New Clackamas County bike map released

I received the information below from Ellen Rogalin with the Clackamas County Department of Transportation & Development:

The first new Clackamas County bike map, Bike It!, to be produced in 14 years will be released at two special events in September:

· Kaiser Sunnyside Transportation Options Fair: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thursday, September 4, at the Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center, 10180 SE Sunnyside Rd., Clackamas. (Bike map to be released during a noon ceremony with officials from Kaiser, Clackamas County and TriMet.)

· Clackamas LIVE!: A Taste of Food, Entertainment, Sports , Art & Spirits: 11 a.m. –
10 p.m., Saturday, September 13, North Clackamas Park, 5440 SE Kellogg Creek Dr., off Highway 224 in Milwaukie

The 2008 Clackamas County Bike It! map is a full-color, full-size, waterproof map showing the entire county on one side and the urban area of the county on the other side. The map provides a wide variety of information to help bicyclists determine the best routes for them, whether riding for work or recreation. Map features include:

· Bike lanes, paved multi-use roads and planned multi-use paths

· Roadways, divided into four categories based on suitability for bicycles to share with vehicles – most suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable and difficult connection.

· Hard-surfaced roads and gravel roads in Mt. Hood National Forest,

· Single-track and double-track mountain bike trails

The map also highlights 1 0 recommended bike rides in both urban and rural portions of the county, from seven to 73 miles long, from relatively flat farmland to uphill all the way. Each recommended ride has its own map, ride summary, elevation profile and points of interest.

Bike It! will be released over the noon hour on September 4 at the Transportation Options Fair in the Fountain Courtyard at the Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center. The 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. fair will include educational displays and exhibits, as well as a bike commute workshop by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) and the opening of a new TriMet bus stop on the Kaiser campus. The public is welcome to attend; free bike maps will be given to people who attend.

The map will also be available free at Clackamas LIVE! a day-long celebration of Clackamas County on September 13 in North Clackamas Park in Milwaukie. The fun will include music, entertainment, crafts, food, a fine art show, dancing, wine and beer f rom local wineries and brewers, and an adult kickball tournament. The event is free, though there is a $7 charge to get into the music performance area.

Bike It! was researched and designed by Clackamas County Planning Division staffers Scott Hoelscher and Lori Mastrantonio and GIS Specialist Jim Lugosi with the support and involvement of the County’s Pedestrian/Bikeway Advisory Committee.

The map is funded through a grant from Metro, as well as support from Kaiser Permanente, Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory and the Clackamas Regional Center TMA. Maps will be available for sale at the county, in bike shops and recreational facilities, and other venues. Proceeds will be used to update the map in future years.

For more information about the Bike It! map, contact Scott Hoelscher at 503-353-4524.

For more information about the Kaiser Sunnyside Transportation Options Fair, contact Jim Gersbach, Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center, 50 3-571-4001.

For more information about Clackamas LIVE! call 503-654-7777 or go to www.clackamaslive.com.