August 5, 2015
Page 5
The first MAX train travels over the Tilikum Crossing during testing earlier this year. On Sunday, Aug. 9, the bridge will open for the annual Providence Bridge pedal.
Tilikum Opens for Bridge Pedal
Portlanders will have the
opportunity to be among the
first to cross Portland’s newest
bridge, Tilikum Crossing, as it
becomes part of Providence’s
20th annual Bridge Pedal, tak-
ing place Sunday, Aug. 9.
Tilikum is a native word for
“Bridge of The People,” and the
new downtown span is a unique
car-free bridge that will accom-
modate light rail transit, pedes-
trians and cyclists when it offi-
cially opens to the public during
a grand celebration on Sept. 12.
The Providence Bridge Pedal
has ride options for everyone,
with routes from 14 to 37 miles.
All of the routes will take cycles
over the upper decks of the Fre-
mont and Marquam bridges as
well as the new Tilikum Cross-
ing. There will also be a three-
mile Kids Pedal and Providence
end of Tilikum Crossing, where
participants can pick up their
ride and walk packets prior to
Bridge Stride, a six-mile route Sunday’s event.
which crosses the Marquam
Following the Providence
Bridge and Tilikum Crossing.
All events culminate at
Southwest
Naito
Parkway,
where there will be secure plac-
es to park bicycles for cyclists
and all participants will be of-
fered free entry into the annual
local food festival, Bite of Ore-
gon. There will also be a Health
and Wellness Expo on the east
Women of Color Reading
Unchaste Readers, a womanist
and feminist reading group that
seeks to feature women writers
in Portland and the Pacific North-
west, is hosting a woman of color
reading to celebrate their accom-
plishments and contributions.
Seattle-based writer Ijeoma
Oluo, who has published essays
on race and identity in NY Mag-
azine and Jezebel, joins Portland
Observer contributors Tessara
Gabrielle Dudley, Jamondria
Marnice Harris, and Olivia Oliv-
ia; alongside beloved local Afri-
can-American artist and poet S.
Renee Mitchell, Seattle-based ac-
tivist and blogger Shannon Barber,
and other Oregon-based writers
including Sidony O’neal, Mariah
Talicuran, Anna Doogan, Melanie
Alldritt, Nadia Martinez Chantry,
and Monet Patrice Thomas.
The reading will be hosted by In
Other Words Bookstore, 14 N.E.
Killingsworth St. on Wednesday,
Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. The event is
free and open to the public. Learn
more about the collective by visit-
ing unchastereaders.com.
Critical Summer Blood Drive
The American Red Cross urg-
es blood donors to give in the
final weeks of summer to help
prevent a blood shortage.
Blood donations often de-
cline in August as summer vaca-
tions are in full swing and back-
to-school activities ramp up.
Donations are needed now to
help ensure blood is available
for patients in need. Donors
with types AB, O negative, B
negative and A negative blood
are especially encouraged to
donate.
To make an appointment to
give blood, visit redcrossblood.
org or call 1-800-733-2767.
Advertise with diversity in The Portland Observer
Call 503-288-0033 or email ads@portlandobserver.com
Bridge Pedal, Tilikum Crossing
will be open to the general pub-
lic from 1:30 p.m. to- 4:30 p.m.
For more information, visit
providencebridgepedal.org.