A Car-Free Bike Trip to Sandy’s Cedar Park Pump Track

A transit and bike trip gave a Tigard parent and his fourth-grade daughter a full day at Cedar Park in Sandy, without a car. The visit brought the pair to the park’s pump track, skate park and other amenities—and ended with a crash that put protective gear and first-aid training to the test.

The outing had been on their list for a while, but a packed summer pushed it into October. An unusually warm stretch gave them a chance to make the trip before colder weather set in. They left early on a Sunday, carrying BMX-style “park bikes” for riding at pump tracks and skate parks.

Three buses to the park

The family caught the Line 12 bus toward Portland, then transferred downtown to the FX2. Its rear-door boarding made it easier to reach the bike racks inside the bus. From there, they took the SAM bus from Gresham Transit Center to Sandy. The trip ended with a stop for morning donuts at Joe’s, followed by a four-block ride north to Cedar Park.

Their route shows how transit can extend a day ride beyond the usual range, provided riders plan around connections and bike space. The family prefers the FX2’s interior bike racks for the Portland–Gresham leg, though the MAX and Line 9 are other options between those cities. They brought regular bike helmets for street riding, describing them as easier for visibility and hearing, and packed full-face helmets for the track.

More than a pump track

Cedar Park was larger than the visitor expected. Alongside the pump track, it has a skate park, playground, walking path and bathrooms. The family arrived early, when only a few people were there. They put on pads, changed into full-face helmets and checked tire pressure before riding.

A pump track uses a series of rollers and banked turns to build speed through body movement, so riders can keep rolling without pedaling. Cedar Park has a smaller track sized for kids as well as an advanced course with wooden ramps for airtime. After about an hour, more people arrived on bikes, skateboards and scooters. The writer describes riders sharing the space, taking turns and watching out for one another.

His daughter grew more confident as she practiced, including launching out of a banked turn. Then the writer looked over and saw her bike flip forward, its rear wheel rising into the air. She landed with her leg caught in the bike frame and was screaming in pain. He rode over, moved the bike carefully, and tried to soothe her while a friend helped.

A fall changes the day’s plan

The parent’s first-aid training informed a quick assessment. His daughter was shaken and hurting, but he did not think the injury was serious. They removed her riding gear and let her rest on the grass. She had abrasions on one knee, despite wearing a pad, and a large bruise on her thigh where she had hit the ground while tangled in the frame.

The full-face helmet, knee pads and elbow pads were part of the family’s track setup. The crash is a reminder that protective equipment can reduce some impacts without preventing every injury. A fall can also end a session even when the rider appears to have avoided a serious injury. After several minutes resting in the shade, they chose to leave rather than return to the track.

They headed into town for lunch at Double Dragon, where noodles and a lollipop helped lift the mood. After some limping at first, the family boarded the SAM, FX2 and Line 12 buses for the trip back to Tigard. The account doesn’t give route distances, travel times or track conditions, so riders planning a similar outing will need to check those details for their own day.

What a local riding destination can offer

The writer connects the day’s outing with his interest in making Tigard easier to navigate on foot and by bike. He says the family spent money in Sandy and would like Tigard to have a pump track of its own. After years volunteering with the Tigard Transportation Advisory Committee and Climate Action Tigard, he says he is running for Tigard City Council.

For families considering a transit-to-track day, this trip offers a practical outline: bring bikes suited to the park, pack protective gear, allow time for transfers, and be ready to call the session when someone gets hurt. Cedar Park gave the family several ways to spend the day in one place, and the bus connections made the visit possible without driving. A good ride can end early; having a flexible plan makes the journey home part of the adventure.