Don’t let the gray or clouds fool you.  Winter is a great time to ride your bike – to work, to school, for errands, or for fun.

Winter gets a bad rap here in Portland, but it’s actually a wonderful time to ride and the benefits are even bigger. From beating the winter blues to cruising along the Willamette as the city lights reflect off the river, bicycling in December, January and beyond has a lot to offer.

To celebrate the joys of winter cycling, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is promoting Winter Cruise month.  In December and January, we’ll be asking for you to share all the reasons, places, and ways you ride during our cooler months.  We’ll have prizes for our favorites responses and motivational tips to keep you in the saddle all month long.

We’re kicking off Winter Cruise month with our friends at Shift for a special Breakfast on the Hawthorne Bridge on Friday morning (12/13) from 8am – 9am.  Our lady of light, Santa Lucia, will be handing out warm beverages and delicious pastries to help light up your morning commute.

PBOT staff will be on the Hawthorne Bridge to provide information and motivation for your month-long Winter Cruise.  We’ll also have bike seat covers, bike map bandannas, and a chance to tell the world what you like about biking in winter.

Stay tuned to our webpage or to our Facebook, Twitter (@PBOTactive) and Instagram (@PBOTactive) accounts to get aboard the Winter Cruise.  All you need is your bike!

What: Breakfast on the Hawthorne Bridge for people bicycling (and walking!) across the bridge.

Where:Hawthorne Bridge bike and pedestrian path, next to to the bicycle counter.

When: Friday, December 13, 2013 from 8:00 am – 9:00 am (Shift volunteers will be out even earlier to provide coffee and treats for passers-by.)

Why: To kick off PBOT’s Winter Cruise month promotion

Who: Everyone who will hop on their bike and ride at least once in January, 2014.

Photo of Timo Forsberg, Portland's own Santa Lucia, courtesy of J Maus/BikePortland.org.

Winter biking on Hawthorne Bridge photo by Greg Raisman/flickr.com.