By September 1st, it will cost $1 to take your bike across the river on two of the three Willamette River ferries. People on bikes had previously been lumped in with walkers and were free to ride.
The three ferries that currently operate on the Willamette River are all located in areas full of great roads that are popular with weekend explorers, bike tourers, and event rides. The Canby Ferry (between Canby and Wilsonville) is on a route to Champoeg State Park, and the Wheatland and Buena Vista ferries (east of Salem) are gateways to some of the best rural riding roads in Oregon.
UPDATE: The Buena Vista began charging people with bicycles $1 on August 5th and the Wheatland Ferry will do the same starting September 1st (the Canby Ferry will remained free for bike-riding passengers).
I’ve heard from two readers recently who were caught off guard by the change. Both of them were curious why people walking were still free but bike-riding passengers must pay the new fee.
(Photo © J. Maus)
“So, if you carry your bike…are you a pedestrian?” asked one reader. “Strictly speaking, if you walk your bike on the ferry as the sign says, are you not a pedestrian?” asked another.
“We also talked to bike groups in the area and they said they’d be happy to pay.”
— Bob Taber, Marion County ferry maintenance supervisor
Marion County operates the Wheatland and Buena Vista ferries. According to maintenance supervisor Bob Taber, the price increase was spurred when the ferry was faced with shutting down over a lack of funding. “It doesn’t pay for itself,” said Taber via telephone this morning, “It actually costs us money.”
When faced with the prospect of needing a new boat several years ago, Taber said they held some meetings in Buena Vista. They heard loud and clear that the community valued the ferry and didn’t want to see it go. After those meetings, a grant and donations helped keep the ferry afloat.
“We also talked to bike groups in the area and they said they’d be happy to pay.”
Taber says he probably gets more bikes than cars riding the ferry in some months. “We’re going back and forth all day some weekends, picking up bikes… And that is costing us money… There’s quite a few bikes out there. It’s a nice riding area and people can do a big loop out by the wildlife preserve and back via the ferry.”
The Canby ferry is run by Clackamas County. They too will begin charging people with bicycles $1. I haven’t heard back from them as to what spurred the change, but my hunch is they got wind of Marion County’s plan and figured they needed more revenue too.
So remember, when headed out for a ride to Champoeg State Park or into the excellent roads in Polk County outside Salem, stash a dollar bill in your patch kit so you can cross the river.
CORRECTION, 8/8: The original version of this story reported that the Canby Ferry would also be changing its fees to $1 for bike passengers. I have since learned that information is not true. Bikes will remain free on the Canby Ferry. I regret the error and any confusion it might have caused. — Jonathan Maus