By BTA Correspondent John McLaren

Portland put on a breakfast feast for the dozens of cyclists who rode to Pioneer Courthouse Square May 16 in observance of Bike To Work Day, which is becoming a Portland tradition.

Nearly a dozen City staffers helped with the event, organized by the City’s Transportation Options Division, as a salute to National Bike Month and in honor of all bicyclists who have helped make Portland one of the best cities for cycling in the U.S.

The bicyclists converged on the park from six designated locations. Veteran riders helped lead the pack from each site. On arriving at the square, the cyclists received stickers and were treated to bagels, doughnuts, fried eggs and smoothies dished out from a long table on the east side of the square.

To this observer, a recent transplant from San Diego, Portland seems to do a much better job of promoting cycling, with many designated bike routes, long distance bike paths like Springwater Trail and the I-205 path and a variety of free maps and brochures for bicyclists.

“We’re always expanding but we have a lot more to do, said Transportation Commissioner Sam Adams, who pedaled 6.7 miles to the event from his home in Kenton. “Groups like the BTA are critical to make it happen.”

Troy Freeman arrived on a customized tandem with his daughter Isabelle, 6. They rode 3 miles. Freeman planned to drop Isabelle off at her school in the Pearl District, then go on to work in Hillsboro. “I’m cheating, taking the train” on the last long leg to his workplace , he said. Curtis Roth and Jacob, 5, were a father-son combo on their tandem. Their breakfast trip was 4 miles.

One of the most exotic looking bikes belonged to musician Barry Joe Stull, who said he rides 100 miles a week. He acquired the bike, he said, as part of an insurance settlement after he was struck by a car.

The breakfast opened three days of bicycle commuting related events.

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