Portland police have arrested one bicyclist and cited several others who were blocking traffic throughout the city this morning.
About a dozen bicyclists blocked traffic about 9 to 9:30 this morning on inner east side commuter streets, then onto the Morrison Bridge westbound. They moved slowly across all lanes as cars backed up behind them, including a police car. This continued for the length of the bridge until the cyclists veered right toward Old Town.
Police officers in patrol cars had difficulty catching up to the group, which grew to about 25 in Northwest Portland before riding to Lloyd Center and then Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Police stopped several on MLK near Northeast Fargo Street.
"It appears the arrest was related to a warrant, but there were several citations given out," said Sgt. Brian Schmautz, a Portland police spokesman. "The group was riding the wrong way on MLK."
It's unclear who they were or their motive, beyond drawing attention. Police did not rule out the possibility that the bicyclists were getting an early start on the May Day rally and march scheduled for this afternoon in downtown.