Clackamas County is updating their Transportation System Plan (TSP) and the time is now to make sure key projects make it into the final version. Getting the right, bike-friendly projects into the TSP is crucial because the plan is the county’s guiding document for investment and planning for the next 20 years. The Bicycle Transportation Alliance is monitoring this TSP update because there are several projects — including the Monroe Neighborhood Greenway that was one of 16 projects in their recent “Blueprint” — that could have a vast impact on bike access in the coming years.

BTA advocate Carl Larson singled out four projects that need support in the Clackamas County TSP update. Check them out below and weigh in via the online “Virtual Workshop” (descriptions below taken from BTA blog post):[Read more…]

First City Cycles employee Adam Beykovsky
is helping promote bike tourism in Oregon City.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Clackamas County is once again placing its bets on bicycle tourism as a way to bolster local industry and economic vitality. As The Oregonian reports, the Urban Renewal Commission in Oregon City voted Wednesday to support a proposal by a local bike shop owner to develop a bike tourism hub inside a vacant Amtrak station.

The idea for the “First City Central Marketplace & Bistro” was conceived by Blaine Meier, owner of First City Cycles. Meier’s shop opened in July of last year and he wasted no time in getting the idea off the ground. In September Meier told the Clackamas Review newspaper, “I’m excited about the opportunity, and I think it’ll be a great way to promote Oregon City tourism.”[Read more…]

Freshly laid sharrow on the (still closed for repairs) Oregon City/West Linn Arch Bridge.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

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Lewelling Elementry student Nikolas McKinney (green shirt) stands with Milwaukie PD Cadet John Pyle and Captain Steve Bartol. His friend Kayden Miller is in the background.
(Photos: North Clackamas School District)

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(Photos: Clackamas County)

A tricky crossing of the Springwater Corridor path in Clackamas County just got a bit easier. This morning, county engineers turned on a new, bike-only signal where the path crosses the intersection of SE Johnson Creek Blvd and Bell Ave (in unincorporated Clackamas County, just south of Portland city limits).

The new signal allows bike traffic to cross diagonally from the northeast corner of the intersection to the southwest corner (and vice versa), instead of having to use two separate crosswalks — a situation that was far from ideal, both from a connectivity and safety standpoint.The $70,000 project began one year ago.[Read more…]

It’s free for bikes now, but Board
vote tomorrow could change that.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners could approve a $2 fee for people with bicycles who hop on the Canby Ferry to cross the Willamette River south of Wilsonville. Facing a strapped operational budget and a costly engine upgrade, Commissioners had considered closing it altogether; but overwhelming support for the ferry as a tourist draw from both the public and the Canby Chamber of Commerce has now set them on a new course.

A recent survey made it clear that not only was the ferry popular, but surprisingly over 80% of the respondents said they’d be willing to pay more to use it. And these days, a County is not likely to pass up an opportunity to generate transportation revenue — especially one that is popular with the public.
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It might not be free for long.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Survey results from Clackamas County show that charging people a fee to roll onto the Canby Ferry with their bikes is very popular idea.

The County is in the process of figuring out how to raise money to keep the Canby Ferry afloat. As we reported back in January, the county faces a major expense in keeping the ferry operational and options on the table include closing it for good, or raising the user fees.

Currently, the ferry (which just opened for the season yesterday) is a beloved connection over the Willamette River for people bicycling between Wilsonville and Canby en route to the great rural roads and campgrounds in the Willamette Valley (home of Oregon’s marquee State Scenic Bikeway, Champoeg State Park, wineries, and more). Fares for bike-riding customers have always been free.
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Cover of the French Prarie Bike-Ped Emergency
Bridge Briefing Booklet (PDF).

This coming Monday, the Wilsonville City Council will convene an important work session that could determine the future of the French Prairie Bike-Ped Emergency Bridge over the Willamette River.

The City of Wilsonville was awarded a $1.25 million federal grant in 2009 to develop a feasibility study and design alternatives for the bridge. At Monday’s meeting, the Council is expected to vote on whether to formally accept the grant and invest the required 10% local match ($125,000) to keep the project moving forward. Or, they could choose to hit the pause button.[Read more…]

Doing some damage.
(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Reader Chris S. came across a story in The Oregonian yesterday that made him do a double-take. In a report about the ‘State of the County’ event held by the Clackamas County commissioners, the topic of bicycles came up. The event allowed citizens to ask commissioners any question they’d like. The Oregonian reporter shared a few of the questions and summarized the answers.

Here’s the first question in the story — and the one that Chris said he “had to read a few times to make sure I read it correctly.”

Q: Bicyclists and studded tire users cause considerable road damage. Why shouldn’t bicyclists and studded tire users be required to pay an annual fee to the county for wear and tear?[Read more…]

Wilsonville Mayor Tim Knapp (R) chats with OHSU Nursing student Jen Akeroyd about active transportation links in the region.
(Photos: Patrick Croasdaile for BikePortland)

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