When I recently blogged about the cyclocross nationals, a reader posted a response adding something to the affect that why haven’t people considered using the roads alongside the various canals as possible bike passageways. That idea drew other positive responses including one from Bend City Councilor Jody Barram praising the idea and also questioning why nobody had done anything about it.
Well people have been doing something about it for the past two years.
It all began when Senator Ron Wyden asked his local aide David Blair to put together a group called the Central Oregon Recreation Assets Committee. The committee was tasked to come up with ideas that would enhance outdoor recreation in Central Oregon which in turn would help the region’s economy.
One of the committee’s top five ideas was the inclusion of canal roadways to enhance cycling in general as well as create exciting new bike routes. The potential route discussed was a combination of canal roads and sections of rural roads to link Redmond with Smith Rock State Park.
There are a myriad of legal issues involved in making those roadways accessible to the public and members of the recreational assets committee familiar with those legal issues are confident that with some help from the Senator, they can be overcome.
So, with all due respect to the person who came up with the “new” use-the-canal-roadways idea, it’s not new. To Councilor Barram, I say check with County Commissioner Baney who is fully aware of the bike route via canal roads idea and is a member the recreational assets committee.
Serving on that committee along with Baney are Dennis Oliphant of Sun Country Tours, Jade Mayer of Brooks Resources, Brad Chalfant of the Deschutes Land Trust, Bend Metro Parks board member Ruth Williamson, Senator Wyden’s aide David Blair, former school administrator Peter Miller, and OSU-Cascades professor Kreg Lindberg among others. Sally Russell chairs the committee.
Among the other recreational opportunities cited by the committee include a new Sunriver to Bend bicycle route involving portions of currently unpaved U.S. Forest roads, a new cross-country ski trail linking Mt. Bachelor to the Virginia Meissner SnoPark, and the widening of Skyliner’s Road to make if safer for cyclists, roller skiers and runners.
This article appears in Dec 17-23, 2009.
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Now…. THAT’S What I’m, talking about…!!!…
I am not the one reader that initiated the responses,, however I was the next to post and first to praise the idea…
Mr. Woodward,, Thank you for investigating the issue,, it is refreshing to know something like this is already in the works!!
I am two years new to Bend, and where I moved from has a “River-way bike path route” which is very effective at not only separating cyclists from traffic (Round-a-bouts anyone?!),, but cuts an hour commute down to half that for those that live / work on either side of the city.
WHY Bend has not done this years ago is beyond me…. it is like I said refreshing to know this is being thought of and sought after.
Thanks again Mr. Woodward,, and thanks to all for being so positive!
As the ‘person who came up with the “new” use-the-canal-roadways idea’ to whom Sir Robert refers, all I can say is that great minds think alike…both Sir Isaac Newton [likely the smartest man that ever lived] and G. W. Leibnitz [a respected mathematician] both came up with the ideas for the calculus independently back in the 17th century…hopefully it won’t take that long before we can ride on these canal routes…
I am fine with cyclists so long as they become insured like motorists. We have to have insurance and I believe cyclists should also. Also could these canal roads be used by equestrian riders also? Multi use recreation is a must to rebuild central oregons economy.
“Equestrian use” …in a word, yes,, all should be included with access to the system, and having a paved ‘path’ right alongside of a dirt trail separated by a log fence works great and is in use in many municipalities giving great usage to pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians alike… only,, to start the whole idea on a budget, I am unsure if the log fencing would be feasible right off, but should be a part of the plan as the whole idea is currently “in the works”.
The path system would include a paved path with two stripes, one solid stripe to separate cyclists and pedestrians, one dashed stripe to separate cycling direction,, and of course, the log fence to separate ped’s and bikes from the horses.
I would hope that this great idea gets underway soon, and with a budget that includes everyone would be fantastic…. I do think the trail to Smith Rock would be a great start for the entire project, as would something connecting the south end of Bend with Redmond, giving non motorists a way to travel from Sunriver/LaPine to Redmond… the system could grow from there.
Insurance… sad but true,, it is a litigious world we live in , and so many accidents do happen.
But… to impose a mandatory insurance on a non motorized vehicle would pave the path to everyone HAVING to have insurance including the pedestrians… I can see it now, step counters connected to GPS units sending pedal strokes and steps taken to our wonderful insurance adjuster’s whom now seem to control our health care… -Are horse riders to have “a bit” of insurance too..?!..
I say enough silliness already, insure your motor vehicle,, and if you think you need insurance to protect yourself from those that do not agree with you… personal insurance should stay optional.
…And, lets leave the insurance conversation to the insurance article,, and stay “on path” here.
Stay positive folks,, and wave with all fingers!
Agree with last post regarding requirement for insurance. How far does this need to go. No further. As to an equestrian trail along the canals I disagree. I own horses and have been around them all my adult life. Unfortunately, they are so much more destructive to a trail systems. Worse than a motorized vehicle. Eash foot fall creates loose soil, disturbes rock etc. I often hike the same trails shared by mountain bikes, horses and foot traffic and see the destruction horses create. I would not want to be without horses in my life but limited trail access in a wilderness area is important to leave as little impact as possible. All for the biking trails but not horse traffic. We ride dressage and hunter/jumpers not trail horses so my opinion may not be shared by others. Sorry
good story on the topic, but no, no no. and were would the money come from! i don’t want any more taxes.
I moved here from another community which was SO a$$ backwards,, folks there did not want their roads paved..!!.. And,, Why..?!.. ’cause they did not want ‘more taxes’… -C’mon… gimme a break..!!..
This area has grown, and will grow… if we just stick our heads in the sand and ignore a positive change we are to shamed, and I can only blame an attitude like that and not myself as I for one, an unemployed transplant, volunteer my time (I pull YOUR weeds!) and try my darnedest to do something positive.
But… your opinion counts, ,I guess…
“Everyone has an opinion and is entitled to it,, as wrong as they may be!”
-Me, sometime ago.
As far as the horses and trail destruction is concerned…
Yes, you are correct, I can write a novel pertaining to horses and trail destruction,, but I have used the above mentioned trail systems which do include horse paths,, and they DO work, we should at least give it a try.
Happy Holiday’s all!!