Portland has more than 300 miles of bikes lanes, paths and low traffic streets designated as “bike boulevards,’ making cycling one of the best ways to see the city.
Bike Rental
Biketown
Biketown’s 1,000 bright orange, eight-speed bicycles are equipped with integrated baskets, front and rear lights and reflective paint jobs. They also carry communications, payment and locking technology, making them easy to find, reserve, park and ride throughout the central city.
For a small fee (an average of $2.50 for 30 minutes of use), riders can check out bikes at one of 20 kiosks or via the Biketown website or free smartphone app. When you’re done riding, you can park the bike at any bike rack in the service area, or return it to one of the system’s 100 stations and receive a credit.
The Biketown program, funded by local shoe and sportswear giant Nike, is managed by Motivate, which operates many of the world’s largest bike-share systems, including those in the Bay Area, New York, Chicago, Toronto and Melbourne.
Cycling in Portland for the first time? Check out our bike safety tips.
Maps and Routes
Maps & Resources
The Portland Bureau of Transportation offers great resources for cyclists who want to explore the city and region:
My City Bikes offers route maps and resources for beginning cyclists with their app for Android and iPhone.
Favorite routes
SPRINGWATER ON THE WILLAMETTE
From downtown, cross the Willamette River via the bike-friendly Hawthorne Bridge and follow a 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) path between OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) and the Sellwood Bridge. This is the Springwater on the Willamette, the westernmost leg of the Springwater Corridor, a rails-to-trails project. From this section of the trail, you can access Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, Sellwood Riverfront Park and Oaks Amusement Park — or head into the Sellwood neighborhood for food, drink and shopping.
FOREST PARK
There are 30 miles (48 kilometers) of bikeable paths in Forest Park, a 5,156-acre (2,086-hectare) swath of old-growth timber and pristine forest landscapes in Northwest Portland. One of the most popular routes for bikers is the 11.2-mile (18-kilometer) Leif Erikson Drive, with views of the Columbia River, Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens.
MT. TABOR PARK
Take the Hawthorne Bridge to Southeast Portland, then roll through historic Ladd’s Addition and the foodie heaven of the Division/Clinton neighborhood before beginning the climb toward Mt. Tabor Park. In the park, you’ll ascend 650 feet (198 m) on forested paths to the summit, where you can enjoy sweeping views of the terrain you just covered and the city skyline.
NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAYS
Explore the residential neighborhoods of Northeast Portland via low-traffic routes known as greenways. Enjoy views from the Alameda Ridge, and, for an extra challenge, climb Rocky Butte at the eastern edge of the loop.