Inclement weather held back many bicyclists from participating in the 26th Annual Vancouver Bicycle Club’s Ride (VBC) Around Clark County (RACC) on Saturday, May 2, but certainly not everyone. It is, after all, the Northwest.

About 725 riders chose routes of 18-, 34-, 65- and 100-miles, taking in some of the best scenery Clark County has to offer.
“It was probably the worst weather we’ve ever had,” said VBC Press Secretary Lauren Baker. “You hate to see that kind of effort put forth and not be 100 percent successful … but people really made the best of it that they could.”

Baker said the VBC probably broke about even on the event, maybe taking in a little. The club has never lost money on RACC, according to an article by Treasurer Laird Clow in the April edition of The Wheel Truth, the club monthly newsletter now in its 27th volume.

“I am happy to report that the financial shape of VBC is good, and in these recessionary economic times we are above water,” Clow wrote.

RACC is the largest ride put on by VBC, but far from the only. Group rides are happening almost every day through the VBC, and often times two a day. You don’t have to be a club member to join in on the rides, Baker said, and there are buddy lists to get on to keep informed on impromptu rides that often pop up.

The VBC promotes bicycling as a means of recreation, transportation and fitness for bikers of all levels. The club is a testament to strong biking community in SW Washington.

“It’s a wonderful cycling community,” said Baker. “As a newer rider I’ve been really encouraged as opposed to being intimidated.”

And others are taking notice. From local government to outside enthusiasts, people are realizing the potential for an even more celebrated Vancouver cycling culture.

Getting more on the path

Ty Eversaul was one of the RACC volunteers who endured the nasty weather. Eversaul, a senior at Columbia River High School, has been volunteering at bike events and commuting on his bike for as part of his senior project.

“Biking is a pretty simple alternative,” Eversaul said. He’s studied the social, environmental benefits and the personal, quality-of-life advancements that are created from biking more. He said a few kids commute to school on bicycle, but not many.
“It has to be a lifestyle change,” said Laurie Nicholson of Clark County Community Planning.

Nicholson is in charge of the recently launched Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The County is teaming up with Alta Planning & Design out of Portland to implement a plan with specific goals to accommodate people who choose to travel on foot and bike — “active transportation,” as it’s being called — and to encourage more SW Washingtonians to do so.
“We really want to have a central vision of goals and plans for biking in Clark County,” Nicholson said.
Nicholson said a draft of the plan will be ready this fall.

Public participation is needed for the plan, Nicholson said. Meetings for the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) and the Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC) are free and open to the public. On May 11, Nicholson will present the goals of the plan at the Neighborhoods Association Council of Clark County, which meets at 7 p.m. in the Public Works Operations Conference Center, 4700 NE 78th St. in Hazel Dell.

The county has a crop of various clubs and organization to work with. Local non-profit Community Choices is eager to encourage healthier communities by promoting active transportation, especially to young people, Nicholson said.

Also, Bike Me! is a new organization advocating for bike education and fun. The small group wants to make sure bikers are not overlooked and left in the exhaust iduring planning of the Columbia River Crossing and a redeveloped downtown with light rail. The group was featured on the front page of The Oregonian on April 21, as an example of the growing bike culture of SW Washington.

“The group is excited to find more ways of getting more people on bikes,” said Leah Jackson, owner of Angst Gallery. “They’ve shown the best way to keep bicyclists safe is by getting more people on bikes.”

So, biking in Clark County is: healthy, active, enviro-friendly, communal (“go out with four or five people and 20 miles goes just like that,” Eversaul said) and cost-effective. Perhaps most important, however, is what a well-known biking infrastructure can bring in: money.

Bike tourist destination

Biking can be an integral aspect of economical development in Clark Conty. With paths becoming more and more crowded in Portland, our neighbors to the south may choose to ride north more often for recreational biking.

“When looking into it, I believe that you have a lot of paved bike paths there that a lot of people wouldn’t even know about,” said Vince Schreck, Instructional designer at Portland State University and editor of Portland Family Adventures (www.pdxfamilyadventures.com). “There are some nice paths in Portland, but, as far as being right there in the city, taking in accessibility, I think [Clark County] has more.”

Schreck is working on an article laying out a full day of family biking in Vancouver, recommending bike paths like Salmon Creek, Burnt Bridge and the waterfront trail.

“I think those are all really good trails for kids,” Schreck said. “I had nothing but positive experiences.”

The abundance of rural land in North and East County, along with a slew of historical buildings, can be developed as prominent bike trails, too. Clark County and Alta continue to design the Rails with Trails, which plans to connect bikers with the 33 miles of railroad owned by the county. Having a trail that resides on an active railroad right-away would be very unique, according to Fred Abraham, railroad coordinator for the county.

“Eventually, we have hopes that we could use the entire 33 miles of rail … it’s beautiful scenery all the way up to Chelatchie Prairie,” Abraham said.

The first leg of Rails with Trails is being developed between Fairgrounds Park in Battle Ground and Battle Ground State Park. Abraham said they are still working on a design and grant. Construction of the trail should begin later this year or early 2010.

For more information on the Clark County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, contact Nicholson at Laurie.Nicholson@clark.wa.gov, or 397-2280 ext. 4544. For more info on the VBC, visit vbc-usa.com.