Safety on the Springwater Corridor

A number of recent incidents on the Southeast portion of the Springwater Corridor, in addition to its past history, raises serious questions about the long-term safety and usability of the multi-use path.

Already well-known for being unsafe to ride on after dark, the Corridor has now seen an afternoon assault and mugging of a 69-year old rider, Jay Hamlin, who was taken down by two men and dragged through a blackberry hedge to separate him from his carbon-frame Colnago C-60
racing bike.  In 2015, Vincent Rodarte was knocked out and robbed for his custom-built mountain bike.  Along with mugging and assaults along the Corridor, there is frequent sexual assault, drug use, prostitution, and blatant camping directly on the path, with some camps strewn with chopped-up parts of stolen bicycles.

Portland Police have stated that they do not have the manpower and resources required to effectively contain the situation on the Corridor.  Too, a recent Idaho court ruling has prompted Oregon to take a relaxed stance on what may be percieved as "punitive action towards homeless people", as stated by Officer Ryan Mele of the PPB.

In order to ensure safety for all users of the Corridor, the criminal element must be addressed.  Displacement of people from their homes via gentrification is forcing them to encamp along the Corridor, and the issue is being consistently ignored by city administrators.  Direct action must be taken in order to secure the Corridor for riders.

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/crime/bicyclist-attacked-11000-bike-stolen-on-springwater-corridor/283-59c1a044-2673-43d2-81e7-1a5eeb85709f

https://bikeportland.org/2016/01/14/camps-along-springwater-path-have-reached-boiling-point-172514

https://bikeportland.org/2014/12/30/bike-parts-spill-encampments-springwater-path-126833