Creator of Portland By Bus

Stephanie Paris was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She started riding TriMet at the age of 15, and has since spent the last 28 years commuting primarily by bus. Her life in Portland has included performing for many years with Oregon Ballet Theater, becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist, and owning a vintage clothing business. Most recently, Stephanie went back to school to obtain her first bachelor’s degree, and graduated magna cum laude from Portland State University with a BS in Science, and a minor in biology. She is a research assistant in a lab at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, and plans to begin grad school in the fall of 2021 for an MS in Professional & Technical Writing. Stephanie is currently the primary writer and photographer for Portland By Bus. She is a dedicated mother of two teenage boys, and loves to spend her free time hiking, cooking, creating new recipes, and traveling.

“Portland By Bus was born from my love of Portland’s public transit system. Yeah, I said it. I love public transportation! I’ve been riding TriMet for almost 30 years, first out of necessity, and then by choice. When I get to the moment in a new friendship when I tell someone I do not own a car, I brace myself for their inevitable exasperated questioning: “You don’t have a car? How do you get around?! You’re a mom, you have a family!” And then I excitedly respond, “We live in one of the most walkable, transit-friendly cities in the country!”

For more almost three decades, I have “been there” and “done that” all utilizing our great city’s buses, MAX trains, and Portland Streetcars. I can get to most every place I’d ever want to go. Sure, public transit has served me well with common trips to the grocery store, the library, and to work and back. But it has also taken me to lush hiking trails, the pumpkin patch, farmers’ markets, sporting events, festivals, and even the Oregon coast!”

To read the complete birth story of Portland By Bus, visit the website’s About page. To contact Stephanie, email her directly at portlandbybus@gmail.com.

Cover photo by Adam Sawyer