(May 1, 2025) The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and Multnomah County Library are teaming up once again for the seventh annual Bike to Books design competition after a three year hiatus. Starting today, May 1, Portlanders are invited to design original bike lane art to celebrate bike month and the hundreds of miles of bike lanes around the city. Participants start with the standard bike lane icon and put their own flair on it for the chance to add color and whimsy to Portland streets!
Together, PBOT and the Library are excited to introduce a new age group category this year. Adults (ages 18 and up) are now able to submit bike lane art alongside Pre-K – 12th graders. Grand prize winners (one per age category) will have their designs installed on one of Portland’s many bike lanes and neighborhood greenways by PBOT striping crews. Second and third place winners will also be eligible for prizes.
Throughout the month of May, visit your local library for bike-related events and classes like Bike Storytime or a PBOT-led Basic Bike Maintenance workshop. Find all the events on the Multnomah County Library event page and search "bike" in the search bar.
The Bike to Books program has brought colorful creativity to Portland’s bike lanes for years. From fungi and reading octopi to bicycle-riding strawberries and fire-breathing dragons, there is no limit to what Portlanders will create! The bureau even offers suggested rides for seeing some of the artwork in Portland's eastside and North Portland.
“I am excited to see this partnership between Multnomah County Library and PBOT return," said Deputy City Administrator of Public Works Priya Dhanapal. "Through this fun and creative initiative, we are able to connect with students from around the Portland area – encouraging the community to get creative, read, and ride bikes while celebrating May as Bike Month.”
“Multnomah County Library is excited to continue partnering with the Portland Bureau of Transportation for Bike to Books," said Director of Libraries for Multnomah County, Annie Lewis. “We encourage our community to bike to a library, enter the art contest and explore our updated spaces. Check out the services we offer, including bike parking at Holgate Library, a public tool station at Midland Library where you can repair your bikes and much more.”
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome back the Bike to Books program,” said PBOT Director Millicent Williams. “PBOT's Communications team and Maintenance Operations group work closely to bring Portlanders’ creativity to life. All of us at PBOT are excited to see what Portland youth and adults will create!”
Contest rules and guidelines
To participate, pick up a copy of the design sheet at your local library branch or visit PBOTs Bike to Books website for a downloadable copy. Once your design has been created you can drop it off at your local Multnomah County Library branch, no later than Sunday, June 1. To find your nearest open branch and for information on hours visit multcolib.org or call 503-988-5123.
You can also scan or take a picture of both sides of the form and email it to PBOT at biketobooks@portlandoregon.gov. We accept .jpgs, .pngs, and .pdfs. Please check your image so that it is clear and has a higher resolution if possible. Make sure to keep the original copy.
Design sheets are available to pick up or download in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian and Chinese.
Entry must be original artwork in the following brackets: Pre-Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd through 6th grade, 7th through 12th grade, and adult. Multiple entries welcome. Entrants must live in Multnomah County to be eligible to win.
Bike to Books first began in 2017 by PBOT and Multnomah County Library to encourage kids to bike more, read books and, better yet, bike to their local library! Since then, 19 original artworks have been installed in Portland bike lanes.