Matthew Wolpert
Evan,
I just wanted to alert you to this situation in case you weren't
already aware of it from Jonathan's website. I have tried to give
background, which you probably do not need, but I will include just in
case, along with my thoughts on this issue.
The Riverview Cemetery is an often used cycling link between the west
end of the Sellwood Bridge and Terwilliger atop the west hills. I have
used this route frequently to travel to lake Oswego, and just to enjoy
a peaceful gradual low traffic climb up from the river.
The cemetery has gates at the top and bottom that are closed after
hours, but cyclists can continue to use this route by going across the
grass and around the gates. (I am one who has done this on numerous
occasions, so I'm not trying to be preachy about this.) I have often
thought that the Cemetery as an organization was being very, very
generous in not blocking all use by cyclists, because we are "through
traffic" and I would have to agree that it is in bad taste and could
be reasonably interpreted as disrespectful to use a road through a
cemetery in this manner if one is driving a car. Recently, it has been
brought to the attention of some of Portland's biking community that a
number of cyclists descend the cemetery very fast and therefore
unsafely. As a result, the Cemetery is put in a position of being
forced to contemplate a ban on through cyclists -- which would be very
sad for many of us, but would certainly be their legal and moral
right.
To further compound the situation, I believe there is an issue with
respect to the de facto trails that cyclists have established through
the grass in order to circumvent the gates once they close in the
evening. The trail at the bottom is small and just on lawn area. At
the top of the cemetery however, cyclists cross actual burial plots in
order to reach the main road. Fortunately there is not a bare path
worn at the top, but there is still noticeable tire "damage" to the
sod from bicycles. This includes damage atop a number of burial plots.
Persons who subscribe to the OBRA list and/ or read BikePortland.org
now have the opportunity to see how important it is to ride through
the cemetery in a safe, responsible and courteous manner. Because this
is an important route for our cycling community, I am wondering if the
BTA could be involved:
1) Could this issue potentially be explored in an upcoming BTA
newsletter, in the BTA bulletin (not sure of the name) email, or
possibly even in a special stand alone mailing to BTA members? I know
that last option is expensive, but maybe it should be considered.
2) Is there some way that the cycling community (or the city of
Portland) could fund a solution that would allow cyclists to access
the cemetery without damaging lawn or burial sites? I have not spoken
with anyone at the cemetery, so I do not know if they would even want
to do this, as it could have legal implications that I could only
speculate.
Thank you,
Matthew Wolpert
On 4/26/06, Jeff Tedder wrote:
>
> Hey, I want to thank everyone for the group and personal emails I have
> received about Riverview Cemetery.
> And a special thanks to Jonathan @ Bike Portland for the article on the
> website. Portlands cycling community
> is really an amazing group of people, thanks again,
> Jeff Tedder
> Hammer Nutrition Products
> 503-246-2388
> cell 503-473-7650
>
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