Oregon’s Scenic Bikeways: How to Stay Safe and Have Fun
Most people have heard of some of America’s famous roads like Route 66 which goes from Chicago to Los Angeles or Route 101 that takes drivers on a scenic ride down the West Coast through California, Oregon, and Washington. But in 2008, Oregon started a first of its kind program to create and maintain Scenic Bikeways for riders to enjoy. There are currently seventeen routes with varying difficulty levels in the program for a total of 1,260 scenic miles of cycling.
Why are Oregon’s scenic bike trails so popular?
When the program got started, each of the routes were nominated by locals and later selected by Oregon State Park officials who were heading the program. Since 2022, the Scenic Bikeways program has been headed by Cycle Oregon, a nonprofit group that wants to support cycling and community development across the state.
The bikeways are easy to follow with printable maps, on-road signage, and GPS directions. In 2014, cyclists spent $12.4 million on lodging, food, and tourist activities. They’ve been hugely successful in getting cyclists out to areas of Oregon that are less travelled.
One popular scenic bikeway called “The Grande Tour” gets cyclists out to eastern Oregon where they’re taken past four different mountain ranges over the course of a 134-mile, figure-eight loop. The Twin Bridges Scenic Bikeway, that starts and ends in Bend, Oregon, takes cyclists through rolling desert hills for a 36-mile, more moderately challenging ride.
The most challenging route, The Painted Hills Scenic Bikeway in eastern Oregon starts just a two-hour drive from Bend. It goes 161 miles through the otherworldly scenery of the Painted Hills with a climb of 12,864 feet.
Not only do these scenic rides showcase the varied topography of Oregon, they’re helpfully labeled as mild and moderate rides or challenging and extreme bikeway routes. This means cyclists can choose their routes based on the views and how many miles (or how much incline) they want on their ride. In the future, there may be additional routes added to the program. In particular, they’re hoping to add more mild routes that can appeal to new and young riders.
Things Oregon Scenic Bikeway riders should keep in mind
While Route 66 was built with cars in mind, Oregon’s scenic bikeways still predominantly have to share the road with other vehicles. Only two routes offer car-free riding: the Banks-Vernonia Trail section of the Tualatin Valley Bikeway and the Row River Trail section of the Covered Bridges Bikeway.
The scenic bikeways are selected to be great routes but that doesn’t mean they offer safe rides. Many of the routes require cyclists to ride with car and truck traffic. Unfortunately, many sections of the bikeway don’t even have designated bike lanes to separate cyclists from vehicular traffic. Because the bikeways are often in scenic and rural areas, there are many areas with limited or no cell service.
Safety Tips for cycling in Oregon
Before setting out on an Oregon Scenic Bikeway tour—especially on a route with limited cell service—riders should make sure a friend or family member knows your itinerary and estimated time of arrival. While the routes are well marked, it’s always possible to get lost or have an equipment problem. In the event of a cycling accident on the road, you’ll want assistance as soon as possible.
Especially when riding without a bike lane, cyclists are at the mercy of road conditions which aren’t always pleasant or safe for cyclists. Poorly maintained shoulders on the road can put cyclists in a precarious position. Many cyclists try to take up as little space as possible in these situations, riding to the far right of whatever space is available, but it’s often safer to ride in the road and force drivers to slow down and wait to pass rather than passing too close at high speeds.
As always, make sure to stay visible to drivers on the road by having front and rear lights as well as other reflective clothing or gear.
Before you head out: read about what to do if you’re in a bike accident. And if you do get into an accident on Oregon’s Scenic Bikeways or any other road, call bicycle accident lawyer Matt Scarborough for a free consultation.
