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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2008)
10 june vernonia’s voice outdoors and recreation 2008 Fun on Two Wheels – Welcome to Vernonia By Scott Laird A movement is underway in Vernonia, and it’s rolling forward mostly on two wheels. (IMBA) during a recent visit to the proposed Skills Park site. The community of Vernonia is attempting to embrace all things cycling: bicycling that is, as a way to promote economic development, attract visitors, provide more healthy activities for youth and adults, and put Vernonia on the map for something other than celebrity loggers and flooding. With miles and miles of logging roads in the immediate vicinity, there is the poten- tial for exponential growth of mountain biking opportunities in and around Vernonia. Vernonia continues to be a destination for road riders looking for scenic roadways with plenty of climbs. The “Vernonia Century”, the loop from Portland out Highway 30 to Scappoose, up and over the Scappoose- Vernonia Highway to Vernonia, and down Highway 47, which then returns to Portland via Highway 26 is a favorite ride. The Banks-Vernonia Linear Trail was severely damaged dur- ing recent flooding this past winter, but the hope is that it would be repaired in time for this summer season. The CZ Trail is still in the development stages, but parts of it are able to be ridden for adventurous souls. The Vernonia Bicycle Skills Park has trails carved out on the site, and plans are in place to create skills obstacles and the dirt jump park this summer. Some members of the local com- munity are pushing for more bike paths and possibly bike lanes around town, hoping to make the town more bike- friendly and encourage more ridership. The opening this past year of Barlow Bikes and Boards, a full service bike shop, has completed the scene. Why is Vernonia looking to bicycling as the next big thing? With the recent increases in fuel costs, Portlanders are going to be look- ing for activities that are closer to home. More and more adults are getting back into the sport of bicycling as an exciting and ad- venturous activity or as a way to stay healthy and get exercise. In fact, at the recent Oregon Bicycling Summit in Portland, Tim Blumenthal of the Bikes Belong Coalition in Boulder, Colorado, stated “Bicycling is the new golf,” noting that aging baby boom- ers are looking for safe and healthy ways to stay active. And the nation continues to search for answers to the childhood obesity crisis, looking for ways to encourage youth to get outdoors and get active. Vernonia is hoping to become an answer to all of these. Vernonia’s bicycle renaissance started with a visit from Cycle Oregon in 2005 during their weeklong ride. The city embraced the 2,000 riders and was so welcoming and accommodating that Cycle Oregon chose to make Vernonia the focus of their weekend ride during the summer of 2007. Again, Vernonians welcomed the riders with open arms. So as more Americans get back on their bicycles this summer, Vernonia finds itself on two wheels on the way to becoming a bicycling destination and attraction for rid- ers of all ages, skill levels and interests. Meanwhile, Columbia County was taking the final steps to begin construction of the Crown- Zellerbach (or CZ) Trail, a linear trail linking Vernonia to the north with Scappoose and the Columbia River. With the long established Banks- Vernonia Linear Trail connecting Vernonia to the south, Vernonia found itself in the exact center of a potential forty-six mile linear trail. Add in the proposed opening of Oregon’s newest full service State Park - L.L. “Stub” Stewart State Park ten miles south of Ver- nonia that features miles of multi-use trails including planned mountain bike trails - and By Scott Laird the stage was set. On April 4-5, 2008 over 150 Vernonia decided to make a place for itself and began development of the Vernonia Bi- bicycle advocates, enthusiasts, in- cycle Skills Park, a mountain bike skills development facility on seventy acres of aban- dustry experts, and political leaders doned mill property. The Skills Park will be for all ages and is set to include a dirt jump gathered in Portland for the third Or- park, trails with technical trail features like teeter-totters, ramps, bridges and log rides, egon Bicycle Summit. The summit and a skateboard park. “There is nothing like this in the state of Oregon right now,” was sponsored by a number of orga- said Chris Bernhardt, a former rep for the International Mountain Bicycling Association nizations including Travel Oregon, Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Oregon Department of Transporta- tion, Oregon State Parks, and others; it was organized by Cycle Oregon. The Summit’s mission was to gather together top bicycle advocates from around the state and the country to Mark your calendars – August discuss strategy and plans for mak- 16, 2008 is the date for the sixth ing Oregon the premiere cycling destination in the United States. Among the Keynote speakers was Hill Abel, President of the International annual Bear Creek Run/Walk. Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). On Saturday Oregon Congressman Earl Beginning and ending at An- derson Park, this event boasts Blumenauer, who is co-chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus in Washington, D.C., the diversity of a 5K Run/Walk and a spokesperson for livable communities, addressed the summit. Congressman encompassing a lap of Vernonia Blumenauer spoke about the need for bicycle advocates to create a good story and Lake, and a 10K Run that heads narrative about why bicycling is important and how it makes a difference and then south along the Banks/Ver- get political with that message. The group also heard from Tim Blumenthal, the Executive Director of Bikes nonia Linear Trail. Both routes are flat, fast and wind through Belong Coalition, a national group whose mission is to get more people on more tree-lined sections of the trail, bikes, more often. Bikes Belong is a sponsor of the Vernonia Bicycle Skills Park that providing welcome shade for is currently in development. Blumenthal spoke about what he sees as Ten Opportu- nities to get more support for bicycling (federal bike spending is up, obesity crisis runners & walkers alike. needs a solution, bike share programs in cities are about to become reality, aging This event is a fundraiser for baby boomers are looking for exercise options, it’s a viable transportation option, the Vernonia Cares Food Bank etc.) and also addressed five threats along with some tipping points that will help – an organization that has supported local families for the past 23 years. Local busi- make bicycling more mainstream. It was a divergent group that gathered including representatives of the tour- nesses have already received letters reaching out for sponsorship and support of this ism industry, local parts manufactures, bike shop operators, city, county and state event. The food bank appreciates the financial sponsorship received during the past five years from businesses, both local and outside of Vernonia. This year shows a officials, state parks representatives, all kinds of cyclists, and representatives from numerous bicycle advocacy groups. sponsorship total of $500 so far. Great start! There were two breakout sessions where attendees could hear experts talk about planning events, creating more bike friendly communities, how to affect public How can you help? Volunteer as this event is planned and enacted, become a spon- sor, enter the race as an individual or group, or come cheer on those who run or walk. policy, and creating successful partnerships. There was also an afternoon session Be there at the finish line! It is said that charity begins at home – this is a chance to devoted to creating strategy plans for promoting growth in bicycle tourism, transpor- tation and industry. role model that through all levels of support for this event. There were lunchtime presentations by Gail Achterman, Chair of the Oregon Registration will begin at 7:45 am on August 16 in Anderson Park, Vernonia, with Transportation Commission, who spoke about including more bicycle alternatives the events starting at 8:15 and 8:30 am. Online registration is encouraged. Rewards and support in the Oregon Transportation Plan, and by Robert Ping from the Na- are available for those who register before Aug. 1. Watch for more local advertis- tional Safe Routes to School program which encourages children to use alternative ing and race registration forms as sponsors are finalized. See the following website forms of transportation to go to school each day. Closing the conference was Oregon for more details; http://www.signmeup.com/57993 or contact Maria Lemay, Race State Representative Jackie Dingfelder who is running for State Senate on a platform that includes her passion for bicycles as a means of transportation. Director at (503) 429 1069. Oregon Bicycle Summit: Harnessing Passion and Energy Vernonia Bear Creek 10K/5K Run/Walk Event Planned