Oregon Scenic Bikeway Committee Accepting Application for New Routes, Oct. 28

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Scenic Bikeway Program will accept applications in the spring of 2015 for new bikeway designations. Designated Scenic Bikeways are selected from locally proposed routes and represent the “best of the best” road bicycle riding in Oregon. Currently, there are 12 designated bikeways totaling nearly 800 miles. Oregon is the only state with an official Scenic Bikeway program. Completed applications consist of a proposed scenic route, a local proponent group, and letters of support from all governing bodies of road jurisdictions. The applications must be submitted from March 17-31, 2015 to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Bikeway proponent groups consist of local volunteers, cyclists and tourism professionals. If the purposed route submitted via that application is officially recommended for designation by the Oregon Bikeway Committee, the proponent group must then complete a comprehensive Bikeway Plan including a series of goals, sign locations, promotions and future engagement. The Oregon Scenic Bikeway Committee evaluates proposed routes using criteria which examine human made, natural scenic and sensory values and road conditions on the route. In the past, only half of the applications scored high enough on the criteria to be recommended for designation. Applications, a list of important features for a bikeway and the criteria are available at http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/BIKE/Pages/info.aspx For more information on the application process or the Bikeway Program contact Alex Phillips at 503-986-0631 or alex.phillips@oregon.gov .