6/25: Hello readers and friends. I recently had my second (of two) total knee replacement surgeries so I'll be out of commission for a bit while I recover. Please be patient while I get back to full health. I hope to be back to posting as soon as I can. I look forward to getting back out there. 🙏. - Jonathan Maus, BikePortland Publisher and Editor
Cross section of the MARC (there’s a velodrome in there somewhere. The City of Portland recently ended its call for concepts to redevelop the Memorial Coliseum. There were 80 different concepts received — ranging from a world class bowling arena to “a museum that celebrates the bygone era of the automobile.” Among the concepts, there … Read more
Screen grab from ImagineJumptown.com. The Portland Trail Blazers have released their vision of the Rose Quarter’s future. On ImagineJumptown.com they lay out ideas to create “a world-class mixed-use sports and entertainment district in one of Portland’s most vibrant neighborhoods.”
Velodrome backer Steve Brown and Jay Isaac with the Trail Blazers see potential for a velodrome at this location.–Google Map here–
“The dreamers whom Steve Brown bikes with can see it already: a velodrome, with a gasp-inducing view of downtown Portland, centrally situated to draw on the city’s bicycle culture and attract businesses, families and world-class racers. And for them, the dream comes alive … inside Memorial Coliseum.” — Intro from article in The Oregonian on … Read more
Rendering of a bicycle velodrome on upper tier of Memorial Coliseum by Jeff Mitchem of Ankrom Moisan Architects
Steve Brown sees a new opportunity to build a velodrome in Portland.(Photos © J. Maus) Remember Steve Brown? He’s the independent businessman-turned-advocate who has spent the last two years trying to get a new velodrome built in Portland. After taking his vision for a velodrome public in December of 2006, Brown admirably worked his idea … Read more
Steve Brown of the Portland Velodrome Project hoped to build a temporary rack at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem.(Photos © J. Maus) Supporters of a new velodrome on the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem suffered a setback last week when State Parks officials said they would not provide funds for the track. The original … Read more
An architect has submitted a proposal to build a velodrome inside this building on the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem.(Photo courtesy Oregon State Fair) Back in September I shared the news about a potential new indoor velodrome coming to the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem. Now it seems like plans are moving forward and Oregon … Read more
I mentioned in my legislation update earlier this week that the chances of the velodrome bill (S.B. 926) passing were slim. Now it seems like the final nail is in the coffin. Here’s what the Co-Chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee recently said in response to a reader’s email:
Senator Jason Atkinson (R-Central Point)testifies on behalf of S.B 926, while Steve Brown looks on.File photo: 3/29/07 Senate Bill 926, which seeks to use $3.5 million in state lottery funds to build three new velodromes in Oregon, is stalled on the desk of the Ways and Means Committee. The bill is awaiting referral to a … Read more
Sen. Floyd Prozanski wants a velodrome in Eugene. Today was another great day for cycling in Salem. On Tuesday we made solid progress in fixing an outdated law, and today the velodrome bill (S.B. 926) — which seeks $3.5 million of State Lottery funds to build velodromes — gained not just valuable political support, it … Read more
Great news from Salem. I just got out of a hearing for Senate Bill 926. The big news is that not only did the bill moved forward with a unanimous recommendation from this committee, but Senator Floyd Prozanski proposed an amendment to build a third velodrome in the Eugene area.