A close call with a car, mid-way through an event dubbed “Bike with the Mayor,” proved the perfect illustration of the safety challenges facing cyclists even in a city rated as “bike-friendly.”

The ride, led by Corvallis Mayor Charlie Tomlinson and attended by about 10 local cyclists, departed from City Hall at 10 a.m. on Sunday and followed bike lanes and paths throughout the Corvallis area.

Before the ride even started, Brad Upton, chairman of the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, pointed out some of the city’s problem areas, to the gathered cyclists.

His warnings included the lack of connectivity between the south waterfront and the bike trail that starts at Crystal Lake boat ramp in south Corvallis.

Cyclists who wish to bridge the gap between the two trails are forced to ride on a two-way path on the east sidewalk of Southeast Third Street to Crystal Lake Drive.

Sure enough, as Tomlinson attempted to lead the group of cyclists across the intersection during the ride, a motorist made a right-hand turn from Crystal Lake Drive onto Southeast Third Street, forcing Tomlinson, who had right-of-way, to slam on his brakes to avoid a collision with the car.

“That sidewalk there is actually listed by the Oregon Department of Transportation as a multi-use path, but it is confusing because you have to ride counter to traffic,” Upton said.

Both Upton and Tomlinson hope the city will soon be able to connect the two trails through an easement on the Evanite Fiber Corp. property.

Other stops along the route gave participants a chance to see the sites of current and future construction projects on the Oregon State University campus at 14th and 15th streets and on 53rd street that were designed with bicycle safety in mind.

During the ride, Tomlinson and Upton also fielded discussion of the the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee’s controversial plan to eliminate bike lanes on Northwest 10th Street between Buchanan Avenue and Harrison Boulevard and install arrow-shaped decals in the traffic lanes meant to remind drivers to “share the road” with bicyclists.

“I’ll bet I’ve received 40 e-mails from bicyclists about it,” said Tomlinson.

The City Council’s urban services committee will consider the change at its next meeting at noon, Sept. 4, in the Madison Avenue Meeting Room, 500 S.W Madison Ave.

Bicycle Friendly

Corvallis is among a handful of cities, mostly college towns, with a gold-level accreditation from the League of American Bicyclists.

Only Portland and Davis, Calif., have been deemed more “bike-friendly” and have earned platinum-level status through an application process.

Bike-friendly status is determined based on the such things as the existence of a bicycle safety commission and substantial investments in infrastructure such as bike racks, bike lanes and connectivity of bike paths and streets throughout the city.

Maps of Corvallis and Benton County bicycle routes can be found at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, City Hall and other locations around town.