GEARs | Greater Eugene Area Riders » Advocacy

Ride of Silence

shanerh — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:32:27 +0000

The annual ride to honor those killed or injured on our streets, to raise awareness that cyclists are here and to ask that we all share the road. Please join us this Wednesday (May 16th). Starting point will be “The Educational Memorial Plaza” on Bailey Hill Road (nearest intersection is Westleigh St.). Ending point is “The David Minor Theater. Meeting at 6:00 pm to listen to the introduction, instructions, and an invited speaker. Starting time of the ride is 6:30 pm. Helmets are required and lights are recommended.

Everyone welcome. Free of charge. No registration necessary.

More general information: http://www.rideofsilence.org

GEARs Letter to Council Regarding Capstone Project

shanerh — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:07:18 +0000

The following letter was sent to City Council today as requested by the GEARs Board at their March meeting:

The Honorable Mayor Piercy and City Councilors,

GEARs (Greater Eugene Area Riders) Cycling Club welcomes increased housing in Eugene’s downtown core, as proposed in the Capstone Student Housing Development–but we would like to ensure that Capstone’s transportation impact honors the City Council’s adopted Vision, Goals and Outcomes. For this reason, we recommend the following conditions for approval of Capstone’s MUPTE application:

Require State-of-the-Art Bicycle Parking: For such a high-profile development in a city known nation-wide for its level of bike theft, we’d like to see not only the required number of bicycle racks, but rather a comprehensive bicycle parking system of a quality comparable to the structured auto parking planned. An example of such bicycle parking is BikeStation, as described athttp://home.bikestation.com/what-is-bikestation

Require Separate Apartment Rent from Parking Space Rent: Provide students an incentive to save money by leaving their cars at home. This will make the apartments more affordable, reduce the pollution and traffic associated with hundreds of students’ cars, and leave students more money to spend at downtown businesses. Unused parking spaces might then be available to lease to others who live, work or shop downtown.

Reduce the Number of Parking Spaces: With the University within Capstone’s “20-Minute Neighborhood”, and excellent options for walking, bicycling and transit, there is no need for as much auto parking as Capstone has proposed. Auto parking should be reduced to the minimum required by Capstone’s lender.

Improve bicycle access from UO: Well-designed bicycle infrastructure will encourage students not only to ride bikes, but to do so safely and legally. Recent improvements on Alder Street provide an excellent example of the type of infrastructure that can “normalize” bicycle travel. A similar design on 13th Avenue would serve Capstone residents and their neighbors well.

We encourage you to use this opportunity presented by Capstone to shape downtown Eugene’s transportation future in a way that meets the needs of current and future residents. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

–
Richard Hughes
President
Greater Eugene Area Riders Cycling Club (GEARs)

http://eugenegears.org/
PO Box 10244
Eugene, OR 97440
541-933-5542

GEARs Awards Local Groups $2,500 For Bike Education

shanerh — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:50:26 +0000

GEARs has awarded $2500 in mini-grants to promote bicycle education and safety. Recipients of the 2012 mini-grants are Safe Routes to School, Nearby Nature, the University of Oregon Outdoor Program, the City of Eugene “Sunday Streets” program, and St. Vincent dePaul’s.

Applications for GEARs mini-grants totaled over $16,000, reflecting a huge need for bicycle safety in the Eugene area. Mini-grant funds will be used to provide bicycle parts, lighting, and locks for students and low-income people, purchase bicycles for bike safety classes in the Bethel School District, and install a 24-hour “Bike Fixit” station on the University of Oregon campus.

GEARs also has offered free registration in its “Confident Cycling” classes to organizations that applied for mini-grants. These classes provide both classroom instruction and on-the-bike practice in riding safely and legally on city streets. For more information on GEARs Confident Cycling classes, see http://edu.eugenegears.org/classes.

Upcoming Events This Week

shanerh — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:29:03 +0000

Besides the usual weekly rides there are some other items of interest coming up over the next week. As usual all these, and more, can be found on the Community Bike Calendar.

Bike Willamette Campaign
Friday, February 24th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Agate Alley Laboratory Restaurant banquet room, 2645 Willamette Street

After three steering group meetings (join these meetings if you want to!) we have settled on six areas that merit our most immediate attention:
- Identifying and collecting contact information for supporters of the campaign
- Identifying and collecting contact information for business and property owners along south Willamette St.
- Identifying and collecting contact information for the existing organizations which will support our goal
- Developing our key messages for letting people know what we are about and gaining their support
- Establishing our resource library of information, documents, published articles that relate to this project
- Planning some fun events for our group and for Willamette Street

We will spend significant time in small groups working on the above tasks.
There will be a sign-up sheet for speaking to city council at one of 8 city council meeting in the next few months. We’ll re-cap a couple of meetings with Eugene Planning staff that occurred this week.
News: Both the Amazon and the Friendly Area Neighborhood Association Boards have sent letter to the city staff supporting the inclusion of bike lanes on any new design for Willamette St.
Join the Bike Willamette Campaign Google Groups email list for inter-group communications. Head to this web address and join the Bike Willamette Google Group – you’ll be able to send email to and receive email from the whole group. <http://groups.google.com/group/bikewillamette>

Paul Moore for Bike Willamette Campaign: 541-954-3843
P.S. We’re still meeting at 9:05 am on Saturdays in front of Arriving By Bike to cruise on Willamette St. and then converse over a hot drink or food along Willamette.

Bike Industry Job Fair hosted by Collins Cycle Shop
Sunday, February 26th, 12-5pm.

Collins Cycle Shop will host a job fair for those interested in a career in the ever growing cycling industry. Employment opportunities include working in a bicycle shop, manufacturing, shipping and receiving, warehousing, mechanic school, independent sales representative, fabrication, design and more.

The purpose of this event is to create a network for those interested in working in the cycling industry. Although there may not be immediate openings available, we will share resumes with employers seeking qualified help. The following employers have expressed interested in attending this event: Specialized Bicycles, Morgan Hill CA, Giant Bicycles, Newbury Park CA, Cyclone Bicycle Supply, Portland OR, Seattle Bicycle Supply, Seattle, WA, City of Eugene, Bicycle Transportation Program, Castelli Cycling Clothing, Portland, OR and Garmin, Olathe, Kansas. Those interested in job opportunities are encouraged to submit their resume to onsite HR staff.
Music provided, courtesy of Skip Jones.
Bicycles and other merchandise will be relocated temporarily in order to accommodate space for this event at Collins Cycle Shop, 60 E. 11th Avenue, Eugene. Sales will resume on February 27.

City Council Meeting- Public Input on Ped/Bike Master Plan

Monday, Feb. 27th, 7:30 p.m. City Council Chambers

This is the last meeting before the Ped/Bike Master Plan goes in front of the Council for approval on March 12th so this is the last chance to comment in support of the Plan. This is also a good time to make comments about the Street Repair Review Panel and recommend that the next “pothole bond measure” match mode share and provide better funding to active transportation projects (expand funding for path repair and in the right-of-way bike/pedestrian improvements)

Bicycle Appreciation Day (BAD)

Thursday, March 1, 11am-3pm, 13th & Kincaid, Lillis Business School, UO Campus

Time to get your bike ready for spring riding! Bring your bike, as volunteers and Bike Program mechanics will be doing minor repairs and adjustments for free. Co-sponsored by the UO Bike Program and UO LiveMove. FREE!

Foot and Pedal: The Relationship Between Oregon’s Land Use Laws and Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Planning
Friday, March 2, 2:30-3:45, Walnut Room of the Erb Memorial Union (EMU), University of Oregon

The panelists will discuss the importance of creating robust systems of bicycle and pedestrian networks in our cities, and how Oregon’s land use laws help local governments create those systems. They will also identify changes that could be made to current laws in order to make bicycle and pedestrian transportation planning easier. Finally, they will explore the difficulties that economic realities can cause, even despite perfect planning.

Panelists: Shane MacRhodes, Program Manager, Safe Routes to School – Eugene School District 4J; Emily Jerome, Deputy City Attorney, City of Eugene; Reed Dunbar, Associate Transportation Planner, City of Eugene Public Works; Mia Nelson, Willamette Valley Advocate, 1000 Friends of Oregon.

PIELC 2012: New Frontier!

ACT NOW- Call to Save Bike & Pedestrian Funding in Transportation Bill

Shane MacRhodes — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:29:30 +0000

We’ve been riding on extensions of the Transportation Bill for over two years, waiting for a new one to come out. We’ve been through waves and cycles of thinking it was actually going to happen. Well it’s happening now! It may not make it all the way through the process but it’s the first time that something real has come out as “the next transportation bill”. However, that new bill has the look and feel of a 1970 Highway bill more than a 21st century transportation bill that considers active transportation and well funded transit as key pieces of the transportation system! The new bill takes out funding for Transportation Enhancements (where A LOT of our local bike/ped projects have been funded from), Safe Routes to School (SRTS), and pretty much takes out any program or project that mentions bicycles or pedestrians, including state ped/bike coordinators at DOTs.

That’s why it’s essential that you call or write to urge DeFazio to take on the leadership roll of making sure active transportation dollars are dedicated as part of the next transportation bill! Do this before noon on Wednesday!

Currently there are three amendments already in motion for the bill. Those include an amendment that would restore Transportation Enhancements and SRTS back into the transportation bill, one that would add funding for “transit operation assistance” and another that would include funds for bridge repair (the draft bill doesn’t even require bike/ped projects on new bridges which the old bill did). Ask DeFazio to support these amendments that create a more complete transportation bill and ask him to take a leadership roll in insuring bicycle, pedestrian, and transit funding are included in our next transportation bill. He needs to hear from his local constituents! Contact him now!

You may have heard a ‘call to action’ a month or two ago… this is another, even more important one, and I won’t say it will be the last. This fight to keep funding for cycling and walking infrastructure is going to go on until the new bill is voted in (maybe this session, maybe not). But THIS is a pivotal moment. Call now.

Rep. Peter DeFazio

Phone:(202) 225-6416

Fax:(202) 226-3493

or:

Bike Willamette Campaign Meeting Tonight

Shane MacRhodes — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:20:06 +0000

Bike Willamette Campaign for full bicycle access on south Willamette St. — Meeting two is this happening tonight, Friday, Jan. 27 at 6:00-8:00 P.M. Come join those working to make this important corridor more accessible and safe for everyone.

Campaign general meeting two:
In this upcoming meeting we’ll review our goal and the grouping of our strategies and activities from last meeting. Then we’ll add whatever seems to be missing. As quickly as possible we’ll designate some logical categories and split into smaller action groups.

Where?
Agate Alley Laboratory Restaurant, 2645 Willamette St., on the east side. In the banquet/meeting room.
(If you’re hungry or thirsty you’ll be able to order food and drink.)

In the meantime:
Do you have something to contribute to the campaign’s list of strategies and actions? Would you like to clarify anything which you offered at the Jan. 13 meeting? Please send to: input@bikewillamette.com

Questions?
Call 541-954-3843 or email input@bikewillamette.com

Bike Willamette Campaign meeting one recap:
The Willamette Street Campaign for dedicated bicycle access rolled out to an astounding start on Jan. 13th. Fifty-five energized and creative people gathered with less than 24 hours notice! After a statement of the campaign goal and a brief recounting of recent planning activity involving south Willamette Street, we circled the room for self-introductions of participants.

The majority of the meeting time was spent generating strategies and actions that will lead to dedicated bike access. The over-seventy contributions were as varied as engaging with local businesses to regularly *practicing*/experiencing our *vision* of riding on South Willamette at 8AM on Saturdays.

Coming soon will be a draft compilation of strategies and actions sorted by categories. The categories could be the basis for establishing committees/work groups.

Write a Letter to Support 24th Improvements

Shane MacRhodes — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:56:13 +0000

Update/Reminder: The general meeting of the Friendly Area Neighbors is tonight 7-9 at the Washington Park Cottage (2025 Washington). I heard from the City that they are presenting at 7:30 pm and there should be time after their presentation for questions/answers.

Now would be a great time to write a letter to City Staff & Elected Officials to support their proposed design for 24th Ave. (Friendly to Chambers) which will include consolidating parking to one side of the street, removing the small bulb outs, adding bike lanes, removing the painted center line (for greater traffic calming), and adding a marked crosswalk and school zone near ATA/Family School.

There have been two community meetings where city staff collected input and gave information to over 30 people at each meeting. No opposition was voiced at the meeting that the city showed their recommended design, however a letter from the Friendly Area Neighbors Executive Board (most of whom were at both meetings) has been written to the City opposing the design and asking the city to keep parking and the bulb outs and instead of installing bike lanes to add sharrows and signs to the street. Those measures will do nothing to make the street comfortable for anyone but the most confident and secure cyclists. Both TransPlan and the PedBike Master Plan call for bike lanes on the street for a reason! Write city staff and the City Council now and encourage them to move ahead with their recommended changes.

Here is a great letter from GEARs Advocacy Committee Chair, Sue Wolling, that should give you some ideas for your own letter (to mayorandcc@ci.eugene.or.us):

Dear City Officials,

I strongly urge you to accept the planned improvements to 24th Avenue that would include bike lanes and a pedestrian crosswalk, removal of on-street parking and bulb-outs as necessary, and unstriped travel lanes intended to help slow traffic speeds. This design will encourage transportation choices both for the people who live in the neighborhood and those who travel through, including families attending the nearby schools and using the playing fields at Westmoreland Park.

The planned street would make it safer to walk and bicycle on 24th Avenue. This was a high priority among those who attended public meetings concerning the design of the road, and matches the City’s goals of supporting active transportation. The current street design, even if sharrows and signage were added, is adequate for confident adult cyclists, but does not provide the safe environment needed to encourage inexperienced cyclists and children to walk or bike

When we build “complete streets” that accomodate all modes of travel, compromises are necessary. In this case, staff has chosen to reduce the amount of space dedicated to automobile storage in order to provide bike lanes. Since all houses along the street have garages and driveways, and since parking remains available on one side of the street and on cross streets, giving up the underutilized parking on the south side of the street is a reasonable compromise. While adjacent homeowners might suffer some inconvenience from the loss of on-street parking, they, like others, will benefit from better opportunities for active transportation. When choices must be made, we have to favor using streets for transportation over using them to store vehicles.

I congratulate staff on moving forward with Council’s directive to provide transportation choices and promote sustainability, and urge you to accept this well-designed plan that already has considerable buy-in from the neighborhood.

Sincerely,

Sue Wolling

W 24th Avenue Street Rehabilitation Project Open House II

Shane MacRhodes — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:31:51 +0000

A final neighborhood open house has been scheduled for Thursday, January 5^th to discuss the street rehabilitation project for 24^th Avenue (from Chambers St to Jefferson St).

There will be a presentation and discussion on design alternatives for this street. Alternatives discussed will include removing on-street parking on one side of the street, installing bicycle facilities, and changing the nature of existing traffic calming devices.

The Ped/Bike Master Plan calls for bike lanes on this section of 24th and it is the best East-West corridor for cyclists in the area. Come give your input on the importance of completing our active transportation network with safe and comfortable facilities for cyclists.

Agenda:

Presentation of alternative street configurations
Questions and answers
Discuss project timeline

Location: Adams Elementary School (Cafeteria/Multipurpose Room), 950 West 22^nd Avenue, Eugene, OR 97405

Date: Thursday, January 5^th

Time: 7:00 to 8:30 pm

Questions? Please contact Reed Dunbar at reed.c.dunbar@ci.eugene.or.us or (541) 682-5727

Sustainability Commission to Discuss Ped/Bike Master Plan

Shane MacRhodes — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 15:06:06 +0000

As the official liaison between the Sustainability Commission and GEARs, I wanted to let you know that the Sustainability Commission will be discussing the draft Ped/Bike Master Plan at its meeting this Wednesday, Dec. 21. The meeting is:

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 5:30 p.m.

McNutt Room, Eugene City Hall, 777 Pearl

There’s an opportunity for public comment at the beginning of the meeting. The Ped/Bike Plan is on the agenda for 7 p.m.

While the Commission is generally supportive of bicycling and walking, it wouldn’t hurt to have supporters of bicycling tell them that we’re counting on the Sustainability Commission to push the City Council for a strong commitment to bicycling. We’d also welcome any specific comments or recommendations you have about the Ped/Bike Plan. You’ll find the Plan athttp://www.centrallanertsp.org/EugeneTSP/PedBikePlan/Home

In addition, any time you have any issues, concerns or questions you’d like to bring to the Sustainability Commission, please don’t hesitate to tell me, and I’ll try to make it happen. That’s the whole point of our having liaison relationships with various groups involved in Eugene’s efforts toward sustainability.

Thanks–and I’d love to see you at Wednesday’s meeting!

Sue Wolling

Leaves & Hazard Reporting

Shane MacRhodes — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:59:16 +0000

The leaves ARE falling and it’s a good time to remind everyone that the City did make some improvements in their leaf program last year. As we continue to monitor those changes it’s also a good time to look at what resources are available to us to report issues.

These are contacts meant for cyclists to report various road hazards, from potholes and leaves to cars blocking the bike lane.

Program these numbers into your cell phone and the links into your bookmarks. Call or click whenever you see an issue. The City has a good record of being responsive but they can’t act if they don’t hear from us.

Thanks to the WeBikeEugene’s Hazard Page for the following information.

City of Eugene Roads and Paths

Online Bike Lane Service Request

Online Pothole Reporting Service

Online Vegetation Complaint Service

Maintenance Hotline:

682-4800 – Potholes, leaves, cracks, unresponsive traffic lights, etc. This is a very important number- use it!

Eugene Parking Services: (541) 682-5729 For cars parked in the bike lane.
Police Non-Emergency: (541) 682-5111
Use when other numbers don’t work.

Springfield Roads and Paths

Maintenance Hotline: (541) 726-3761 for All hazards
Police Non-Emergency: (541) 726-3714

Glenwood and Rural Roads

The responsibility of maintaining the roads in Glenwood is spread between Eugene, Springfield, ODOT, and Lane County. Refer to the PDF on WeBikeEugene as a guide.

ODOT Maintenance Hotline:
(541) 744-8080

Lane County Road Maintenance Hotline: (541) 682-6900

There are also a couple Flickr groups to share photos of where issues are as well as where some of the great spots are for cycling in Eugene.

Flickr Group to post photos of issues

Flickr Group to post positive photos