Portland Bike Pictures

I have been meaning to post some pictures I took while I was in Portland for Thanksgiving and I finally took the time to dig through my files.  What I encountered was really no surprise, basically everywhere you turn there is evidence of bike culture.

It did not take long at all to encounter bikes as this is what I saw outside the baggage claim at PDX.  I visit a lot of airports and I do not remember many of them having bike racks. Not far from the bike rack is the mass transit light rail known as MAX.  One could easily ride to the train, take the train to the airport, lock the bike up for free, and get on the plane. 

 

I wandered around while waiting for my ride and bike buckets were in full effect on this whip. 

Outside of a Fred Meyer store (think one stop shopping) there was proof that many people do their shopping by bike . . .

. . . and this bike and gear was also present. 

It appears the owner is a vagabond of sorts (I mean no ill with the reference, I think it would be cool to drift around on a bike) and was looking for a yard to camp in.  If I were planning to wander on a bike, I do not think I would choose to winter in Portland.  By the time this guy leaves all of his belongings are likely to be moldy. 

We had dinner one night at a kick ass thai food place called Pok Pok.  The place is super popular and there are long waits, but the good news is that there is a sister watering hole that serves as a place to wait right across the street.  It's called the Whiskey Soda Lounge and you know that a city takes cycling seriously when they install bike racks in spots traditionally reserved for car parking.  I witnessed multiple instances of former parking places repurposed into bike parking lots.

It is hard to read through the glare, but what could be better than microbrew and bike valet parking?

I was zipping by this guy as a passenger in a car (sad but true) and he had an impressive looking trailer.

I could not even escape bike culture at Pittock Mansion, the historic home of the man who founded The Oregonian newspaper.  The mansion is the last place I would have expected to see bike culture because it lies at the top of a tremendously steep hill.  This is one of the signs outside the mansion . . . .

 . . . and upon zooming in you can see that Mr. Pittock was an avid cyclist and founded the Oregon Road Club. 

Here is Mr. Pittock with his whip.  If he did ride to his house from Portland dude certainly had legs of steel.  

If you like bikes, Portland is sure not to disappoint. 

Comments

[Jonathan]

Thanks for the pictures; I was visiting my relatives, who live a couple blocks away from the Thai place, this summer. Nice to see it again.

[Jim H]

There was an article in today's Oregonian about cycling here 100 years ago.

http://www.oregonlive.com/O/index.ssf/2011/01/portland_enjoys_a_golden_age_o.html

[KD Web]

" I was zipping by this guy as a passenger in a car (sad but true) and he had an impressive looking trailer."

That " impressive looking trailer " was hacked from a Airline Dog Crate! That bottom part mates with an identical top half and holds a wire door between the 2 halfs. That's size is for a big dog....think Lab!

[digital piano]

You share such a impressive pictures.The portal bikes are looks nice.I am so glad to see this pictures.

[dog shop]

It was such a nice experienced reading your post. It brings back memories, like the old photos here,riding a bike, places. ;-D