Bike, Walk, Roll
Everyone in Oregon walks, rolls (via wheelchair or other mobility device) or bikes at some point during their day. Some trips are more intentional than others, like someone who chooses to bike to work, while other trips are incidental, like walking from their parked car into a store.
About 12% of adults in Oregon bike, walk or roll to their destinations per a 2024 statewide household survey. Households that do not have access to a car take 50% of their trips by biking, walking or rolling. Oregon consistently has shorter than average household trip lengths and ranks among the top U.S. states for biking.
Oregon’s land use planning system has ensured many communities are designed for short trips by bicycle, on foot, or rolling. In fact, nearly half the trips Oregonians take are shorter than six miles round trip miles. (See the Land Use page for more information)
Biking, walking and rolling can be grouped under a common term: active transportation. It also covers electric versions of the above modes, like e-bikes or e-scooters.
Shifting from driving to no or low emission modes like biking, walking or rolling is key to reducing emissions from transportation.
Building a connected priority system
Oregon needs steady investments into active transportation infrastructure to create a “connected priority system.” The system will have a core set of connected routes — transit, active transportation, other low-emission modes — that allow people to travel via these low cost, healthy modes. Building safe active transportation infrastructure is key to incentivizing its use. It also improves the experience for everyone who uses it and helps build a vibrant community.
Bike, walk, and roll: Emissions reduction vision
By 2050, 30% of short trips (under 20 miles roundtrip) in urban areas will be made via biking, walking or rolling.
By 2050, a majority of urban households will have equitable access to biking, walking, and rolling options close to their home. The Oregon Department of Transportation has additional goals for active transportation:
By 2040, 90% of ODOT priority pedestrian and bicycle corridors will have walking and bicycling facilities in fair or better condition.
By 2040, 78% of ODOT priority pedestrian and bicycle corridors will meet minimum spacing (750 ft.) between designated crosswalks.
ODOT will continue to provide and expand dedicated, reliable funding for bike and pedestrian infrastructure through 2050.
How Oregon is doing
Oregon continues to make good progress toward our long-term vision for biking, walking and rolling. According to 2011 and 2024 household surveys, bike ridership has increased in Oregon’s smaller urban areas, while it remains high in the larger urban areas.
Third parties consistently rate Oregon among the best states for biking. In 2024, the League of American Bicyclists ranked Oregon the 3rd most bike-friendly state in the U.S.
Electric bikes are becoming more popular in Oregon. The surge is driven by updated state law, expanded access to national forest trails, bike share programs, and new utility-bicycle models that make more trips easier by bike. The extra power from electric bikes also opens up the travel mode to more people, especially those who may have difficulty using a traditional bike.
Using data to identify local system gaps
New planning requirements for local jurisdictions in Oregon’s eight largest urban areas will help find and track gaps in the active transportation network. Cities and counties can use the data to prioritize local investments.
Infrastructure backlog
Steady progress in completing Oregon’s biking and walking system is the key to increasing active travel, but there is an enormous backlog of needs. At the current rate of investments, it will take roughly 150 years to close gaps in walking and biking infrastructure. If Oregon’s urban boundaries continue to expand, those needs will compound.
Recent funding infusions are helping to address the backlog. In 2021 the Oregon Transportation Commission approved $55 million for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Strategic Funding Program. The program targets high-priority gaps and needs in walking, rolling and biking infrastructure on state-owned roads. This will help close access gaps to form a connected and safe system.
2026 funding reallocation
To address ODOT's funding gap for the 2025-2027 budget cycle, the Oregon Legislature redirected state funding from a number of ODOT programs and projects. Several biking, walking and rolling programs were affected:
$17 million redirected from the Safe Routes to School construction program. The program provides grants for communities to build sidewalks, safe crossings, and bikeways near schools to allow students to walk and roll to school safely.
$8 million redirected from the Oregon Community Paths program. The program provides grants to build paved biking and walking paths that separate users from vehicle traffic.
$5 million redistributed from the Innovative Mobility Program. The program provides grants to improve access to public and active transportation for historically underserved communities.
While each funding redirection was a one-time occurrence, they will still extend the timeline to close the critical gaps in Oregon’s walking and biking systems.
How Oregon can improve
Steady, strategic investments
For continued growth in active travel, ODOT and local agencies must continue to invest in active transportation infrastructure and programs like pedestrian safety, accessibility for people with disabilities and older adults, and protected bike lanes.
Active transportation programs need adequate funding, and future investments must stay ahead of inflation. That will allow us to meet today’s backlog and future needs. These affordable travel options are especially important because as driving costs increase, more people will seek out safe, low-cost active travel options.
Using data to inform decisions
ODOT will use federal grant funding to update their Active Transportation Needs Inventory. The inventory helps identify critical gaps in active transportation infrastructure on state-owned roads. The agency can then invest in areas that have the biggest needs.
ODOT has also revised their metrics to gauge progress for improving the “completeness” of biking, walking, and rolling networks.
Other actions
Our investments in walking and biking networks can be enhanced by other actions too.
Expand electric bike rebate programs to help reduce the purchase price, which may prompt a shift in travel modes.
Changing the overall cost of driving, as outlined in the Pricing category pages, can make drivers consider more affordable bike, walk, and roll options.
New or updated land use policies, like locating housing new job centers, can help shape new community developments that encourage people to walk, roll or bike to their destinations. (See the Land Use page for more information)
Land use policies can also help shape new community developments that are walking, biking and rolling friendly. For example, when housing is near jobs, shopping, restaurants and other similar places, it encourages people to walk, bike or roll to get there.