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Newsletter
Welcome to the sixth edition of the Adaptive BIKETOWN newsletter from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). We are looking back at an exciting 2024 riding season and are happy to share that we have had the most rentals ever this year!
Published
2024 Adaptive BIKETOWN Fall Newsletter
Welcome to the sixth edition of the Adaptive BIKETOWN newsletter from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). We are looking back at an exciting 2024 riding season and are happy to share that we have had the most rentals ever this year!
The Kerr Bike shop is closed for the season for regular walk-up hours until March 2025, but bikes are still available to rent through the Fall and Winter months by reservation.
Thanks to the hard work of our operator Kerr Bikes and our lovely sponsor, Nike, Adaptive BIKETOWN was able to offer the first hour of your ride FREE for Adaptive riders! In 2025, we are excited to announce that the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) will be supporting Adaptive BIKETOWN. This program is one of many initiatives under the Climate Investment Plan, PCEF’s five-year roadmap to guide investment in community-led projects that reduce climate emissions and cultivate shared prosperity.
2024 Highlights
Adaptive BIKETOWN kicked off the season with high ridership in Spring and just kept going!
Spring ridership soared in March and April thanks to some pockets of sunshine, and we rounded out the season with the busiest September we have ever seen! Adaptive BIKETOWN participated in all three of this year’s Sunday Parkways in East Portland, the Cully neighborhood, and Southwest. For more information and photos on the Sunday Parkways happenings keep scrolling.
We continued the Kerr Fun Zone by popular demand, which is an all around great time for the Albertina Kerr community! For the third year in a row we partnered with the Street Trust for an adaptive event and group ride which was hosted at our very own Adaptive BIKETOWN shop. We’re committed to offering free, 60-minute rides by reservation. Monday – Thursday during the riding season (March - September). We saw a record-number of repeat riders coming in once or multiple times a week. In 2024 we saw many self-organized, community group rides and field trips using our adaptive bikes.
If you would like to organize a group ride with your own set of friends, suggest new bike additions or share feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out to info@kerrbikes.org.
Read ahead to learn more about last season’s community gatherings!
2024 Adaptive BIKETOWN Community Engagement
Every riding season is jam packed with events where we get to showcase our bike fleet, talk about Adaptive BIKETOWN programming, and connect with community. Portland Sunday Parkways, presented by Kaiser Permanente is a free event series run by the PBOT, that opens up our city's largest public space - its streets - to walk, bike, roll, and discover active transportation.
East Portland Sunday Parkways
At the first Portland Sunday Parkways of the season in East Portland we set up at Gateway Discovery Park. We spoke with community members and had several adaptive bikes on hand for people to reserve and ride. Thousands of community members showed up to East Portland in true Portland fashion with cloudy skies above! Thank you to everyone who supported this event by showing up, volunteering, or spreading the word.
Northeast Cully Sunday Parkways
We were ready for the summer fun at Fernhill Park in Cully. We held our second-ever adaptive group ride at Sunday Parkways alongside Adaptive Sports NW and Shriners Children’s Hospital. The ride was a huge success and great example of how Adaptive BIKETOWN aims to connect and support the community.
Southwest Portland Sunday Parkways
To round out the Sunday Parkways series we were stationed at Multnomah Village for National Car-Free Day! We enjoyed being right next to the (very helpful) Sunday Parkways booth and shared information about fun family and adaptive rental options that are available at both Kerr Bikes location.
If you missed us at this year's Sunday Parkways, look out for next year's event calendar on the main Sunday Parkways site linked here.
The Street Trust 3rd Annual Adaptive Event
For the past 3 years, The Street Trust and Adaptive BIKETOWN have collaborated to celebrate Disability Pride with a community event and group ride at Adaptive BIKETOWN. Participants learn about the Adaptive fleet, choose a bike, then set out as a group for a leisurely ride along the Springwater corridor. This event is a great way for community members to become acquainted with the options and services offered at Adaptive BIKETOWN while having the support and company of other participants. Snacks and activities are provided for kids.
Ride Through the Seasons - See and Be Seen Ride
In October we joined the PBOT-led event series , Ride Through the Season. This was a great opportunity to showcase some of our multi-rider bicycles (both electrical assist and not) and encourage visibility while riding through the winter season! The ride was 7 miles starting at the Salmon Street fountain and looping up to 32nd and Clinton Ave. For more information on some of the ongoing Ride Through the Season programming check out their main page here.
Kerr Fun Zone
Kerr Bikes and Adaptive BIKETOWN hosted the annual Kerr Fun Zone event in August at the Kerr Bikes/Adaptive BIKETOWN location. This event offers Albertina Kerr program participants (youth and adults who have intellectual and/or developmental disabilities) with connection by providing games, prizes, food, and bike rides.
Field Trips to Kerr Bikes/Adaptive BIKETOWN
In 2024, we hosted the highest number of field trips to Adaptive BIKETOWN since the beginning of the program. Field trips are a great (and free!) way to connect groups who qualify for adaptive bike rentals. Field trips are easy to coordinate with Kerr Bikes/Adaptive BIKETOWN staff. You can make a reservation at: Reservation or email info@kerrbikes.org to set up a field trip with your group.
Adaptive BIKETOWN Fleet
The Side-by-SideTandem and the Tadpole were our most popular bikes of 2024.
Each season we purchase new equipment, make improvements to the fleet, and either sell or donate gently used bikes to make room for new additions.
The Adaptive BIKETOWN fleet continues to grow and diversify options. The fleet now sits at over 30 bikes. Check out some of the Adaptive BIKETOWN fleet here.
We plan to add a Cargo Bike to the fleet and are shopping around to find one that best fits the needs of our Adaptive community.
Due to the popularity of our current side-by-side adaptive cycles, we are planning to purchase a Worksman Side-by-Side to round out our fleet.
We may have a bike available for donation as we make room for new additions to the fleet. If you are wanting to have your own adaptive bike or have hot tips on new bikes we should consider adding to our rental fleet, let us know your needs by emailing info@kerrbikes.org!
New Adaptive Support Accessories
We have added two new harnesses that can be secured by our staff to most adaptive bike seats in the fleet. Please call in advance or mention in your reservation that you would like to use the harness as it takes some time for staff to set it up on your bike.
We have also added a number of pedals with toe straps that can be quickly attached to or removed from any pedal in the adaptive fleet.
Adaptive BIKETOWN
Closed for the Winter Season
Available by reservation only at https://adaptivebiketown.com/reservations
1945 SE Water Ave., Bldg B (Big red barn next to OMSI)
Portland, OR 97214
Adaptive BIKETOWN Website: www.adaptivebiketown.com
Kerr Bikes Customer Service
Email: info@kerrbikes.org
Phone: (503) 802-5271 or 311 afterhours
Adaptive BIKETOWN program questions, comments & feedback
Email: sharedmicromobility@portlandoregon.gov
Phone: 311