Trails benefits

Oct. 10, 2025

Two of our county commissioners have chosen to eliminate the Yamhelas Westsider Trail from the county’s official transportation projects list. This would be shortsighted and counterproductive to the economic growth of Yamhill County.

The Lafayette to Gaston trail has faced opposition from hazelnut growers fearing increased crime. The two commissioners seem to be in their pocket.

I’ve ridden many trails in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia without seeing any such crime emerge.

I recently rode the Burke-Gilman and Sammamish River trails in Seattle, Bothel and Redmond. The cities encompass a huge population, vastly larger than Yamhill County, yet the trails were clean, well-maintained and free of any evidence of graffiti and drug use.

Expensive homes line the trail along Lake Washington, and it serves as a thoroughfare to Husky Stadium where it cuts across the University of Washington campus. I spotted single women jogging, elderly people walking dogs and families riding bikes. What I didn’t see were homeless people, or any other sketchy individuals.

What I think makes trails safe is city and county involvement in maintenance. They have recognized trails bring visitors and visitors bring dollars.

On the trip, I spent almost $100 on gas, $200 on lodging, $90 on meals and $80 on aquarium admission and parking in Seattle. This is money I would not have spent had it not been for the trails.

I also drove to Northern Idaho to ride the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and the Route of the Hiawatha, and the latter required rental of a mountain bike. Most of the dollars I spent on both trips remained in the community.

Trails bring much-needed dollars to communities. Opposing them only hurts communities.

Radford Bean

McMinnville