out the Pedalpalooza!
#15
Patrick Barber
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 888
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
check out the "up and coming" mississippi area too. you'd have to try pretty hard to be 4 miles from a good grocery store...they're all over.
the hippest areas, hawthorne, clinton, etc, have high rents, but check out Hollywood, parts of Irvington, and (a little out there) Sellwood. i understand that the area around Burnside and 10th is getting quite lively but there are unfortunately few houses around there.
it all seems cheap to me, but then I live in the Bay Area and my rent is higher than the mortgage my dad pays on his custom built home in Colorado. Sheesh.
the hippest areas, hawthorne, clinton, etc, have high rents, but check out Hollywood, parts of Irvington, and (a little out there) Sellwood. i understand that the area around Burnside and 10th is getting quite lively but there are unfortunately few houses around there.
it all seems cheap to me, but then I live in the Bay Area and my rent is higher than the mortgage my dad pays on his custom built home in Colorado. Sheesh.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 140
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The job market isn't all that bad. But not good either, so try to have something lined up before you get here. Housing is relatively affordable, and it's a small enough city that you're never too far from anything else. The public transit system is pretty robust, too, and has provisions for bikes, so you can safely do w/out a car. The city is very bike-friendly. Roads are usually fairly wide and have reasonable speed limits, a lot of them have bike lanes too. There's a network of paved paths around the east side of town that, once you get away from the waterfront, anyway, are used primarily by bikes. There're lots of good shops in town, many of which do business in single-speed/fixed/track equipment. If you're into track riding, there's a velodrome not far from downtown. Drivers don't seem to be too crazy, either.
#17
wonderer, wanderer
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: portland, or
Posts: 1,712
Bikes: surly crosscheck, yeti 575, salsa moto rapido, kona ute
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Originally Posted by yonderboy
Are you going to ride the Bridge Pedal this year? I'm debating making the trek up the hill to the St. Johns on my fixie for the full 10-bridge ride. Otherwise, I might just wimp out and do the 6-bridge ride.
__________________
Bicycle-eye
Bicycle-eye
#18
more ape than man
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: nyc
Posts: 8,091
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by weed eater
it all seems cheap to me, but then I live in the Bay Area and my rent is higher than the mortgage my dad pays on his custom built home in Colorado. Sheesh.
#19
Postmodern Beauty King
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 154
Bikes: Centurion Fix, Jamis Nova, Jamis Crosscountry
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
IMHO, the drivers in Portland are some of the best in the world because they are usually far more relaxed and casual than else where. Makes being around them a lot less stress full, they just don't excersize the agression you see so much else where. Of course, that isn't true for all drivers, after all, Portland has a lot of Californian x-pats. If you don't mind being away from the "hip" part of town, the south west hills offers a comfortable environment with moderate rent, but you will have to tackle hills everyday, in every direction, and have a 5 - 10 mile commute to down town.
Rain is a way of life. The sky's natural state is grey. A tan comes from a machine or a bottle. They realized long ago that 5 minutes is too long to wait for a good cup of coffee, coffee houses abound.
Rain is a way of life. The sky's natural state is grey. A tan comes from a machine or a bottle. They realized long ago that 5 minutes is too long to wait for a good cup of coffee, coffee houses abound.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 1,514
Bikes: more, please.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
2 Posts
Portland is great. Great restaurants, good music and arts scene, and yes - very bike-friendly.
Went there two years in row recently, spent some time at Reed College.
If there were any jobs in my field, I'd move there in a heartbeat... to Sellwood, probably.
Went there two years in row recently, spent some time at Reed College.
If there were any jobs in my field, I'd move there in a heartbeat... to Sellwood, probably.
Last edited by * jack *; 06-21-05 at 10:08 AM.
#21
King of the Hipsters
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Bend, Oregon
Posts: 2,128
Bikes: Realm Cycles Custom
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
The Queen of Cities.
I wouldn't think of it as particularly bike-friendly, today, as compared to years passed.
Lots of hills and rain, and pushy car-drivers.
But then, I guess compared to some other cities of comparable size Portland might fare well.
The best music, restaurants, architecture, art and atmosphere of any city of my experience, world-wide.
Many people describe Eugene, Oregon, to the South, as the most bike-friendly city on the planet.
I wouldn't think of it as particularly bike-friendly, today, as compared to years passed.
Lots of hills and rain, and pushy car-drivers.
But then, I guess compared to some other cities of comparable size Portland might fare well.
The best music, restaurants, architecture, art and atmosphere of any city of my experience, world-wide.
Many people describe Eugene, Oregon, to the South, as the most bike-friendly city on the planet.
#23
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Portland
Posts: 2,535
Bikes: Mercier Kilo TT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
ps DKfix, just noticed you're in Norfolk, hows that working out for you?
VB's pretty lame as far as a fixed community (or anything besides full lycra rodie community)
VB's pretty lame as far as a fixed community (or anything besides full lycra rodie community)
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: N.Y. State (for now)
Posts: 102
Bikes: 1 Fix,2 SSs-more to come
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by tehz
ps DKfix, just noticed you're in Norfolk, hows that working out for you?
VB's pretty lame as far as a fixed community (or anything besides full lycra rodie community)
VB's pretty lame as far as a fixed community (or anything besides full lycra rodie community)
#25
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Portland
Posts: 2,535
Bikes: Mercier Kilo TT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i'll probably HRT it up there after the portland trip, the guys at Relative gave me the wrong cd when i bought something last night