Bridge of the People welcomes you, not cars

The newest bridge spanning the Willamette River in downtown Portland is an eco-traveller’s dream: Cars aren’t allowed on Tilikum Crossing—only bikes, buses, walkers, the streetcar and train. It’s a great place to watch birds, kayakers and boaters float the river. 

The bridge’s name is intended to honor the Multnomah, Cascade, Clackamas, and other Chinookan peoples who lived in the area as long as 14,000 years ago. Tilikum is a Chinook word meaning people, tribe, or family. On either side of the bridge, look for the basalt and bronze sculptures We Have Always Lived Here, created by Chinook artist Greg Robinson.

The walking and cycling route that crosses the bridge and loops around either side of the river is itself a conservation feat. In the 1960s, Tom McCall produced a documentary that called attention to the widespread pollution of the Willamette River. McCall, a Republican, would later serve as Oregon’s governor, and continue to champion natural spaces and livability. 

Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Willamette River are now heralded treasures, vigorously protected by Willamette Riverkeeper, and many others.

Need a bike? Check out Biketown rentals