Providence Bridge Pedal

In years past, this was a great event. In 2015, it was disappointing. The routing to the Sellwood Bridge was poorly chosen and required walking due to the crowds and constrained pathway. After the St. John Bridge crossing, the checkpoint had run out of water before 11:30am (unacceptable!) and the cookies were gone even earlier. I wrote to the organizers and heard NOTHING! Thus, next year, I will NOT be attending.

35-​mile bike ride around Downtown Portland and over 11-​bridges… Check! So glad we did it. It took us about 4.5 hours to finish with multiple stops for photo ops, water, and cookie/​banana breaks. It’s a bit challenging pedaling up the bridges of course, but once you hit the apex, it’s smooth sailing down hill. The hardest part was actually the last 10 miles or so, when there were no more bridges and we had to bike on flat land and the weather was warmer. But what a great feeling to cross that finish line. Best part was enjoying the great views, coasting down the on ramp onto the freeway they blocked off, and crossing the brand new Tilikum Bridge which hasn’t even been opened to the public yet! Weeeeeee! Sure it can get crowded, but I learned that you have to be vocal: «to your left, to your right», a little «ding ding» on the bell– make yourself known to slower people who don’t know how to get out of the way or stay to the left — they can’t see you, but you can see them. Positive vibes all around. Volunteers and onlookers cheer you on and point the way. Worth the $ 35 dollar registration fee. Free entrance to The Bite of Oregon for participants afterwards. A great exercise and food after that? We love Portland!

The letter I wrote today:
I’m writing to let you know of several issues my husband and good friend had with the bridge pedal today, in hopes that others will write also so that you can provide changes for future years. After the mess they went through today, and a crash involving my husband, if things are not changed, we will never participate again and will also tell others to not participate.
1– There were WAY too many bicyclists today. Even with multiple start areas, things were so crowded that they had to get off their bicycles and walk them 3 times because of congestion. Solution: Make it an all day event with completely separate races or make it a two-​day event.
2– People did not know the rules of the road and bicycling with multiple people. People were not staying to the right if they were slow, children were not being monitored by parents and were all over the road, and people were not checking blind spots (which is what caused my husband to flip over his bicycle because a man cut him off without looking. They were both hurts and my husband’s $ 1,500.00 bicycle now has bent wheels. Luckily he wasn’t seriously hurt (HUGE bruises and road rash), but the other man was older and he could have been seriously hurt too!)
3– Volunteers sent them the wrong way for the ride they signed up for. Having to backtrack against the current of cyclists is not safe. The routes were not marked WHATSOEVER.
4– The route was poorly chosen for the size of the groups.
Many of these things can be corrected for the future if someone puts the time and effort into doing so. Also a cap on riders is a good way to make it safer for everyone involved.
My husband paid $ 60.00 to ride this race today, and it has cost us another $ 300 for new wheels for his bicycle. Thank GOD he doesn’t need to go to the hospital. Because of all of this, I would like to be refunded for his registration. This was a terrible race from the get-​go, and not the first time you have had issues.
I recommend that you do not register children for this race, as they may get seriously hurt!

So amazed by the great organization of an event of this sheer size. So many free giveaways, and bike checkups, and the best part was speeding down the closed off highway off ramp!
Another plus is that it ends in front of the water front and takes place the same weekend of the Bite of Oregon. I believe you get free admission with your purchase/​donation towards the Bridge Pedal event.

we cycle so much, we’ve avoided this event, but decided to try the stride portion of 5.5 miles… very well organized, and the staff/​volunteers are great! the views from the fremont bridge are amazing… it was wonderful seeing 1 – 405 and the fremont top deck without cars! it only took us 1 hr 45 min even counting the photos… it’s a great cause, and everyone is very respectful… participating gets you a free ticket to the bite of oregon, and a 2 fer at chipolte. great event… thx

One of a kind ride anywhere. Serious cyclist or casual you have to do this event. Being able to ride all the bridges in Portland with beautiful views on top of the Fremont and Marquem Bridges are spectacular.

2013 is the best Bridge Pedal ever! Hats off to the organizers and the route planners. Thank you!

Fun ride. Definitely doing the 10 bridge next year!

This was my first year doing the Bridge Pedal, but I can promise you, it will not be my last. My group and I opted for the intro 5-​bridge tour, and it was totally fun.
So to answer your questions:
YES, they close down big hunks of bridge, including two pieces of freeway for this event, so you get to see the city from angles you’ve only glimpsed before.
YES, there are a ton of people and it can be pretty slow going in sections. But that works really well for a slow hill-​climber/​stop-​to-​take-​a-​picture-​r like me.
Along those lines, YES you can walk up a bridge if the incline is too brutal.
YES, at least on the 5-​bridge route, you’re dodging and weaving between and jamming up behind many families and wee kids. This can be a little scary on some of the more narrow bridges, but you’ll make it.
NO, nobody wiped out in front of me. Although YES, I did lose and have to go back for a shoe.
YES a group of 4 or more gets a discount, and you can wait til the very last minute to register.
NO, I didn’t have to get up super early. The 5-​Bridge route started between 8:30 and 9:30. I was convinced, however, to bike from home down to the event, so I did end up rising a little earlier than I might have preferred.
YES, you get free snacks and entertainment and places to stop if you’d like along the way. I was pretty stoked about my free banana, until I saw my friends munching on cookies. What? Cookies? This was about the same time I saw a lady outside of the porta-​potties lighting up a ciggie before the next leg.
So the answer is YES. If I can, YES, you can, too.

Flummoxed!!!
Soooo flummoxed here… only THREE reviews? R ya kiddin’ me?
How can close to 10K Portlanders (or more, depending on the year) partake annually in this signature summer event (this year’s being on Aug. 8)– a Providence Health-​sponsored rite of passage as a local, when all city bridges close for the morning, and locals and all family members come out to rule the river, pedaling and grinning from ear to ear with pure glee?
There are different options to choose from, as far as routes go. We always loved to choose the route that runs across the Fremont Br and up the west side, up north, past the Industrial Saloon on NW Vaughn and up, up to St Johns and across the tall, gothic bridge.
In having participated for several years, I remember one year not even being able to *bike* across the Ross Island Br, there were just that many bodies clogging up the space, dashing any hopes of parking butt atop bike seat and cruising instead gimping across, ‘pedalking’ (pedal+walking).
The views… oh!!! the differing views from the various bridges… my faves: a stop on the St Johns, the Fremont (getting snacks), and the Marquam/​I5 ramp (can you scream Hefeweizen!!!)
Among my top 3 events that I miss and adore about this great city. Withdrawal is starting in anew…
PS I’ve always had deep, deep pity for the fool who was unawares of this annual event, and, perhaps being a tourist or unfamiliar with local routes, or GPS-​less, was unable to successfully cross the Willamette River to his hopeful destination without going all grey, or else just losing all ‘dem follicles.
PPS I usually attend the Bite of OR event and just lock up the bike to get all of the free goodies they pass out… and then salivate over all the great food and fun!

I took my 7 year old daughter and we had the greatest time. I have a pull along bike for my younger son but she got to ride it for the Bridge Pedal and she had a blast.
Truely a unique part of Portland. I was amazed at the entertainment on top of the Markham and the Freemont. Bands, refreshments, and photos; all on top of the Bridges.

One of my favorite annual events in Portland. This year was even better than the last. First of all, the organizers do a great job of setting up the course and there are plenty of volunteers (including bike mechanics) every step of the way to cheer you on and keep you safe. There are also several rest stops with food, drinks and entertainment if you want to take a break.
I love this event because you get to do a few things that you’d never be able to do otherwise (legally)… bike the top span of the Marquam Bridge with a stop at the top to drink some Widmer rootbeer and rock out to a Black Sabbath cover band, Rat Salad. Later you bike the top span of Fremont Bridge with a stop for an iced mocha from Nossa Familia and a drum performance.
It is really important to note that this is a ride, not a race. I found myself stressed out a bit last year on the family ride. Too many people, many with bike trailers and young kids on bikes weaving around and others just oblivious to basic biking etiquette. This year I did the longer 8-​bridge ride and it made a world of difference. The fun factor was much higher this year.
My favorite stretch of the course (which is also part of the Portland Marathon) is on the eastside from St. John’s Bridge on N. Willamette Blvd., past Adidas to Interstate Avenue. Everyone should bike or walk that stretch at least once. After the race, your bib gets you a reduced entry to The Bite of Portland, but that event leaves a lot to be desired.
Hope to see more Yeeps on the road next year.

Yep… what Jen said!
My husband and I also did the 6 bridge (who in the hell wants to get up to start riding by 6am? GROSS) and had a ton of fun. There were definitely moments where I wanted to push over little kids in my way or somehow get rid of the thousands of Burley bike trailers, but we had a really good time overall.
My favorite moment was riding my bike on I-​5 going 30mph before merging onto the marquam bridge. SO FUN.