Mike Steen lives in Portland, Oregon, where he grew up. He studied Business and Computer Science at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. Mike has worked in the banking sector since graduation in the late 1990s and currently works at Beneficial State Bank. Resulting from complications at birth, he experiences cerebral palsy (CP). CP is a life-long, non-progressive condition that has a wide range of impact, including movement, coordination, muscle-tone and also may affect speech and cognitive faculties.

I met him at a Rotary Club meeting where his helmet and pannier caught my attention. He asked about my book, and I asked about his bike. “I ride a recumbent trike,” he said, “for stability.” He hadn’t been on any long bike tours, though he has pedaled out the Springwater Corridor Trail more than a few times. I was eager to hear more about his experiences accessing outdoor recreation, and we met at a coffee shop in NW Portland a few days later.

 H: I love how abundant bicycle parking is in Portland compared to where I live in Bellingham, WA. Is parking ever an issue for you with your bike?

M: No. My bike fits in a standard bike parking space. Depending on the area and how comfortable I feel, I sometimes just lock the back wheel. If someone wanted to take my bike, they’d have to lift the whole thing. [laughs and gestures lifting a large flat object (his recumbent) like a restaurant server would a tray of dishes]

I asked Mike if he ever parks his recumbent in accessible parking stalls, and he told me about Chris Billman who is the only Oregonian with a disabled parking decal for his bicycle.

M: It seems like you’ve always been a bike rider and you’re comfortable being on the road?

H: I grew up riding bikes in the neighborhood with a pack of other kids. When I got older and before I started driving, I rode my bike to meet friends. The bike gave me a lot of freedom as a young person. When I moved to Eugene, OR, I embraced the bike culture there. I also didn’t have much money, and my car felt like a financial drain. I eventually got rid of my car and haven’t had one since. I’m pretty comfortable riding on the road, but I still prefer pedaling where there’s less vehicle traffic.

When did you get your first bike?

M: I got my first recumbent in 2010 and rode it until it fell apart. I stuck with the TerraTrike brand for my replacement in 2020, though added a power assist Copenhagen wheel made by Superpedestrian. It has really been a gamechanger, allowing me to get all around town while still strengthening my legs and keeping my muscles limber. I typically run in eco-mode, except for when I need to switch it into turbo up a rather steep hill back home.
*It appears that Superpedestrian no longer offers Copenhagen wheels.

H: Do you drive?

M: No. If I did, I’d be scared of getting in an accident.

H: Are you scared you wouldn’t be able to react in a timely way because of your disability?

M: Yes. My impaired fine motor skills impact the split second adjustments that are frequently needed. That, and I haven’t had years of practice driving. I didn’t pass the test back in high school when I was learning to drive, and I never tried again. [laughs] My parents had a stick shift. If they’d had an automatic, I might have passed, built up confidence, and wouldn’t feel as nervous today.

H: Tell me about how you access outdoor recreation. Do you experience any barriers?

M: I’m fortunate to live near Forest Park and other nice parks. The wilderness experience is basically right outside my door. I visit the Gorge about once a year. I like to be with family or friends when I go someplace like the Gorge. It’s more fun with company.

H: Have you ever pedaled the sections of trail in the Gorge along the Historic Columbia River Highway?

M: No, but would like to someday.

H: There are some beautiful sections.

M: Do you pedal out there from Portland?

H: Yes. When I’ve gone out there in the past, I ride along Marine Drive. That might not be a comfortable place for your trike, but there’s an almost continuous off-street path from Kelley Point Park to Troutdale. It crosses Marine Drive a few times. (In 2020, BikePortland detailed the existing gaps in the trail, some of which may no longer be gaps. The Springwater Corridor Trail might be a more comfortable way out there.

M: Where do you go from Gresham?

H: It is on road until you get east of Multnomah Falls. I wouldn’t recommend you doing that alone. The road is narrow and the drivers aren’t necessarily accommodating to cyclists on the road. There are stairs at Eagle Creek, so maybe the best option is to start from Cascade Locks and pedal toward Multnomah Falls (or go with enough people to help you navigate the stairs with your trike). It’s a gorgeous section of trail. There’s a new-ish section of trail east of Cascade Locks also. You would have to pedal on road a little bit to reach that path, but the road is low-traffic. If you wanted a longer off-road ride, I’d start in Hood River. The trail goes to Mosier. It’s idyllic.

More information about the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail:

• A map, but I don’t think it’s current

• TrailLink might be the most current map out there

• Information on general accessibility along the trail

I started to think through how Mike might get his recumbent on transit out to the Gorge since he doesn’t drive. For me, transit is an important link to access recreation, and I do feel limited in the kinds of activities I can do or undertake if they are not accessible by transit or bicycling. Bicycle racks on transit are important to reach higher quality recreational experiences faster or more safely. Bicycling to trailheads isn’t necessarily a great option, especially if I’m touring since I’m concerned about the security of my bike and baffled by how anyone would deal with the extra touring gear (including helmet) that is not necessary on a hike or backpacking trip. While transit is almost always equipped to handle bicycles, an adaptive bike like Mike’s doesn’t fit in the same space.

H: Have you ever taken your trike on transit? Does it work with a standard wheelchair lift?

M: I put it on MAX once and was kindly told that it wasn’t allowed. I understand. The spokes stick out, and when it’s busy on transit, it takes up a lot of room.

H: You prefer being with other people for the social aspects of recreating outdoors. If you were able to get your bike to a group ride out in the Gorge, would that interest you?

M: What are the distances?

H: The Gorge Ride is usually the second Saturday in June and leaves from the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles. It’s 19 miles to Hood River and back, so just about 40 miles.

M: Yeah! I could bring my battery charger to recharge in Hood River.

H: The support vehicles could carry it too if you didn’t want to haul it with you.

M: It’s not a big deal. I can carry it. It’s small and only weighs a pound or so.

H: Nice. I’ll contact someone I know who’s involved in the ride and interested in improving accessibility to see if there’s a way they could get your bike out there.

M: Thanks!

In addition to contacting someone involved with the Gorge Ride, I called Columbia Area Transit (CAT), the agency that runs Columbia Gorge Express – the transit service that connects Portland to Multnomah Falls and Gorge communities to The Dalles, including Hood River – to find out if an adaptive bike like Mike’s could be accommodated on their transit vehicles. Another Mike, Mike Kirby, answered the phone. He had never been asked this question before. “The buses have space to fit two bikes (with fat tires) on the front. On the back of the bus, the bikes hang parallel from the rack. There’s space for a wheelchair. I don’t know. I will have to get back to you on that,” he said.

After doing more research and considering various measurements, Mr. Kirby called me back. “The wheelchair space is 30” wide by 40” long, so it won’t fit the recumbent. Our under carriage compartments are also small, not like a tour bus compartment, so it wouldn’t fit there either. The rear rack is designed to carry bicycles by the handlebars. Since the recumbent doesn’t have handlebars, I don’t know how we would connect it to the rack even if we could remove the front wheels to make it narrower. So I’m sorry, I don’t see how it would fit. That said, this is the first time I’ve had anyone ask about this, and I’m going to contact some of the other transit agencies in the area to see how they’ve handled this if they’ve encountered it before.”

I thanked Mr. Kirby for his effort. “Would having more people request accommodation like this help?” I asked.

“It would,” he said.

I am interested in what Mr. Kirby discovers from other transit agencies, and I am equally interested in helping generate demand so that non-drivers like Mike are able to access high quality recreational experiences in the Columbia River Gorge and other similar recreation destinations.

If you or anyone you know would need or want accommodation for adaptive cycling in the Columbia River Gorge, please be in touch with Mike Kirby at Columbia Area Transit at 541.386.4202 or via email. Mr. Kirby was incredibly welcoming of my question. If you’re curious about accommodation in a different recreational area, please leave a comment below or email me, and I will try to find a relevant contact for that area.

M: Have you ever ridden the Petal Pedal? It starts and ends from the Oregon Garden.

H: I haven’t. I’ve done the Pioneer Century, which is in the same area, but never made it to the Petal Pedal. What about you?

M: Yeah. I rode the Petal Pedal 30-mile loop.

H: That’s awesome! How did you get your bike there?

M: [laughs] That was almost a disaster. A friend drove, and we put my bike on the roof attached to the rack up there. We hadn’t gone very far when my bike came off the roof and was dangling off the back of the SUV barreling down I-5 near the Moda Center. We got some better-quality straps and made it to the beautiful Oregon Gardens in Silverton with time to spare. It was an amazing ride through the winding roads of the Willamette Valley farmlands.

H: What do you notice when you go for a walk in the forest or are outdoors recreating?

M: I like watching the animals, hearing the birds, and noticing the smells out there. Because I live quite close to Forest Park, I walk there by myself sometimes. I’ve been spoiled by being surrounded by nature my whole life – I had woods off of my childhood’s house to play in with a fort and all.

When biking in the city, I enjoy seeing the diversity of people. People going to work, out for exercise or just having fun. As well as the houseless…makes me appreciate and respect how others get by. I also enjoy the intersection of the built environment and nature.

When I’m biking, my disability isn’t as obvious. I know, many say to take pride in your disability, though it’s nice to have opportunities to be free of the disability from time to time. Fortunate, I realize.

 H: Are there things you want other people to know about your experience accessing recreation?

M: In Portland, there’s bike share. I don’t think many people know that there are adaptive bikes available at OMSI as part of the program. It’s a great way for people who may need a specialized bicycle to experience the freedom and pleasure of being on a bike. I’m on the Board of United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon and am an advisory council member for Oregon Office on Disability and Health.  I think a lot of people with disabilities aren’t aware of the opportunities available to get some exercise, experience the outdoors and how that contributes to overall health and well-being.

I was fortunate growing up in a home that taught me healthy habits. My mother is a dietician. With a focus on fresh foods from a young age, eating a well-rounded diet is second nature. I’ve been predominantly plant-based for about 25 years now. My family has always been active, including supporting my participation in grade school sports where I could and hikes in Forest Park. The recumbent really makes a difference in my comfort exercising. When I walk for a long time, the abrasion in my joints will become painful. But on the recumbent, my body isn’t stressed the way it is when I walk, and I can be out for as long as I like.

Outdoor recreation is important for mental health, too. It’s like preventative care. People are healthier when they have opportunities to be in nature. That’s part of why I think people with disabilities should use services like the adaptive bike share.

The paths and bike boulevards in Portland are great places to get out. Drivers expect to see bicyclists on the streets there, and it feels comfortable.

M: Are you aware of funding opportunities for people with disabilities to access recreation? Funding often goes toward basic needs, which is important. Recreation is important, too, and its value in preventing disease and contributing to well-being seems like it could save money that goes to dealing with illness and other maladies. Accommodation is also expensive and a barrier for many to choose outdoor recreation, but I think it’s a good investment in preventative care.

H: I haven’t dug into this specifically. Most of my work has been with agencies that receive federal funding and are subject to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), so infrastructure and service provision. Some organizations that focus on recreation for people with disabilities and may have individual funding opportunities include:

• Move United advocates for everyone, regardless of ability, to have access to sport and recreation opportunities. I’m not sure that they offer funding, although they do have a Warfighters program that provides free adaptive sports programming to service members with permanent disabilities.

• I’ve heard of other Wounded Warriors programs that work with injured service members on recreational activities like long-distance bicycling (see Soldier Ride).

• Oregon Adaptive Sports has a Share the Stoke Grant for individuals with a cognitive, physical, or behavioral disability to put towards their outdoor recreation needs. There are grants to organizations that provide recreational support to individuals with disabilities, so I guess it’s a matter of finding local organizations like Oregon Adaptive Sports that have individual grant programs.

• For people with spinal cord injuries, there are grants to individuals to support recreation, such as Score Fund.

As Mike unlocked his bike, he said, “I’ll probably get arthritis.” Later he sent me a link to a short piece on NPR, “Like to bike? Your knees will thank you and you may live longer, too.” The segment touts the benefits of bicycling for knee health and overall physical health. People who bicycle are much more likely to have healthy knee joints later in life than people who do not bicycle.

“Where are you headed?” I asked Mike as he was about to pedal away. I had taken the bus and walked so was not on my bike.

“Southeast. I’m going to pedal up Mt. Tabor!”

H: What action would you like people to take?

M: Stay physically active. As people begin to lose muscle mass in their 30’s, it is vital to find activities that you enjoy participating in as part of your daily routine. Make it a habit. Before long, it will add joy and connectivity with those that surround you.

Organizations that are meaningful to me that you may find appealing as well:

• Portland Pearl Rotary

• United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon 

To stay in touch with Heidi, get my slow travel updates, follow me on Instagram @HeidiBeierle, or join The Wonder of Slow Travel Facebook group. Thank you!