Portland Bridge Pedal

pedal Portland is known as the City of Bridges, and it could just as easily be known as the City of Bicyclists. The Portland Bridge Pedal is what happens when you put those two things together. Or, as it’s officially known due to sponsorship, the Providence Bridge Pedal!

Once every year, all 10 of Portland’s bridges is covered with cyclists. It’s sort of like Critical Mass, only the Portland Bridge Pedal is sanctioned (and even charges an entry fee!). This year the event is on Sunday, August 12. Participants can choose to ride all 10 bridges (36-mile route), eight bridges (24-mile route) or six bridges (14-mile route). Included in the itinerary are routes across the top decks of the the Marquam and Fremont bridges. The registration fees are $25 for adults ($35 if you sign up on the day of the event), $10 for kids age 12 or under ($15 on the day of the event), or if you want to form a team, you can gather five or more adults together to save $5 each off the registration fee. This is a perfect excuse to make friends with your cycling neighbors.

And lest you think you’re paying a fee and getting nothing in return, I hasten to point out that:

The Bite of Oregon will host our finish line festivities with plenty of good food and entertainment. And, once again, we will offer a drawing with great prizes. The grand prize is a Bike Friday tikit bicycle, built in Oregon and considered the world’s best folding bike. Four other lucky winners will receive $250 Starbucks gift cards.

Because, after all, what’s the best reason to ride a bike? Why, to eat yourself silly, that’s what!

Oh, and if you’re like me and you haven’t been on a bike in more than a decade, you can still get into the spirit of things by joining the “Portland Bridge Stride” event for walkers which is a five-mile route that goes over the Fremont and Steel bridges. Fees for the Bridge Stride are $15 for adults ($20 on event day), $10 for seniors aged 60 or over ($15 on event day) and kids age 12 or under are free.