I ride the section of the trail between Main St and Hall in the morning as part of my commute. I haven't seen the alcoholic homeless guys down there this year. I've talked with City folks and they says that the cops have really focused on "encouraging" those guys to go somewhere else.

Besides, I don't think Max's enjoyed them there, either, and talked to the City about the problem.

The teens I see near downtown Tigard are at the skate park on Hall, and I haven't had a problem with them on my commute home in the evenings.

The underpass at Scholls is a nightmare when it rains-- but I don't think there's anything they can do about it besides find a new place for people to cross. It was poorly placed in the first place.

Did you glare back at the strollers? COT considers the Fanno Creek Trail as part of their transportation system. You have as much right to be there as they do. Were you polite about passing, or did you come zooming up behind them and cut around them without any warning? If you did, thanks for making it more difficult for the rest of us riding on the FCT, now those people will equate us with you. Jerk. :)

Anyway. I was only able to be at the get-together for a short time last night, but got to hear the first 4 speakers and chat with some great people. It was a packed room, and more people were coming in when I left at 10 to 7, and all the bike racks were packed-- bikes were parked wherever they could get locked up, and I saw at least one bike parked inside, which was cool of Max's to allow it. :)

That "ramp" isn't official by any means.

A few observations...

The homeless alcoholics congregate just after the dogleg bridge in downtown tigard...slow down on the bridge or you will scare them and they will tell you all about it.

A group of highschooler typically hangs out south of downtown tigard..give them a wide berth or ride fast..they like to mess with bikes.

beware the strollers..there are tons of them and even if you give them a slow, wide berth, they will glare at you. true, looks never hurt, but any sense of belonging is destroyed here.

watch for slippery stuff on the trail under the greenberg underpass. at peak rainstorms, this is unpassable and you will have to brave the 6 lanes of traffic above ground.

to cross hall blvd, go up the hill to the light...crossing in the middle is suicide as traffic zooms along at 60 plus in the mornings.

in short, you may feel like you do not belong here and that people do not want you here.

which is why i don't live there anymore :)

I mention it because if I had needed medical attention, I've had problems getting Non-Emergency Dispatch to know where I am when I say:

"I'm on the Fanno Creek Trail"