November 4, 2009
Twilight bike ride celebrates official reopening and new lighting on I-205 multi-use path
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), in partnership with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and TriMet, will host a twilight bike ride on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 4 p.m. to celebrate the official reopening of ODOT's I-205 multi-use path between the Springwater Corridor and Clackamas Town Center. The reopened path features new overhead lighting funded through federal stimulus funds.
The event will begin with brief comments from elected officials and community leaders at the Lents Town Center/SE Foster Rd MAX Station. Mechanics from the nearby Bike Gallery on SE Division Street will offer basic maintenance and tire pumping, and a roving mechanic will accompany the riders to Clackamas Town Center. Bicyclists are encouraged to dress warmly.
Schedule of events:
4 p.m.: Gather at Lents Town Center/SE Foster Rd MAX Station
(9451 SE Foster Road)
4:15: Comments from elected officials and community leaders:
- Clackamas County Board of Commissioners Chair: Lynn Peterson
- Metro Councilor: Robert Liberty
- ODOT Region 1 Manager: Jason Tell
- TriMet representative: Bekki Witt
- BTA Executive Director: Scott Bricker
- East Portland resident: Jim Chasse
4:45: Ride begins
4:50: Lights go on—ring bike bells!
5:30: Arrive at Clackamas Town Center
The reopened segment of the path will again provide opportunities for biking, and walking, as well as new options for transit connections, while improving the health of the community and the environment. The new lighting, which represents the only ODOT bicycle project to receive federal stimulus funding in the Portland area, will increase visibility, access and safety through several neighborhoods. ODOT and TriMet together contributed $2.19 million in stimulus funds to install the lighting between SE Foster Road and SE Sunnyside Road. Extension of lighting south to Gladstone is still awaiting federal approval.
Biking or riding MAX to the event is encouraged. The MAX Green Line runs from Clackamas Town Center Transit Center to Portland City Center every 30 minutes on Saturday evenings. Space for bikes may be limited. Check trimet.org for bus and train schedules.
About BTA
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance is a statewide non-profit organization that works to open minds and roads to bicycling. We represent bicyclists and the bicycle industry with more than 5,000 members in Oregon and SW Washington, and have 17 years of experience in bicycle engineering, planning, education and advocacy
Primary Contact
Bekki Witt
TriMet
wittb@trimet.org
503-962-5669
Secondary Contact
Scott Bricker
BTA Executive Director
scott@bta4bikes.org
503-226-0676, x14