We are celebrating because Eugene has just been awarded the Gold-level designation from the League of American Bicyclists in their Bicycle-Friendly Communities Program!! Eugene has been a Silver-level community since 2004 and now joins Corvallis in their Gold-level designation in Oregon. We have seen some great changes in the past few years at both the city and community level to earn this award. Here are a few of the projects GEARs has been active in coordinating, participating in, or is simply excited about:

• Implementation of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Strategic Plan
• Formation, meetings, & events of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)
• Growth in special events including a larger Bike Day celebration, the Spring Roll Ride, and Breakfast at the Bridges events
• Completion of three successful Walk and Bike Summits
• Growth in the Safe Routes to School program including several active SRTS schools, a growth from 8 participating schools for Walk + Bike to School Day to 29, the formation of the SRTS Team, and the start of Kidical Mass!
• Hosting of several Webinars by the City of Eugene for the community and the BPAC
• Opening of a new multi-use bridge over I-5 and work on one over Delta Hwy.
• Creation of a new and updated bicycle/pedestrian map.
• Work with the City to improve the “leaf collection program” to increase safety for cyclists.
• Starting the Eye-to-Eye campaign; a share-the-road education program.
• Growth of the Business Commute Challenge for National Bike to Work Month in May.

GEARs has grown quite a bit in these past few years too. Here are a few of the projects and changes that have occurred:

• Merger of the Eugene Bicycle Coalition advocacy group with the GEARs recreational club.
• Addition of the Blackberry Jamboree family friendly ride to the already successful Blackberry bRamble.
• Implementation of the Bike Rewards program for members; a great way to get discounts at local stores just for riding your bike there!
• Growth in our Bike Education program including holding over 15 Street Skills classes this Spring and Summer
• Creation of the “Low Gears” rides. Recreational rides aimed at the more mellow riders among us
• Quadrupling our membership!
• Makeover of the GEARs website with  a calendar of events, news, listserve, resources, and more
• Posting ride descriptions and cue sheets for over 100 rides all over the south Willamette Valley on the GEARs site.
• Beginning development of “Meet in the Street”, Eugene’s version of Ciclovia and Sunday Parkways

There are other projects, events, and programs that are also brewing and though there are many areas we want to improve, projects we still want to see off the ground, and events we want to hold now is our time to celebrate our latest achievements!!

Come celebrate with us!

We’ll be joining the City of Eugene, including Mayor Kitty Piercy, on Thursday from noon- 1pm at the Hilyard Community Center (see below) and then we’ll have a Happy Hour gathering at Arriving by Bike on Friday from 6-7pm.  Stop by either event, or both, and join us in this Gold-level celebration!!