More and more Portlanders are riding their bikes in Portland, and many of these people are commuters. The city of Portland estimates that more than 2,400 people cross the Hawthorne Bridge on bikes each day. Bicyclists are allowed on almost all of Portland's downtown bridges. Portland has more than 200 miles of bikeways that include both off-street paths and bike lanes along streets. Special blue zones warn motorists that bicyclists have the rightof way in these lanes and that cars must yield to bikes when cars are attempting to turn a corner. Such attention to bicycle riding has earned Portland a reputation accross the country that is a huge bike friendly big city.
Portland has a vigorous city sponsored bicycle office, which is located at 1120 Southwest 5th Avenue, Room 800, 503.823.7671. This office can provide maps and other information about bike routes, bike parking, and so on. The City of Portland's Bicycle Program continues to grow and improve the bike paths. Signs are posted all over the city that tell bicyclists how far, and in which direction, their destinations are. Bike storage lockers may be found in many parts of the city, and many TriMet's buses and MAX light-rail trains are equipped with bike racks. For more information visit the Web site at www.trans.ci.portland .or.us/bicycles;' Portland's reputation is in part due to the efforts of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), which was founded in 1990. This award-winning advocacy outfit has been tireless in its efforts to establish more bike lanes, encourage local developers to meet their legal requirements for bike and pedestrian access.
