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Data: Consumer Affairs; Graphic: Jim Sergent/Axios

Portland's public transportation system is among the top 10 in the country, according to a new Consumer Affairs ranking.

Why it matters: That's something to be proud of, and it could save you some cash if you jump on board.

By the numbers: Portland ranked No. 8 among the nation's 50 largest urban areas, beating much bigger metros like Miami and Houston.

We got top marks for accessibility and usefulness, affordability and operational safety.

Between the lines: ConsumerAffairs analyzed federal transit and Census data to understand how often residents board transit, how far they travel, ADA accessibility, fares relative to riders' earnings, and rates of collisions, injuries and other safety incidents.

Yes, but: Portland's ranking comes with a big asterisk. The data was based on 2024 stats — before TriMet enacted some of the agency's largest permanent service reduction in decades.

Catch up quick: In August, TriMet implemented major service changes to 33 bus lines, eliminated two and shortened the MAX Green Line. Riders traveling from Clackamas County now must transfer at Gateway to continue downtown.

The agency has also eliminated hundreds of staff positions.

Meanwhile, ridership remains at roughly 70% of pre-pandemic levels.

Even after the cuts, TriMet is still staring down an average annual budget gap of about $160 million, according to its latest adopted budget.

The agency said its operating costs — like labor, vehicle maintenance, fuel and security — have risen 56% since 2019 and are one of the key drivers of its financial strain.

What we're watching: Portland may still be competitive nationally when it comes to our transit system, but TriMet said it still needs a long-term source of revenue to avoid further reductions.

Portland public transit ranks No. 8 nationally

A national ranking puts Portland at No. 8, despite recent TriMet service cuts.

Infographic: "Where Portland ranks for public transit" shows Portland 8th with lavender bar (66.5). Best: San Francisco 78.6, New York 77.6, Washington, D.C. 74.8. Worst: Buffalo 33.2, Jacksonville 33.1 with dark bars.

Portland&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="public transportation system" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/08/14/trimet-max-bus-i5-closure" data-vars-content-id="3b40a9e0-e0fe-4780-943d-8f1fab465166" data-vars-headline="Portland public transit ranks No. 8 nationally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/08/14/trimet-max-bus-i5-closure" target="_self">public transportation system</a> is among the top 10 in the country, according to a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Consumer Affairs ranking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.consumeraffairs.com/movers/cities-with-the-best-public-transit#full-data" data-vars-content-id="3b40a9e0-e0fe-4780-943d-8f1fab465166" data-vars-headline="Portland public transit ranks No. 8 nationally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.consumeraffairs.com/movers/cities-with-the-best-public-transit#full-data" target="_blank">Consumer Affairs ranking</a>.Why it matters: That&#x27;s something to be proud of, and it could <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="save you some cash " data-vars-click-url="https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/APTA-POLICY-BRIEF-Transit-Savings-09-27-2023.pdf" data-vars-content-id="3b40a9e0-e0fe-4780-943d-8f1fab465166" data-vars-headline="Portland public transit ranks No. 8 nationally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/APTA-POLICY-BRIEF-Transit-Savings-09-27-2023.pdf" target="_blank">save you some cash </a>if you jump on board.

Transit

News

Chart-topping country singer Shaboozey, K-pop star J-Hope and "Love Island" winner Bryce Alakai have all been spotted wearing Portland menswear brand Bare Knuckles this year.

Why it matters: Nearly a decade in, Bare Knuckles has quietly grown from a side project between the two longtime Portland retail pros into a fashion-world favorite.

It's the fit and feel that are obsessively considered by owners Jacob Keller and Cole McBride, and therefore increasingly sought after.

Despite its flashy clientele, the clothes Bare Knuckles produces are surprisingly understated: basics like washed jeans, boxy graphic tees and studded leather loafers.

While the brand remains largely direct to consumer — thanks to its  thoughtfully curated social media and well-timed drops — Keller told Axios the business has grown rapidly year over year, cultivating a large customer base in New York and Los Angeles.

Catch up quick: Portland natives Keller and McBride met while working at downtown menswear boutique Machus in 2016. Keller, who previously worked at Nike, was the manager and McBride was an enthusiastic regular who eventually got himself hired.

Handling clothes all day became an informal education in how they wanted to make things differently.

"You kind of realize like, 'Oh man, I wish this was like two inches shorter. I wish that this hat fit this way. I wish that this shirt had this wash,'" Keller said.

The pair had a friend who owned a factory in LA and started making samples that year. They launched Bare Knuckles in 2017.

The vibe: Like many kids who grew up in Portland, Keller and McBride were vintage shop connoisseurs, copping '50s-era workwear and worn leather goods. So that's where they started with Bare Knuckles. 

Before producing a single piece, they search for an existing silhouette they'd actually want to wear and replicate.

Then, they tweak the proportions and put them through a cycle of enzyme and stone washes, sprays and rinses that make the clothes feel worn‑in from day one.

"Anyone can just go pick up a brand-new shirt anywhere," Keller said. "I want ours to feel a little different."

Triptych of fashion looks: left—man in brown bomber over gray hoodie with dark shorts; middle—man in brown leather jacket and tan pants in a kitchen; right—person in black leather jacket with wide-leg jeans.

The result is relaxed and refined — bombers that hit right at the belt line, crinkled crimson lambskin leather blousons and wide-legged buttery denim.

Zoom in: Like their clothes, McBride and Keller are intentional about growth. For example, wholesale has been a new frontier. 

So far, their line is in independent department stores like Frances May, Chicago's Notre and WISM in Japan, with potentially more — and maybe even a brick-and-mortar of their own — on the way.

Pop-ups and collaborations have also become an integral part of their playbook, allowing them to meet customers in person and build awareness.

Even with the newfound buzz, McBride and Keller are taking the business one opportunity at a time.

"When we first started, I had no 10-year plan," Keller said. "And right now, I still probably have no 10-year plan."

Bare Knuckles is having a banner year

The label is winning over fans with its obsessively considered fits and worn-in basics.

Two men stand side by side against a plain gray wall. Left: brown plaid shirt and green cap with a BK patch. Right: dark beard, neck tattoos, light blue button-down shirt.

Founders Jacob Keller (left) and Cole McBride. Photo: Courtesy of Bare Knuckles/@happy_beginnings_studio

Chart-topping country singer Shaboozey, K-pop star J-Hope and &quot;Love Island&quot; winner Bryce Alakai have all been spotted wearing Portland menswear brand Bare Knuckles this year.Why it matters: Nearly a decade in, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bare Knuckles" data-vars-click-url="https://bareknuckles.co/" data-vars-content-id="5ba18251-20cc-4d3a-9e18-8b8e5869a79b" data-vars-headline="Bare Knuckles is having a banner year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bareknuckles.co/" target="_blank">Bare Knuckles</a> has quietly grown from a side project between the two longtime Portland retail pros into a fashion-world favorite.

Culture

Oregon isn't producing enough college graduates to keep up with the number of jobs here that require higher education, according to a new state-mandated report highlighted by the Oregon Journalism Project.

Why it matters: The state has long relied on in-migration — attracting college-educated workers from elsewhere — to bolster its economy, but that strategy has since stalled due to waning population growth and public universities drawing fewer out-of-state students.

By the numbers: Oregon employers annually generate roughly 78,000 job openings that require college credentials, according to OJP. However, the state produces only about 52,000 graduates — making a gap of 26,000 workers, give or take.

Meanwhile, only about 50% of Oregon high school students enroll in college each year, compared with 58% nationally, according to OJP.

Yes, but: Many of those Oregonians who do attend college don't stick around. 

55% of University of Oregon students and 48% of Oregon State grads move out of state largely for better job opportunities, per the report.

Plus: More than 825,000 Oregonians have attended college but never earned a degree, according to a National Student Clearinghouse report cited by OJP.

The intrigue: Health care is a particular sore spot for the state. Despite being one of Oregon's fastest-growing industries, we rank near the bottom nationally in training nurses and other health care workers for the job.

What we're watching: The report warns Oregon's workforce problem could get worse — raising the stakes for Gov. Tina Kotek, who in her reelection bid has made economic growth and workforce development central to her agenda.

Oregon's talent pipeline can't keep pace

The state isn't producing enough college grads for open roles.

Illustration of a small young man with a laptop case staring up a giant office chair

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

Oregon isn&#x27;t producing enough <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="college graduates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/05/11/portland-job-market-college-graduates-adp" data-vars-content-id="baf9663b-7fe1-48b6-8db7-b66950eeb4b7" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s talent pipeline can&#x27;t keep pace" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/05/11/portland-job-market-college-graduates-adp" target="_self">college graduates</a> to keep up with the number of jobs here that require higher education, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a new state-mandated report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.oregon.gov/highered/public-engagement/Documents/Commission/Full-Commission/2026/5-September%2021%20Special/2.0b%20HB%204124%20Preliminary%20Findings%20EY-P.pdf" data-vars-content-id="baf9663b-7fe1-48b6-8db7-b66950eeb4b7" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s talent pipeline can&#x27;t keep pace" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.oregon.gov/highered/public-engagement/Documents/Commission/Full-Commission/2026/5-September%2021%20Special/2.0b%20HB%204124%20Preliminary%20Findings%20EY-P.pdf" target="_blank">a new state-mandated report</a> highlighted by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Oregon Journalism Project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.oregonjournalismproject.org/oregon-graduates-26000-fewer-college-grads-than-needed-to-fill-available-jobs" data-vars-content-id="baf9663b-7fe1-48b6-8db7-b66950eeb4b7" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s talent pipeline can&#x27;t keep pace" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.oregonjournalismproject.org/oregon-graduates-26000-fewer-college-grads-than-needed-to-fill-available-jobs" target="_blank">Oregon Journalism Project</a>.Why it matters: The state has long relied on in-migration — attracting college-educated workers from elsewhere — to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bolster its economy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/07/29/oregon-s-economy-leans-small-and-supersized" data-vars-content-id="baf9663b-7fe1-48b6-8db7-b66950eeb4b7" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s talent pipeline can&#x27;t keep pace" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/07/29/oregon-s-economy-leans-small-and-supersized" target="_self">bolster its economy</a>, but that strategy has since stalled due to waning <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="population growth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/04/01/portland-population-growth-immigration-decline-census-data" data-vars-content-id="baf9663b-7fe1-48b6-8db7-b66950eeb4b7" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s talent pipeline can&#x27;t keep pace" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/04/01/portland-population-growth-immigration-decline-census-data" target="_self">population growth</a> and public universities drawing fewer <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="out-of-state students" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/11/18/oregon-international-student-enrollment-drop" data-vars-content-id="baf9663b-7fe1-48b6-8db7-b66950eeb4b7" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s talent pipeline can&#x27;t keep pace" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/11/18/oregon-international-student-enrollment-drop" target="_self">out-of-state students</a>.

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

Gabby's Next Door, the neighboring sister restaurant to red sauce Italian eatery Gabbiano's, is expanding beyond lunchtime service and will soon offer a selection of small plates throughout the evening.

The big picture: The space, located on Northeast 30th Avenue and formerly occupied by Lil' Dame and Beast, will serve as a dinnertime extension of Gabbiano's.

Think snacky and shareable — like bagna càuda dip, charred brassicas and shrimp fra diavolo — giving diners another option when the popular no-reservations restaurant next door is full.

Triptych of plates: left colorful vegetable dish in orange sauce (cauliflower, broccoli, peppers); middle roasted potatoes with cheese; right sausage chunks in a peppery sauce with bread nearby.

A little taste of Gabby's. Photos: Meira Gebel/Axios

I got to preview a portion of the menu recently and can tell you Gabby's feels less like an overfill space and more like a restaurant with its own identity.

That's the idea, according to co-owner David Sigal. "We wanted it to be more fun, laissez-faire and more creative," he said. Roughly six to nine dishes will be on offer at a time, keeping it curated and "approachable."

The standout plates included the cacio e pepe fingerling potatoes with shallot aioli and a vegetarian manicotti with creamed kale and leek that will rotate with seasonal produce.

If you go: Gabby's Next Door (5425 NE 30th Ave.) is open 11:30am to 2:30pm for lunch and will be open for dinner from 5-9pm later this fall.

Gabby's Next Door launches dinner service

Expect shrimp fra diavolo, manicotti and other shareable plates

Cozy restaurant with exposed wooden beams and warm pendant lights. Long table of diners sits under blue cartoon prints on the wall, with wooden shelves holding bottles, jars, and knickknacks; white cabinet to the right.

Gabby's Next Door is small, but charming. Photo: Meira Gebel/Axios

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gabby&#x27;s Next Door" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gabbianospdx.com/gabbysnextdoor" data-vars-content-id="c14f2742-752c-4a54-bc18-973726a8c2c6" data-vars-headline="Gabby&#x27;s Next Door launches dinner service" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gabbianospdx.com/gabbysnextdoor" target="_blank">Gabby&#x27;s Next Door</a>, the neighboring sister restaurant to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="red sauce Italian" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/10/29/portland-italian-food-renaissance-restaurant" data-vars-content-id="c14f2742-752c-4a54-bc18-973726a8c2c6" data-vars-headline="Gabby&#x27;s Next Door launches dinner service" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/10/29/portland-italian-food-renaissance-restaurant" target="_self">red sauce Italian</a> eatery Gabbiano&#x27;s, is expanding beyond lunchtime service and will soon offer a selection of small plates throughout the evening.The big picture: The space, located on Northeast 30th Avenue and formerly occupied by Lil&#x27; Dame and Beast, will serve as a dinnertime extension of Gabbiano&#x27;s.

Food and Drink

Fall in Portland is romantic. Prolific restaurateur turned independent filmmaker Josh Loeb knows this. 

Why it matters: His debut feature, "In Spite of Ourselves," takes place against the backdrop of the city's vibrant tree-lined streets, cozy cafes and acclaimed eateries — capturing Portland at its most rom-com-esque.

The big picture: The film, which opens at Living Room Theaters on Friday, follows an LA comedian and a Portland baker who are forced to confront the weighty personal baggage and professional challenges that come with being in a relationship.

Loeb, who founded pioneering Santa Monica establishment Rustic Canyon 20 years ago, told Axios he took inspiration from '80s classics like "Bull Durham," "The Sure Thing" and "St. Elmos Fire" because they're messy and human.

"I call it a love story because it is," he said. "There's humor in it, but it's certainly not like a gaggy film. There's a heaviness."

It all starts with a cinnamon roll meet-cute at Tabor Bread, where Hannah (Conor Leslie) and Archie (Brett Dier) fall into a whirlwind romance.

They're quickly tested by Hannah's burgeoning career and impending surgery, and Archie's responsibilities caring for his father with advanced dementia.

The real-life twist: Leslie and Dier, who met after being cast in the film and fell in love while making it, recently got married.

Meanwhile, Loeb's love of Portland developed more than a decade ago. He and pastry chef Zoe Nathan began taking family trips here in 2016. They even bought a house in Sunnyside to spend several weeks out of the year.

His experiences exploring Southeast helped shape the film's setting, which includes Laurelhurst Park and Korean restaurant Jeju.

"It's not a Portland film; it's a Southeast Portland film," he said, noting much of it takes place within a 15- to 20-block radius.

Between the lines: Jumping from the precarious world of restaurants into independent filmmaking felt surprisingly familiar to Loeb.

Both require managing large teams of creative — albeit "overworked" — people who have a shared vision, he said.

"I'm at heart a storyteller," Loeb said, reflecting on his 25 years running restaurants. "At the end of the day, it's about being really clear with what the message is."

The bottom line: Loeb said he hopes the film gives audiences a different picture of Portland than the varying portrayals the city is used to — a quirky hipster haven à la "Portlandia" versus the grimmer images reflected in national headlines.

"There's so much more to Portland," he said. "It has so much character to it and so much natural beauty."

If you go: "In Spite of Ourselves" is playing at Living Room Theaters (341 SW 10th Ave.) through Thursday. 

A longer run is possible depending on ticket sales.

New love story puts Southeast Portland on the big screen

He trades restaurants for filmmaking in a romance filmed at familiar local haunts.

Two people sit on a large fallen tree in a dim, autumn park, leaning toward each other as they talk. In the background, a couple walks and warm park lights glow softly among dark green trees.

Brett Dier and Conor Leslie lead the film. Image still: Courtesy of "In Spite of Ourselves"

Fall in Portland is romantic. Prolific restaurateur turned independent filmmaker Josh Loeb knows this. Why it matters: His debut feature, &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="In Spite of Ourselves" data-vars-click-url="https://www.inspiteofourselvesfilm.com/" data-vars-content-id="d21d2aa4-0bb0-4928-b1f3-294be312674a" data-vars-headline="New love story puts Southeast Portland on the big screen" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.inspiteofourselvesfilm.com/" target="_blank">In Spite of Ourselves</a>,&quot; takes place against the backdrop of the city&#x27;s vibrant tree-lined streets, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cozy cafes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/11/14/best-coffee-shops-work-from-home" data-vars-content-id="d21d2aa4-0bb0-4928-b1f3-294be312674a" data-vars-headline="New love story puts Southeast Portland on the big screen" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/11/14/best-coffee-shops-work-from-home" target="_self">cozy cafes</a> and acclaimed eateries — capturing Portland at its most rom-com-esque.

Meira Gebel

Featured stories

New love story puts Southeast Portland on the big screen

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Bare Knuckles is having a banner year

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