Hello west side hill riders out there. I have ridden many different routes up and down the west hills over the past 7 or so years and I have come to the conclusion that there are 2 main routes for transportation purposes that should be given priority: a Path parallel to US 26 connecting the zoo to downtown and NW Cornell Road between NW Portland and Cedar Hills. This northern route is direct enough that many bicyclists find themselves riding on it. With more electric bicycles coming into use this route will become even more popular in the coming months and years. However, the complete lack of cycling infrastructure is a turn-off to many riders, especially in the uphill direction. I have been riding Cornell 20-50 times per year for many years and I am convinced that we need some collective effort to get this route improved.
I have created a google form to collect contact information for interested folks who want to be involved in this advocacy effort. This route is designated as a Major City Bikeway in the Bicycle Master Plan. In my opinion, this is my first step in a potentially long process to improve this critical route.
Thanks for reading.
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One problem is the 45 mph speed limit in Washington County just west of NW Miller Road. An awesome bike trail could be West Stark Street between 85th Ave and NW Miller Road, but the gigantic Touchmark retirement development isn’t being required to rebuild a trail on West Stark or even to build a trail to the QFC grocery store, the only grocery store in a 2 mile radius. Contact Andrew Singelakis and Tom Harry at Washington County ! Tell Touchmark ! https://www.facebook.com/TouchmarkPortlandOregon/
Update. I found out that the new retirement center near Cornell Farms Nursery will build a path from a private road at NW Miller Road to connect to the retirement center to connect to West Stark and to SW Leahy Road.
Depending on where you’re headed, you might take Barbur to Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy and avoid some of the elevation gain, but add more miles.
OR, Leif Erickson to Saltzman (gravel) to Skyline then Germantown to Old Germantown (low traffic on old Germantown), then to Germantown again, then after that it’s narrow and no shoulder………
None of them real safe for bikes. However, MAX would be fairly safe. 🙂
Have you tried the gravel path on SW 18th from SW Fairmont and the sidestreets to SW Sunset Blvd?