When you’re planning a ride to an unfamiliar part of the city, the new version of the TriMet trip planner can be helpful. This online tool can tell you how to go from here to there via any combination of bicycling, walking, transit, Biketown, rental e-scooter, ride sharing services such as Lyft, and private auto -- including bicycling-only. This new version has not yet replaced the “regular” TriMet trip planner, but it’s available both on the web and on mobile devices.
The button on the top right-hand corner of the screen gives you a real-time view of bus and train locations, and identifies where you can find Zip cars, Biketown and e-scooter locations, and other useful information.
Testing showed that the routes proposed by this tool are pretty good. Suggested bicycling routes from Kenton to Pioneer Courthouse Square, from the University of Portland to Hollywood, and from Lents to Cathedral Park follow established bike lanes and greenways that are fairly direct and should be reasonably safe. The example shown above is Lents to Cathedral Park via SE Center, Foster, SE 52nd, Clinton, the Esplanade, Interstate, the new multi-use path on Greely, and Willamette Blvd.
Compared to the “regular” Trimet Trip Planner, this version offers a lot of improvements: better routes, support for more transit modes, and recognition of more location names.
