NOT A DAY goes by without some breathless rant about Portland’s “worse-than-ever” homelessness, but what does the data say?
According to the best numbers we have, things haven’t changed much recently.
In a “point-in-time” count of Multnomah County’s homeless population completed every two years, volunteers and outreach workers actually found fewer people sleeping on the streets on January 28 than they did two years before. But the difference was slight—just eight people—and there were worrying changes within that population, including a rise in the number of African Americans, women, and families sleeping on the street. When also including people living in emergency shelters or transitional housing, homelessness is up around four percent.
The count isn’t perfect—it doesn’t take into account changes that come about in warm weather, for instance—but it’s what we’ve got. DIRK VANDERHART
PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL is free to ignore a Canadian energy company’s request for a zoning change that would clear the way for a massive propane terminal, but it might find itself in court if it does.
That’s the finding, anyway, of City Attorney Tracy Reeve, who was asked for an opinion last month on whether officials were bound by code to consider the request by Pembina Pipeline.
“There is no mandatory obligation to hold a hearing,” Reeves wrote. But she noted: “We are not able to predict with certainty how a court might rule on the issue.” DVH
THE CITY’S mountain bikers scored a victory earlier this year, when they convinced Mayor Charlie Hales to fast-track a study on how Portland can expand access for their sport [“Fury Road,” Feature, June 3].
Now comes a defeat. Cyclists appealing the decision to close off mountain bike trails in the 146-acre River View Natural Area earlier this month their effort had died. The state’s Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) ruled on June 3 that the Northwest Trail Alliance hadn’t proved the closure fell under its authority. LUBA dismissed the appeal.
The decision over River View, announced by Commissioners Amanda Fritz and Nick Fish on March 2, has been considered a last straw among mountain biking advocates who’ve lobbied for years for increased access to parks in the West Hills. Two weeks after the city’s announcement, hundreds of mountain bikers amassed at the natural area in protest, some wearing shirts that read “Portland Hates Me.” DVH
Bicycles should not be allowed in any natural area. They are inanimate objects and have no rights. There is also no right to mountain bike. That was settled in federal court in 1996: http://mjvande.nfshost.com/mtb10.htm . It’s dishonest of mountain bikers to say that they don’t have access to trails closed to bikes. They have EXACTLY the same access as everyone else — ON FOOT! Why isn’t that good enough for mountain bikers? They are all capable of walking….
A favorite myth of mountain bikers is that mountain biking is no more harmful to wildlife, people, and the environment than hiking, and that science supports that view. Of course, it’s not true. To settle the matter once and for all, I read all of the research they cited, and wrote a review of the research on mountain biking impacts (see http://mjvande.nfshost.com/scb7.htm ). I found that of the seven studies they cited, (1) all were written by mountain bikers, and (2) in every case, the authors misinterpreted their own data, in order to come to the conclusion that they favored. They also studiously avoided mentioning another scientific study (Wisdom et al) which did not favor mountain biking, and came to the opposite conclusions.
Those were all experimental studies. Two other studies (by White et al and by Jeff Marion) used a survey design, which is inherently incapable of answering that question (comparing hiking with mountain biking). I only mention them because mountain bikers often cite them, but scientifically, they are worthless.
Mountain biking accelerates erosion, creates V-shaped ruts, kills small animals and plants on and next to the trail, drives wildlife and other trail users out of the area, and, worst of all, teaches kids that the rough treatment of nature is okay (it’s NOT!). What’s good about THAT?
To see exactly what harm mountain biking does to the land, watch this 5-minute video: http://vimeo.com/48784297.
In addition to all of this, it is extremely dangerous: http://mjvande.nfshost.com/mtb_dangerous.htm .
For more information: http://mjvande.nfshost.com/mtbfaq.htm .
The common thread among those who want more recreation in our parks is total ignorance about and disinterest in the wildlife whose homes these parks are. Yes, if humans are the only beings that matter, it is simply a conflict among humans (but even then, allowing bikes on trails harms the MAJORITY of park users — hikers and equestrians — who can no longer safely and peacefully enjoy their parks).
The parks aren’t gymnasiums or racetracks or even human playgrounds. They are WILDLIFE HABITAT, which is precisely why they are attractive to humans. Activities such as mountain biking, that destroy habitat, violate the charter of the parks.
Even kayaking and rafting, which give humans access to the entirety of a water body, prevent the wildlife that live there from making full use of their habitat, and should not be allowed. Of course those who think that only humans matter won’t understand what I am talking about — an indication of the sad state of our culture and educational system.
Yeah, Vandeman is right. We should also get rid of all skiing / snowboarding trails too.
In fact, we should get rid of all trails of any kind, be it for hiking or biking.
While we are at it, let’s rid ourselves of all auto roads and train lines.
I mean, that would only be fair, right?
Humans are part of wildlife too.