advocacy presentation tonight
in Northwest Portland.
(Photo © J. Maus)
As Portland moves in on creating more off-road, urban riding areas, interest in skills parks and pump tracks is growing. However, unlike in the transportation cycling realm — where Portland is often looked upon as a leader — when it comes to off-road advocacy, we still have a lot to learn.
With that in mind, the Portland United Mountain Pedalers (PUMP) will host the Evergreen MTB Alliance at an event in Northwest Portland tonight. Evergreen is a Washington-based advocacy group that received national accolades for their success in building the Colonnade MTB Skills Park (check it out on YouTube). That riding area is located under I-5 bridge overpasses in downtown Seattle.
At the event tonight, Evergreen will discuss the Colonnade and other projects, as well as how they grew their organization from a regional MTB club into a statewide advocacy group with more than 1,000 members.
PUMP board member Kris Schamp says tonight’s event is open to anyone interested in mountain biking, off-road cycling, or trail advocacy. “It’s more of a social where people can come to listen, get inspired, talk with like-minded folks, and share their thoughts and ideas.”
Off-road advocacy in Portland is undergoing some major changes. Last month, PUMP elected six new board members and the entire organization is going through a re-structuring and re-branding process this spring.
Currently, discussions are underway to allow more bike access in Forest Park, a major off-road riding project is gaining steam in the Gateway area, and the PDC is working with citizen advocates on a skills park near the east side of the Burnside Bridge.
Here are details on tonight’s event:
- A Presentation and Social with Evergreen MTB Alliance
Lucky Lab NW Beer Hall (1945 NW Quimby)
6:30 – 7:30pm: social time (come early to chat over a bite and a beer)
7:30pm: presentation by Evergreen
8:00pm: Q&A
8:30pm – 9:30pm: social time + meet the new PUMP board & committees (we love to hear your thoughts and ideas!)
More info at PUMPClub.org
[Note: This story was posted by Elly Blue from notes and reporting by Jonathan Maus.]