‘Bike and Fly’ at Aloft Portland: New bike-friendly guest program lets travelers go without cars

Bike-friendly Portland, Oregon – well known for its green-living scene – is getting another boost toward self-sustainability when it comes to travel. Aloft Hotels, part of the Starwood family (think W Hotels, just a big easier on the wallet), has just unveiled its new “Bike & Fly” program at the Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station.

The program allows travelers to leave their cars at home by introducing a bicycle-friendly hotel in proximity to the runways. Travelers can leave their bikes securely stored in a locked storage area at the hotel for up to 14 days – all at no additional cost when paired with a one-night stay.

“A lot of people come into Portland and want to experience the local culture,” says David Porter, Aloft Portland’s general manager. “As the largest bike friendly city in the U.S., what better way than by bike? We can be the starting point on the map for these travelers, giving them easy access to modes of alternative transportation and offering loaner bikes to visiting guests of the hotel.”

Aloft no stranger to supporting the community

Aloft Portland has continually supported the city’s bike community, participating in the movement towards car-free transportation.

Last May, the very same hotel helped raise funds for Friends of the Historic Columbia River Highway, an organization dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the historic Columbia River Highway, in an effort to connect mutliple stretches of the highway with pedestrian and bicycle accessible pathways in order to create continuous route through the Columbia River Gorge that is reminiscent of its 1920s appearance.

In order to raise the funds, Aloft encouraged guests to enter a contest to win a complimentary bike from the hotel in exchange for a $20 donation. When all was said and done, the hotel was able to raise just over $2000 for the project.

Situated along the city’s MAX light rail line, Aloft Portland was designed around accessibility to public transportation. Visiting guests can check out bikes from the hotel’s fleet of Electra cruisers and Bike Friday folding bikes, then ride from the hotel or jump onto the MAX that stops in front of Aloft and heads to downtown Portland.

For more information, visit Aloft Portland at Cascade Station online.