A stretch of downtown Portland became car-free on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, for the last Sunday Parkways of the year. The event spanned more than 20 city blocks and filled the streets with cyclists, walkers, runners, food carts, live music and performances.
The downtown ride capped a four-event season. Earlier Sunday Parkways took place in East Portland, Northeast Cully and Southwest Multnomah. The program, run by the Portland Bureau of Transportation, shuts streets to vehicles and opens them for people-powered travel.
To help people get to and from the event, seven guided “bike bus” rides were offered from different parts of the Portland area. A bike bus doesn’t include any buses — it’s a group of riders traveling together on a set route, picking up more cyclists along the way and arriving at the destination as one.
This year’s 2.3-mile downtown loop started at Lovejoy Fountain Park, passed through the PSU Park Blocks, continued north to The Cart Blocks at NW Park Avenue and SW Oak Street, and returned along Southwest Broadway.
Along the route, people found a geek-driven Fantasy Fest at Director Park with cosplay and a live-action Dungeons & Dragons game, a performance from Oregon Ballet Theatre’s Dracula at Pioneer Courthouse Square, and a preview of the James Beard Public Market. The day also featured a Kaiser Permanente sticker hunt across four booths, food carts, vendors and a mix of live performances, from Japanese drumming to Broadway-style musicals and a drag show.
The event was presented by Kaiser Permanente, funded by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund and led by the Portland Bureau of Transportation. It was also part of Portland Staycation, a three-day celebration with live music from PDX Pop Now, Timbers soccer, dining specials and hotel deals.