Blue Mountain Century Bicycle Tourism Workshop NOTES April 18, 2012

Transcription

1 Bicycle Tourism Workshop NOTES April 18, 2012 AGENDA - Actual 9:02 Facilitator Introduction Scott Bricker, Bricker Consulting 9:10 Program Overview (presentation) Alex Phillips, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Kristin Dahl, Travel Oregon 9:30 Participant Introductions (activity) Participants interviewed each other and reported back to the group on the person that they interviewed. 9:50 Getting to Know Your Bikeway (panel presentation) 10:10 Break Sheryll Bates, Heppner Chamber of Commerce Deb Guiterrez, US Forest Service / Volunteer Jay Gibbs, US Department of Agriculture / Volunteer 10:15 Getting to Know the Bicycle Tourism Market (presentation and Q&A) Kristin Dahl 10:45 Getting to Know Bicycle Tourists (presentation and discussion) Scott Bricker 11:30 Examples of Bicycle Tourism Successes (video) Path Less Pedaled by Ross Roca and Laura Crawford 11:42 Understanding your External Resources Alex Phillips, OPRD Kristin Dahl, Travel Oregon Alice Trindle, Eastern Oregon Visitor s Association 12:25 LUNCH 1:00 Assessing Local Assets (small group activity and report back) Scott Bricker, facilitator Page 1 of 12

2 2:20 Cross-compare process with Management Plan Scott Bricker, facilitator Kristin Dahl, presenting on Wallowa 2:45 Walking meeting (activity) Groups of 2-3 take a walk to discuss next steps on prioritized action items. Groups come back and complete activity sheet. 3:15 Walking meeting debrief (discussion) Groups report back on their work 3:40 Recap of day and next steps (discussion) 3:45 End workshop PARTICIPANTS - Les (Mayor of Heppner) - Kim, La Grande (a him), used to have a bicycle shop - Shane, bike shop in Echo, promoter of the Echo MTB race - Joe, lives in La Grande, retiree out of Weyerhauser, - Chad Daugherty, City of Heppner - Mayor of Ione - Karen, ED of Umatilla Chamber of Commerce - Karen Kindell, GEODC - Phil, setting up a cottage industry in a Pheasant hunting area that could cater to cyclists, has a lodge that can handle of up 15 people Mike Cosgrove, Oregon Scenic Bikeway proponent - Tony, City Police in Pendleton - Kari, Umatilla County Tourism - Alice Trindle, Eastern Oregon Visitors Association - Joni, Umatiila National Forest (USFS) - Jay Gibbs, USDA, key volunteer w/ Blue Mt Century - Kim, Heppner resident, Willow Creek Parks and Recreation Board - Jean, life long biker - Cody, local - Dave DeMayo, City of Heppner was manager, but leaving city, retired military, geologist - Deb Guiterrez, USFS, works in Pendleton - AJ, will develop some tent sites owns Northwestern Motel, Cornerstone café Page 2 of 12

3 Large Group Notes Pages 3 5 contains the notes taken on computer and flip chart during full-group workshop discussions. Pages 6 11 contain the verbatim notes from the Assets / Opportunities flip charts and Developing a Bicycle Tourism Strategy - Project Focus Area worksheets completed after the walking meeting reporting sheets. PRESENTATIONS All presentations and handouts are (will be) available, Presentations and materials include: 1. Bikeway presentation, by Deb Guiterrez 2. Bikeway Map 3. Getting to Know the Bicycle Tourism Market, by Kristin Dahl 4. Getting to Know Bicycle Tourists, Scott Bricker 5. Path Less Pedaled video cycling in New Zealand (link needed) 6. Additional case study slides Getting to Know your Bikeway Ideas discussed during the Management Plan presentation: Geology themed tours Local knowledge: Ice cream in Ukiah! Need your ID in the pub! Small town community feel someone would pick you up if you broke down Buttersilk smooth pavement outside Ukiah Lack of water between Battlestate Park and Heppner Getting to Know Bicycle Tourism Markets / Bicyclists Surprising - Number of people cycling - Call a bike shop to take you out for a MTB Opportunities - We need to keep them here a few more days Page 3 of 12

4 - We need to promote it and make sure that our communities know it anyway and know what s out there? - What are cyclists willing to pay for lodging a food? o Wide range - Where do bikers get ideas for next ride? o Wife had business in Grants Pass and coupled it with family vacation. o Draw them here with an event signature event? o Internet o Word of mouth - Connect to festivals and events to plan around. - Echo River and MTB Race o We draw them in one time and then they come through every year. SMALL GROUP PRIORITIES A. Infrastructure Priorities Water Facility at mile post Tourist-related signs (interpretive signs) Local advocacy group Bike racks B. Business Goods & Services Signature event locally focused Bike-up campsites near town Bike friendly food (carbs and protein) C. Marketing & Communication Ideas Businesses educated on bicycle tourism Businesses can speak about cycling We Speak Two Wheels Spoken Here Cycling specific maps: max gradient, total climb Collect local content for ROR/EOVA/TO DETAILED PLANNING FROM WALKING MEETING: A. Lena / Vimson, milepost Acquire costs estimates for water line and toilet 2. Check with land owners for buy-in or permission 3. Apply for funding Page 4 of 12

5 4. Construct facility B. Signature Event 1. Call up possible partners to develop a plan or agreement to create soft launches of the Eastern Oregon Scenic Bikeways 2. Figure out a way to not own this, consider this a soft launch C. Two Wheels Spoken Here 1. Develop requirements for certification: physical requirements and understanding of local rides 2. Choose an agency or organization to promote the program ; develop a promotion strategy D. Collect local content for OSB 1. Assign volunteers 2. Volunteer contacts local business organizations for information 3. Input to excel spreadsheet NEXT STEPS Next bicycle tourism meeting is May 9. Page 5 of 12

6 Exists - Sufficient Exists - Improve Could Develop Preference Oregon Scenic Bicycle Workshop Notes Verbatim Small Group Notes Pages 6-11 contain the verbatim notes from the flip charts and worksheets submitted during this workshop. Infrastructure priorities Restated: Water Facility at mile post Tourist-related signs (interpretive signs) Local advocacy group Bike racks Facilities Items 1 Signature riding opp. ("epic ride") X X 2 2 Roads good for bicycling X 3 Scenic routes X 4 Wayfinding signs X 5 Ride from town X 6 Regional clustering of cycling facilities X 7 Loop options X X 1 8 Variety of skill level options (downhill ride from Cutsforth) X 1 9 Bicycle-specific trails X 1 10 Tourist-related signs (Interpretive signs) X X 6 11 Local advocacy group X 6 12 Water mile post X 9 13 Bick racks X 5 14 Tent camping X X 2 Page 6 of 12

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8 PROJECT FOCUS AREA: Facilities / services Lena / Vinson mileposts Deb, Sheryll, Kim Required Action/Next Step Costs estimates for water line and enviro. friendly toilet. Check w/land owners for buyin/permission to use land. Apply for funding/ grants through Cycle Oregon or other sources Lead Person/ Agency/Group Bikeway committee / advocacy group WEDG; GEODC; Advocacy group Possible Collaborators OPRD, USFS WVEDT (Willow Valley Economic Development Group) Possible in-kind or Funding Sources Local contractors? Timing 6 months 6-12 months Construct facilities w/ volunteer help Advocacy group + interested individual Contractors Volunteers months Page 8 of 12

9 Exists - Sufficient Exists - Improve Could Develop Preference Oregon Scenic Bicycle Workshop Notes Business Good and Services priorities restated: Signature event locally focused Bike-up campsites near town Bike friendly food (carbs and protein) Goods & Services 1 Visitor center X X 2 Central Kiosk X X 3 Public restrooms (Franklin gr_de) X 2 4 Medical clinic/urgent care X Ukiah? 5 Bike parking (racks signage) 6 Lockers n/a 7 Bike-friendly lodging / Limited - diversity overnight stays, communication Page 9 of 12 X 3 8 Bike-up campsites near town X X 7 9 Bike-friendly food (carbs and protein) X X 5 10 Brew pub / Evening beverage X X X 3 11 Café / morning beverage X X 12 Bike shop(s) Pettyjohns - supplier X 1 13 On-the-road support X 2 14 Guide services X 15 Services at approx 20-mile intervals - ROAD X X 16 Gas station (Ukiah? Ione) X 17 Signature event ~ local X X Cutsforth to Reservoir to downtown "downhill to Heppner" Family friendly 20 mile 19 Hager Park - facilities; Ione 4th of July, MC Rodeo 20 Family ride - swimming pool - BBQ Hager Park or Fairgrounds; Disk Golf 21 Kiosks 1 22 "Difficult Secret Ride" 2

10 PROJECT FOCUS AREA: Signature Event Jay; Shane Required Action/Next Step Lead Person/ Agency/Group Possible Collaborators Possible inkind or Funding Sources Timing Call up POW, Echo Bike and Board, John Day, Le Grand; Soft Stuart all 3 EO Rides; riders Jay Local advocacy, growing support N/A Prodigal Brewery in Pendleton? June, July, August Don't want to own Page 10 of 12

11 Exists - Sufficient Exists - Improve Could Develop Preference Oregon Scenic Bicycle Workshop Notes Marketing / Communications priorities Restated: Businesses educated on bicycle tourism Businesses can speak about cycling We Speak Two Wheels Spoken Here Cycling specific maps: max gradient, total climb Collect local content for ROR/EOVA/TO Marketing & Communications 1 Regional cycling tourism reputation X 2 Businesses educated on bicycle tourism X 7 3 Community is welcoming to cyclists X 2 4 Businesses can speak about cycling -- "We Speak" X 7 5 Cycling-specific maps: max gradient, total climb X 7 6 Destination based information for cycling visitors 2 7 Coordinated marketing with Regional DMO X X 8 Brand for area is established, Regional -yes X X 9 Regional website with bicycle-specific info X X 10 Social media is robust -> not robust X 1 11 Information on other tourist activities (regional) X 12 Info on how to get to destination with a bicycle X 13 Other tourism options X 14 Signature bicycle event 15 Collect local content for ROR/EOVA/TO - ORB, Hospitality training - cycle specific X 7 16 Awareness with packaged travel 1 17 Content development - photos, testimony, stories, etc. 1 Page 11 of 12

12 PROJECT FOCUS AREA: Two Wheels Spoken Here Contact: Mike Cosgrove Required Action/Next Step Lead Person/ Agency/Group Possible Collaborators Possible in-kind or Funding Sources Timing List requirements for certification: physical requirements, local rides Grant Co. Chamber Cycle Oregon, Travel Oregon Grant Co. Chamber Room Tax; Travel Oregon; Cycle Oregon Grant County training in April Choose agency or organization to promote " " " " Chose method(s) to promote businesses " " " " PROJECT FOCUS AREA: Collecting local content for OSB Contact: Sheryll, assign a volunteer to Required Action/Next Step Lead Person/ Agency/Group Possible Collaborators Possible in-kind or Funding Sources Timing Assign a volunteer Joe Krogge, AJ Uni, Kim Cuts, Alex Local businesses n/a 2 days Volunteer contacts local business org. for info. Kim, Sheryll Local businesses; chamber n/a 2 weeks Input to excel spreadsheet Kim, Sheryll ORB, Etc. n/a 2 weeks - month Page 12 of 12