Steve Brown

State Senator Jason Atkinson, sponsor of Senate Bill 926 will be on
the Lars Larson show today, KXL 750 in Portland. It is anticipated
he will be asked to defend his position on the bill. Whether you are
a fan to this form of entertainment or not. It may be interesting to
listen to the discussion.

Steve Brown

Evan MacKenzie

I am writing regarding a comment that appeared in the Medford Mail
Tribune on March 30, 2007. The comment was the League's response to
Senate Bill 926, to construct three velodromes in the State of Oregon. I
quote the language from the article below:

The only opposition came from the League of Women Voters of Oregon.

Peggy Lynch said the league actively supported Measure 66, which
provides money to maintain existing state parks and purchase land for
new ones.

"Diverting funds to a special project not in that plan will continue to
erode the opportunity to meet those goals," she said. She said parks
already has budgeted $200,000 for recreational biking facilities.

I respectfully disagree with your assessment of this issue. For one,
velodromes are meant for bicycle racing, which is not to be confused
with a recreational activity. Although many people who race do so as a
form of recreation, velodrome (track) racing is very much a competitive
sport. Oregon has as many, if not more, bicycle riders and racers per
capita than almost any other state. This is a result of concerted
efforts of many people to improve the environment for cyclists in all
parts of the state, whether they be children or adults riding for fun,
using bicycles for commuting, general transportation, or racing. Racing
is a logical outgrowth of any activity, and those who find they have a
competitive spirit when it comes to bicycles are very lucky indeed to
live in the state of Oregon. The construction of three velodromes is
both a result of this and an attempt to capitalize on it. Track racing
is a fun, and relatively affordable way to get into bicycle racing.
Track bikes are a lot cheaper than road or mountain racing bikes, and
parents and friends will enjoy watching track racing because they can
get up close to the action. The thrill of racing around a velodrome is
hard to beat, whether you are racing or watching.

Consider the amount of money spent to build and maintain athletic
fields, trails, and other facilities in public parks. Why should the
bicycle community be excluded from benefiting from bicycle-related
facilities? How much money does the Parks Department budget for cars
annually? $200,000 is not a very large sum to spend on bicycle-related
projects compared to the amount of money spent to accommodate cars.

These are only a few of my thoughts. I strongly encourage you to
reconsider your thoughts on this bill. Come on up and watch a race at
Alpenrose velodrome here in Portland. Our track is nearing the end of
its useful life, but that doesn't stop people from coming from all over
the country to race here. Wouldn't it be nice if people all over the
state had the opportunity to enjoy such a facility, in good repair?

For the record, track racing is also an excellent way to welcome women
into a sport that has been traditionally male-dominated. Beginners are
always welcome, regardless of sex or age.

Thank you,

Evan MacKenzie

Hillsboro