There\u2019s always been something a bit off about Portland\u2019s Off-Road Cycling Master Plan (ORCMP). Despite two years of work that went into it, and despite the plan being unveiled to the public in 2017<\/a>, it was never an officially binding plan. For some odd reason, the City of Portland refused to finalized it and the word \u201cdraft\u201d was never removed. It was supposed to go to City Council for adoption in 2019 and there was a concerted push from advocates to get it over the finish line at that time<\/a> \u2014 but it just never happened.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not sure if it was out of fear of controversy, or disagreements about various recommendations in the plan, or that it was never prioritized amid the constant shuffle of bureau leadership at City Hall. But what I do know is, because the plan was still in draft form, Portland was not able to move forward on any type of off-road cycling trail projects, plans or policies. If you know anything about how planning works in Portland, you know that nothing gets built or added to a project list or even considered for funding unless it can be tied back to an adopted plan.<\/p>\n So I\u2019m very happy to report that today, finally<\/em>, the Portland Parks & Recreation Bureau has finalized and published the Off Road Cycling Master Plan<\/a>! Advocates from Northwest Trail Alliance<\/a>, the group that has spent eight years on this effort, say it provides, \u201ca blueprint for Portland\u2019s off-road cycling opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe ORCMP is an exciting new and critical piece in a framework of guidance that planners and city officials rely on to implement new access to trails across the city,\u201d NWTA said in a statement this afternoon. \u201cFurther, off-road cycling will contribute to safe routes to school; help Portland reach its climate action plan; and all-around promote the healthy, outdoor lifestyle that Portlanders value.\u201d<\/p>\n NWTA Executive Director Lisa Olivares said, \u201cWhile the ORCMP doesn\u2019t imply immediate, dedicated funding for any locations identified, NWTA looks forward to continuing our work with land partners to support growth in off-road cycling opportunities as presented in the plan.\u201d<\/p>\n To coincide with the (late afternoon on a Friday!) publication, Portland Parks has flipped the switch on a new webpage that lays out the basics of the plan<\/a> and answers some key FAQ.<\/p>\n Parks lists eight locations where we could see \u201cimprovements to existing trails or new natural surface off-road cycling trails\u201d:<\/p>\n There are 16 existing parks identified in the ORCMP as potential sites for bike parks (like Gateway Green) and there are three corridors where the plan recommends adjacent off-road cycling trails: the Springwater, the North Portland Greenway alignment, and the I-205 path.<\/p>\n While there is no dedicated funding attached to the plan, now that it\u2019s published, Parks can begin to add off-road bike trail projects to it\u2019s all-powerful Capital Improvement Program (CIP) list where they can be considered for funding during the annual budget process.<\/p>\n This might seem like a boring administrative step, but the finalization of this plan is big step forward and we\u2019re looking forward to what happens next. Stay tuned!<\/p>\n If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus<\/a> on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone\/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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