Cycle Oregon was a main character in many of the stories told at the National Bike Summit in Washington, DC in early March.

Since 1987 Cycle Oregon has helped expose more than 40,000 riders to the beauty of rural Oregon through its rides. As a result, it has delivered more than $18M to small businesses and communities in every corner of our state, which provide the magical settings for Cycle Oregon events.

Cycle Oregon staff, board, volunteers and riders can be very proud of these highlights:

• Helping fund Travel Oregon’s new economic impact study of the bicycle industry, which is now a nearly half billion dollar economy, including $400 million and 4,000+ jobs from bicycle tourism and the $90 million and 2600+ in bicycle and product manufacturing
• Funding the feasibility study for the 86-mile Salmonberry Corridor Rail Trail, a decommissioned rail bed with the potential to connect Banks with Tillamook with a scenic linear trail
• Initiating the Scenic Bikeways program in 2004 and successfully advocating for housing it at Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation in 2008
• Supporting the work of other Summit participants, including the Friends of the Historic Columbia River Highway, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and Community Cycling Center

All this good work is showing in the increased number of bicycle friendly communities, opportunities and businesses around the state. It is an exciting time to be a part of Cycle Oregon and I am proud to be a part of this important story.