Thousands of cyclists will ride across Portland’s streets and bridges car-free this Sunday for the 24th annual Providence Bridge Pedal, one of the largest community bike rides in the world.
The tour will let cyclists ride on seven bridges across the Willamette River, including the upper decks of the Fremont and Marquam bridges, areas not usually available for bikes.
Providence Bridge Pedal organizer Rick Baumann said the event expects up to 10,000 participants, and will offer unique perspectives for Portland cyclists.
“When both of those bridges were built back in the '60s and early '70s, it was forbidden. You were not allowed to put on things like bike paths,” Baumann said. “We’re lucky to have this one morning where you get up there with the remarkable views of downtown, and the river and the Cascades. Though it’s a biking event, it’s really a community celebration.”
The Portland Bureau of Transportation said bridge sidewalks will remain open during the event, but to expect delays on Portland bridges and streets for the duration of the event. TriMet buses and MAX trains may experience delays downtown as well.
Many of Portland's bridges will be closed, and others will only have one-way traffic Sunday:
- Sellwood — open both directions
- Fremont — southbound upper deck closed — 4 a.m.-noon
- Ross Island — westbound closed — 4 a.m.-11 a.m.
- Hawthorne — outside eastbound, inside westbound closed — 4 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
- Marquam — northbound upper deck closed — 4 a.m.-11 a.m.
- Morrison — south and center eastbound lanes closed — 4 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
- Steel — eastbound closed (except MAX) — 6:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
The Broadway, Burnside, St. Johns and Tilikum Crossing bridges are not included in this year’s event route.
A number of bus lines are being re-routed because of the bridge closures. Click here to review TriMet's transit alerts.