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Adaptive BIKETOWN is a partnership between PBOT and Nomad Cycles, providing adaptive bike rentals for those who are living with a disability or who can’t ride the traditional 2-wheeled BIKETOWN e-bikes. Adaptive BIKETOWN is funded by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefit Fund (PCEF).
About Adaptive BIKETOWN
Since 2017 Portland's bike-share system has included adaptive bikes in its shared fleet with the partnerships of community non-profits and businesses. Community members who can't ride 2-wheeled BIKETOWN e-bikes are able to reserve and rent these adaptive bikes at OMSI and ride them through the car-free East Bank Esplanade along the Willamette River.
The rental includes a fitting, bike tutorial, and helmet, and the first hour is free.
After completing a thorough Request for Proposal process the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is excited to announce that Nomad Cycles PDX has been awarded the contract to operate BIKETOWN's adaptive bike rental fleet.
Starting June 15 - July 15, 2026, Adaptive BIKETOWN will be operating on an appointment only basis to allow their team extra time to fulfill some outstanding asks from the community. We will be performing safety checks on the fleet of adaptive bikes (generously donated by Kerr Bikes), we will also be setting up some basic business essentials and making the space a bit more comfortable for this new chapter of Adaptive BIKETOWN. If you want to schedule an appointment you can email the Nomad team at adaptive@nomadcyclespdx.com.
Starting Thursday July 16, 2026, Adaptive BIKETOWN will have official open hours where riders can make a reservation for their bike rentals as well as taking walk-ins.
For the latest updates as they become available, sign up for the Adaptive BIKETOWN newsletter (be sure to select Adaptive BIKETOWN from the list of newsletter topics). If you have additional questions, please email sharedmicromobility@portlandoregon.gov.
How to use Adaptive BIKETOWN
Starting June 15 - July 15, 2026, Adaptive BIKETOWN will be operating on an appointment only basis.
To schedule an appointment, you can email the Adaptive BIKETOWN team at adaptive@nomadcyclespdx.com
Starting Thursday July 16, 2026, Adaptive BIKETOWN will have official open hours where riders can make a reservation for their bike rentals as well as taking walk-ins.
The rental includes a fitting, bike tutorial, and helmet. The first rental hour is free.
No proof of eligibility is required for this program but there will be a rental check-out process at pick-up.
History of Adaptive BIKETOWN
Following BIKETOWN's launch in 2016, PBOT received two requests for accessible accommodation within its BIKETOWN bike-share system. In response, PBOT interviewed Portlanders with disabilities, organizations serving people with disabilities, bike-share systems in other cities, and city staff about the formulation of an accessible bike-share pilot program.
Interviewees almost universally expressed a desire and/or need for a staffed service that could assist riders in transferring from their mobility devices to adaptive bikes, as well as a safe storage site for mobility devices. Because of the safety concerns of riding in auto traffic, and a primary interest in exercise and recreation, people wanted to use adaptive bicycles to ride on trails or paths without motor vehicles. Adaptive BIKETOWN's, intent is to focus on adaptive cycle rentals through existing bike rental businesses located on or in close proximity to non-motorized trails.
In 2017 Kerr Bikes, a social enterprise of Albertina Kerr, began operating Adaptive BIKETOWN out of its existing bike and boat rental facility at OMSI on the East Bank Esplanade.
On September 30, 2025, Kerr Bikes completed its 8-year partnership with PBOT as the operator of Adaptive BIKETOWN. Not only did Albertina Kerr offer Adaptive BIKETOWN space and quality support through Kerr Bikes, it also allowed Portland to serve as an example to other cities world-wide of what an adaptive bike program can look like when connected to a city's bike-share program. PBOT and the adaptive community appreciates and acknowledges Albertina Kerr's partnerships as key to this program's success.
During the summer of 2025 PBOT opened up a public Request for Proposal for a new operator of Adaptive BIKETOWN.
In May of 2026 the contract was awarded to Nomad Cycles PDX after completing a thorough Request for Proposal process. The new operator was able to stay in the OMSI location as well as receive the donated fleet from Albertina Kerr.
In-person assistance signing up for BIKETOWN for All
For in-person assistance signing up for BIKETOWN for All (a service that used to be provided at our Adaptive BIKETOWN location), please reach out to the City of Portland's Customer Service Center (also known as PDX311). We've provided their location and contact information below:
Location:
Portland Building (First floor)
1120 SW Fifth Avenue Portland, OR 97204
In person hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. excluding federal holidays
Phone: dial 311 (or 503-823-4000)
Phone hours: 7 days a week - 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. excluding federal holidays
Language interpretation by phone, including ASL is available
Email: 311@portlandoregon.gov
Website: www.portland.gov/311
Location and Hours
Address:
1945 SE Water Ave., Bldg B (Big red barn next to OMSI)
Portland, OR 97214
Hours:
June 15 - July 15, 2026, Adaptive BIKETOWN will be operating on an appointment only basis.
To schedule an appointment email adaptive@nomadcyclespdx.com
Contact
For questions regarding rentals
Email: adaptive@nomadcyclespdx.com
For questions about the program, event scheduling, or BIKETOWN for All
Email: sharedmicromobility@portlandoregon.gov
Phone: 503-823-4202
Past Newsletters
Adaptive BIKETOWN New Operator Announcement