🛴 New E-Bike Rules, Major Growth and Plenty to Do Around the South Metro

Good Morning, South Metro. A friend told me about this idea… a way to get us all together to meet new folks and explore great restaurants. A kind of South Metro Dinner Club where we get matched up with a few strangers, enjoy a meal together, and have some fun. Maybe even throw in an after-party as well.

Let me know your thoughts—if this gets approved, Cayla, Zoe and I will get to work!

Want to join the Dinner Club?

Okay, let’s get to the good stuff. Coming up in today’s South Metro Weekly:

Canby considers new rules—and some serious fines—for e-bike and scooter riders.
A $1.7 billion expansion could bring hundreds of new jobs to Tualatin.
An early heads-up about possible traffic headaches in September.

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🛴 Canby Considers New Rules for E-Bikes and Electric Scooters

Courtesy: Hiboy

Canby leaders are considering new rules for electric bikes and scooters as the devices become more common on local streets, sidewalks and pathways.

The City Council is scheduled to consider Ordinance 1675 this Wednesday. The proposal would regulate electric-assisted bicycles, motor-assisted scooters, e-scooters, personal mobility devices and vehicles manufactured for off-road use.

Riders would be prohibited from using the devices on sidewalks, park boardwalks and other public areas designated for pedestrians. The ordinance would also ban carrying more passengers than a device was designed to hold.

Careless or reckless riding—including stunts, using a phone while moving, riding under the influence or attempting to elude police—would also be prohibited.

Until January 1, 2027, anyone under 16 would be barred from operating an electric-assisted bicycle, motor-assisted scooter or e-scooter within Canby. After that date, age rules would vary by vehicle classification.

Penalties would begin at $250 and could rise to $1,000 for repeat violations. Reckless behavior would carry a starting fine of $500.

Canby is not alone in revisiting the issue. West Linn recently strengthened its e-bike and scooter regulations, while Lake Oswego discussed a proposed ordinance in July and asked city staff to return with revisions.

🚗 Get ready for possibly heavier-than-normal traffic on I-205 this fall. All southbound lanes of I-5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter will close beginning September 11 for up to five weeks, with regional traffic encouraged to use I-205 instead. Along with the work on the Abernethy Bridge in Oregon City, we could see some longer drive times just as school events start up.

🚧 The planned work on Wilsonville’s I-5 Boone Bridge has been paused and pushed to 2027. Contractor availability is delaying the joint replacement project, but officials say the temporary bridge joints are working and will continue to be monitored.

🎨 Venvino Art Studios is coming to Lake Oswego this November. The walk-in studio offers hands-on art projects for all ages and skill levels, including pottery painting, canvas, clay, wood and glass. The team behind Venvino’s Happy Valley location is opening the new studio at 55 S. State Street, Suite 3130, with lessons, camps, parties and creative events also planned.

🏭 A $31 million real estate deal is bringing a major new neighbor to Wilsonville. We told you a few weeks back about DCI moving from Newberg to “the Ville,” but now we know where. DCI International purchased a 205,000-square-foot facility at 26440 SW Parkway Avenue, making it one of the area’s biggest commercial property deals this year. The dental-equipment manufacturer plans to bring its manufacturing, warehousing and office operations together on the 24-acre campus beginning in 2028.

Courtesy: Newmark Real Estate

👩‍🌾 Our Table Cooperative just harvested 30,000 pounds of blueberries—which is a whole lot of pancakes waiting to happen. The Sherwood farm recently wrapped up its 15th blueberry season, with picking beginning about three weeks earlier than what was once considered normal. The worker-owned cooperative is also looking to hire a new store manager to lead its on-farm grocery store.

⚡ A potential strike at PGE’s Tualatin operations center has been avoided. The utility and IBEW Local 125 have reached an agreement, meaning about 30 system operators will remain on the job. The workers help monitor and manage electricity across PGE’s regional power grid and had been eligible to begin striking yesterday after nearly two years without a first contract.

💻 More growth—and hundreds of new jobs—could be coming to Tualatin. Lam Research is planning to invest up to $1.7 billion in a major expansion of its local operations. The project could bring nearly 450 permanent, high-paying research and development jobs.

🚧 A section of SW Tualatin Road is closed for railroad repairs. The closure is at the railroad crossing between SW Cherokee Street and SW Chinook Drive and is expected to continue through at least Tuesday, August 4. Drivers should use alternate routes and allow extra travel time.

Courtesy: City of Tualatin

🛶 The river launch at Cook Family Park remains open—but drivers will need to park farther away. The boat-launch access road and lower parking lot are closed to vehicles through October while Tigard builds a new ADA-accessible dock. Pedestrians and bicyclists can still reach the river, but visitors bringing kayaks or paddleboards should plan to carry them from an upper parking lot.

🩺 The Injury Clinic is now open in Lake Oswego. The walk-in orthopedic urgent care clinic treats sprains, fractures, sports injuries and other non-life-threatening conditions. It is located at 4250 Mercantile Drive, Suite A, and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. An official ribbon cutting is planned for Thursday.

Other than the city you call home, which South Metro city do you visit most often for dining and entertainment?

Vote below and we'll reveal the answers in Thursday mornings SMW edition.

🎈 = family-friendly event
💲 = ticket or purchase required
🎵 = includes live music
😋 = there will be food

🎈😋 Canby Police Grill and Chill 2026
Canby Police Department | Tuesday at 5:30 PM
The Canby Police Department is firing up the grill and inviting the community to stop by for an easygoing summer evening with local officers. Bring the family, grab some food and enjoy a chance to meet the people behind the badges in a relaxed setting. The event takes place at 1175 NW Third Avenue.

🎈😋💲 Butterfly Release at Lee Farms Sunflower Festival
Lee Farms, Tualatin | Wednesday–Sunday, 9 AM–5 PM
Add a little extra magic to Lee Farms’ Sunflower Festival by releasing a live Painted Lady butterfly among the blooms. The butterflies are individually wrapped for safe handling and a personal release moment, making this a memorable experience for kids, nature lovers and photo takers. The add-on is available onsite while supplies last, so guests should ask when purchasing or scanning their admission tickets.

🎈😋💲 Sunflower Festival on Stafford Road
Neighborhood Church, Stafford | Thursday–Sunday, 11 AM–5 PM
Wander through sunflower fields, build your own bouquet and enjoy a slower summer day on the farm. The festival also includes farm animals, bounce houses, concessions, photo spots and a dog-friendly atmosphere. Admission is $5 per person, with children 5 and younger admitted free. U-pick flowers and bouquet options are available for an additional cost.

🎈 Outdoor Movie Night | West Linn Info | Wilsonville Info
Willamette Park, West Linn | Tuesday at Dusk
Town Center Park, Wilsonville | Friday at 8:30 PM
Wilsonville and West Linn’s outdoor movie nights return with a free showing of Zootopia 2 under the stars. Bring a chair or blanket, find a comfortable spot on the lawn and settle in for a family-friendly night at the park.

👮‍♂️ There are multiple National Night Out Events happening this week. Some, like the Canby and Molalla events on Tuesday, are entire community celebrations. Others are in individual neighborhoods. We did our best to compile the following list of larger events, but forgive us if we missed any.

MORE EVENTS

🐾 Each week, we introduce you to a local adoptable pet hoping to find the perfect South Metro home. Some are playful adventurers, some are champion couch warmers, and others are still figuring out the whole “living with humans” thing. They may have different personalities, but they all deserve a fresh start, a little patience and plenty of love. This week’s furry friend is ready to say hello.

🐶 Meet Diez, an 11-month-old bundle of puppy energy who is playful, affectionate and always ready for his next adventure. He loves people, gets along well with other dogs and even enjoys playing with cats. Diez is potty trained, sleeps quietly through the night and is learning commands and leash skills quickly—especially when cheese is involved. This happy “Velcro Dog” would love a home where he can stay close to his people, explore new places and keep perfecting his very good-boy manners.

You can learn more about Diez and find a time to meet him, here.

A typical week of August weather in our neck of the woods: a little smoke in the air and temperatures in the upper 80s Monday, followed by a heat advisory Tuesday and Wednesday with highs near 100. We’ll cool down just a bit Thursday and into the weekend.

THANKS!

My family and I hope you have a great start to your week, and thanks for taking a few moments to stay updated on what is happening in the south metro.

A final thought… Your life will always be shaped by circumstances you did not choose, but the next chapter is still yours to write. Do not hand the pen to fear, regret or someone else’s expectations. Make the choices that move your story forward—even when the next sentence is not perfectly clear yet.

See you Thursday morning!

👋 Rules for E-Bikes & Scooters and a $31 Million Move

Want to join the Dinner Club?

Other than the city you call home, which South Metro city do you visit most often for dining and entertainment?

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