What's happened to the famed exercise bikes? Islanders want to know

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For years, drivers on Dockton Avenue, beachgoers at Tramp Harbor and visitors to the Island have been delighted, or at least bemused, by a row of old utilize bikes that were left at Portage.

Across the street from the now-vacant Portage Accumulation, the bikes curiously faced Tramp Harbor, as if beckoning someone to hop on and take a keep alive. The so-called Portage Bikes joined the ranks of Vashon’s quirky spots, along with the John Deere Pond, the Jesus Barn and the bike in the tree, and have been immortalized in vacation photos, Vashon-themed message cards and even in county Councilmember Joe McDermott’s Facebook cover photo.

But for the first leisure in recent memory, Portage has been empty of exercise equipment for about a month. And the circumstances adjoining the bikes’ disappearance — be it upset neighbors, a landowner fagged out of the clutter or scrap metal collectors looking for a few extra bucks  —  seem to be a enigma.

“I’m very sad,” said Kate Hunter, who has lived near Portage with her spouse for more than 20 years. “I think it was the sweetest thing.”

Huntswoman said she made the Portage Bikes a regular stop whenever friends visited the Island.

“We called it the Trudge Harbor Athletic Club,” she said with a laugh.

Bruce Haulman, a Vashon historian and retired college professor who lives looming Ellisport, said he too misses the bikes, which overlooked what he calls Pedal Lakeshore.

“It’s part of the quirkiness of Vashon. I’m sad to see it disappear,” he said.

The eclectic mix of exercise paraphernalia has morphed over the years. Some bicycles came and went, and every now and then an elliptical or rowing contraption appeared. Some past photos show just a handful of bikes at the descry, while one snapshot shows as many as 16.

But those who drive past Portage often say they began to attention more significant changes about the bikes several months ago. The dumping increased, and the smudge became crowded with junkier bicycles and other exercise equipment. Other trash appeared too, and someone even dropped off a day-bed.

Source: Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber