Bend Bike Scavenger Hunt #3 – Northwest Crossing
Follow these clues for urban exploration and adventure!
By Kellie Standish
OAS Staff
I love any excuse to get on a bike and over the years my love for bicycles continues to grow and evolve. One of my favorite and most consistent joys has been bike commuting and urban exploring. I love treating every journey as an adventure – finding a new trail, new road, new way to get to where I need to be. It makes every day feel like an adventure, and as someone who ends up being very busy building adventure into everyday tasks is critical. Now especially, as we are being asked to stay closer to home, it is the perfect excuse to explore the roads and trails around you and find your favorite way to get from place to place.
My biggest barriers or challenges were figuring out the right setup and the right routes. These days, I am often towing my dog in her trailer so being on less busy side roads is something I prefer. This scavenger hunt is designed to get you exploring different Bend neighborhoods and finding spaces that make you feel comfortable moving around on a bike in an urban environment.
Scavenger Hunt Logistics
Stay tuned in the weeks to come for parts 4 – 6 which explore other parts of town and end with an urban off road adventure.
- Clues are in order but may be followed in any order desired
- Scavenger hunt is most fun if you use it as an excuse to plan routes from place to place or try and see new things, tips are below for planning the best routes
- If you would like to skip the clues, scroll to the bottom for the answers
- Each week will build on the mileage and adventure of the last
- All routes except week six will be oriented for road bikes/ hybrids/ cruiser bikes
- Please practice wearing a helmet using proper hand signals and following Oregon Bike Laws while pursuing this adventure. (New in 2019 law: Oregon’s stop as yield law)
TIPS FOR PLANNING YOUR ROUTES
- Trial and error is part of it, so don’t be afraid to try!
- Ask other people you know who bike commute.
- Look at streets that run parallel to the main roads by you.
- Look at Google Earth for gravel roads or connectors.
- Read about neighborhood greenways (there are extra right now during COVID!)
- When you drive around town take note of busier roads that have clear bike lanes like Portland or Butler Market.
- Check out Bend specific bike resources from Commute Options.
Week 3 – Clues
This week’s route is approximately 6.4 miles – measured from the starting location to all the other locations and back to the first location. All locations are in the Northwest Crossing region.
They are word scrambles, just unscramble the letters to figure out the clues.
- CPSASOM AKRP: Circular park that marks the center of this area, some may say you can use it to navigate
- AKTRCR TA OCCC: People who train for running often frequent this space at the local college
- ESHVNLI NSMMCOO EIADHARLT: The lesser known and upper of the trailheads for this beautiful park just on the NW edge of NWX, can be found right off the main road amidst neighborhoods
- ALKE TA VSREDYIOC KPRA: This man made park water feature might look like a good spot to swim, but park signage will tell you otherwise… this shares the space with a dog park and lots of green grass
- MERBAK: This multipurpose building is home to many things – a dog technical gear company, a full service bike shop, a coworking space and a gym
- HTMPU EEOCFF: This local spot not only serves up some amazing beverages and pastries, but looks over the Summit HS sports fields and out to the mountains
Week 3 – Answers
- Compass Park
- Track at COCC
- Shevlin Commons Trailhead
- Lake at Discovery Park
- Embark
- Thump Coffee
Scavenger Hunt Series
Disclaimer: The scavenger hunt is made available for recreational purposes, please USE THIS INFORMATION AT YOUR OWN RISK. Oregon Adaptive Sports is not liable for injury or actions resulting from virtual information. You are responsible for your own safety.
