(Note: The story below was shared by BikePortland subscriber Shawne Martinez, who happens to be passing by @tigard_stripes on Instagram. I've been away from Portland for a week with my dad in the hospital, so I haven't been able to do the BikePortland stuff. I'll be sharing a few guest posts this week and until I can get my dad stabilized. Lots of love and thank you! -Jonathan)
I'm a car-free cycling dad in Tigard, Oregon. My daughter Eliza (a second grader) and I have logged many miles on our bikes in Washington County and we often see and hear the WES train rolling between Tigard and Beaverton on our bike rides in Washington County . The WES, short for Westside Express Service, is a commuter train that runs between Wilsonville and Beaverton and can be beneficial for people living a car-free (or car-free) lifestyle.
The limiting factor for us was its schedule: weekdays, morning and afternoon rush hours only. With no weekend service, we found it difficult to use this rail route. Recently my child's school had a weekday off, so we decided to take our bikes on the train to Wilsonville. There are five morning departures from the Tigard Transit Center, then a six-hour gap until the first northbound afternoon train.
I had to make it a fun experience for my 8-year-old daughter, so I scanned the map near the Wilsonville Transit Center to find cycling infrastructure and fun activities. I spotted the entrance to a multi-use trail a few blocks from the WES station with several playgrounds in the neighborhood. So we grabbed our bikes and rode the 1.5 miles to the Tigard Transit Center.
Boarding the WES with bikes is simple: just walk up the ramp to the boarding platform and scan your Hop Card, phone or bank card on the scanner to pay for your ticket. While waiting for the train, an interactive sculpture is installed at each station to keep people (young and old) occupied. The train floor is at station level, allowing for a smooth transition to rolling bikes on board. There are a few wall-mounted bike hooks that you can use or simply park in the designated area and secure your bike to the wall with the strap provided.
So how is the journey going? This train is fast! We were in Wilsonville in no time. On the multi-use trail near Coffee Lake Drive, we discovered playgrounds, parks, and a bird watching spot. We went to Lowrie Elementary School to see their wind turbine and rain garden sculpture. This community features an interesting mix of housing and street designs. While biking down Wilsonville Road, we spotted several lunch options and stopped for a slice of pizza. We drove under I-5 to see the paintings titled “Beauty and the Bridge” that surround this extremely noisy and unpleasant section of our route. But our goal was in sight: another path that would take us to the Family Fun Center in Bulwinkle! (Bulwinkles' bike racks are hidden on the right side of the building. Why not right next to the front door?) A putt-putt course, video games, and bowling kept us busy for a few more hours.
Vehicle traffic on I-5 came to a complete stop as we returned to the Wilsonville Transit Center just in time to board the 3:30 p.m. WES train to Tigard. The doors closed as we were driving (phew!). We enjoyed a quick 18 minute ride back to the Tigard Transit Center. Although we have taken the WES to Beaverton several times, this was our first time to Wilsonville. It was a positive experience and the child had a great time.
This just proved to me once again that public transportation is the best range extender for bikes and a great way to leave the car at home.
Read more about Shawne's transit and bike adventures here.
