Forest park anti-mountain biking column in theOregonian

Matt Martel

2017-11-15

​This is OBRA chat. *EVERY* topic (i.e. damn horse) gets beaten to death.
That is what we do so well! :)

Matt Martel​

On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 1:55 PM, joe cipale via OBRA
wrote:

> Why the hell do I feel like I am Bill Murray in Groundhog Day? Didn't this
> damn horse get beaten to death already?
>
> On Nov 15, 2017 1:50 PM, "Ron Strasser via OBRA"
> wrote:
>
>> Jeff,
>> You are so wrong about entitlement by bike riders. It is the people who
>> want to keep Forest Park as their own little “hiker only heaven” who are
>> entitled. This is about equity for people who “cannot afford” to drive
>> long distances to ride off road. This is about riding in places where it
>> is quiet and you are not inches from massive moving vehicles. If you offer
>> kids and adults a chance to get out into nature on foot or bike, you are
>> doing nature a favor because you are creating people who will not just be
>> more physically and mentally healthy...you are creating stewards of the
>> places they use...in this case Forest Park. It also cuts down on the
>> carbon fuels used to recreate. Creating more access in Forest Park can be
>> done in a manner which respects the experiences of hikers and bikers and in
>> the end will help Forest Park become a more healthy place as more people
>> are invested in it’s care. That Park does not belong to just hikers or the
>> next door neighbors. I also add (as a long time member of The Nature
>> Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, National Wildlife Federation and 1000
>> Friends of Oregon) that Forest Park is NOT a WILDERNESS!
>> It is surrounded by more than a million humans and it is the time to
>> create well thought access for those people in a manner that helps sustain
>> the overall health of the park and and “all” of those who want to use it.
>> Maybe if compromise on use cannot be made, a huge bubble with atmospheric
>> anti-pollution filtration and and infrastructure to prevent pollution from
>> the roadways and mansions on the parks boundary's can be installed. Then
>> we could add electronic monitoring and controlled access to the
>> park......Hey are we starting to sound like a WALL? Oh. Lets get the
>> non-hikers to pay for it as well.
>> But seriously...
>> This park needs to be shared with the Portland metro population...not
>> just a small select few. This is a hard ass environmentalist talking here.
>> ron strasser
>>
>> *From:* via OBRA
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 15, 2017 12:21 PM
>> *To:* obra@list.obra.org
>> *Subject:* Re: [OBRA Chat] Forest park anti-mountain biking column in
>> theOregonian
>>
>> MTB in Stubb Stewart:
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhcscwtoz2U
>>
>> I agree with Mike Lindberg's assessment overall. Can't speak to
>> collisions but have seen/had close calls on Leif. I enjoy trail running and
>> mtb, and I would be concerned about expanded mtb activity in Forest Park
>> impacting the solitude. Stubb Stewart is a great example. From an mtb
>> perspective it's fantastic to have additional trails, particularly closer
>> in to pdx, but there's no question that the complexion of Stubb is
>> different with mtb and foot traffic co-mingled. Overall ave mtb speed up &
>> down might be close to walking speed, but downhill speeds are well above
>> that in general (see above video as an example). And at Stubb, the downhill
>> mtb trails, jumps, flow trails, etc., generate more noise in the forest
>> (landings, chain slap, rider noise) and require more caution at trail
>> crossings - even for fellow mtb riders.
>>
>> The terrain of FP and location of access roads could naturally lead to
>> shuttle riding of downhills. Greater congestion at parking locations and at
>> trail junctions. Increased noise.
>>
>> Could it work in some capacity - sure. But I don't think there's any
>> question that it would be a different experience for those on foot. Could
>> we have mtb trails in the Oregon Japanese Gardens (hyperbole, I know).
>> Probably, but it would be a different experience. Does that make those that
>> seek a more meditative visit to the Gardens selfish? Those that have hiked
>> or run significant portions of FP know that it is an amazing gift to have
>> such isolation and solitude right in the heart of pdx. I don't perceive
>> that it is selfish to want to preserve that.
>>
>> I've read a number of posts suggesting that it's the city's
>> responsibility to provide mtb trails so that riders don't have to drive
>> long distances to ride trails. That seems a bit entitled. Bike commuters
>> and infrastructure - sure. But, because people buy recreational equipment
>> they deserve to have supporting infrastructure? I understand, and share,
>> the desire but it seems like a privilege not a right.
>>
>> I appreciate the zeal of mtb trail advocates and at the same time I think
>> it's important to understand points of contention from people like Mr.
>> Lindberg, and to be honest with ourselves where there is some validity
>> their objections. Like religion and politics, there's hyperbole on both
>> sides, but it's helpful to try and understand oppositions viewpoint rather
>> than reject it out of hand.
>>
>>
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Forest park anti-mountain biking column in the
>> Oregonian
>> From: Manville via OBRA
>> Date: Wed, November 15, 2017 10:47 am
>> To: obra@list.obra.org
>>
>> Please respond to your elected officials if you can. Mountain biking is a
>> passive activity ( it has the same effect on trails as hiking) and for the
>> most part, we go barely faster than running speed. The perception of
>> mountain biking is so skewed in this City. -- Juston Manville
>> _______________________________________________
>> OBRA mailing list
>> obra@list.obra.org
>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> _______________________________________________
>> OBRA mailing list
>> obra@list.obra.org
>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OBRA mailing list
>> obra@list.obra.org
>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>>
>>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>


joe cipale

2017-11-15

Why the hell do I feel like I am Bill Murray in Groundhog Day? Didn't this
damn horse get beaten to death already?

On Nov 15, 2017 1:50 PM, "Ron Strasser via OBRA" wrote:

> Jeff,
> You are so wrong about entitlement by bike riders. It is the people who
> want to keep Forest Park as their own little “hiker only heaven” who are
> entitled. This is about equity for people who “cannot afford” to drive
> long distances to ride off road. This is about riding in places where it
> is quiet and you are not inches from massive moving vehicles. If you offer
> kids and adults a chance to get out into nature on foot or bike, you are
> doing nature a favor because you are creating people who will not just be
> more physically and mentally healthy...you are creating stewards of the
> places they use...in this case Forest Park. It also cuts down on the
> carbon fuels used to recreate. Creating more access in Forest Park can be
> done in a manner which respects the experiences of hikers and bikers and in
> the end will help Forest Park become a more healthy place as more people
> are invested in it’s care. That Park does not belong to just hikers or the
> next door neighbors. I also add (as a long time member of The Nature
> Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, National Wildlife Federation and 1000
> Friends of Oregon) that Forest Park is NOT a WILDERNESS!
> It is surrounded by more than a million humans and it is the time to
> create well thought access for those people in a manner that helps sustain
> the overall health of the park and and “all” of those who want to use it.
> Maybe if compromise on use cannot be made, a huge bubble with atmospheric
> anti-pollution filtration and and infrastructure to prevent pollution from
> the roadways and mansions on the parks boundary's can be installed. Then
> we could add electronic monitoring and controlled access to the
> park......Hey are we starting to sound like a WALL? Oh. Lets get the
> non-hikers to pay for it as well.
> But seriously...
> This park needs to be shared with the Portland metro population...not just
> a small select few. This is a hard ass environmentalist talking here.
> ron strasser
>
> *From:* via OBRA
> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 15, 2017 12:21 PM
> *To:* obra@list.obra.org
> *Subject:* Re: [OBRA Chat] Forest park anti-mountain biking column in
> theOregonian
>
> MTB in Stubb Stewart:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhcscwtoz2U
>
> I agree with Mike Lindberg's assessment overall. Can't speak to collisions
> but have seen/had close calls on Leif. I enjoy trail running and mtb, and I
> would be concerned about expanded mtb activity in Forest Park impacting the
> solitude. Stubb Stewart is a great example. From an mtb perspective it's
> fantastic to have additional trails, particularly closer in to pdx, but
> there's no question that the complexion of Stubb is different with mtb and
> foot traffic co-mingled. Overall ave mtb speed up & down might be close to
> walking speed, but downhill speeds are well above that in general (see
> above video as an example). And at Stubb, the downhill mtb trails, jumps,
> flow trails, etc., generate more noise in the forest (landings, chain slap,
> rider noise) and require more caution at trail crossings - even for fellow
> mtb riders.
>
> The terrain of FP and location of access roads could naturally lead to
> shuttle riding of downhills. Greater congestion at parking locations and at
> trail junctions. Increased noise.
>
> Could it work in some capacity - sure. But I don't think there's any
> question that it would be a different experience for those on foot. Could
> we have mtb trails in the Oregon Japanese Gardens (hyperbole, I know).
> Probably, but it would be a different experience. Does that make those that
> seek a more meditative visit to the Gardens selfish? Those that have hiked
> or run significant portions of FP know that it is an amazing gift to have
> such isolation and solitude right in the heart of pdx. I don't perceive
> that it is selfish to want to preserve that.
>
> I've read a number of posts suggesting that it's the city's responsibility
> to provide mtb trails so that riders don't have to drive long distances to
> ride trails. That seems a bit entitled. Bike commuters and infrastructure -
> sure. But, because people buy recreational equipment they deserve to have
> supporting infrastructure? I understand, and share, the desire but it seems
> like a privilege not a right.
>
> I appreciate the zeal of mtb trail advocates and at the same time I think
> it's important to understand points of contention from people like Mr.
> Lindberg, and to be honest with ourselves where there is some validity
> their objections. Like religion and politics, there's hyperbole on both
> sides, but it's helpful to try and understand oppositions viewpoint rather
> than reject it out of hand.
>
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Forest park anti-mountain biking column in the
> Oregonian
> From: Manville via OBRA
> Date: Wed, November 15, 2017 10:47 am
> To: obra@list.obra.org
>
> Please respond to your elected officials if you can. Mountain biking is a
> passive activity ( it has the same effect on trails as hiking) and for the
> most part, we go barely faster than running speed. The perception of
> mountain biking is so skewed in this City. -- Juston Manville
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
> ------------------------------
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
>


Ron Strasser

2017-11-15

Jeff,
You are so wrong about entitlement by bike riders. It is the people who want to keep Forest Park as their own little “hiker only heaven” who are entitled. This is about equity for people who “cannot afford” to drive long distances to ride off road. This is about riding in places where it is quiet and you are not inches from massive moving vehicles. If you offer kids and adults a chance to get out into nature on foot or bike, you are doing nature a favor because you are creating people who will not just be more physically and mentally healthy...you are creating stewards of the places they use...in this case Forest Park. It also cuts down on the carbon fuels used to recreate. Creating more access in Forest Park can be done in a manner which respects the experiences of hikers and bikers and in the end will help Forest Park become a more healthy place as more people are invested in it’s care. That Park does not belong to just hikers or the next door neighbors. I also add (as a long time member of The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, National Wildlife Federation and 1000 Friends of Oregon) that Forest Park is NOT a WILDERNESS!
It is surrounded by more than a million humans and it is the time to create well thought access for those people in a manner that helps sustain the overall health of the park and and “all” of those who want to use it.
Maybe if compromise on use cannot be made, a huge bubble with atmospheric anti-pollution filtration and and infrastructure to prevent pollution from the roadways and mansions on the parks boundary's can be installed. Then we could add electronic monitoring and controlled access to the park......Hey are we starting to sound like a WALL? Oh. Lets get the non-hikers to pay for it as well.
But seriously...
This park needs to be shared with the Portland metro population...not just a small select few. This is a hard ass environmentalist talking here.
ron strasser

From: via OBRA
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2017 12:21 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Forest park anti-mountain biking column in theOregonian

MTB in Stubb Stewart:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhcscwtoz2U

I agree with Mike Lindberg's assessment overall. Can't speak to collisions but have seen/had close calls on Leif. I enjoy trail running and mtb, and I would be concerned about expanded mtb activity in Forest Park impacting the solitude. Stubb Stewart is a great example. From an mtb perspective it's fantastic to have additional trails, particularly closer in to pdx, but there's no question that the complexion of Stubb is different with mtb and foot traffic co-mingled. Overall ave mtb speed up & down might be close to walking speed, but downhill speeds are well above that in general (see above video as an example). And at Stubb, the downhill mtb trails, jumps, flow trails, etc., generate more noise in the forest (landings, chain slap, rider noise) and require more caution at trail crossings - even for fellow mtb riders.

The terrain of FP and location of access roads could naturally lead to shuttle riding of downhills. Greater congestion at parking locations and at trail junctions. Increased noise.

Could it work in some capacity - sure. But I don't think there's any question that it would be a different experience for those on foot. Could we have mtb trails in the Oregon Japanese Gardens (hyperbole, I know). Probably, but it would be a different experience. Does that make those that seek a more meditative visit to the Gardens selfish? Those that have hiked or run significant portions of FP know that it is an amazing gift to have such isolation and solitude right in the heart of pdx. I don't perceive that it is selfish to want to preserve that.

I've read a number of posts suggesting that it's the city's responsibility to provide mtb trails so that riders don't have to drive long distances to ride trails. That seems a bit entitled. Bike commuters and infrastructure - sure. But, because people buy recreational equipment they deserve to have supporting infrastructure? I understand, and share, the desire but it seems like a privilege not a right.

I appreciate the zeal of mtb trail advocates and at the same time I think it's important to understand points of contention from people like Mr. Lindberg, and to be honest with ourselves where there is some validity their objections. Like religion and politics, there's hyperbole on both sides, but it's helpful to try and understand oppositions viewpoint rather than reject it out of hand.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Forest park anti-mountain biking column in the
Oregonian
From: Manville via OBRA
Date: Wed, November 15, 2017 10:47 am
To: obra@list.obra.org

Please respond to your elected officials if you can. Mountain biking is a passive activity ( it has the same effect on trails as hiking) and for the most part, we go barely faster than running speed. The perception of mountain biking is so skewed in this City. -- Juston Manville
_______________________________________________
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obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

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