National Safe Routes to School Conference

2009 National Conference August 19-21, 2009 Portland, Oregon

Two Steps Ahead

Visitors

“The hardest part of raising a child is teaching them to ride bicycles. A shaky child on a bicycle for the first time needs both support and freedom. The realization that this is what the child will always need can hit hard.”
– Sloan Wilson

Lodging

Portland Hilton & Executive Tower
$159/night
921 SW Sixth Ave
Portland, Oregon 97204

Book your room online here

Register for the conference here

Getting To Portland

Download our conference map to orient yourself in Portland getting to the Hilton. (free Adobe reader required)

Train

Bus
  • Greyhound buses are the cheapest and most scenic way to travel all across America.
Airplane


More Fun Things to Do In Portland

In Portland for a few days before or after the conference?
  • August 9th is Portland's annual Bridge Pedal. A celebration of community and the one opportunity to bike across ALL of Portland's bridges, including two freeway bridges. Kids under 15 ride free!
  • August 16th is Sunday Parkways, Portland's carfree ciclovia-style street closure, now its second year. Nine miles, seven hours, zero traffic!
  • August 16th is also the Portland Century, Portland's premier century ride with 25, 50 and 100 mile options and gourmet food.
  • Throughout the week of the conference, there's a whole host of bicycle rides led by Pedal Bicycle Tours and Portland Bicycle Tours. Both tour companies rent bicycles and give guided tours specific to Portland's neighborhoods, history or something else fun- like coffeeshops!
  • Check out Portland's space age public transportation, the Aerial Tram!
  • Shift houses the calendar of Portland's homegrown bike events, including bike polo, the infamous Zoobomb, and Kidical Mass. Check out the August Shift calendar.
  • If you want to do some off-road biking in check out Forest Park's mountain bike map.
There’s a lot to see and do in Portland, including museums, the zoo, and classical Chinese and Japanese gardens. You can find information about these attractions, and discounted admission, at Travel Portland.

Why Portland?

Maybe you've heard that the city of Portland, Oregon, has been proclaimed as North America's “Best Big City,” according to Money magazine. One visit will explain why. Come take a first-hand look at the region’s natural beauty, its bustling local scene, our seasonally focused dining and our welcoming accommodations – much of which can be easily accessed by foot and by bike. You’ll soon understand why so many visitors flock here year-round.



Portland is at the forefront of a national movement to create healthy and sustainable communities. Our recognition as the nation’s top cycling and walking city includes:

  • Best Walking Town in America – Prevention magazine (April 2006)
  • Best Cycling City in the U.S. – Bicycling magazine (March 2006)
  • “Top 10 Best Walking Cities for 2005” – American Podiatric Medical Association (March 2005)
  • “North America’s No. 1 Cycling City” – Bicycling magazine
  • Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community Award – League of American Bicyclists (May 2008)



Getting Around Portland

If you arrive in Portland by plane, you can take the MAX Red line directly from the Airport door to downtown.
From there you can connect to the streetcar, bus system, and other MAX lines. Use the Trip Planner at trimet.org to find your way to your lodging or the conference venues.



Public Transit
There are four different kinds of public transit that run throughout Portland: bus, streetcar, the MAX light rail and the WES commuter rail.
While service is for the most part reliable and comfortable, it mostly stops at midnight. If you are going to be far from your lodging late at night, make sure you know when the last bus leaves.

  • Directions: Go to trimet.org or dial 503 238-RIDE for transit directions to and from the Portland International Airport, Union Station, or any other location in Portland
  • Fares: A two-zone ticket (central area) is $2.00 and is good for 2 hours, during which time it can be used as many times as needed. You can also purchase an all day pass ($4.25) or a two-zone pass good for 7 days ($17). Visit trimet.org/fares for complete details.
  • Fareless Square: It is free to ride buses and trains in much of downtown Portland. A map of the free ride area is available at the conference information table or online at: http://trimet.org/fares/farelessmap.
  • MAX Light Rail connects Portland with its suburbs, and is a fast, reliable way to travel to and from the airport. MAX runs about every 5-15 minutes between 4:30 a.m. and midnight. Buy your MAX ticket from the machine at the stop and validate it before boarding.
  • Bicycles are allowed on all public transportation, at all hours. Trimet has a how-to guide.
  • Streetcar (not to be confused with MAX): Portland currently has one streetcar line, which is close to all conference activities. The streetcar runs on the west side of the river, connecting the south waterfront, PSU, and inner NW Portland. View map.

Biking

Getting on a bicycle is the best way to see Portland! Here are some resources on Portland bicycling: You must pre-register to rent a bicycle from the BTA during the conference. These bikes will be located in the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower below-ground parking lot. You need your own u-lock to use these deeply discounted bicycle rentals.

You may also rent a bicycle during your stay in Portland at these other locations:



Lead Donor:
Kaiser Permanente - Thrive

© 2009 Safe Routes to Schools