November 16, 2009

There and Back Again, A Cycling Tale

By Jay Graves | 2 comments

People who know me know that cycling is my passion. I love Portland, in part, because so many others here share that passion. And I admire cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen for the same reason. Cycling is also how I make my living, and for both business and personal reasons, I’ve traveled overseas many times. My most comfortable flights have been flying nonstop out of PDX.

For many years I have said, “I want Portland to be the Amsterdam of America” and when you visit Amsterdam, (and from there to Copenhagen), prepare to be impressed by the sheer number of enthusiastic cyclists. They ride to work, school, shops – everything! – is simply part of the culture in those cities. On my Blue Ribbon Committee trip last year, we rode our bikes almost the entire trip (except for a couple taxi rides to and from the airport, and a couple mass transit rides). I was pleasantly surprised to see that our agenda included time to get from place to place … via bicycle! But then again, bikes are the most efficient way to get around, bikeway facilities are excellent, and bicycling is a normal part of daily life.

Fashion is never sacrificed when riding bicycles in Amsterdam. Photograph by Lars Daniel, used by permission.

One fun thing to check out en route or in Copenhagen is a Web site called Cycle Chic. Great photographs! Notice how they cycle in their normal clothes.– no spandex or helmets. Over 1/3 of all trips are done on a bicycle. And, they mostly ride bikes that are designed for comfortable, safe urban mobility, not for going fast and furiously. Riders of all ages sit up straight, look around and are tuned in to their surroundings.

For those travelers coming to Portland (hopefully also on the nonstop from Amsterdam!) start by visiting Web sites that help you dive into the culture of cycling, including BikePortland, the Community Cycling Center and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Then follow up with some fantastic cycling to some of Oregon’s great festivals, concerts and wineries: some of these rides benefit wonderful causes, such as The Children’s Heart Foundation. And of course, I invite visitors to stop in at a Bike Gallery store for maps and fun cycling gear. We’re the “local, family owned bike store dedicated to connecting people with bicycles, and creating healthier hearts, minds and communities”.

Happy cycling!

Jay Graves
Owner, The Bike Gallery
Portland, Oregon

Jay Graves, Copenhagen Castle

Photo credits: bicycle garage, Dan Kamminga; woman biking, Lars Daniel, Jay Graves, Courtesy of Bike Gallery