The Sunday Parkways team is part of the Education and Encouragement Section within the Mobility and Safety Programs Division, working alongside Portland By Cycle and SmartTrips team members. Together, these initiatives inspire Portlanders to incorporate walking, biking, and rolling into their daily lives.
Reflections from the Routes
A note from the Sunday Parkways Program Manager
As we settle into this magical time of year, I’ve been reflecting on the magic of Sunday Parkways. Something special happens when a street transforms into a car-free space: people slow down, connect with each other, and rediscover their neighborhood in a new way. Suddenly it’s not just a route from one place to another. It becomes a playground, a community gathering space, a stage, a dance floor, and a canvas for possibility.
This year, an estimated 65,000 people filled 19 miles of open street spaces with joy, movement, and connection across four Sunday Parkways events. We returned to Southwest Portland, Northeast Cully, and East Portland, and debuted a brand-new Downtown route.
Across every neighborhood, that magic looked the same: families biking together for the first time, kids playing in the street, friends exploring a new park or small business, neighbors meeting neighbors, and thousands enjoying what it feels like to move freely on Portland’s largest public space – its streets.
Together, these experiences made 2025 a meaningful year of growth for the program.
A Season Full of Firsts
2025 gave us so many new milestones to celebrate:
Sunday Parkways launched its first-ever bike bus, helping riders from across the city bike downtown together with support from 58 volunteer ride leaders.
In Southwest Portland, the walking route was expanded in partnership with SW Trails, inviting participants to explore 3.6 miles of the neighborhood on foot.
Parklane Park returned to the East Portland route for the first time since 2022, giving attendees a chance to explore the newly expanded and revitalized park space.
For the Downtown event, the Sunday Parkways team supported new activations that uplifted local businesses and hospitality partners, including a new approach that collaborated with seven of the eight hotels along the route to bring their lobbies and experiences into the open street and create opportunities for community connection.
What You Told Us
Your feedback continues to remind us what matters most:
54% said the best part was connecting with neighbors and the community.
53% felt more comfortable biking, walking, or rolling in the streets after attending a Sunday Parkways event.
44% enjoyed simply being active in an open, car-free space.
This feedback reinforces the role Sunday Parkways plays in helping people feel more connected, confident, and comfortable walking, biking, and rolling in their neighborhoods.
The Community That Makes It Happen
Behind every event were the people who brought Sunday Parkways to life – our volunteers, vendors, community partners, sponsors, and the Sunday Parkways team. 12 sponsors, 165 programming partners, 406 vendors, 446 event volunteers, and 58 bike bus volunteers supported the program throughout the season.
Thank you for showing up with energy and generosity!
Looking Ahead
As we head into 2026, we carry forward the magic that Sunday Parkways creates when people come together in the streets to move, connect, and celebrate their neighborhoods and their city.
Thank you for making this year unforgettable! Sunday Parkways thrives because of the community you help build one joyful mile at a time.
With gratitude,
Alyssa McGhghy
Program Manager, Portland Sunday Parkways
Transportation News & Resources
Join the BIKETOWN Youth Ambassador Program
The BIKETOWN Youth Ambassador Program gives students hands-on experience in project management, public speaking, and leadership. Participants have the opportunity to earn money and complete their Career-Related Learning Experience (CRLE) graduation requirement while supporting active transportation and sustainability efforts in their school communities. Participants may earn up to $320 for 20 hours of work over the length of the program (January – June 2026).
Apply by Monday, December 15
Students 16 years or older at Roosevelt, McDaniel, and Parkrose high schools are eligible to apply. Complete and submit the online application form by Monday, December 15.
Get home safe: Snow and ice travel tips
During winter storms, crews with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) work 24/7 to clear hazards from city streets and keep emergency routes open. Before the storm arrives, plan for winter weather:
- Create an emergency plan for winter with family and co-workers. Plan to work from home if you can or take public transit.
- Make a checklist for your home, business, and vehicle. Have ice melt and snow shovels ready to clear sidewalks. Consider overhead dangers such as trees or powerlines. Be prepared to keep ditches, culverts, and trash racks clear of debris if your home or business is in an area prone to landslides. Carry snow chains for your vehicles.
- Stay informed. Sign up for PBOT alerts via text or email. Follow @PBOTInfo on all social media. Visit PBOT’s Guide to the Winter Weather Center to learn how to track the latest weather, traffic, road closure, and snowplow information.
- Stock up on food, water, clothes, and medications you, your family, your pets, or your business will need in case you are stranded by winter weather — at home or in your vehicle.
- Check in with vulnerable neighbors who may need help ahead of a storm or clearing their sidewalks afterward.
- Prepare to move your car off PBOT’s “snow and ice” routes to give room for snowplows and other equipment.
Safer, smoother SW Fourth Avenue is open to the public
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has fully reopened SW Fourth Avenue through downtown, with all travel lanes, upgraded pedestrian crossings, and the protected bike lane now substantially complete.
The reopening of the corridor is a significant milestone in the SW Fourth Avenue Improvement Project, which has been under construction since last year, working to upgrade underground utilities, update outdated streetlights and traffic signals, and replace failing pavement.
In the Community
Leaf Day street sweeping service continues through mid-January
From November to mid-January each year, the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) Leaf Day service helps us provide cleaner, safer streets, keep our storm drains clear, and ensure our intersections don’t flood.
Thanks to additional funding from the City Council, PBOT is undertaking its largest expansion of Leaf Day service in modern memory. The service will cover 82 zones, up from 53 zones of various sizes that historically had the service. New zones were added in each of the four City Council Districts.
PBOT has provided Leaf Day service for more than 30 years, using specialized equipment to sweep thousands of tons of leaves from parts of the city with the most dense leaf cover.
ODOT public involvement: What would you change?
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is updating its Public Involvement policy that guides how agency employees engage the public on three topics:
- Statewide policy plans that outline priorities and investment strategies for specific modes of transportation, including the Oregon Transportation Plan.
- The Capital Investment Plan (CIP), newly added to this policy is ODOT’s new mid-range planning document for identifying planned investments over 10-years on the state system.
ODOT is accepting feedback through Jan. 23, 2026.
Where can you find PBOT’s Street Plazas?
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has numerous active plazas that are ready for you, your friends, and family to enjoy. They are great places to grab a bite to eat, relax, enjoy live music, meet up with friends, and so much more.
Mark Your Calendar
Snow Day Village
Nov 21st, 2025 – Jan 3rd, 2026
Open Daily 11a.m. – 7 p.m.
Director Park
Free
Mike Bennett Studios has turned Director Park into a magical destination for families and friends! Get in the holiday spirit with twinkling lights, cartoon characters, and cozy photo ops. See Mike Bennett’s holiday characters up close, including a life-size cartoon reindeer barn!
Peacock Lane Holiday Lights
This iconic Portland light display turns a residential street into a winter wonderland. Brave the December weather to admire the beautiful displays these residents create year after year. Don’t miss the pedestrian only nights held on December 19 and 20!
BikeCraft
BikeCraft is a holiday gift bazaar where everything is inspired by bicycles and made by Portlanders. Many of the 2025 vendors have also been featured in a Sunday Parkways marketplace, such as Chronic Carry, Flat Tire Creations, Nomad Patches, and Reflective Society.
Jobs & Professional Development
Transportation Demand Management Specialist I
Apply by Monday, December 15
The Portland Bureau of Transportation is hiring two Transportation Demand Management Specialists I to support key programs that expand access to safe, affordable, and climate-friendly transportation options. These positions will play a vital role in the Transportation Wallet: Access for All and the Shared Micromobility programs.
Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund Committee
Apply by Wednesday, December 31
Are you looking for a space where your passion, knowledge, and skills will contribute to a more just society? Do you envision your city as one that advances racial justice and leads with equity to provide a clean energy future for frontline communities? The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund Committee is seeking leaders like you. With your help, we can ensure the most impacted Portlanders are prepared for a changing climate as we move toward our goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
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