REEDSPORT — Among the projects the city of Reedsport is considering as part of the Main Street Program is possibly applying to become “bike-friendly.”
Emesha Jackson is the coordinator of the Main Street Program.
“We’re really pushing this a lot through (the Main Street) economic development committee,” she said. “Bicycle tourism in the state of Oregon last year contributed $400 million to Oregon’s economy.”
That’s according to a 2012 study by Dean Runyan Associates.
Travel Oregon has initiated the Oregon Bike Friendly Program, which is a “recognition and training program designed to provide tips and tools for businesses to attract cyclists by offering amenities they seek,” according to the agency’s website at traveloregon.com.
“That’s something we wanted to tap in to and jump on board with,” Jackson said
“Enhancing the biking experience for visitors and Oregonians is one of our top initiatives at Travel Oregon,” said Scott West, chief strategy officer for the agency in a news release. “In Oregon, we value the multitude of world-class outdoor adventures we offer.”
There are criteria businesses have to meet to be in the program.
“I think they only have to meet three points out of 25 to show they’re bike-friendly,” Jackson said. “There’s a list of amenities, such as having water available, public restrooms, locally-sourced food, having alcohol, things such as those that would show that they would be allowed to apply for the certification. A lot of our local businesses would, actually, be able to easily apply.”
The certification could mean additional promotion and marketing for local businesses.
“We also want to increase networking opportunities for this certification,” Jackson said, “and educating local businesses on what amenities are available. Where would you point local cyclists to a mechanic or a bike repair shop? Even if there are some stores such as one-stop sports shops that have bike repair tool kits and inner tubes, and such as that, that would be available. Where would you point them in the direction of a bike-friendly hotel where they’d be able to store their bike?”
Other amenities might include Wi-Fi availability.
“It’s really easy to meet the minimal requirements to get certified as bike-friendly,” Jackson said. “It’s free. It also helps with additional marketing. That’s something we’re pushing through the Main Street Program.”
She said it’s not just attracting one type of bicyclists.
“We’re talking about not just the cyclists we see that are passing through the community, the hardcore bicyclists riding through the state,” she said. “We’re also talking about the day trippers. People who just want to go and travel off the beaten trail looking for mountain bike trails. Or the RVers that have their bikes on the back.”
Jackson said the idea is attractive for Reedsport.
“It’s something that is an industry, and a type of tourism, that we can really capture in this area,” she said.
Oregon created the Scenic Bikeways program in conjunction with Cycle Oregon in 2010. That program now boasts 11 bike-friendly routes throughout the state.
For details on the program go to Industry.TravelOregon.com/BFB or RideOregonRide.com.
Originally Published in The Umpqua Post
2741 Frontage Road
Reedsport, Oregon 97467
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