The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and Multnomah County Library invite students from pre-K to 12th grade to design bike lane art for the 2020 “Bike to Books” digital design contest, part of May Bike Month. First-place designs are installed on Portland streets by PBOT striping crews.
2020 Bike to Books Digital Design Contest
2020 Winners
(Oct. 29, 2020) The Portland Bureau of Transportation's (PBOT) annual Bike to Books Design Contest looked a little bit different this year as a result of the Covid-19 public health crisis. Now in its fourth year, the contest asks children to design original art for Portland bike lanes. Rather than submitting their designs in person at their local Multnomah County Library branch, families submitted their designs via email. Even with this change, the 2020 Bike to Books Design Contest received over 100 unique designs from schoolchildren across the city.
The program celebrates National Bike Month in May, inviting Multnomah County students to design art for local bike lanes. Three winners were selected from each of the three age categories: Pre-K to 2nd grade, 3rd to 6th grade, and 7th to 12th grade. Grand prize winners will have their art installed on Portland bike lanes and along low-traffic streets known as neighborhood greenways. PBOT’s street striping crews do all the installations. Learn more about how the street art is installed using thermoplastic and propane torches in this video.
Second place winners received a pack of four day passes to Lumberyard Indoor Bike Park that included admissions and gear rental, while third place winners received a helmet from Nutcase Helmets. Honorable Mention winners received a Safe Routes to School goodie bag. All finalists received a certificate and a metal sign from PBOT and Multnomah County Library.
PBOT and Multnomah County Library staff reviewed and voted on all the entries.
Here are the winning designs coming to a bike lane near you:
Thanks to everyone who participated in Bike Month 2020! We look forward to seeing what's in store for 2021!
Calling all kids from grades pre-K to 12th, design your own original bike lane art you would like to see in Portland's bike lanes!
Bike to Books was launched in 2017 by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and Multnomah County Library to encourage kids to bike more and read books. Every May, as part of Bike Month, we invite students living in Multnomah County to design bike lane art for Portland’s “Bike to Books” design contest. This year is a little different, so we've gone digital. While we can’t encourage you to bike to your neighborhood library and pick up a form, we can still encourage you to create amazing bike lane art at home. Download a form below to print at home or use the survey link to request to have forms mailed to you.
The contest is open to students from prekindergarten to 12th grade.
Grand prize winners will have their bike lane art installed on a Portland street by PBOT striping crews.
Prizes
GRAND PRIZE: Bike lane art design installed by PBOT striping crews on Portland streets.* There will be one grand prize from each of three grade categories: pre-K to 2nd; 3rd - 6th; and 7th - 12th.
ADDITIONAL FUN PRIZES for 2nd and 3rd place in each category
*Location, timing and final rendition of the winning designs will be determined by PBOT staff.
Contest dates
- Contest runs from May 1 - 31, 2020
- Entries must be received no later than Sunday, May 31, 2020.
- By submitting a design, you promise that the artwork you submitted: is your original creation; has not been copied in whole or in part from any other work; does not say bad or false things about other people; and has never been previously published or submitted to any other competition.
- PBOT and Multnomah County Library will attempt to notify the parents/guardians of winners using the information provided in the entry form by July 31, 2020.
Contest entry form
Due to the current state of emergency regarding Covid-19 as well as library locations being closed, design pages are available for download to print at home or you can request a copy be mailed to you.
How to enter
Once your design is complete, scan or take a photo of both sides of your form and email it to us in one email. We accept .jpgs, .pngs, .pdfs. Make sure your image is clear and a higher resolution if possible. Make sure you keep your original copy.
Email: biketobooks@portlandoregon.gov
Common colors we have available
These are the most common colors used on our streets: white, yellow and green. We also use purple, red, and orange in smaller amounts.
2019 Winners
Contest rules
- Entry must be the original artwork of children in the following grade brackets: prekindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd through 6th grade, and 7th through 12th grade. Multiple entries are welcome.
- The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will contact winners by phone or email on or around July 31, 2020 and post winning entries to the bureau website and social media.
- Entries will only be accepted through the Bike to Books email: biketobooks@portlandoregon.gov.
- By submitting artwork, the Parent/Guardian consents to use of the child’s name, artwork, and/or quote on materials that promote PBOT programs and activities. If you would prefer your child’s name not be used, please initial on the form.
- There are no monetary prizes associated with winning this contest or for the use of artwork or quotes on PBOT materials.
- Entries must be received no later than Sunday, May 31, 2020.
- By submitting a design, you promise that the artwork you submitted: is your original creation; has not been copied in whole or in part from any other work; does not say bad or false things about other people; and has never been previously published or submitted to any other competition.
- Decisions of the judges are final and binding. PBOT and Multnomah County Library will attempt to notify the parents/guardians of winners using the information provided in the entry form on or around July 31, 2020. If a winner’s parent or guardian cannot be contacted or does not respond within 48 hours of the first contact attempt, if a winner does not fulfill the eligibility requirements, if a winner does not adhere to the Official Rules, or if the prize notification is returned as undeliverable, that winner will be disqualified and contest organizers may select a new potential winner by the same criteria set forth above.
- The City of Portland complies with all non‐discrimination, Civil Rights laws including Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II. To request translation, interpretation, accommodation, modifications, or additional info please contact PBOT at 503-823-5185, or use City TTY 503‐823‐6868, or Oregon Relay Service: 711.
