Ashland should tell the world to hit the trail — on e-bikes, if you’d like
By Eric Hansen
Ashland’s diverse network of trails is world-class! Considering all of the awesome opportunities that our existing trials offer, I believe the city needs to keep trails at the forefront of our strategic expansion and development.
Many Ashlanders have asked me: Why should the city of Ashland focus on more trails, and for different user groups? How does this affect our livability and economic development? What are our opportunities and obstacles?
Base Camp Ashland
Ashland is a paradise for walkers, hikers, runners, and cyclists in the know. But much of this is only for those who live or frequent here. I’ve heard Ashland described as a “mountain town that doesn’t know it yet.” That’s true for some Ashlanders — and true for many vacation planners and those relocating here. They just don’t know how good it is here — yet.
Few people know that our Lithia Park trails lead to U.S. Forest Service trails that lead to the Wagner Butte trails. They then head into the Little Applegate area, and on to the Oregon Caves National Monument! Only a few visiting athletes and locals know. Why is that?
Many of Ashland’s trails are just outside of the hustle and bustle of downtown and neighborhoods and, therefore, underutilized. They are poorly signed with little or no wayfinding. They’re protected by tightly held local knowledge. And many of them are far enough away, so they’re out of sight and out of mind.
More trails, more visitors
Our more popular trails are close in and see heavy use. We are feeling the pressure of increased traffic and multiple user groups on them. Recent additions of trails are helping disperse users. We have a wonderful opportunity to add additional trails on city land and system improvements to keep up with the growing demand.
Different trails, too
Ashland should also be looking to add different kinds of trails. For instance, imagine if mountain bike trails led from the Plaza to the city’s upper systems of the Watershed Loop Road? What if more folks parked in town for a ride all the way to Mount Ashland before their Shakespeare play and dinner out? These people are already visiting and have dramatically changed the feel and activity downtown in the past few years.
A lot of our visitors ride pedal-assist electric bikes (e-bikes). Ashland could be their destination because of its early policy adoption of this technology. Bend doesn’t allow e-bikes on trails and the culture there is not e-bike friendly. Ashlanders are more e-bike friendly, for a good reason: we’re older.
Whether you’re an adaptive user with mobility issues, you enjoy a carbon-free shuttle, or you’re an 70-year-old who needs a little motor help, the city of Ashland has great potential to become a destination for more e-bikers.
Livability and economic development
Trails are an investment in our city’s livability and economic development for now and our future. They are also an equitable resource for everybody. Younger and more outdoor recreationalists will stay, visit, and move to Ashland in pursuit of our trails and the culture around their use. Happy users are happy town people. We know this kind of vitality breeds a healthy community of both people and the local economy.
More small businesses will also move to Ashland with more trail development. In a competitive marketplace made possible by a newly mobile workforce, Ashland is a great place to run a business and enjoy small town life with lots of recreational events and focus.
Opportunities for further collaboration
Ashland’s amazing Parks & Recreation Department and its unique elected commission focus on trails. They adopt, build, and maintain dozens of them, scattered over 53 miles. There is a formal process for new trails. There is money in their budget to build more trails. There are currently new trails being proposed. Three new trails were built last year.
We are building more and different trails on existing city land. The city might have more opportunities to expand into neighboring private properties. Collaboration with our U.S. Forest Service partners is ongoing. This community’s desire for more and different trails is being pursued and fulfilled.
What’s missing here? You.
I urge you to support new trails, offer proposals, think outside the box, and have fun doing it. All Ashlanders should get behind expanding our trail network and supporting infrastructure because it makes this a better place to live and visit and builds economic diversity around this great natural resource.
Email Ashland City Councilor Eric Hansen at eric@council.ashland.or.us. Email letters to the editor and viewpoint submissions to news@ashland.news.
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