This coming Sunday marks a special day for cyclists and community enthusiasts in East Portland as the first of three Portland Sunday Parkways events kicks off. According to a news release from the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the streets are set to come alive with walkers, bikers, and rollers from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 19. A 3.3-mile route will guide participants through Gateway Discovery Park, Ventura Park, and Lincoln Park, providing an array of activities suitable for all ages. The event is presented by Kaiser Permanente and is part of the larger National Bike Month celebrations.
"As a health care organization, we’re proud to partner with the City as the founding sponsor of Sunday Parkways 17 years ago, and provide fun, healthy and memorable experiences for our Portland communities,” Wendy Watson, COO of Kaiser Permanente Northwest, expressed by the Portland Bureau of Transportation. The initiative underscores a commitment to foster civic pride, grow local businesses, and support sustainable transportation, all of which are hoped to bolster community health. The event not only spotlights Kaiser Permanente's community engagement but also the city's infrastructural developments such as new greenways, sidewalks, and speed bumps that have been integrated into this year's course.
For those joining the festivities from outside the neighborhood, multiple transit options are available, including the Red, Green, and Blue MAX Lines, and several bus routes detailed in the city's announcement. Moreover, BIKETOWN is offering free, unlimited 60-minute rides on the day of the event, urging attendees to take advantage of the bike-sharing service. To utilize the offer, riders must start or end their journey on the Sunday Parkways route and within the service area.
Motorists should note that certain streets in East Portland will be closed to vehicle traffic from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to accommodate the event. Traffic is expected to be impacted, and alternative routes are suggested. While streets will be predominantly car-free, there will be designated crossings for motorized vehicles at specific intersections. Participants can view these crossings and access the event route by visiting the interactive Google Map provided in the bureau's announcement.
