Author: RideCoordinator

City of Eugene Receives $707,000 Grant (Originally posted on WeBikeEugene)

Posted on by RideCoordinator
The yellow line shows the project area
Yellow lines are the project area

*This article originally appeared on WeBikeEugene

As we reported back in March (twice), April, May and August the City has some great plans for completing one of the ‘missing links’ in the Eugene bicycle transportation system, the connection of the Alder St. ‘bikeway’ to the river path system. The city received official word on November 16th that they were awarded a $707,000 grant from the ODOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Grant Program and can now move forward with those plans.  The City decided to piggyback the grant application with their Pavement Preservation Program which is slated to repave Alder from 19th 18th to Franklin in the summer of 2011.  At the end of October the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (OBPAC) met in Seaside Astoria to decide which of the 90 communities that applied for over $37 million in projects would receive the $5 million that was available. Five  Eleven communities were awarded funds including Eugene plus two alternates if extra funding comes available.

Key components of the project include the construction of a new south AND northbound bicycle facility on Alder Street, a new signalized crossing at Franklin and Alder, on-street parking reconfiguration on 13th Avenue, increased bicycle parking capacity, and significant pedestrian enhancements in the small business district. Continue reading “City of Eugene Receives $707,000 Grant (Originally posted on WeBikeEugene)” →

News Bits from the Newsletter

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Our monthly newsletter (Dec./Jan. this month) should be arriving in your inbox or mailbox today.  Here are a few pieces from it.  Become a member to get the full scoop!

Swap Meet

It’s become a great annual tradition and an anticipated event by the community, the GEARs Fall Swap Meet.  This years Swap brought several dozen folks in out of the rain to sell their used wares and to score some good deals on everything from retro bike shoes to new hand-built wheels.  There seemed to be even more bikes for sale this year with the great diversity of Eugene bikes shining through: tandems, recumbents, folding bikes, folding recumbents, BMX, mountain, cruisers, retro 10-speeds, and more.  The mix of bike styles was as broad as the type of GEARs members we have.

Before the Swap started we held a short general meeting where Sue Wolling, the outgoing President, gave a “Year in Review” for the club and Gary Cook passed the “Volunteer of the Year” award onto this years winner, Paul Adkins.  The meeting was wrapped up with the introduction of the new board (see below) and the selling, bartering, and buying began.  Thanks to everyone who came out we look forward to growing and improving the event next year.

Elections

Elections for the GEARs Board are held annually at our November General Meeting. This years election was held at the Vet’s Club as part of our annual Swap Meet and General Meeting.

Here is the new GEARs Executive Board. Thanks to everyone who voted and participated in your local cycling democracy.

President: Richard Hughes
Vice President: Garry Swanson
Treasurer: -To be appointed by new Board
Secretary: Duncan Rhodes
At Large: Howard Shearer
At Large: Paula Erickson
At Large: David Gizara

Monthly Meetings

We hold our General and Board meetings separately.  Everyone is welcome at either or both.
Get More Details online www.eugenegears.org

Upcoming Board Meetings:
 Tuesday, Dec. 7th & Monday, Jan. 3
 6-8 p.m. Keystone Cafe

Upcoming General Meetings:
Saturday, December 11
Take Me to Cooky’s: Riding Solo from Eugene to DC
3-4 p.m., Bascom Room of the Eugene Public Library
Tuesday, January 18
Bob & Linda’s Presentation
6-8 p.m. Countryside Pizza & Grill (645 River Road)

Take Me to Cooky’s: Riding Solo from Eugene to DC

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The next GEARs General Meeting will be special presentation and discussion titled  “Take Me to Cooky’s: Riding Solo from Eugene to DC.” One woman, 3500 miles, two front panniers, and a wave of good tidings.  Join us for a slide presentation followed by Q & A of Heidi Beierle’s ride across the country. Beierle scored the best place to stop for pie, negotiated simultaneous attack by swarming mosquitoes and a red tail hawk, and accepted the comfort offered by a Missouri family in the midst of a record-breaking heat wave. Along the way, she delivered window decals to businesses along the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail and interviewed a hundred people about bicycle touring and living rurally. Ride with us through a story of enthusiasm, the unexpected, and concern for others that pictures the people, places, and chance encounters that put the adventure in cycling.

Please bring a seasonal tea time treat to share with others. Friends, family, and children are encouraged to attend.

Take Me to Cooky’s: Riding Solo from Eugene to DC.

Saturday, December 11, 3-4 p.m., Bascom Room of the Eugene Public Library

Heidi heading out out to Cooky's

General Meeting & Elections PLUS a Bike Swap

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GEARs will hold its annual meeting and Bike Swap on Tuesday, November 30, from 7 to 9 pm at The Vets Club (1626 Willamette St., Eugene).

The GEARs Annual Meeting will take place from 7-7:30pm, when club members will elect the 2010-2011, GEARs Executive Board.

Following the Annual Meeting, a Bike Swap will offer cyclists an opportunity to sell and exchange bicycles, bike parts and accessories. Each “seller” who is not a GEARs member will be charged $5. Memberships are available starting at $12/year at the event or online at http://eugenegears.org/membership

Both events are open to the general public.

FrankenBike via flickr

Keeping it Green & Local

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GEARs will be at the “Local and Green Community Conference” happening this Saturday at the First Methodist Church on Olive st. Here is more information on the conference as well as HERE.

What – “Eugene – Local and Green – Getting Started, Moving Forward, Working Together.” A community conference for living more planet and people friendly.

When – Saturday, October 30, 8:30 to 4:30

Where – First Methodist Church, 1376 Olive St. [“the toaster church”]

Note – There will be bike parking in the church courtyard. Access is at the northwest corner of the building. There is covered space in the courtyard. Please ride a bike.

Who – The Neighborhood Leaders Council Committee on Sustainability and many great community groups and organizations.

Contact – Jan Spencer, 686 6761, spencerj@efn.org

Sliding scale – $5 to $20. Light refreshments provided. Fine to bring your own lunch.

Proceeds to help restore OSU Extension Services in Eugene

Eugene Local and Green will focus on practical actions people can take for living more local and more green. The conference is non partisan and its tone will be positive.

Presenters and panels will touch on regional food security, transforming the urban landscape, neighborhood and community
collaborations, green success stories, neighborhood mapping along with challenges and exciting strategies for the coming years. There will be plenary sessions, discussions, panels, over 20 community organizations tabling and time to mix, mingle and network. A lunchtime caucus by neighborhood will interest many.

The conference will also call attention to many examples of going local and green. Some at home, some as casual arrangements between neighbors and friends, others as formal collaborations in a variety of partnerships between the city, schools, non profits, non governmental agencies, neighborhood groups, communities of faith and businesses. Still other collaborations are between urban and rural areas.

Eugene Local and Green looks to these examples as models for more ambitious initiatives and collaborations in the near and long term. Given the trends in economics, the environment, culture, resources and climate change; going local and green deserves to be a priority within every aspect of our lives.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Open House- Thursday, Oct. 14th

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Join the Eugene Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan Project Advisory Committee on October 14th for your chance to share your ideas about improved walking and bicycling conditions throughout the greater Eugene area.  The Project Advisory Committee (PAC) is excited to hear new ideas about existing conditions and how to make active transportation safer.  Susan Peithman, BTA statewide advocate, will also be on hand to talk about riding in Eugene and cycling issues in Oregon.  This Open House will be held at Monroe Middle School (2800 Bailey Lane) from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

GEARs will be hosting a group ride to the open house.  Meet at Arriving by Bike @ 2705 Willamette St. at 4:00 p.m. Richard Hughes will lead this 5.5 mile (11 roundtrip) ride.

For more information about the Eugene Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, click here.