The Portland Streetcar and Cincinnati (Part 2)

Culture in Portland

The culture in Portland has a lot to be desired for the idealistic urban pioneer.  People there are extraordinarily friendly and passionate about causes to make the world a better place.  It's a very livable city with plenty to do without being overwhelming.

The first thing that we noticed once we got settled was the "green" attitude of Portlanders.  The recycling containers were all around the city and even in our hotel room.  Recycling was expected not just encouraged.  The food in restaurants was often touted as being locally grown and toilets frequently had dual flush options.  Bicyclists could be seen everywhere even during Portland's rainy season (there were numerous places for them to lock up their bicycles).  And then there was the mass transit.  Streetcars and light rail were tightly woven into the city's infrastructure.  There were also more buses and subsequent routes than Cincinnati.  All in all mass transit appeared to be a real part of daily life.

People also seem to take advantage of the urban areas of Portland.  This can be seen by the number of people on the sidewalks and in the businesses after 5 PM.  We did not see a lot of police officers patrolling the area, yet we felt very safe.  More people out on the sidewalks really does make for a safe environment.

Something that really took us by surprise was the amount of pet stores and pet friendly locations around the city.  More than a couple of people staying at our hotel even had pets staying with them.  What an odd feeling it was seeing all the dogs around in the lobby.

The whole city seems to promote a healthy lifestyle.  From parks and running trails to an abundance of healthy dining options, Portland seemed to have the most fit residents of any city we've ever visited.

While on the trip, we heard an expression "keep Portland weird."  That seems to be a cool phrase, but we didn't really think Portland was really that weird.  It could be that we've seen a lot since we live in an urban environment, and we've been to our share of indie music concerts.  To us, the phrase means they want to keep Portland an exciting place that is accepting of different people.  They want to keep it unique and have certainly succeeded.

Portland's culture with all its positives did have its negatives.  There were panhandlers that appeared to have some serious drug issues.  While generally politely asking for money, it was obvious by their pale complexion and vacant looks that the money was more than likely not for food.  At one point walking around we even saw someone crouched against a gate having a mini freak out.  Cincinnati definately has its panhandling/drug problems too, but Portland just reminded us that drug enforcement and treatment is important for a healthy city.

All told Portland's culture was inspiring.  With the focus on social responsibility, healthy living and creativity the city was a model for what a city truly could be.

More to come tomorrow....