Welcome to the Game

If you live in Portland, Oregon, you probably know all about the city's great streetcar system that goes through the SW and NW neighborhoods downtown. Check out the map.

What you may NOT know is that the streetcar provides one of the great urban running games of all time. If you know how to find it.

Sure, they built the streetcar to transport people. But it's much more fun to run alongside the thing.

The game is pretty simple. You chase the streetcar. You beat the streetcar. You stay ahead of the streetcar. Humans good, machines bad.

Think of it as part scavenger hunt, part kick the can, and part hide and seek. Combined with a track workout.

Are you ready to take back the streets? The best public transit system is RUNNING! Run, o fleet-footed humans! Run!

Who? You.

Why? Because we can.

Where? Anywhere the streetcar goes.

When? As often as possible.

Ready?

Introducing...THE RULES

Of course there are no rules. It's all about anarchy. Make up your own rules. But here are a few suggestions...

1 - Stay ahead of the streetcar.

This is a matter of honor and the point of the whole game. The streetcar is a machine and, well, we're better than the machines. Show you're better. Stay ahead.

Think of John Henry. Do you like to "race against the machine"? Then by all means stay AHEAD - even just barely ahead - of the soulless machines. Flesh and blood must win out against glass and steel. Stay ahead!

How many laps around the circuit can you do and stay ahead? One? Two? Four? Aha - you'll find out!

2 - Run on the sidewalk.

Don't run in the street or get right in front of the streetcar. That makes the driver very angry . It's dangerous and will quit possibly result in your early retirement from the game and life.

3 - Watch out for pedestrians.

A lot of the time you will be flat out sprinting to beat the machines. However, in your excitement do not offend the law-abiding citizens who are on the sidewalk. Be careful. Don't hurdle over any old ladies. Be respectful. In general people will support us as the heroic underdog rebels in our quest to beat the machines - but not if you run into them.

4 - Have fun.

This one WILL be enforced. The game is so much fun you don't even realize how hard you're running. Try it, you'll like it.

More soon on game variations, special lingo, course peculiarities and of course, the points system.

Any good game has points, right?