Behind the methodology

Key themes

• Vehicle miles traveled — the largest contributor to a city’s emission levels — bounced back since taking a dip in 2020.
• Biking sustained popularity, but pedestrian activity “dropped significantly.”
• The number of electric vehicles per 100 people is still relatively low. However, Portland is considered the No. 7 city in the US for electric vehicles owned and available charging stations, with one charger for every 1,494 residents.

How we ranked

• VMT: No. 8
• Fuel economy: No. 18
• Transit ridership: No. 9
• EV penetration: No. 8
• Biking activity: No. 6
• Pedestrian activity: No. 44
• Truck miles traveled: No. 20
• VMT change: No. 35

• The One Motorcycle Show | Friday, April 19-Sunday, April 21 | Times vary | Zidell Yards, 3121 S. Moody Ave., Portland | $15-$115 | This “celebration of weird, rare, and unconventional bikes” will feature 300+ custom motorcycles, art shows, live music, stunt performances, a classic car show, and more.
• The Portland Mercury’s Pizza Week | Friday, April 19-Sunday, April 21 | Locations vary | Times vary | Price of purchase | Chant it with us: “three dollar slices, three dollar slices, three dollar slices” — or get a whole pie for $24 at participating locations.
• Fertile Ground Festival of New Works | Friday, April 19-Sunday, April 21 | Locations vary | Times vary | $35-$75 | See new, locally created works spanning a wide range of genres “illustrating that Portland is truly fertile ground for creativity, innovation and daring acts of performance.”
• Portland Lindy Exchange | Friday, April 19-Sunday, April 21 | Locations vary | Times vary | $20-$95 | Take lessons and break out your best moves at this annual dance exchange celebrating vintage swing styles from the 1920s through 1950s.

• Free Compost Days | Saturday, April 20-Monday, April 22 | 7 a.m.-5 p.m. | Sunderland Yard, 9325 NE Sunderland Rd., Portland | Free | Bring your pickup truck or bags to take home “black gold” for your garden made from 5,000+ tons of leaves collected by PBOT from Portland streets.
• Field Trip: Botany for Birders - Conifers at Hoyt Arboretum | Saturday, April 20 | 8-10 a.m. | Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd., Portland | $45-$65 | Take a 1-mile guided walk with local arborist and ecologist Ryan Gilpin to learn how to confidently navigate the plant world during your birding expeditions.
• Earth Day Reuse Craft Fair | Saturday, April 20 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | ReBuilding Center, 3625 N. Mississippi Ave., Portland | Free | Embrace sustainability at this fair featuring local creators and artisans, then visit nearby participating businesses where a portion of sales will support the ReBuilding Center’s work.
• Hasan Minhaj: “Off With His Head Tour” | Saturday, April 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Portland | $49.50-$94.50 | Join this award-winning comedian for a night of witty jokes on topics ranging from politics to parenting to therapy.

• Bridge to Brews | Sunday, April 21 | 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Start/finish at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, between the Morrison and Burnside bridges | $20-$89 | Run an 8K or a 10K over Portland’s picturesque bridges, then celebrate the accomplishment with a cold beer or cider and live music.

• The 1905 is back, baby. The North Portland jazz club reopens under new management today, April 19 — five months after announcing its permanent closure over financial woes. Christopher Brown, a veteran performer at The 1905, will play a sold-out show tonight to kick off a stacked season lineup. (KOIN)

• Portland-based utility NW Natural wants to increase rates for residential customers by 18.8%, which shakes out to about $14.38 more per month for a single-family home. If approved by the state’s Public Utility Commission, the proposed rate hike would also impact commercial customers and take effect this November. (KGW)

• Washington County approved a land-use application to open an In-N-Out Burger in Beaverton. The popular burger chain’s proposed outpost — with a drive-thru and outdoor seating — would be at 10565 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy., a space formerly occupied by Hawaiian Time. (KGW)

• National Tea Cake Day, so put your pinkies up and stop by Smith Teamaker’s tasting room at 110 SE Washington St. for free pairings of tea and cake samples from GÂTEAUX Take & Bake Frozen Cakes. Bring your favorite teacup and plate to show off while you snack today, 12-4 p.m.

• Take a visually-stunning stroll through Southeast Portland next month for the Mt. Tabor Art Walk. The free event Saturday, May 18-Sunday, May 19 shines a spotlight on local artists representing a range of styles, such as ceramics, fiber art, glass, jewelry, photography, sculpture, and painting. Plan your route.

• Oregon City nonprofit Village at the Falls will host its third annual Garden & Art Tour on Saturday, June 29. Tickets are on sale to visit eight private gardens where artists will showcase and sell their works; proceeds support the organization’s efforts to help aging residents remain in their homes.

• Fuji to Hood will return to the Rose City this summer. The beer festival is held in Portland or Tokyo alternating years to forge cross-cultural connections through the art of fermentation. Try collaboration beers and ciders — each made with a unique Japanese ingredient — Saturday, July 20 at The Redd on Salmon.

• Plan to observe 4/20 with a trip to a local dispensary? You’ll save more green than consumers in other states. A new study by Lance Surety Bonds found Oregon has the most affordable joints of high-quality cannabis, averaging $4.91 apiece compared to $7.57 nationally. (Vox + Lance Surety Bonds)

• Oregon is keeping a close watch on the transfer portal, showing interest in players like Texas A&M safety Jacoby Mathews. Locked On Ducks host Spencer McLaughlin explores what UO’s transfer wish list could look like.

• An energy drink you actually want to drink. GORGIE has 150 mg of green tea caffeine plus the benefits of L-Theanine, biotin, B6 and B12.*

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