Just in time for Christmas, Old Town Businesses Celebrate new crosswalks

The Old Town Business Committee celebrated the installation of a new crosswalk at the intersection of NW 2nd ave and NW Couch st. at their monthly meeting on Thursday, praising the work of the Portland Bureau of Transportation and looking forward to more to come.

“These pedestrian improvements are critical to neighborhood safety- not only for local residents and business employees, but also for our customers in Old Town this Holiday season and throughout the year” said local Bike Shop owner Evan Ross of Cycle Portland, who sits on the business committee and who’s business is a stones throw from the newly improved intersection.

Crosswalks4

Old Town is going through a serious transformation and has had a significant increase in pedestrian traffic after the opening of the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine campus and with an increase in housing units from projects like the Rick Block Apartments redevelopment. Other middle income housing projects are under way in the old Ericson Saloon building and will continue to bring more foot traffic to the neighborhood.

Several more projects either in their permitting stages or under construction will continue to increase the population in the neighborhood, including the development of a new 5 story mixed use building in the “L” shaped lot directly adjacent to the OCOM campus along with two other hotel projects in the neighborhood including the Society Hotel and the Grove Hotel project.

“I think local business owners are starting to raise their collective voice on topics surrounding safety and livability concerns in the neighborhood after years of frustration with high speed traffic coming off the Burnside Bridge unnecessarily risking peoples lives. This is a simple, cost- effective improvement that will make a big difference” says Ross.

Crosswalks3

Local businesses took center stage this fall by working with Better Block PDX- a coalition of individuals that have come together to create inviting and interactive places that challenge the notion that streets are only for cars – to facilitate a successful street re-design experiment on NW 3rd Ave that improved pedestrian access to businesses. The experiment was born out of the desire from local businesses to create a safer neighborhood while exploring alternatives to the current Entertainment District street closure. The current barricade design has created a noticeable difference in safety, but also a significant drop in revenue as reported by the Old Town Hospitality Committee, a group consisting of local bar and restaurant owners in the neighborhood.

 

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has green-lighted the installation of several more crosswalks in the area, including the intersection of NW 2nd and NW Davis along with having just installed a new stop sign at the intersection of NW 3rd and NW Davis St. One of the only neighborhoods in downtown to lack adequate crosswalks, this will enhance the street-scape in a positive way for all users and create a safe space for holiday shoppers to explore a neighborhood going through a true renaissance.

 

Utropstecken! Cycle Portland media love from the Swedes

Similarly grey winters, exquisite edibles, and a love for urban exploration by bike.

Portland and the Swedes are a match made in impeccably-designed heaven, and our counterparts across the pond agree!

Cycle Portland has been named a must-experience from the ünderbar writers at Hallen, a Swedish foodie travel magazine! You can check out the spread from the magazine here: Hallen-Sweden-FallWinter 2014.

And you, too, can share the microbrews, culinary creations, history, and exploration with friends and family all over the globe – Cycle Portland gift cards are available here!

 

Portland Voted #3 Healthiest City to Visit on Vacation!

Portland was just voted #3 for healthiest vacation spots in the US according to Nerdwallet, a consumer advocacy group!

Here’s what they have to say about Portland:

Portland, Oregon

If you’re looking to save on your hotel this summer, Portland’s average nightly rate of $164 may be appealing. For an even cheaper option and alternative experience, check out Tierra Soul, an urban farm and guesthouse that has rooms with a queen-sized bed for just $105/night. If you’ve come to eat, try an Eat Adventures Portland food tour or a meal at Noble Rot, which features local and organic ingredients, many of which come from the restaurant’s rooftop garden. If you’re in Portland in July and have a taste for good beer, check out Oregon Craft Beer Month—not necessarily a healthy activity, but well-deserved after a Cycle Portland Bike Tour. To escape the city you can also venture about 10 miles north to Sauvie Island, half of which is a wildlife reserve.

Looking for a great ride idea for around Portland with great views and even swimming? Take the Sauvie/Skyline Ride – 32-45 Miles. Pick up this loop just a few blocks from Cycle Portland and stop in for a map!

Keeping up with Pedalpalooza activities?

Highlights for this week:

Wednesday, June 11
KARAOKE IN THE PARK
Irving Park, NE 7th Ave and Fargo St, Portland
7:30pm

Friday, June 13
CAPOEIRA ROLLING RODA RIDE
Powell Park, SE 26th Ave and Powell Blvd
6:00pm

Saturday, June 14
THE SOUND OF MUSIC SING-A-LONG RIDE
Overlook Park, N Interstate Ave and Fremont St(Meet on the grassy hill overlooking the park near the intersection of N Melrose Dr and N Overlook Blvd)
1:00pm

Your Bachelor & Bachelorette Party in Portland – On Bikes!

Cycle Portland is getting MORE media love! Be still our bikey hearts!

We’ve happily hosted many a bachelor & bachelorette party in portland over the years, and now Martha Stewart Weddings has recommended touring with Cycle Portland as an essential addition to your big day. Though many choose our Breweries By Bike tour for their day of fun festivities, all of our offerings provide a great way to explore the city with those you want to surprise.

Whether with family members, wedding parties, friends, and/or out-of-town visitors, our tours bring people together through reveling in all our lovely city has to offer! Love and bikes – a match made in Martha Stewart (and Portland) heaven.

Thanks for the love, Martha!

Cycle Portland – Your Best First Date With Portland!

Want to get up-close and personal with our beautiful city, its history, favorite local spots, and best biking routes? According to the wonderful people over at Trivago.com, a first-hand travel guru and booking site, Cycle Portland is the best possible intro to the City of Roses, and we humbly agree!

From bicycle boulevards to sea captains to champion coffee roasters and brilliant breweries, Trivago and Time and the LA Times and others say our year-round tours offer a terrific two-wheeled taste of all that Portland has to offer. You, too, can explore whichever uniquely-Portland topic suits your fancy by booking a tour with Portland’s original bike tour company (us!) here.

We love spreading smiles and bike love to visitors and locals alike. Thanks again for the praise, Trivago!

Cheery Ho! Cycle Portland Media-Love from Across the Pond

All of us here at Cycle Portland are honored to be profiled in the media yet again! A recent article from Cosmopolitan UK lists their top must-visit Portland staples, and we made the list. Huzzah!

According to the article, our Essential Portland Tour is the “perfect way to get your bearings” and experience Rose City’s bike culture first hand. We humbly agree.

As Portland’s original bike tour company, we’ve always known that exploring our local shops, food, and sights is indescribably different from atop a bicycle, and we continue to be delighted to share unique experiences with locals and visitors from around the globe.

Thanks again for the tip of the hat, Cosmo UK!

Join Us at the 8th annual Pacific Crest Trail Days.

 PCT Days Poster

This is out 8th year supporting Pacific Crest Trail days and we invite you to join us at the event. In 2005 I hiked from Mexico to Canada on the 2,658 mile Pacific Crest Trail and this experience was a big part of my inspiration for starting Portland Bike Tours. I will always be thankful for those who have helped create a path for others to explore and would like to contribute the same to my community. Join us in supporting the work of tireless advocates and volunteers that help create awareness and appreciation for our natural wild areas. – Evan “Manimal” Ross

GEAR FAIR

Learn about outdoor products from
PCT DAYS sponsors. Whether you are looking for tents, clothing, backpacks, camp stoves, etc…it’s all going to be here!

FREE CLASSES

Participate in one of the great free classes on Saturday.
Check out the schedule on this document or visit www.pctdays.com for more event details.

TRAIL WORK PARTY

Friday Sept. 5th give back to the trail and join a work party on the PCT!

Contact Dana: dhendricks@pcta.org.

GEAR RAFFLE & AUCTION

Don’t miss your chance to win great gear at the raffle & auction on Saturday at 5 pm!

DOCUMENTARY FILM & SLIDESHOW

See the documentary film “The Meaning of WILD” on Saturday at 8 pm, followed by a photo slideshow by Outdoor Viewfinder at 8:30 pm.

FREE CAMPING

Attendees may camp on the event site on Thunder Island for free and space is first- come, first-served. Camping is available on Fri. and Sat. nights only.

The 8th Annual Pacific

Crest Trail Days will take place September 5-7, 2014 on Thunder Island in Cascade Locks, Oregon, which is bor- dered by the Columbia River and surround- ed by the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. PCT DAYS is a great time for people to learn about the latest outdoor products from event sponsors, participate in free classes, join a trail work party, see a photography slideshow by Outdoor View- finder, and watch the documentary movie, “The Meaning of Wild.” The Pacific Crest Trail and other nearby trails offer access to some of the most beautiful scenery in the Pacific Northwest for hiking and biking just a short walk from the event site. The 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act falls on the week of the event, so there will be sever- al activities that tie in to celebrate the anni- versary. PCT DAYS is family-friendly and free to attend!

Don’t miss your chance to win amazing products at the gear raffle and auction on Saturday at 5 pm! All proceeds are donat- ed to the American Long Distance Hiking

Association-West and the Pacific Crest Trail Association for the protection, preservation and promotion of the trail. Tickets for the gear raffle are only $2 each for the first 5 tickets and $1 each thereafter and may be purchased on Friday and Saturday at the PCTA & ALDHA-WEST booths.

Camping is free on Thunder Island and available on a first-come, first-served ba- sis. Attendees may bring a small camp stove, but no charcoal or large open flame grills are allowed. Dogs are permitted, but please only bring those that are friendly and be sure to bring bags for their waste. For those who don’t wish to camp, there are hotels in town and an RV campsite in the Marine Park (reservations are encouraged

by calling 541.374.8619.) Local food & beverage vendors will be on-hand and there are several restaurants and a grocery store within walking distance of the event site.

Cascade Locks is 42 miles east of Portland and 20 miles west of Hood River just off I-84. From I-84, take the Cascade Locks exit, Thunder Island/Marine Park is a left just off of WaNaPa (Main) Street. Parking at the event site is free. To plan your stay or for more info on Cascade Locks, visit: http://www.cascadelocks.net

For event information, visit www.pctdays.com

To volunteer, please email:

pctdaysvol@gmail.com

PCT DAYS 2014 – Event Schedule

Friday, September 5: 10 am – 10 pm

10 am – 8 pm: Event Arrival / Set-up Day on Thunder Island, Cascade Locks, OR. Get a sneak peek at some of our sponsor’s products as they setup the gear fair and stake your claim on a free camp spot! There are lot’s of options for hiking and biking in the area, so whether you want to relax on the island or enjoy an outing in the Gorge, head to out to Cascade Locks on Friday and stay for the weekend!

8 pm – 10 pm: Join us for the PCT DAYS Welcome Party! (A social gathering / meet & greet event for gear reps, organization staff, event staff, and the public.)

Saturday, September 6: 10 am – 9:15 pm

10 am – 6:30 pm: PCT DAYS Gear Fair. Check out the latest and greatest products from our spon- sors! (Some sponsors will have products for sale.)

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: FREE Class Session 1: “How to Capture Video on the Trail” with Scott “Squatch” Herriott and Miguel “VirGo” Aguilar.

2 pm – 3 pm: FREE Class Session 2: “Hiking the Backcountry with your K-9 Companion” with Whitney “Allgood” LaRuffa of Allgood’s K-9 Adventures.

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: FREE Class Session 3: “Get Out More Tour Backpacking Clinic” with Backpacker Magazine.

5 pm – 6:30 pm: Gear Raffle & Auction. Don’t miss your chance to win great products / gear donated by our sponsors! The more tickets you buy, the better chance to win! Keep some extra change in your pocket for the Silent Auction after the raffle! We have packs, tents, gift certificates, footwear, cloth- ing, water bottles, and everything but the kitchen sink for you to win! All proceeds are donated to the PCTA and ALDHA-WEST.

6:30 pm – 8 pm: Dinner Break. Take time to relax or recharge with food & beverages from our vendors or head into town! Be sure to be back on Thunder Island by 8 pm for the documentary film “The Meaning of WILD” and the photography slideshow by Outdoor Viewfinder at 8:30 pm!

8 pm – 8:30 pm: Documentary Film: “The Meaning of Wild” presented by The Sitka Conservation Society. 8:45 pm – 9:15 pm: Photography Slideshow by Jason Waicunas of Outdoor Viewfinder, the PCT DAYS

event director.

Sunday, September 7:

10 am – 1 pm: PCT DAYS Gear Fair. Although the event will be winding down, stick around to check out the gear fair.

4 pm: PCT DAYS is over! Thank you for attending the event…please join us next year! For more info, visit www.pctdays.com

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