Zoo Bomb
Portland's weekly Alt ritual: take MAX up to Washington Park, blast downhill on W Burnside on whatever bike you brought. Sundays, all year, no experience needed.
The vibe
MAX up, bomb down, repeat
The setup is almost too simple: take the MAX light rail up to Washington Park Station, ride back down West Burnside on whatever bike you brought, and do it again as many times as you want. That’s Zoo Bomb — a Portland Sunday tradition that’s been running long enough to have its own dedicated bike pile (the Zoo Bomb Bike Pyle at W Burnside and SW 13th) where communal small bikes are available to borrow if you didn’t bring your own.
The bikes people bring to Zoo Bomb tend to be small, loud, and beloved. Tiny wheeled folding bikes, custom cruisers, vintage BMX — the smaller the faster, somehow. The hill on West Burnside is legitimately steep, which is why it works. The MAX ride up is part of the ritual: a rolling pregame with your fellow bombers before the descent. Sunday nights in Portland, there are worse ways to spend the time.
No registration, no fee, no required skill level — just show up at the Bike Pyle before the group heads to the MAX station. Check the Shift calendar for current meeting time, as it shifts seasonally. If you don’t have a suitable bike, borrow one from the pile and return it at the end of the night.