Portland, Oregon, USA – a nice & progressive city

How I got interested in Portland

Since 2001, I am a member of the TeX Users Group (TUG). I am a devoted user of the TeX typesetting system.

An example of what the TeX typesetting system is capable of:
The astonishing textbook in mathematics Linear Algebra (507 pages). It is interconnected via hyperlinks to the book Answers to exercises: Linear Algebra (395 pages). Both books are written by Jim Hefferon at Saint Michael's College, Vermont, USA. Jim Hefferon was the Vice President of the TeX Users Group 2011–2016 and 2016–2017 he was TUG's President.

The TeX Users Group's office is located in Portland. Therefore I simply got curious about Portland and its beautiful surroundings.

In January 2013, I wrote in an email to TUG's office in Portland:

To get to know Portland better, I have watched some very nice videos on Vimeo, like Portland's Streetcar Mobile Music Fest, held on September 19, 2011. I am very delighted that Portland invest in streetcars and Light Rail projects.

I got this response to that paragraph from TUG's office: “Portland is a progressive city, especially for its size.”

Yes it is, as you can see from the videos at this web page.

Portland's Tilikum Crossing: Bridge of the People

Tilikum Crossing on early morning Sunday, April 6, 2025. To see the actual time in Portland, Oregon use the NIST Official U.S. Time.

You may watch Portland's new and amazing car free bridge Tilikum Crossing and the Willamette River live streaming webcam, Tili-Cam. (If you prefer, you may watch the Tili-Cam in a separate browser tab).

Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People is the bridge that bans cars. You can walk, run, bike, ride a streetcar (tram) or public bus across the Tilikum Crossing in Portland, but you can't drive a car.

All Classical Radio in Portland is a nonprofit and independent, community-funded radio station and multimedia platform with international reach, providing access to classical music, outstanding performances, and engaging storytelling since 1983.
They have a webcam, the Tili-Cam so you may watch Tilikum Crossing live day and night, while listening to some nice classical music (or silent by clicking the speaker icon). Listen to tons of nice classical music at the All Classical Radio website and choose to Listen.

Portland a City Of The Future, bicycles, streetcars and the Aerial Tram

Streetfilms wrote:
“Portland, Oregon's South Waterfront is developing into one of the most sustainable communities in the U.S. In just one spot you can grab the Portland Streetcar, ride the Portland Aerial Tram to OHSU (Oregon Health & Science University), park your car, cross a brand new pedestrian bridge, bike on a protected bikeway, and check your bike at the largest daily valet bike parking facility in the U.S. Take a look.”

The U.S. Bicycle City – In Portland every day is walk & bike to school day!

Streetfilms wrote:
“In many areas of the United States the statistics are bleak – only a small fraction of children bike or walk to school. But in Portland they've had tremendous success bucking the trend: the number of kids that use their feet to get to school is up 25% since 2006!

Portland makes it happen through a unique blend of infrastructure, planning and community. They have a growing network of Neighborhood Greenways and by 2015, 80% of all Portland residents will be within a half mile of one. Communities also frequently schedule Bike Trains and Walking School Buses that encourages kids and their families to make the jaunt to school. One of the more incredible parts of their program you'll see is the 5th grade volunteers who help cross students to school in the morning, trained by the Portland Police.

Although the United States has a long way to go, get motivated because if Portland can do it, your city can too.”

Portland's Streetcar Mobile Music Fest brings happiness to Portlanders & others

On September 19, 2011 eight bands on six streetcars made Portlanders and others very happy. It was Portland's Streetcar Mobile Music Fest: An Act of Civic Enthusiasm that took place. Portland's Streetcar Mobile Music Fest also has been held annually since 2011. The last one was held on November 2, 2019. (But no good Vimeo videos are available from these more recent, fun events.)

Performers on September 19, 2011 – please see the film and listen to:
Jared Mees and the Grown Children, Left Coast Country, Dag B and the Zig Zags, Blake Lyman with Ben Graves, Sara Jackson Holman, Laurent Nickel, Leif Anderson and, Boy and Bean.

The making of the modern Portland Streetcar system

As an introduction to this nice video:
“The development of a modern streetcar system in Portland, Oregon, has generated great interest from cities all over the world. [...] this engaging documentary provides the behind-the-scenes story of how it was done.”
This video was uploaded to vimeo by the former Portland Mayor Sam Adams.

More about Portland

Please see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Oregon and Lonely Planet – About Portland, Oregon.

Checkpoint W3C