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I.M.B.A. Action Alert: Ask Portland’s Mayor to Support MTB

By White Lotus Media on March 27, 2015 • ( 0 )

SPEAK UP FOR MOUNTAIN BIKE ACCESS IN PORTLAND

If you ride a mountain bike and live in or near Portland, you probably have heard about the recent decision to ban off-road cycling in the River View Natural Area. IMBA is sending this message update on behalf of its Portland chapter, the Northwest Trail Alliance (NWTA), and requests that you take action to help Portland-area mountain bikers!

Earlier this week, NWTA filed a legal Notice of Intent to Appeal with the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals regarding the ban. The NWTA Board of Directors strongly believes that the decision to ban bikes made by two city commissioners lacked a rational basis for exclusion and did not offer due process to citizens.

NWTA does not take this action lightly. It writes: “We would much rather work in partnership with the city to resolve the issue. However, the gravity of this decision, the lack of justification, and the lack of answers has led the board to take legal action. We simply cannot stand idle.”

Act Now! Please lend your voice to this cause by sending a letter to Portland Mayor Charlie Hales.

NWTA has provided a letter template (find it at the bottom of this email) and is requesting that you send it to Mayor Hales after customizing it with pieces of your own personal story. NWTA has already filled in talking points regarding the mayor’s own priorities: “complete neighborhoods” and “equity and opportunity.” Click here for the mayor’s email address.

NWTA is also calling for calm from the mountain bike community. “We encourage our members and supporters to continue to make their voices heard in an appropriate fashion. At the same time, we cannot condone and strongly discourage any acts which defy current regulations related to trail access. As frustrating as it has been, we are committed to working within the system.”

The NWTA has been leading the charge for more MTB access in Portland for many years and will continue to do so as the organized voice of mountain bikers.

Thank you for your support,

IMBA and the Northwest Trail Alliance

Letter template:

Dear Mayor Hales,

As an avid cyclist, I would like to bring two issues to your attention. First, I urge you to support the off-road cycling master plan in your budget. I believe in healthy, active, livable communities and I promote the concept of “ride to your ride.”

[Add personal details, if you can.]

I also want to alert you to Commissioners Fish and Fritz’s recent decision to abandon an ongoing public process, arbitrarily and with no basis in science or data. In doing so, they undermined the professional input of a technical advisory committee and devalued community involvement.

It’s clearly time for a citywide plan that identifies great places for safe, recreational cycling. It’s important to me that all communities in Portland have easy access to exercise and outdoor fun.

Thank you for your consideration,

[YOUR NAME]