Alder 18th-19th Closed Part of Wednesday
October 25th, 2011
One of the cities busiest bicycle corridors will be closed at one intersection tomorrow. Please be aware of this closure and adjust your travel/timing accordingly.
The closure (and short notice) is unfortunate but at least it is for a good cause- Eugene’s first dedicated bike signal.
Here’s the info:
Traffic Advisory
Alder Closed Wednesday from 18th to 19th to Install New Bike Signal Pole
Work to upgrade the traffic signal at the intersection of Alder Street and 18th Avenue will require closing a portion of Alder Street to through traffic for several hours on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
Alder Street between 18th to 19th avenues is scheduled to be closed to southbound traffic from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday. The southbound and northbound bicycle lanes will also be closed in that area. All sidewalks as the crosswalk on the south side of 18th Avenue will remain open.
The closure will allow a crew from the Eugene Public Works Department to install a temporary bicycle signal pole at the southeast corner of Alder Street and 18th Avenue. In about a week, the crew will return to install the signal indicators. Once completed, the signal will provide a dedicated signal phase for bicycles to cross the intersection.
The dedicated bicycle signal phase at Alder Street and 18th Avenue is one of a number of improvements designed to increase safety for bicyclists and pedestrians on Alder Street from Broadway to 19th Avenue and on 13th Avenue from Alder to Kincaid streets. Other improvements include buffered bicycle lanes and a “cycle track” on Alder Street, sharrows and parking reconfigurations on 13th Avenue, and a new signal to be installed in November at the intersection of Alder Street and Broadway.
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CONTACT: Steve Gallup, Assistant Traffic Engineer, 541-682-4960
From Public Information Section, 541-682-5523 or 541-954-2938 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October General Meeting- Ped/Bike Master Plan Presentation
October 24th, 2011
Join us as Rob Inerfeld presents the Eugene Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. Rob is the city’s transportation planning manager and has a presentation that lists bike and pedestrian-related upgrades the city could undertake over the next 20 years. The plans range from creating bike lane along Willamette Street from 17th to 32nd avenues, connecting popular path systems with separated facilities (cycletracks), to building a bike and pedestrian overpass over Randy Pape Beltline.
The plan will show improvements that will help pedestrians and bicyclists travel safely and efficiently through the city. It will include shared-use paths to standard bike lanes, buffered bike lanes, bicycle boulevards, and tunnels and overpasses that will help getpedestrians and cyclists safely across busy streets. As quoted in theRegister Guard, Rob mentions “We’re looking to hear from people: Did we choose the right projects? Are we looking at the right kind offacilities? What do people think about the policies we arerecommending?”
Join us for this very informative meeting. Tuesday, October 25, 6pm-8pm, Countryside Pizza, 645 River Road
Learning and Sharing With the Dutch
October 13th, 2011
Join us for the start of another great LiveMove Speaker Series. They will be kicking off the year with a social hour and presentation on “Creating a Balanced Transportation System” from Ronald Tamse of the Netherlands.
Tamse is an engineer and city planner for the City of Utrecht. He specializes in traffic education and safety and will focus on discussing three forms of a balanced transportation system:
1) Balance between engineering, education and enforcement.
2) Engineering balance between the use of commercial and residential streets within a bike system.
3) Balance between bikes, walking, transit and driving to give people travel options.
The event will be at the UO Knight Library in “The Browsing Room” (Rm 106) on Thursday, Oct. 20th. Social Hour is from 5:30-6:30pm and his presentation is 6:30-7:30pm. Light hors d’oeuvres will be provided. See you there!
Input On Our Future Transportation System
October 12th, 2011
This post was originally published in similar form on the EugeneSRTS site.
There are few meetings happening this week that will inform and influence our transportation system in the coming years and your input is needed.
On Thursday (Oct. 13th) from 11:30-1:30 the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) is meeting at the Eugene Public Library (100 West 10th Avenue) and will be discussing the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). It’s a good time to let the Commission know that active transportation options are important and that we need more facilities that allow more people feel comfortable walking and biking throughout our community. Public comments (limited to 3 minutes) are at the beginning of the meeting
This would also be a good time to indicate support for some of the projects called out for funding in the next round of Flexible Funding from ODOT. Those projects include the following (more information on each in these letters of support):
- Blair/Van Buren Active Transportation Corridor
- West Bank Bike Path completion
- Regional Bicycle Wayfinding/Signage/Shared Lane Markings
- Bob Straub Parkway/Mt. Vernon Road Pedestrian Improvements
- A Bikeshare Feasibility Study
- A Regional SmartTrips Program
- Middle Fork Path Phase 2b
- Highway 99/Roosevelt Pedestrian Improvements
- Main Street Safety Improvements
Also on Thursday there is an Open House from 4:30 to 6:30 PM, at the Library to discuss the Regional Transportation Plan. The MPC will adopt the RTP in November and we need to make sure that facilities that make walking and biking just as easy (if not easier) than driving are a center piece of that plan. Go to the open house and give feedback on the importance of a great active transportation system. Connect the paths with a system more people will feel comfortable using (families, kids, and those currently not walking or riding as much as they want because they are not comfortable doing so). [Read more →]
Tuesday Tasting and Scenic Bikeway Presentation
October 10th, 2011
Samara is a GEARS member and part of a group that rode the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway. She did the ride on a Bike Friday and said she “loved every minute of it”. Join Samara and the rest of her group in celebrating this great adventure in our own backyard. As they say “if we can do it, you can too!” Come enjoy local wine and Ninkasi beer tasting and listen to stories from the road. Oregon State Parks Bicycle and Water Recreation Coordinator Alex Phillips will discuss the Oregon State Parks Scenic Bikeway program and introduce new routes in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. This is a wine and beer tasting cyclists will not want to miss!
Join the tasting and presentation Tuesday, October 11 at the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Adventure Center in Springfield. The tasting is from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. The presentation starts at 5:30 p.m. The Adventure Center is located at 3312 Gateway St in Springfield near Michael’s and Best Buy.
Crew on the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway- Day One
Order Your GEARs Jersey
October 10th, 2011
The GEARs jerseys have proved very popular. They are good looking, are great quality, and are a nice way to represent GEARs out on any ride. Another order is going in soon so read on to find out how to get yours.
To order your GEARs jersey read the following very carefully:
2. Minimum order of 15 jerseys is required by Primal Wear( I’m sure we will exceed that number).
3. Description: (unisex) men’s sport cut, short sleeve, raglan, full zipper front, 3 rear cargo pockets(women’s cut is not being offered at this time).
4. The cost is $54 ( includes shipping to a single address in Eugene).
5. If you choose not to pick-up your jersey in Eugene, it may be shipped to you for an additional cost(see below).
6. Size: consult the attached sizing chart to determine your size. If you are on the tall size you may need a larger size. If you are larger in the waist, hips or chest you’ll need to take that into consideration. My experience with these jerseys is that they run a tad on the small size and you may need the next size larger? So, if you are still uncertain, DO NOT ORDER ONE OF THESE JERSEYS AS THEY ARE CUSTOM AND CANNOT BE RETURNED.
6. When you are ready to order I will need the following on a separate piece of paper:
- Your name, address, phone number and email address.
- The size of jersey requested (unisex-men’s cut only).
- A check in the amount of $54, made payable to Primal Wear.
- If you do not want to pick-up your jersey in Eugene, but would preferred it be shipped, indicate the address where it is to be delivered. Also tell me how you want it shipped, for example, the post office, FedX, or UPS. I will notify you of that cost at a later time. Otherwise you may pick-up your jersey in Eugene at no additional cost.
- Mail to: Richard Hughes, PO Box 5506, Eugene, OR 97405, with the above info.
- Deadline: I need your order by Nov 30( all orders received after that date will be returned).
- I anticipate receiving the finished jerseys in about two months after they have been ordered. Once received, you will be contacted to pick-up your jersey from a location in Eugene, yet to be determined.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Richard Hughes
GEARs President
PO Box 5506
Eugene, OR 97405
541-933-5542
GEARs Jersey on top of Ventoux
Tandem Captains Needed
October 7th, 2011
Blind Stoker on Co-Motion Tandem (via Santa Rosa Press Democrat)
The City of Eugene Adaptive Recreation program needs some assistance this Tuesday with a group of 8 teenagers from Mobility International USA who are blind. The City will be providing an adaptive bike day with them from 1:45-3:15 at the Amazon Center and they are looking for some folks with tandem bikes who could come and give these kids a biking experience.
They have 4 tandems, but not experienced captains. If there are some folks who have their own tandems and could bring them that would be great if not they can use the City bikes.
Contact Patty to volunteer:
Patty Prather
City of Eugene- Adaptive Recreation
2580 Hilyard St.
541-682-6365
www.eugene-or.gov/recadaptive
More information on Adaptive Recreation Services:
Located at Hilyard Community Center, Adaptive Recreation Services provides year-round, community-based recreational, social, and educational programs for Eugene area children, teens and adults with disabilities. We provide participants with the opportunity to develop new skills, enhance awareness of their community and natural environment, build self-confidence, and recognize personal potential.
Bike to the First Friday ArtWalk
October 6th, 2011
via: Jim Wilcox of BikeLane:
The Lane Arts Council and Saturday Market will offer attended bike parking for this Friday’s Eugene ArtWalk on Kesey Square in Downtown Eugene. About 20 bike spaces are available. There is no fee, but users must bring their own lock. Bike parking is available from 5:00 PM to 8:15. The ArtWalk runs from 5:30 to 8:00. Here is a map.
For more information on the ArtWalk, click on this link: http://www.lanearts.org/communityarts/firstfriday.php
–Racks loaned via the Eugene Safe Routes to School program and service provided by VeloGuy Mobile Bicycle Service and BikeLane.
Final Open House for Ped/Bike Master Plan
September 23rd, 2011
Please come to the final Open House for Draft Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan on Monday, Sept. 26 where there will be an opportunity for public feedback on the plan from 5 – 7 p.m. in the downtown Eugene Public Library‘s Bascom-Tykeson Room. At the open house, copies of the plan as well as large versions of the maps will be available for review.Comment forms will be provided and City staff will be on hand to answer questions and take note of public comments.
City staff are seeking input on this draft plan through Oct. 14. The plan can be found at www.eugenepedbikeplan.org where feedback is also being accepted. Staff will present the plan to the City Council on Wednesday, Oct. 12.
Please contact Transportation Planning Manager Rob Inerfeld at 541-682-5343 or rob.inerfeld@ci.eugene.or.us with any questions.
September General Meeting- Death Valley Tour
September 21st, 2011
General Meeting – Death Valley tour presented by Gary Cook Countryside Pizza, 645 River Road, Eugene
Ghost Bike in Death Valley. Via flickr: hluisi
This month we are pleased to have long time GEARS member and ride leader Gary Cook present his tour of Death Valley and the surrounding areas of California and Nevada, finished in Jan/Feb of 2010. Gary is a very familiar face to anyone that has been on a GEARS Recreational Ride. He is always available to help guide riders on the correct route, to help change a flat, or offer one of many stories about touring or recreational riding. To Gary, there is no bad ride or difficult hill to climb, he just puts the pedals in motion and moves to the next bend of the road! He is a master at telling touring stories and has a special story about a trip to the Kelso Ranger station in the Mojave Preserve. He mentions, “You will have to attend the General Meeting to get the whole truth.” It is always a pleasure to “live” a cycling tour through slides and stories and Gary will make that happen.
