BIKETOWN Program Grows 25% – Expands To North And East Portland

PORTLAND, OR — Residents of some neighborhoods in North and East Portland will now have greater access to BIKETOWN bikes, the city's bikeshare program. The program will grow by 25 percent, adding nine square miles in Hazelwood, Mill Park, Parkrose, Parkrose Heights, the University of Portland, downtown St. Johns.

Large sections of the Arbor Lodge, Cathedral Park, Kenton, Portsmouth, and University Park neighborhoods are also included in the expansion.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation and Lyft, which runs the program, said the expansion is intended to serve "areas with a high percentage of communities of color that have been underserved by transportation."

City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who oversees the transportation department, announced the expansion in a park in Parkrose Heights, one of the newly served communities.

"This is an exciting milestone in our efforts to ensure everyone has safe, convenient access to biking in Portland," Hardesty said.

"For too long, our East Portland and North Portland neighborhoods have been lacking the city services and convenient transportation access that the rest of Portland takes for granted. I'm so glad to see PBOT prioritizing racial equity in expanding access to our bike share system."

Hardesty was joined by representatives from Lyft, BIKETOWN, and Nike, the program's founding partner.

"We’re thrilled that our partnership with PBOT is helping to benefit more Portlanders, in more neighborhoods, with active, affordable, and sustainable transportation options," Caitlin Morris, VP Social & Community Impact for Nike, said.

Officials said that people in the new areas will also be eligible for BIKETOWN for All, which is intended to increase access to the bikes for people on low incomes and even college students who receive financial aid.