The beautiful roads just outside Hillsboro.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Oregon's State Scenic Bikeway program has really taken off in recent years. Routes have sprung up all over the state and they're spurring economic development and providing people with great bike adventures. But so far, none of them are very close to Portland.

Now comes word from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department that there's a proposal on the table to designate a new scenic bikeway that would be relatively close to Portland and would begin just south of Hillsboro. (more...)

Rollin' through the Ice Age.
(Photo: Metro)

The Tonquin Trail — a 22 mile system of paths that will someday connect the cities of Sherwood, Tualatin and Wilsonville — is now officially named the Ice Age Tonquin Trail. The project has also just completed a master plan that is set to be forwarded onto city, regional, and county officials after a slate of public hearings early next year.

About 12,000 to 17,000 years ago, the same cataclysmic floods that started in Montana and created the Columbia River Gorge, also spilled into the Willamette Valley and left an a geologic imprint that remains today. The National Park Service has recognized the path of these floods and passed the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail into law in 2009.

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Google street view of Sylvan overpass.

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Still from KATU News video (watch their story here).

A reader brought to our attention a great story about the power of bicycles and how one person can make a difference.

The head custodian at Poynter Middle School in Hillsboro, John Sarrazin, has turned a chance encounter with a student who needed help fixing his bike into a full-fledged afterschool program. Here's how a teacher at the school described to us how it all came about: (more...)

Anyone who has ridden regularly with a group or club knows the importance of a great, pre-ride meeting spot. For Portland Velo, a large cycling club based west of Forest Park, their "home base" since 2006 has been Longbottom Coffeehouse in Hillsboro. Over the years, Longbottom has become not just one of Portland Velo's sponsors, but a haven for folks looking for a great place to get caffeinated before hitting the many miles of rural roads nearby.

Unfortunately, members of Portland Velo recently found out that the owner of Longbottom isn't exactly thrilled about all the attention from the biking crowd. According to one club member, a sign has been posted on the front entrance that makes it clear where Longbottom stands... (more...)

With no crosswalk or light, students rely
on a police officer to cross Springville
Road in Bethany.
(Photos: Kellie Rice)

This past Walk and Bike to School day was a smashing success. Throughout Portland's inner neighborhoods, schools reported overflowing bike racks, crowded crosswalks, and record turnouts.

That's all fine and good, but our experience of walking and biking to school in Portland isn't shared by everyone in the region. In newly developed suburbs of Washington County that lack a grid street network and a people-first engineering philosophy — walking and biking to school can be a much greater challenge. (more...)

New racks have been installed
in downtown Tigard.
(Photo: WTA)

Remember Tigard? It's a great little town about 10 miles southwest of Portland. Back in January we held a great Get Together event at a pub right alongside the Fanno Creek Trail. The room was packed with advocates, city staffers, and even a few politicians.

Today, I'm happy to share a few news items that show how Tigard continues to move in the right direction for bikes. (more...)

Trails and how they (don't) cross big
roads is likely to be one of many
topics we'll discuss.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Our Get Together in Tigard this Wednesday (1/27) is shaping up quite nicely. We've got a slew of interesting folks joining us and there will be no shortage of important issues, projects, and big ideas to learn about and discuss.

As per usual with these events, the idea is for citizens, bureaucrats (and I mean that in the best way possible) and politicians to mix and mingle and learn from each other. On that note, here are a few of the confirmed attendees so far.
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