I live in Portland, Oregon. It is sometimes known as PDX. Our city is divided East and West by a river named the ‘Willamette.’ ‘Willamette,’ ryhmes with ‘damn it.’ So Down by the river you will be renting a bike or maybe you own one. Either way, let’s get started on some tips.
If you are visiting from out of town or even live here, I like to rent Nike Bikes. They have their own phone app and it is easy to rent by the hour or day. Keep in mind if you want to lock it up, do it at their designated racks to avoid an extra $20 fee. It is something in the fine print that people seem to miss. If you have your own lock then it is ok to lock up at your own risk. What I don’t like about renting on the street is the no helmet thing. I do suggest renting a helmet, picking one up at a thrift store or ‘Next Adventure’ (a used sports gear store).
Now that you have your Bike, you can enter the Eastbank Esplanade down at the water front.
Here is a link for some tips from people that have done this and directions. The East Bank Esplanade has scenic views of the city, bridges and river. It is easy to ride on paved walk ways. It is friendly for bikers and walkers.
There are also many bridges in PDX. I personally enjoy a bridge called the ‘Tilikum Crossing Bridge.’ Why I love this bridge is it is designed for bike riders, pedestrians and the train. There are separate lanes designed for safety and it has beautiful views. If you don’t like hills, this may not be for you, as is a work out.
Have fun exploring the East Bank Esplanade. Please share with me any additional thoughts or suggestions in the comments. Happy riding.
