Author: RideCoordinator

Leaves are Falling

Posted on by RideCoordinator
The leaf piles are out to get us... fight back!
The leaf piles are out to get us... fight back!

The leaf season is here and this year we have some good developments from the Public Works Maintenances Leaf Program. GEARs has worked closely with the City to make changes to their program including changing their outreach material, working to create priority sweeping streets (similar to snow plowing routes), and a new reporting method.  The changes are a major development from just last year when the City was putting out fliers showing people how to “neatly” stack leaves in the bike lane.  The recognition that leaves are not allowed in the bike lane is a great step forward and the new program changes are a great start to improve this important safety issue for cyclists.

The new reporting method includes a city website that allows you to see where the latest street sweeping has happened (with up to the minute updates and a history).  You can also report exact locations where leaves have been piled by residents and businesses.  With this reporting method the city will have a way to see where repeat offenders are. Go to http://www.eugene-or.gov/leaf to use these services. Finally, for an off-line method of reporting they have set up a Leaf Hotline to call and report problem areas.  That number is 541-682-5383. Plug it into your cell phone.

For this system to work well we need people to use it.  When you see issues go online or call them in to report them.  As we go through the year we’ll work the City to refine this program and we’ll continue the work to make our streets safer for everyone.

Gold Celebration (number one)

Posted on by RideCoordinator

Today was the official city PR event and announcement of Eugene’s Gold award from the League of American Bicyclists. Tomorrow there is a “Happy Hour” Celebration at Arriving by Bike at 27th & Willamette from 6-7PM.

At todays event Mayor Kitty Piercy, Transportation planner David Roth, and GEARs President Paul Adkins all spoke on the importance of the award, not only as a recognition of what we have accomplished but also what we still have to work towards. Following is some media coverage, part of Paul’s speech and a couple photos. Continue reading “Gold Celebration (number one)” →

Eugene Goes Gold!

Posted on by RideCoordinator

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!!

Eugene Goes Gold

LTD West Eugene EmX Extension

Posted on by RideCoordinator

There are a some rumors floating around regarding the West Eugene EmX extension.  Last fall GEARs was active in gathering information and giving feedback on different alignments. LTD has gathered more information and is holding more community input meetings that we, as cyclists, need to attend to discuss how this transportation corridor affects us.  Having traffic (even nice bus ‘traffic’) along a stretch of ride that is currently quite and pleasant doesn’t sound very ideal and LTD has certainly heard that.  However, there are a lot of barriers to some of the other alignments they are looking at.  Some of those are coming from community members and some from the actual physical environment.   We need to be sure that our voices and concerns are heard.

If the best alignment is somewhere along 6th, 13th, or 11th rather than the Amazon creek area but the opposition to those areas are pushing LTD to look at Amazon because there is simply less resistance than we need to push back and have our voices heard as well.  If, however, it makes sense to have the alignment near the Fern Ridge Path then we need to make sure it makes that path a better path rather than a less desirable one.  How could it be better with buses near the trail?   Continue reading “LTD West Eugene EmX Extension” →

A New Bike Box….Or is it?

Posted on by RideCoordinator

One of the countries original bike boxes got it’s start right here in Eugene.  However, if you’ve ridden by it in the past few years it’s easy to see how you might have missed it.  The bike symbols and stop bar paint had long ago worn off, though the “Stop Here on Red” signed remained and compliance by motor vehicle drivers was pretty decent considering.  However, most cyclists when asked about it had no idea it was there or what it was.

Eugene's Bike Box (Pre-Paint Job)
Eugene's Bike Box (Pre-Paint Job)

The main reason for this bike box is different than other boxes installed in other cities. It is meant to aid cyclists in their move from the left side bike lane to the right side bike lane. Between 7th (this intersection) and 6th there are bike lanes on both sides for a short distance but you need to move to the right to continue through past 6th (and on down to the river). Most bike boxes are meant to help in the prevention of “right hooks” and to give cyclists visibility and a slight advanced start.

The great news is that this bike box has been repainted!

The new and "improved" bike box.
The new and "improved" bike box.

The not so great news is that despite encouragement from GEARs and advice from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) it’s not quite up to snuff with other bike boxes in Portland and New York.  It lacks the green paint that other communities have already found effective.  By not painting the box green the city has shown a lack of forward thinking and a vision of creating a safe and comfortable environment for cyclists. Continue reading “A New Bike Box….Or is it?” →