A8
LOCAL
Wallowa County Chieftain
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
New bicycle club promotes biking, safety
By RONALD BOND
Wallowa County Chieftain
ENTERPRISE — The
president of a Wallowa
County bike club is getting
the word out about the new
nonprofi t, and also pro-
moting safety for a sport
increasing in popularity in
the region.
The Wallowa Mountains
Bicycle Club, which was
formed about a year ago,
gained its nonprofi t status
back in November 2020
and is awaiting its 501(c)3
tax-exempt status, club
President Angela Mart said.
“We want to let people
know that we are a legiti-
mate bicycle club here in
Wallowa County,” Mart
said. “It’s an all-inclusive
bicycle club, so it doesn’t
matter if you ride moun-
tain bikes, road bikes,
BMX bikes, whatever
type of bike. We include
everybody.”
The club was the brain-
child of Mart and Zeb
Burke, who started talking
about forming the club two
years ago.
“I started seeing that
people who move here ride
bikes. We want to increase
the cycling opportunities in
Wallowa County for indi-
viduals and families who
live in Wallowa County,”
Mart said. “We have goals,
also, of doing bike safety.
We want to do education for
bike safety in the county.
We want to get more kids
riding bikes. We want to
get everybody riding bikes
but we want to get kids on
bikes. We want to work
with the Forest Service in
improving the trails that we
have now in the mountains
… and possibly building
more mountain bike trails
as well as putting in some
gravel biking routes.”
Mart said the board will
be working with the U.S.
Forest Service on planning
for putting in trails. Cur-
rently, the only place with
trails, Mart said, is 18 miles
at Salt Creek Summit.
“But there is potential
(for more),” she said.
The club is also explor-
ing the possibility of see-
ing a portion of the East
Moraine be set apart for
biking use.
“I and other Wallowa
Mountains Bicycle Club
members have provided
feedback, and I actually
participated in one of the
initial focus groups,” she
said. “We are encouraging
WMBC members to com-
plete the survey that is cur-
rently being circulated until
Oct 2. We would love to
be involved in the overall
planning process and have
mountain bikes and gravel
bikes included in that plan.”
Mart said the cycling
community is growing in
Wallowa County, and with
that, said there is a need for
cyclists and drivers alike to
be aware on the road.
“We really want to get
the word out that it’s import-
ant to pay attention here in
Wallowa County. We have
a lot of people that drive
big rigs, and when they
come around a corner with
a loaded horse trailer and
there’s a biker in the middle
of the road, and there’s a car
coming the other direction,
what do you do?” she said.
“We really want to facil-
itate knowledge on both
sides for cyclist and non-
cicyclist. We want to cre-
ate an awareness so every-
one’s safe on the roads and
trails.”
Currently, there are
between 40-45 members
in the club, Mart said. Her
intent with the club is to
promote cycling among
Wallowa County residents,
but noted that out-of-town-
ers can be a part, as well.
In the long term, in addi-
tion to working with the
Forest Service on trails,
Mart hopes to get a pump
track installed in the county.
She also looks to promote
biking among youth.
“We may possibly start
a race team,” she said.
“Who knows? I’d like to
get my mountain biking
skills instructor certifi ca-
tion and be able to instruct
and maybe get a Wallowa
County race team going.”
Annual club member-
ship costs $25 for an indi-
vidual, $10 for youths, and
$40 for a family of three or
more.
For more information,
email wallowamountains-
bicycleclub@gmail.com or
search for Wallowa Moun-
tains Bicycle Club on Insta-
gram or Facebook.
Angela Mart/Contributed Photo
Shown is the Wallowa Mountains Bicycle Club Board at the fi rst offi cial membership meeting on May 26, 2021. From left to right
are Vice President Zeb Burke, President Angela Mart, Secretary/Treasurer Rowan Cypher, Board Member Eric Makela and Board
Member Sean Cariss. The board has added members since this picture was taken.
RIDING SAFELY
Wallowa Mountains Bicycle Club President Angela Mart said
the club is letting people know how to be safe and smart
when riding, and off er some tips.
Road Riding Etiquette
The motorists living in Wallowa County are very courteous to
bike riders which makes the roads safe and scenic for cyclists.
The following recommendations will increase your safety and
enjoyment when riding on our roads.
Ride defensively and stay alert at all times.
Motorists and farm equipment may not be expecting to see
cyclists on our roads. Better to be safe than sorry.
Always wear a helmet. Riders of all ages should wear approved
helmets anytime you are on a bike. Wearing a helmet reduces
the risk of head injury during a crash by 60%. Riders under 16
years of age are required to wear an approved helmet under
Oregon law.
Obey all Oregon traffi c laws. A bicycle is a vehicle and you’re a
driver. When you ride on the street, obey all traffi c signs, sig-
nals, and lane markings. Always ride in the bike lane when one
is available and signal when stopping, making turns, etc.
Go with the traffi c fl ow. Ride in the same direction as other
vehicles. Go with the fl ow – not against it. Remember there
are a lot of big rigs in Wallowa County who may have diffi culty
slowing down or maneuvering around you because of their
heavy loads. Stay to the right of the white line as much as
possible when not riding in a bike lane.
Enjoy the scenery without music. Don’t wear headphones or
devices that make it diffi cult to hear oncoming traffi c.
Avoid riding on Main Street in Joseph. It is diffi cult for parked
vehicles to see other vehicles or bikes when backing out into
the street. Use Lake Street or Mill Street instead.
Most of the roads are lightly traveled but the speed limits are
55 mph with traffi c sometimes going faster.
Avoid riding on Highway 82 between Joseph and Enterprise,
and use less heavily traveled roads (i.e. Hurricane Creek Road
or Dobbins Road).
Plan your ride around Wallowa Lake. The Highway between Jo-
seph and Wallowa Lake State Park is a beautiful ride. For your
safety plan to ride during the mornings and ride single fi le.
Use caution on back roads. Many of the side roads east and
west of Highway 82 are lightly traveled and allow cyclists
to safely ride two abreast. The roads are used by farm traffi c
(trucks with livestock trailers or hauling hay, harvesters, etc.).
Ride to the far right hand side of the road and always give
these vehicles the right of way. Switch from two abreast to
single fi le when you hear traffi c coming. Alert others on group
rides by saying, “Car up!” or “Car back!” so they can adjust as
well.
Watch for and avoid road hazards. The pavement in Wallowa
County is well maintained but there are potholes on some of
the lesser traveled roads and rough pavement in some areas.
Be alert for your own safety and signal these hazards to others
during group rides.
Mountain Bike Trail Etiquette
Descending Riders Stop For Uphill Riders. We all love the
downhill, but skidding out of control is not cool. Expect some
uphill riders and be ready to move to one side of the trail,
stopping until your line is clear.
Tread On Trail. Thanks for yielding to other riders – but remem-
ber that riding off into the bushes widens and damages trails.
Instead, put a foot down and feel good knowing that tread on
the trail keeps singletrack narrow and fun.
As trail users, we rely on one another. Have fun, and keep your
eyes and ears open. Smile and say hello!
Avoid riding on sidewalks. Respect pedestrians by not riding
bikes on sidewalks. The sidewalks in Wallowa County are
narrow and do not allow adequate space for both pedestrians
and cyclists.
Share the Trail. Stop for horses on the trail, dismount, and
give them room to pass. Speak to the rider as they pass. Some
horses may not be familiar with bikes.
Ride single fi le on Hurricane Creek Road, Imnaha Highway, and
the North Highway.
—Information provided by Wallowa Mountains Bicycle Club
Stop for hikers on the trail and give them room to pass.
Light agenda awaits county commissioners
Chieftain staff
ENTERPRISE — A light
schedule awaits the Wal-
lowa County Board of
Commissioners as they
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Pro onsore d b y
of
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start the month, at 9 a.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 1. at the
courthouse.
Also, the public is
reminded that a public
input session will be held
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and choose “Current Jobs” Or call 541-426-4524
6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the
Cloverleaf Hall in Enter-
prise on the East Moraine
Forest Management Plan.
Wednesday
morning,
Todd Rodgers is sched-
uled to speak on govern-
ment-ordered mask man-
dates issued because of
a surge in the number of
coronavirus cases. In addi-
tion, county counsel Paige
Sully will discuss training
on mandatory reporting.
Also on the morning
agenda agenda are three
employee-related items:
• Wes Garth is being
hired as a new Wallowa
County deputy.
• Hailey Collier is
resigning from the 911 dis-
patch service.
• Amy Stangel is
resigning from the coun-
ty’s Department of Youth
Services.
The public is invited
to attend in person or via
Zoom. To get Zoom’s
browser client, visit https://
zoom.us/signup.
Then enter the meet-
ing ID 842 06009 7022
and the passcode 246617.
If no microphone or cam-
era is available, members
of the public may partic-
ipate by phone by calling
1-253-215-8782.
For more information,
call 426-4543, x1130.
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