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by Keely Chalmers

Posted on March 24, 2010 at 6:55 PM

Updated yesterday at 7:08 PM

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PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland BMX riders are fighting to keep a trail system they built more than a decade ago. But the state says it’s an illegal course built on private property.

Brad Tibbet and his fellow riders have traded in their bikes for trash bags. Instead of riding their favorite trails and jumps, they’re cleaning them.

“Police came out here and told us we can’t be digging or riding them,” explained Tibbet.

That was Tuesday. The order came as a shock to Tibbet and many in the BMX community who’ve been building and riding these trails since the early 90s.

Recently some neighbors in the area expressed concern about the increased activity and damage to the trees. Keller Galvin says she likes that the trails give kids a place to recreate, but she worries about the trees in the area.

“Some beautiful cedars that are right in the area that I think are being damaged by constant digging and moving of the dirt around,” Galvin said.

The trails run across land owned by both the Grotto and ODOT. ODOT says it’s an issue of liability.

“The state’s liable for anybody back on these trails and the fact they’ve been here for some time is immaterial to the conversation,” said Brad Wurfel ODOT Spokesman.

The Grotto issued this statement about the trail saying, “through the years it hasn’t been a problem… but it has grown beyond our expectations and has become a nuisance…. there should be no trespassing.”

Shad Johnson, owner of GOODS BMX Shop, has helped maintain the trails since the mid 90s. He says before they were there the area was a hotbed for crime.

“We’ve had neighbors across the street happy we’re keeping the transients out, some of the prostitution and stuff,” said Johnson.

For now Johnson and his fellow riders will have to stay out too. But they vow to fight for their work or at least for a compromise.

Dixie Mt, Scappoose, OR-
Logging operations on Longview Fiber land have started on the north side of Rocky Point Rd. I spoke with Mike Pihl of Pihl Logging whom is contracted to harvest the timber (and also of History Channel’s Ax Men fame), and he told me starting 3/16/10 access to the south side of the road at the upper blue gate will be blocked for a few months. He said the harvest will be focused on the area from the blue gate to 1/2 mile west, and 1/4 mile to the south from Rocky Point Rd. All indicators point to this harvest not affecting the trails from the upper blue gate that head east toward hwy 30.
-Ian

Check this report out on the illegal trail built in Forest Park.

Though I don’t condone building unsanctioned trails, it does bring the need for a new trail system in Portland to forefront of discussion. I think this report is a little bit dramatic in the way it describes the damage caused by a ribbon of dirt through a forest. In fact just down the road there are clear cut logging operations being carried out and there is no news coverage or cries of vandalism as the entire hillside is stripped bare of its trees. Mammals, fish, and amphibians are probably a little more stressed about the clear cuts than they are about a small trail through a large forest.
-Ian