[PLUG-TALK] Cyclists in Forest Park

Mon Dec 18 22:54:07 UTC 2017

There are bike Lanes and there are PLUG Lanes.

Encountering non Linux bike issues on PLUG list is as frightening to
encounter bikes on those pedestrian Lanes.

So, I agree, keep bikes away .... Think of the geeks!

On Dec 18, 2017 1:38 PM, "Pete Lancashire" <pete at petelancashire.com> wrote:

> I'll add ...
>
> There is no room for a 'bike lane' as there is on some roads.
>
> And just like on the roads there WILL be those on a bike with the attitude
> that the trail is all theirs and will
> not feel any remorse shoving someone out of the way, and will go out of
> their way to let others know that.
>
> BTW Came home via Germantown just as the sun was going below the horizon,
> twice there were bikes hogging
> the whole lane, one were the rider invested all his money in his bike and
> outfit, and left nothing for a LED blinker.
> When there were place he could have pulled over he paid no attention.
>
> -pete
>
> On Mon, Dec 18, 2017 at 1:21 PM, Keith Lofstrom <keithl at kl-ic.com> wrote:
>
>> Forwarding an email from a friend; Marcy is an author and
>> wildlife biologist.  One of her books is about Forest Park.
>> Marcy's father, surgeon William Cottrell, saved my infant
>> sister's life, and many like her, decades ago.  If his
>> daughter asks for something, I pay attention.
>>
>> As both a cyclist and a hiker, the idea of bicycles on
>> narrow trails with blind turns is frightening - people
>> will die.  I hike to enjoy nature, not dodge traffic.
>> I cycle to go places, exercise, and enjoy my surroundings,
>> not risk death.  The legal consequences of fools on bikes
>> will divert funds from bike lanes and straight, smooth,
>> bike-only paths over the West Hills.
>>
>> I understand why cyclists hope to avoid cars on the narrow
>> roads through Washington Park, but trees and cliffs and
>> hikers are worse hazards, in places far from ambulances.
>> I can even understand the thrill of doing something stupid
>> and fast on a bicycle (try bombing down US 26 from Mount
>> Hood into Warm Springs and passing car traffic).  But
>> threatening hikers is vicious, not thrilling.
>>
>> Let's be responsible adults about this.  Let's make a
>> safe bicycle path for cyclists, particularly from the
>> area around the Zoo down to the city, just wide enough
>> for uphill/downhill bike lanes (or an ambulance) with
>> light-controlled crossings (or bridges!) over roads.
>> That won't be cheap, but it will be less expensive than
>> dead cyclists and hikers and the resulting lawsuits.
>>
>> Keith
>>
>> ----- Forwarded message from Marcy Houle <mjhoulebiologist at gmail.com>
>> -----
>>
>> Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2017 19:51:18 -0800
>> Subject: Forest Park's future at stake. City needs your comments by Dec.
>> 31st.
>>
>> *Forest Park is facing the greatest threat in its 70- year history.*
>> *It needs our help.*
>> *PLEASE COMMENT by Dec. 31st! *
>> * (see below for hyperlinks)*
>>
>> *What is up**?  *
>>
>> The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS), in agreement with
>> Portland
>> Parks, will be submitting a proposal to the City Council this February,
>> 2018, that will irrevocably change Forest Park’s current management.
>>
>> If passed, the Forest Park we know and love will never be the same.
>>
>> The new proposal will change the law, and bring in thousands of new users
>> throughout the park. *Single-path cycling on narrow pedestrian trails will
>> become an allowed use*.  This type of recreation has been prohibited since
>> the creation of Forest Park, for the protection of the park’s fragile
>> resources – its watersheds, wildlife, highly erodible soils, and unique
>> interior forest habitat – and of its users, 90% of whom come on foot.
>>
>> The result of this proposed action will be trifold:
>>
>> 1. Severe degradation to Forest Park’s world-class native wildlife and
>> habitat.  The “Six-Point Wildlife Plan Studies” -- required by law to be
>> performed – have not been done.  This means there will be no way to
>> document the loss of native birds and mammals.
>>
>> 2.  Pedestrians, who are already at risk from cyclists riding illegally on
>> pedestrian-only trails with numerous blind corners, will face
>> substantially
>> increased probability of being hit or injured by cyclists riding on
>> “shared” hiking trails.
>>
>> 3. Forest Park’s watersheds – known as the cleanest among all in the City
>> of Portland – will face despoliation.
>>
>>  *If you value Forest Park for its natural resources, serenity, and
>> current
>> regulations for safe access, the  time for you to raise your voice is*
>> *now.*
>>
>> *How*?
>>
>> BPS, in conjunction with the Off Road Cycling Advisory Committee, is again
>> asking for one final round of public comments.  Even if you commented
>> before, they are asking for your comments again, and are rerunning the
>> survey.  The comment period has been extended to Dec. 31.
>>
>> *Here is the link to comment:  *https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/73284
>>
>> Also, weigh in on their newest interactive maps:
>> https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/75206
>>
>> *Here are some points you can stress:*
>>
>> *“I reject the new proposal by BPS.  Forest Park is a treasure, and is
>> protected by the Forest Park Management Plan, Ordinance 168509.  No new
>> trails of any sort should be added to Forest Park.  The City has not
>> demonstrated it can maintain the existing trail system, enforce the
>> existing laws about trail use, and has not performed the wildlife and
>> habitat studies required by the Management Plan.” *
>>
>> Additionally, many of you have written in, on our petition or directly to
>> the City Commissioners and Mayor, about being hit, run off the road,
>> verbally intimidated or have observed illegal cycling activity.  Any
>> comments about user safety are also very important.
>>
>> *Again, this is our last chance to comment.  Forest Park, I believe, is
>> truly worth this effort.  It is one of a kind.   Once lost, we can’t get
>> it
>> back.*
>>
>> *Thank you so much!*
>>
>> Warm regards,
>>
>> Marcy Houle
>> Catherine Thompson
>>
>> ----- End forwarded message -----
>>
>> --
>> Keith Lofstrom          keithl at keithl.com
>> _______________________________________________
>> PLUG-talk mailing list
>> PLUG-talk at pdxlinux.org
>> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-talk
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> PLUG-talk mailing list
> PLUG-talk at pdxlinux.org
> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-talk
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.pdxlinux.org/pipermail/plug-talk/attachments/20171218/e75622e9/attachment.html>