Utility Facilities Ride
Day
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Meet
1:30 PM
Rolls
2:00 PM
Where
-
1907 NE Skidmore St
“Sabin Hydro Park”
Portland, OR 97211 · Sabin
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- 8 NE 15th & Prescott · 4 min walk
Distance
15.5 mi
Route
Point to point
Audience
General
Terrain
Mostly flat
Surface
Paved
About
What do my utility bills actually pay for? What is a water tower actually for?
We will ride around the city to a couple of good examples of utility infrastructure that quietly does the un-glamorous work of keeping modern life working. So quietly that a lot of us forget that it's even there.
At each stop we'll pause to talk about what it is we're looking at, what its purpose is, and how it works.
There is no planned store stop or park stop on the ride but we will be pausing regularly to talk.
Stop list:
- Water Towers
- Electrical Substations
- Telephone & Fiber Exchange
- Sewer Pump Stations
- Cell Towers
- Gas Regulators
- Light Rail Power
Disclaimer: I am not a utility expert, but I do know some stuff. I'll do my best to talk about the different places we stop, everyone is invited to ask questions and share their knowledge!