PDX vs. San Francisco.

 Thread started by 
bentstrider at 03.19.09 - 5:42 pm
As all of us here already know, both of these cities are the literal, cycling hubs of the United States.
Both have plenty of bicycle infrastructure, both have green-initiatives of some sort, and both are on the West Coast.
Now that we got the obvious out of the way, which one seems more appealing?
To me, it would have to be Portland.
Sure San Francisco has plenty of awesome things about it, but Portland has that "other-worldly", mystery-novel/survival horror feel to it.
That, Zoobomb, and a bunch of other reasons.
Pick your poison.
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I also meant to ask which of these two cities is more appealing.
LA kicks ass because you already live there, Dave.
 bentstrider
bentstrider03.19.09 - 5:47 pm
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LA. 
i just got back from San Francisco and though it was amazing and there are many lessons to be learned from their cycling evolution, there is only one reason why i choose LA - the Ridazz:
we bike LA
when i leave here 
to venture roads not yet ridden 
the space I happen upon 
is void 
an unnatural silence which fills the air 
for it's the energy of the ridaz 
their presence greatly lacking 
and it’s then that i realize 
these roads are not meant for this rida 
for i am just a visitor 
cycling through borrowed land 
upon my return 
to this giant cement park 
of twisted roadways 
lined with cracks and holes 
and bumper to bumper traffic 
i breathe the exhaust fumes 
and smile 
cause there’s a ride 
happening somewhere 
with ridaz sifting 
amongst marked territory 
to reclaim it as their own 
though this city is rough 
i know the ridaz are tougher 
for we play on the edge 
of this chaotic spectrum 
we accept the challenge 
life or death 
we take our two wheels 
to the streets 
like the badasses we are 
for we bike LA 
and proudly call her our home l
 bondink
bondink03.19.09 - 5:50 pm
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Well Sara, I could totally understand LA being it for the sole purpose of the Ridazz.
I mean, if it weren't for the Ridazz, I would have no reason to come down from the desert, I shit you not.
Not to mention it was their influencing that drew me to PDX in the first place.
Still don't take this quasi-poll as misguided, but more of the survey it is.
 bentstrider
bentstrider03.19.09 - 6:06 pm
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SFO, better public transportation than LA, and better weather than PDX.
 toweliesbong
toweliesbong03.19.09 - 6:07 pm
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oh, i know what you mean - i get the survey - i am just saying - well you know what i am saying, you've been to the future as well. sometimes you cannot hang with people that have not experienced the future. 
so visit. i say. visit. if you wanna live somewhere other than LA, i suggest NYC. i love her.
 bondink
bondink03.19.09 - 6:09 pm
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pdx has (had) poison idea and all the karp related bands.
sfo has (had) spazz and slap-a-ham records.
socal has (had) black flag and sst.
 ruinedbyidiots
ruinedbyidiots03.19.09 - 6:11 pm
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Another thing I liked about PDX was that awesome view of Mt Hood when looking out towards the East.
And as far as the rain goes, it's not half as bad as Seattle.
 bentstrider
bentstrider03.19.09 - 6:20 pm
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I love PDX for their awesome bike communities. 
 ZooBomB ! 
 Joe Borfo
Joe Borfo03.19.09 - 6:39 pm
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Don't start that Dave shit Benstrider
 sexy
sexy03.19.09 - 7:02 pm
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Life is more then just Bicycle.
What kind of area would you want to live.
SF is more urban which means a faster pace life,
more crazy things to get into and higher rents.
PDX is not so populated so you get more land for your dollar.  Easier to grow your own food and have animals if that is your thing.  There is crazy things to get into put it at a different pitch then SF.  You can get out of the city easier and quicker.
Though if you air travel I'm sure airline tickets our cheaper out of the bay area.
What about for work?  I don't know.
I would think PDX get colder and rainier.  What about winter sports.  How closer are you too mountains if you are into skiing/snowboarding.
Is exotic food your thing especially Chinese food, then of course SF would be your ticket.  
No need to have a great public transportation system in a city as small as PDX.
How liberal are your politics.  I think you would get more radical street protest and actions in the bay area.  Then you would have more ELF's in the PDX area.  Kinda like the rural vs the urban thing.
 sexy
sexy03.19.09 - 7:04 pm
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pdx = heroin and other types of drugs.
sf / la = weed a plenty.
 ruinedbyidiots
ruinedbyidiots03.19.09 - 7:05 pm
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Need some chill-pills there, mine aren't working.
Anywho, it seems like PDX is more and more of my town.
Big enough to where there's plenty of shit to do, small enough to where you don't get trampled by the high-speed of life.
 bentstrider
bentstrider03.19.09 - 7:10 pm
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having lived in PDX I can say the weed is definitly better but the riding is not when compared to la. Having only riden but not smoked sf I can only say the riding is better in la. 
 larsenf
larsenf03.19.09 - 7:29 pm
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yeah LA 
is Dope
but i like San Francisco 
they have gnarly hills....
 pop iggy
pop iggy03.19.09 - 8:21 pm
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"gnarly hills" - yes, they do - they also have "the wiggly" FTW!
 bondink
bondink03.19.09 - 8:24 pm
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L.A. 
Period.
End of story.
 JB
JB03.19.09 - 9:12 pm
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