Thanks for working on this. As you've hopefully read on
BikePortland.org, Jessica Roberts, our Metro Area Advocate, is
working with the cemetary to find a positive, functional solution
that meets everyone's needs. It's an important connection, and we'd
love to do what we can to keep it open.

She's copied above and will lead the BTA's efforts on this.

Best,

Evan

Evan Manvel
Executive Director
Bicycle Transportation Alliance
717 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
(503) 226-0676 x12
evan@bta4bikes.org
Help us open minds and roads to bicycling: http://www.bta4bikes.org/
support/join.php

On Apr 26, 2006, at 11:48 AM, Matthew Wolpert wrote:

> 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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>>
>