Northwest Trail Alliance will hold demonstration ride in Forest Park

Forest Park-1

Traffic intermingles on Leif
Erikson road in Forest Park.
(File photo © J. Maus)

After expressing their disappointment with last week’s decision by City Commissioner Nick Fish to not grant any new or improved singletrack trail access for bikes in Forest Park, the Northwest Trail Alliance has announced a “Share The Park” ride.

The event will be held on Saturday, October 16th. According to the NWTA, it will be a rally and a group ride in Forest Park (on roads where riding is allowed of course) that is intended as a “peaceful action”.

From the event announcement:

“We would like to show our resolve to make Forest Park a place where cyclists don’t feel excluded, but instead are treated at par with hikers, runners, nature watchers, and dog walkers. — We ride. We care. We share.”

Last Thursday, Commissioner Fish and Parks Director Zari Santner unveiled a list of “actions” on biking in Forest Park that included new studies and some possible improvements to fire access lanes to make them more interesting to ride on. Fish and Santner wrote that, “Forest Park is not ready to support increased access at this time” but promised to file new trail permits after wildlife and user studies are completed. The announcement came as a blow to many in the community who had hoped Fish would make good on an earlier promise to improve bike trail access in the 5,000 acre urban park.

Here are the event details:

“Share The Park” Rally & Group Ride in Forest Park
Sat., 10/16 from 9:00am – 11:00am
Meet at the Thurman Gate
Event listing

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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jim
jim
13 years ago

Should invite that little girl to set up her lemonade stand.

Eric
Eric
13 years ago

OMG! It looks like that crazed cyclist ran over those kids and they’re stuck on his rear rack now. I hope they weren’t yelling “whoopee” or “yeah”. That might disturb the peace of the vast wilderness.

Bob_M
Bob_M
13 years ago

If we get really snarky and sarcastic that will win the naturalists to appreciate the cyclists point of view.

Oliver
Oliver
13 years ago

If Leif Erikson Drive is closed, is there anywhere one can one ride in the park right now?

Red Five
Red Five
13 years ago

Look at that arrogant cyclist blasting though like he owns the trail.

jeff
jeff
13 years ago

I don’t get it, they’re organizing a demonstration ride in a place no one can see them, except for a few dog walkers and trail runners.

Brian
Brian
13 years ago

Thanks for the heads up. I like to run in FP on Saturdays. I’ll stay away on that day.

Lady Fuschia
Lady Fuschia
13 years ago

Will someone please build a nice off-road trail for the young man who came down Fremont hill yesterday as I was waiting to cross Fremont, passed about a foot behind me at 20 mph, rode up into someone’s lawn, skidded out a few divots, then jumped back down onto Fremont? Although as he was approaching me at speed, he did have the “courtesy” to tell me repeatedly, “Don’t worry.”

Paolo
Paolo
13 years ago

Maybe we should organize a cross race in the park so that thousands are going to show up 😉

jered
jered
13 years ago

Brian, it is billed as a legal and peaceful ride, just pick anywhere but leif erickson or the fire roads to run, remember as a runner you have access to ALL the trails…

Max Rockbin
13 years ago

I haven’t been up there in a while.
In July they said they were closing Leif Erickson for landslide and other repairs through October. Is it open again?

Frank Selker
Frank Selker
13 years ago

Leif is open.

Barney
Barney
13 years ago

A “critical moss” ride, great!