It’s easier to bike in Milwaukie than you might think. On average, a two-mile trip by bicycle takes just 10 minutes. In Milwaukie, that’s the distance from downtown Milwaukie to SE 60th and Monroe!
Milwaukie Bike Map
Check out the City's bike map to plan your route ahead of time, or carry a copy with you when you ride.
Improving Cycling in Milwaukie
Bicycling promotes the well-being of people who live and work in Milwaukie, with the added benefit of reducing auto traffic on city streets. The City's adopted plan for improving our network of safe and comfortable bicycle routes is in the Transportation System Plan, including the folloowing strategies to improve conditions for bicycling in Milwaukie:
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Fill in gaps in the existing bike corridor network (on arterials and collectors).
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Construct new bike lanes on strategic arterials and collectors.
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Connect key bicycle corridors to schools, parks, and activity centers.
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Improve crossing safety and connectivity.
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Designate bike boulevards on lower-volume streets that connect major bicycle facilities and/or bicycle destinations.
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Maintain bike lanes, off-street paths, signage, and other facility improvements.
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Construct and improve multiuse paths for recreational and commuter use.
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Involve cyclists in the design and planning of bicycle and road facilities.
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Educate cyclists and motorists about bicycle routes, laws, and opportunities.
Follow this link to review the City’s bicycle policy, priorities, and master plan.
Current Initiatives
The City incorporates bicycle improvements into many programs and projects. Here is a sampling of ways the City is working to make Milwaukie more bicycle friendly.
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Wayfinding signage. The City is rolling out a series of new Bikeway signs that show everyone where the established bicycle routes are and help cyclists avoid the troublesome spots.
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Ongoing bike lane maintenance. Bike lane sweeping occurs every 8 days. If you know of a bike lane in Milwaukie that needs maintenance or street sweeping, the City’s street staff would like to hear from you. Call the Milwaukie Street Department at 503-786-7617.
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Linwood Avenue Repaving. The recent repaving of Linwood Ave. included improvements to bike lanes north of Railroad Ave.
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Lake Road Multimodal Project (2011). This long-anticipated project will construct sidewalks, bike lanes, a center turn lane, center islands, and stormwater improvements on Lake Road between Oatfield Road and Freeman Way.
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Jackson Street Bus Stop/ Streetscape Project. In addition to nicer bus stops and sidewalks, this project will install more bike parking.
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UP Railroad crossings Quiet Zone Project. Improvements at the Harrison St crossing will include sidewalks, accommodate future bike lanes, add roadway median barriers, and turn restrictions.
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Adding Bike Parking. Most new and expansion development is required to provide bicycle parking near the front door.
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Trolley Trail. In March 2011, the North Clackamas Parks District began construction of the Trolley Trail from Gladstone to downtown Milwaukie.
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International Bike and Walk to School Day. This year the City is supporting 3 schools to participate - Ardenwald Elementary, Campbell Elementary, and Lewelling Elementary.
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Walk Safely Milwaukie Program. This is a new program to fund needed bicycle and pedestrian improvements that are identified by NDA groups.
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Milwaukie Police Bicycle Fleet. The Police department uses their bike fleet to patrol and assist in areas like downtown and community events.
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Planning for Monroe St. Bikeway. The City is pursuing grants to fund planning for a traffic calming and bikeway project to develop Monroe St. into a safe and quiet street that connects downtown Milwaukie with the Clackamas Regional Center.
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Planning for Light Rail access. The City and TriMet are dedicated to making the Milwaukie-area stations bicycle friendly. We are planning improvements to access the stations, and plentiful parking for cyclists.
Bike Laws
The State of Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Program provides a summary of Oregon Statutes and Administrative Rules that pertain to Bicyclists and Pedestrians.
A few useful rules for bicyclists and motor-vehicles:
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Bicycles are allowed to use any roadway not specifically signed as closed to bicycles or other non-motorized vehicles.
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Bicyclists must use appropriate signals when preparing to turn or rapidly decelerate, except where doing so would prevent the safe operation of the bicycle.
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Bicycles operating in a shared lane of travel with motor-vehicle traffic are required to operate at the normal speed of traffic.
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If unable to operate at the normal speed of traffic, bicyclists are required to ride as close as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway except when:
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Passing another vehicle
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Preparing to execute a left turn
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Avoiding hazardous road conditions
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Riding in a bike lane
Other Resources
For more information on bicycling in Milwaukie and the region, check out the following resources:
