CAR-SHARING AND
RENTAL OPTIONS
Car sharing has been popular in Port-
land for several years, with two of the
most common options being Zipcar and
Car2Go. In fact, you’ll find these vehi-
cles parked all over the city, and there are
even designated lots for them in several
popular neighborhoods—complete with
charging stations.
Users pay a monthly or annual fee, and then
typically a per-hour or per-mile rate each
time they wish to pick up a car. Vehicles may
be reserved online or through a mobile app.
There’s also GetAround, a different type of
car-sharing service that allows people who
own idle vehicles to essentially rent them out
on a temporary basis. This works similarly
to Zipcar and Car2Go—it’s just that you’re
using a car someone else owns rather than a
company-owned vehicle.
SPECIALTY TRANSPORTATION
The metro area has a few options for unique
transportation needs, including Wingz,
which, beginning in 2016, offers rides to and
from Portland International Airport (PDX).
Its drivers, who use their own vehicles similar
to Uber and Lyft, are trained and background
checked. You can book your ride in advance.
And based on your numbers of passengers
and checked bags, a car that fits your needs
will be assigned to pick you up.
EcoShuttle offers a variety of transportation services using its fleet of biodiesel
vehicles that run completely on non-toxic,
biodegradable waste grease. The company’s
services include airport shuttles, city tours,
wine tours and special events.
WALK OR RIDE YOUR
WAY AROUND
Of course, it’s possible to enjoy much of what
Stumptown has to offer by walking or riding a
bike. For people on foot, the city is pretty easy
to navigate, especially when it comes to downtown and the neighborhoods on the inner east
side. This becomes a little more difficult if you
go further east or west, however, as East Portland can lack sidewalks in some areas and the
West Hills are exactly that: hilly.
Portland is also one of the most bike-friendly
cities in the country, and many of its major
thoroughfares have designated neon-green bike
lanes. There are also a number of “greenways,”
which are roads that technically allow motor
vehicles, but are primarily used by bicyclists.
If you don’t own a bike of your own, there’s
Spinlister, a peer-to-peer bike-sharing platform that allows you to search for bikes
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