Portland Aims for E-Bike World Record on BIKETOWN's 10th

Portland is throwing a birthday party unlike any other, and you're invited to make history while riding a bike.

On July 19, the city's Portland Bureau of Transportation is gathering hundreds of riders for a Guinness World Records attempt at the largest electric bicycle ride ever. The goal? Beat Seattle's 2018 record of 405 e-bikes and celebrate 10 years of BIKETOWN, Portland's bike-share system that's been rolling strong since 2016.

The event kicks off at 8:30 a.m. at Salmon Springs fountain in Tom McCall Waterfront Park, exactly 10 years to the day since BIKETOWN's first group ride. Riders will pedal a gentle 2-mile loop over the Tilikum Crossing, along the Eastbank Esplanade, and across the Hawthorne Bridge.

Everyone can join, whether you own an e-bike or need to borrow one of BIKETOWN's 3,000 bikes available on a first-come basis. Regular pedal bikes are welcome too, though only e-bikes count toward the record attempt.

"Since 2016, BIKETOWN has introduced thousands of Portlanders to biking, and e-bikes in particular, and made biking more accessible for more people," says PBOT Director Millicent Williams. "By breaking this Guinness World Records title, we will remind everyone of Portland's place at the front of the pack of leading bike cities across the nation."

The Ripple Effect

What started as 1,000 bikes in 2016 has grown into a 3,000-bike fleet serving 50.5 square miles, including portions of East Portland. The program has made biking accessible to thousands of residents and visitors who might not otherwise hop on two wheels.

The ride isn't just about breaking records. It's proof that sustainable transportation can be fun, inclusive, and community-building all at once.

After the ride, an official Guinness World Records judge will announce whether Portland claimed the title. Then the celebration continues with vendors, refreshments, and free Pride Festival entry for the first 1,000 registrants, courtesy of Nike.

Portland is showing the world that green transportation doesn't have to be a solo journey—sometimes it takes a community of hundreds riding together to make the biggest impact.