Cycling in Coburg for Recreation, Transportation, and Tourism: A Visioning Process
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Date
2020
Authors
Hart, Nick
Schlossberg, Marc
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
In collaboration with the Sustainable City Year Program and Lane Transit District (LTD), the city of Coburg set out to examine and explore possible solutions related to bicycle transportation. Students addressed: multi-use paths, ways to make auto-centric streets more bicycle friendly, safe routes to school opportunities, bicycle tourism (within Coburg and extending throughout the region), and marketing materials and campaigns related to bicycling.
In response to the topic of multi-use paths and improving auto-centric streets, student groups focused on the Coburg Loop Path, suggesting improvements at critical intersections. Additionally, students suggested developing a series of “bicycle boulevards” to enable path users to connect their destination or departure point to the Loop Path with ease.
The network of potential “bicycle boulevards” expanded as students considered ways to improve routes from neighborhoods around Coburg to the Coburg Community Charter School. Students highlighted several streets within Coburg that could receive treatments to encourage walking and biking to school. Suggestions for improving intersections near the school are included in this report. Such improvements could provide safer crossings for students during peak traffic hours.
In examining tourism and marketing opportunities for Coburg, student groups focused on the critical location Coburg holds along the Willamette Valley Scenic bikeway. Coburg is three miles from the southern terminus of the 138-mile route that follows the Willamette River from Portland’s outskirts. The bikeway sees many riders every year and is heavily promoted by Travel Oregon, the state’s tourism agency. By capitalizing on Coburg’s location along the route, local businesses could benefit through increased bike traffic. Looking more locally, students outlined plans for a bicycle tour of Coburg’s History, drawing inspiration from the Coburg historical homes tour and the pride residents displayed in their own history throughout visioning documents. As a balance between local and far reaching tourism opportunities, students looked to the Oregon Gran Fondo for inspiration in proposing a similar event centered around Coburg, the Willamette Scenic Bikeway, and neighboring small towns.
Description
39 pages