The Portland Bureau of Transportation and Plaid Pantry are teaming up to help Portlanders ride safer this summer, one neighborhood at a time. Starting Monday, June 1, PBOT and Plaid Pantry will give out 5,000 helmets across 53 Plaid Pantry locations in Portland for two weeks (or until supplies run out) courtesy of Lime.

Oregon law requires all e-scooter riders to wear a helmet, regardless of age. Bicycle riders under the age of sixteen are required to wear an approved helmet while riding on a public path or roadway. However, it is recommended that all people wear a helmet when riding bicycles to help prevent or lessen the severity of a potential head or brain injury.

Helmets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis to all Portlanders aged 12 years old and up. Only one helmet will be allowed per person. Every helmet will come with a free sticker from Plaid Pantry. Follow PBOT’s social media channels (@pbotinfo) for updates on helmet availability at Plaid Pantry locations.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Plaid Pantry, a local institution, that has been serving Portlanders for decades,” said Transportation Director Millicent D. Williams. “We hope that by providing convenient, free, and accessible helmets, it will be easier for everyone to ride safely this summer to wherever they need to go.”

“As a Portland community partner for more than 60 years, Plaid Pantry is proud to collaborate with PBOT to help improve neighborhood safety,” said Jonathan Polonsky, President & CEO of Plaid Pantry. “Through our 53 Portland-area locations, we will be distributing 5,000 helmets this summer to help make two wheeled transportations safer throughout our community.”

Following the helmet giveaway, PBOT will continue a summer-long public awareness campaign about the importance of wearing helmets and other important tips for safe riding on scooters and bikes.

The key messages of the campaign are:

Wear a helmet - Always protect your most valuable asset... your brain!
Ride in the road - Sidewalks are for pedestrians. Riding an e-scooter or e-bike on Portland sidewalks is dangerous and illegal. Please, don't do it!
Stay alert - Just because you can see drivers, doesn't mean they can see you. Make eye contact when turning or crossing the street!
Ride predicatably - Need to change lanes or stop abruptly? Let other road users know! Whether in a motor vehicle or on active transportation, being predictable is always a good way to protect yourself and others.
Lock your e-scooter and/or your bike – End your ride by locking up your vehicle and ensuring the pedestrian path is clear and safe for all sidewalk users.

To find a Plaid Pantry near you, visit: https://www.plaidpantry.com/store-locator/

To learn more about the Summer of Safe Riding, visit: https://www.portland.gov/transportation/bike-share/saferiding

Source: Portland Bureau of Transportation