Portland Goes Car-Free, For a While

For six hours this Sunday, streets in North Portland will be off-limits to cars.

1 minute read

June 18, 2008, 1:00 PM PDT

By Nate Berg


"Six miles of public thoroughfare in Portland will be shut entirely to traffic in the hopes people show up on foot and by bike to mingle, dance, shop and dine. Read: no cars allowed, but mass transit routes through the area will remain open to pack 'em in."

"This bold experiment, modeled after a popular street shutdown in Bogota, Colombia, is timed to a conference starting today in Portland where hundreds of planners from around the world converge to discuss how they can create cities with no cars."

"Modeled on the large-scale weekly effort in Bogota, in which more than 70 miles of roads are closed, Sunday Parkways in Portland will shut down streets from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to conduct events aimed at promoting health, community connectedness, and biking and walking."

"At three parks along the route, neighborhood groups and local businesses will offer dance lessons, live music, yoga demonstrations, bike workshops and food booths."

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 in The Oregonian

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Color-coded map of labor & delivery departments and losses in United States.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace

In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.

June 15 - Maine Morning Star

Street scene in Kathmandu, Nepal with yellow minibuses and other traffic.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs

Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

June 15 - Fast Company

Bike lane in Washington D.C. protected by low concrete barriers.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint

Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.

June 15 - The Washington Post