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<br /> Councilman Murray wondered if it could be assumed that use of the proposed facility would
<br />- lessen the pressures for motorcycle riding on other open areas and park area, and if it
<br /> did what would make it so attractive to remove those pressures from other areas. Mr. Smith
<br /> ,thought it would relieve pa.rk areas. He said Eugene was a~out the only municipality
<br /> in the State that had not provided some fac,ili ty for motorcycle activities, a place "close
<br /> in" and available for outright use of cycles. He added that motorcycle riding was growing
<br /> more popular and because of the group involved in developing the design of this facility
<br /> ,there was reason to believe it was the right kind of facility for that activity.
<br /> i,
<br /> Councilman Williams wondered if there was any information from other cities having thLs
<br /> type facility with regard to problems encountered because of youths riding motorcycles
<br /> and the potential for injuries. Mr. Smith said injuries had been fewer. Cities par-
<br /> :ticipating in this kind of activity had control so that safety could more or less be
<br /> 'assured. He said the motorcycle group itself was not abusive of facilities. He added
<br />! that fewer accidents did not necessarily result from having the facility, rather that it
<br /> was a by-product of teaching the proper use of equipment.
<br /> Councilman McDonald thought the proposal was good, that it would create no more noise
<br /> than planes at the airport. Councilwoman Campbell thought the facility/in using safety
<br /> . regula tions and educa tio!lal program~/_ would tend to, :_U!=_H~;?~~_ ~he._!!,?mI:_ez: __?,f ~ ~c:.,?~.q~n_,~?:. _ _,.." _ _,
<br /> :Councilwoman Beal inquired about che size of the property, whether the city would derive any
<br />e 'income' from the facility, and whether the city would be responsible for any maintenance or
<br /> ,construction ih connection with the facility. Mr. Smith answered that the parcel was about
<br /> 20 to 25 acres. The only income ,would be the investment of the motorcyclists ,in developing
<br /> , the facility. There would be no cost to the city.
<br /> Lee Rogers, 4663 Scenic Drive, said that tests in Salem indicated that motorcycles measured
<br /> from the same distance as aircraft proved to be less noisy. So far as safety~ was concerned,
<br /> he said, it helped a great deal to have cycle riding nearer communities where help was avail-
<br /> able in the event of accidents than if it was occurring 30 or 40 miles away and no help nearby.
<br /> vot~" ~~,s." t,~!?e!!.fqrL.!he,~9ti~~"a~, s5.ate,d. ",l'!otion :r;.~rried unanimously.
<br /> .. ,... ~ - .-:.~;j .'.,~ '--. '~l~:'\.,....\.~j~_':,~'--..---""~'~~',~_,:~-=::"I-::--'. .... ~ -.. ~,-
<br />(0085) Dr. Kenneth Singer, 750 East 11th Avenue, id~ntified himself as an orthQpedic surgeon
<br /> and 'cited statistics on motorcycle accidents involving young people and resulting in
<br /> perman~nt injuries or death. He said the fault didn't lie necessarily with the cyclists
<br /> themselves but mainly because of new and young riders, riders who were not informed on
<br /> safety in operation of vehicles, and pedestriaris and others not adequately aware of
<br /> hazards involved. He recognized the efforts of those requesting the motorcycle facility
<br /> were directed toward activities that would foster driver training, safe operating ,tech-
<br /> niques and equipment, etc., but he opposed the encouragement of use of motorcycles by ,
<br /> all age groups and for competitive purposes. He thought it would be an error for the
<br />e city to sponsor or approve use of land for an activity that would encourage underage
<br /> children to ride, particularly in a cDmpetitive arena, until safety records were improved.
<br /> He noted the popularity .of the sport and bombardment by various media encouraging par-
<br /> ticipation by young people. He thought a controlled facility teaching safety standards
<br /> would be appropriate for young people 16 or 18 years .old, but that it whould be sponsored
<br /> by the private sect.or.
<br />(0264) Julian Falk, Route 1, Box 686 (Airport Road), expressed concern with creation .of dust
<br /> and n.oise fr.omthe proposed park. He felt incorrect inf.ormation had been given with re-
<br /> gard t.o distance of residences from the proposed facility, and said that people in that
<br />(0311) area were opposed to it. Dick Savage, Route I, Box 688 (Airport Road), also objected to
<br /> location of the park near his home ~ecause of the noise.
<br /> Del Butts, 126 Prairie Road, Junction City, was in favor of the facility if it was properly
<br /> supervised. He didn't deny statistics quoted by Dr. Singer, but he said they were road
<br /> accidents and the majority happened because of inexperienced riders. He saw a need for
<br /> a training facility where younger children w.ould have a place to learn proper use of the
<br /> vehicles before they reached an age where they could qual'ify for riding on highways. He
<br /> thought existnece of such a :liacility would greatly help ~he city itself.
<br />(0347) Ray Bond, Route 1, Box 706 (Airport Road), was opposed, primarily because of the manner
<br />- in which the project was presented. He said the area was n.ot unused land, that it was in
<br /> use and had been since 1853; homes were not a mile and a half distant, they, were directly
<br /> north and across from the proposed track, within a half mile~ ' He could see no reason
<br /> why the Goshen track couldn't be used since it was set up for competitive racing. Loca-
<br /> tion of the trac~ as proposed, he said, would kill 30 acres of prime agricultural land.
<br /> Also, he said, dollar valuation of rezoning should be a consideration.
<br /> 11/12/74 - 11
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