NWTA President Tom Archer.(Photos © J. Maus) In light of the discovery of an unauthorized bike trail in the northern reaches of Forest Park, I spoke about the situation this morning with Tom Archer, President of the non-profit off-road advocacy group the Northwest Trail Alliance. Archer was clearly disappointed by the discovery and expressed hope … Read more
It comes at a sensitive time for off-road advocates looking to expand riding opportunities in Forest Park
Powell Butte could become a nicer place to ride.(Graphic: City of Portland) The Portland Water Bureau is constructing a second reservoir at Powell Butte Nature Park and the project comes with an exciting opportunity to improve the park’s off-road trail network. The 600-plus acre extinct cinder cone in outer southeast Portland already allows multiple uses … Read more
Commissioner Nick Fish talks Forest Park and “freak-outs”.(Photos © J. Maus) It’s been almost one year since citizen activist Frank Selker re-energized the issue of increased bicycle access in Forest Park. Since then his effort has sparked widespread momentum for the issue and now the City of Portland’s Bureau of Parks and Recreation has convened … Read more
Former Parks Bureau staffer Gregg Everheart enjoys a rare piece of Forest Park single track.(Photos © J. Maus) Ever since citizen activist Frank Selker launched his grassroots campaign to garner support for more bicycle access in Forest Park, progress has followed at a steady clip. The community responded quickly, business support followed, and even City … Read more
Riding in Scappoose is in jeopardy if fire closures are not honored.(Photo: jordan_n22/Flickr) A popular mountain bike trail riding area in Scappoose, a town just 20 miles north of Portland, has been closed due to high fire season brought on by recent record-setting heat. The closure affects hundreds of thousands of acres of private forest … Read more
The Forest Park Conservancy recognizes that off-road cyclists are a legitimate user group whose needs are not currently being met.— from the introduction of White Paper on Off-Road Cycling in Forest Park The Forest Park Conservancy (FPC), in collaboration with a range of stakeholders, has released the final version of its White Paper on Off-Road … Read more
Bikes in Forest Park.(Photo © J. Maus) The efforts by the Northwest Trail Alliance (NWTA, formerly the Portland United Mountain Pedalers) to thaw relations with Portland Parks and Recreation (PP&R) and the Forest Park Conservancy (FPC) in order to hasten increased access for bikes in Forest Park are moving faster than I can keep up … Read more
The new logo and name was unveiled last night.(Photos © J. Maus) The Portland United Mountain Pedalers (PUMP) are now known as the Northwest Trail Alliance and a new era in off-road advocacy has begun. PUMP, a group that celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, has gone through big changes in recent months and with … Read more
At a meeting in City Hall last night, Parks Commissioner Nick Fish (in suit in upper left corner) learned more about urban mountain biking issues from a host of experts and advocates.(Photos © J. Maus)
Universal Cycles storefront at NW 18th and Thurman.(Photos © J. Maus) Universal Cycles in northwest Portland has committed $10,000 a year for the next five years in order to help push local advocates and community leaders into creating more singletrack mountain bike trails in Forest Park. Universal general manager Mike Doolittle told me this morning … Read more
Scene from a Cross Crusade race at Horning’s Hideout in 2007(Photos © J. Maus) Two of the year’s most challenging rides are slated for this weekend: the infamously, absurdly hilly De Ronde van Oeste Portlandia (a.k.a. the Tour of Flanders) on Saturday and the Horning’s Hustle mountain bike circuit race on Sunday. Many participants will … Read more