USA Guide
The Pacific Northwest
Getting around
Although you can see much of the compact city center on foot, or along the city's impressive, extensive network of cycling paths and trails (visit 
www.portlandonline.com/transportation for maps and information), Portland also has an excellent public transit network. Its MAX light rail system channels riders around central downtown and Old Town, connects to the western and eastern suburbs and north Portland, and tunnels under Washington Park and the zoo. Tri-Met buses are based at the downtown transit mall – whose original axis along Fifth and Sixth avenues is under construction to make way for a light-rail extension, so the main lines have temporarily relocated to Third and Fourth avenues. The Tri-Met Ticket Office in Pioneer Square (Mon– Fri 8.30am–5.30pm, unstaffed Sat 10am-4pm; 
503/238-7433, www.trimet.org ) offers free transit maps and sells all-zone day tickets ($4), regular fares ($1.65-1.95), and other passes.
The colourful Portland Streetcar line runs between the south waterfront, Portland State University, the Pearl District, and Northwest Portland, covering many downtown sights on NW and SW 10th and 11th streets. As with buses, fares are free inside Fareless Square – basically the downtown core – otherwise $1.95 ( www.portlandstreetcar.org ). At the streetcar's southern terminus, at SW Moody Ave and Gibbs St, the splashy Aerial Tram (Mon– Fri 5.30am–9.30pm, Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 1–5pm; $4 round-trip; www.portlandtram.org ) connects the south waterfront to OHSU hospital 500ft up on Marquam Hill – a 3min ride that's great for viewing the beautiful landscape of trees, skyscrapers, and, on a clear day, Mount Hood. Finally, taxis don't stop in the street; get one at a hotel or call Broadway Cab ( 503/227-1234) or Portland Taxi Co. ( 503/256-5400).