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Celebrate the growth of biking in Portland by beating the record currently held by Cascade Bicycle Club in Seattle
(June 16, 2026) The Portland Bureau of Transportation is calling on Portlanders to celebrate the 10th birthday of BIKETOWN, the city's beloved system of shared e-bikes, by coming together to make a
PBOT is organizing an e-bike ride that will gather hundreds of Portlanders with the aim of earning the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the Largest Electric Bicycle Party and Ride. The current record was set in Seattle in 2018 with 405 e-bikes.
Everyone is welcome to join in on the slow and steady paced, record-setting-attempt ride, including people riding personal e-bikes and pedal bikes (only e-bikes will be counted toward the record-breaking attempt). Riders will gather at Salmon Springs, the fountain in Tom McCall Waterfront Park, at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday July 19: 10-years-to-the-day since BIKETOWN service started with a maiden voyage group ride across the Willamette River.
"I can't wait to see all of Portland come out to celebrate the ways BIKETOWN has transformed our community," PBOT Director Millicent Williams said. "Since 2016, BIKETOWN has introduced thousands of Portlanders to biking, and e-bikes in particular, and made biking more accessible for more people. By breaking this GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title, we will remind everyone of Portland's place at the front of the pack of leading bike cities across the nation."
The ride will conclude with a celebration, vendors, refreshments, remarks from City of Portland and BIKETOWN partners, and an official judge from Guinness World Records (fingers crossed!) verifying the record and confirming that Portland set a new world record.
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Register today and get ready to ride!
Registration is strongly encouraged to ensure you are counted in the record-breaking attempt. Register at the link here. You will need your e-bike make and model.
Arrive early to check-in, get your bib, and be ready to ride!
No e-bike? No problem. BIKETOWN will have bikes to reserve on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to register early to claim yours and the team will confirm your reservation. You must be 16 years or older to ride BIKETOWN.
Pedal bikes are welcome to join in on the fun as well but will not be counted as part of the record-breaking attempt.
Ride start time and details
Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, July 19 and the ride will start at 9:30 a.m.. The ride will start at SW Naito Parkway and SW Salmon Street. The route is a 2-mile loop, taking place mostly on the Waterfront and Eastbank Esplanade.
This is not your typical social ride, as large participation is the goal. Expect a slow ride with some stops. Stay on the route to be counted. Look out for pedestrians and other bikes so that everyone can travel safely and comfortably.
After the ride, find out if we won and celebrate with Portland Pride
The ride will end at Naito Parkway and SW Salmon, where we will find out if we broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title—live from an official Guinness World Records judge. Stick around to celebrate!
Afterwards, head down to the Portland Pride Parade and Festival. The first 1,000 people who register will receive free entry to the Pride Festival to enjoy a full day of celebrating, thanks to the support of BIKETOWN founding partner and title sponsor, Nike.
This event is possible with financial support from Nike with additional support from Lyft, and the City of Portland.
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BIKETOWN is Portland's bike-share system, launched on July 19, 2016 with 1,000 bikes available to ride from one point to another for a small fee. BIKETOWN has deployed 3,000 electric pedal-assist bicycles serving a 50.5 square mile service area, including portions of East Portland. BIKETOWN is a partnership between the City of Portland's Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and Nike the program's founding partner and sole title sponsor. BIKETOWN is operated by Lyft, the world's leading bike-share operator. It uses innovative new "smart bikes" which make it easy to find, rent, and park a BIKETOWN bike. BIKETOWN is designed to be affordable and accessible, encouraging even more Portlanders to ride and allowing visitors to experience the city by bike. Portland joins over 60 U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., San Antonio, Indianapolis, Boise, and Austin and another 500 cities worldwide that have popular, safe, and successful bike-share systems.biketownpdx.com
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the city's transportation system and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage, and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility.
Whether it's an everyday commute or a journey that changes everything, Lyft is driven by our purpose: to serve and connect. Founded in 2012, Lyft has grown into a global mobility platform offering a mix of bikes, scooters, rideshare, taxis, private hire vehicles, executive chauffeur services, and car sharing across six continents and thousands of cities. People have chosen Lyft for billions of rides - helping to create a more connected world, with transportation options for everyone. Lyft operates six bikeshare programs across the US and provides equipment for many more cities worldwide .Lyft
About Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF)
Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund initiative was passed by 65% of Portland voters in November 2018. It provides a consistent, long-term funding source and oversight structure to ensure that our community's climate action efforts are implemented to support social, economic and environmental benefits for all Portlanders, particularly communities who have been historically under-resourced. The initiative was supported by a broad coalition of groups and individuals and represents the first environmental initiative in Oregon led by communities on the frontlines of climate change.
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