Mount Tabor Neighborhood residents aim to set an example by driving less and frequenting Downtown Portland businesses more often
Mary Lou Hennrich has a message for anyone hesitant to board a TriMet bus or MAX train: Just do it! It’s simple, safe and fun.
It’s a message that her neighbors in the Mount Tabor Neighborhood have embraced. They now gather every month near the Line 15-Belmont/NW 23rd Ave bus stop, located at Southeast 71st Avenue and Yamhill Street, for an activity they call “Tabor to Town.” The group of about 15 ride the bus to experience different Downtown Portland destinations together.
While the idea originated with Mary Lou, it was sparked by Portland Mayor Keith Wilson’s State of the City address in May 2025, where he voiced his optimistic message, “the state of Portland is rising.” During the address, he recounted his vision of “transportation-oriented villages,” suggesting that Portlanders could support this by leaving their cars at home.
Inspired, Mary Lou reached out to her friends and neighbors with the idea: Let’s take a TriMet bus and travel to Downtown Portland to support local businesses. Given Tabor to Towns’ simplicity and community-focused nature, Mary Lou is now challenging other neighborhoods to follow their lead.
“I’d love to get more people on the bus, more people going downtown, more people comfortable using public transportation,” Mary Lou says. “Let’s challenge other neighborhoods – Laurelhurst, Sellwood, Irvington, Buckman – because we really need to support Downtown businesses.”
Riding ‘is really fun’
Riding the bus is nothing new to Mary Lou.
She began riding a Rose City Transit bus to Glencoe Elementary School in kindergarten. Even then, it was an opportunity to build connections. She always rode with a classmate, and for the two of them, the bus opened up a world of possibilities.
Now, as a retired public health administrator turned volunteer and advocate, Mary Lou wants to promote public transportation as an ideal means of travel for people of all ages. Most of the neighbors who participate in Tabor to Town are older adults, many of whom have limited experience riding. But that hasn’t stopped them. It has only added to the enjoyment.
The feedback she has heard from neighbors has been positive. While some may have been reluctant before, now they say, “This is really fun.”
Connecting communities, supporting businesses
With Line 15-Belmont/NW 23rd, residents of the Mt. Tabor Neighborhood are brought together in multiple ways. For June’s Tabor to Town outing, Mary Lou planned for the group to dine at the Midtown Beer Garden by Expensify, located at the corner of Southwest Fifth Avenue and Harvey Milk Street.
She organized the outing before she knew that her neighbor Matt Allen was the beer garden’s project manager, a fact she only discovered after he received one of her flyers. He emailed her afterward with the news. They were both thrilled by the coincidence.
Matt is also an avid TriMet rider, and he views the benefits of Tabor to Town from a business perspective. Having lived in Portland for 13 years, he views TriMet as the easiest way to get around Downtown Portland. For him, public transportation is about building a sense of community.
“It’s really easy to hop on a bus and head Downtown,” he said. “And guess what, that same bus will take you back home!”
Matt was at the food carts to greet the Tabor to Town group as they arrived for June’s outing, adding one more neighbor to the group. Even Mayor Wilson, the inspiration for the group, showed up to show his support for the initiative.
Affordable transportation centered on you
Whether your destination is a night out, sporting event, appointment or something else entirely, TriMet offers a more affordable alternative to driving, saving you money on gas and parking. As the Tabor to Town group has discovered, it’s a great way to get to know the city. After all, Downtown Portland is served by more than 30 bus lines, many of which are Frequent Service, arriving every 15 minutes or more often. Additionally, all five MAX lines serve areas across the city’s Central Business District. You can plan your trip and view the real-time locations of buses and MAX trains at trimet.org.
Improving the riding experience is at the center of TriMet’s multi-year efforts to boost safety, security and cleanliness. In the past year alone, these initiatives have included the creation of a centralized Security Operations Center and the introduction of 28 blue-light security phones to MAX stations and transit centers, with additional installations planned for the future. Riders can also act as our eyes and ears. We encourage you to call 503-238-RIDE (7433) if you see inappropriate activities.
We also want to know how your ride went. Your feedback is valuable! It helps us understand our performance and identify areas for improvement, thereby enhancing your experience. Scan the QR code displayed on most buses and trains, and follow the prompts to provide us with instant feedback.
If Mary Lou has any feedback to share, it’s that taking a break from driving feels good. She knows from experience that it connects you to your city and neighbors, and she wants to share that message with others. “C’mon, get out,” she says. “Talk to your neighbors.”
