Author: RideCoordinator

Fun Week(end)

Posted on by RideCoordinator

It’s been a busy time for the local bike scene, you can tell spring is coming!  Folks have started to dust off their bikes from the winter and getting in shape for the spring and summer riding season.  There’s also a lot of activities going on.  This past week Ray Thomas was down from Portland to give a presentation on bicycle and pedestrian laws to a group of about 50.  GEARs was a sponsor of that visit and some great information was exchanged.

Last night Willie Weir spoke at the UO Lawrence hall to a packed audience.  It was his 9th time speaking here and it was sponsored by the University transportation group, LiveMove and the UO Outdoor Program (who runs the Bike Loan program on campus). He’s an animated and energetic presenter with a lot of wonderfully funny and touching stories to go along with his great photos. He talked a trip he and his wife did in Columbia and Venezuela. He wrapped touching on one of the things that made Columbia a better place to ride than Venezuela- higher gas prices. Because of this higher gas there is a lot less driving, pollution, and trash in Columbia and instead of their downtowns being congested parking lots they are lively city centers with loads of people out and active.

Bogota, Columbia is the birthplace of Ciclovia which inspired Portland’s Sunday Parkways and Eugene’s soon to be Meet in the Streets which opens the streets up to the people by closing them off to motorized traffic. GEARs is helping to organize Meet in the Streets and will be at two other events this weekend sharing information with others. The first event is tonight at Hutch’s (on Charnelton) from 5:30-9. They are calling it “The Best of the West” and it will highlight some NW bike businesses and help folks get jazzed up for a great riding season that is just around the corner.

The other event we’ll be at is the Neighborhood Summit held for local neighborhood leaders at the fairgrounds on Saturday. We’re excited to present the Meet in the Street project to this group that will be an important part of making it happen since the general idea is to highlight local parks, streets, and pathways and their connections.

There’s a lot more going on in the coming weeks too, be sure and keep up to date by checking the “Happenings” section or the local calendar on the GEARs site.

Happy Friday!

Stimulus Funds and the Eugene Area

Posted on by RideCoordinator

Right now there is a lot happening in the planning for the spending of the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” (ARRA) funds.  It is still unclear how much will be going to Active Transportation modes like walking and biking.  LTD and high-speed rail looks like they may get some funding but how much funds will go to “Transportation Enhancement” (TE) projects in our area isn’t exactly clear but one bright light was in today’s Register Guard when our City Manager mentioned a bike/ped project:

Eugene City Manager Jon Ruiz said the city will seek money for transportation and building projects, including funds to start construction of a pedestrian and bike path that would connect the riverbank trails along the Willamette River with neighborhoods east of Delta Highway.

The federal money “will provide an immediate and much-needed jump-start to our economy,” Ruiz said.

I’m doing a bit more research to find out what kind of projects the funding is actually going to in our area.  Investing in bicycle and pedestrian projects that help get our kids to school safely, more people commuting by bike, and more people able to walk in their neighborhoods are the kind of stimulus spending we need.  Stay tuned for more information and to find out what you can do to help make it happen.

Bike & Ped Spending in Stimulus Package

Posted on by RideCoordinator

It might be less than hoped for but it’s better than the $0 amount Congressmen DeMint called for.  The Rails to Trails Conservancy announced today that  $825 million was set aside for Transportation Enhancement projects that include walking and biking.  Here’s a bit from an email sent out today.  For more see the Press Release.

You spoke up, and Congress listened.

Our congressional representatives recognized the role walking and biking play in a balanced transportation system, and allocated $825 million to TE. While this is less than two percent of transportation funding in the recovery package, it represents a doubling of TE spending for communities in the next year.

These hundreds of millions of dollars for TE will allow communities across the country to create jobs by building trails and other infrastructure immediately, while simultaneously addressing congestion, environmental concerns, the obesity epidemic and economic challenges in the long-term.

We’ll see how much of that money makes it’s way to the Eugene area.

New Bike & Ped Bridge Open Over I-5

Posted on by RideCoordinator

 

The new bike/ped bridge linking the Northeast of Eugene with the Gateway area of Springfield opened today with Peter DeFazio, Kitty Piercy, and officials from ODOT, Lane County, EWEB, Gateway Mall, city staff, and local bike/ped advocates from both cities in attendance.  The weather was GREAT after a morning of rain.  The clouds cleared out, we saw a lot of blue sky and the ride there and back was very warm!  

There were the requisite speakers talking about how proud of the bridge they are and it is a pretty great bridge- now if they would just take off those ugly signs!  But if you were more than a couple people back you really couldn’t hear with all of the traffic on I-5 which didn’t really matter too much since the people who were waiting weren’t really there to hear the speakers but to be able to walk and bike across the bridge for the first time.  

Here are some shots from the opening.  Head on over there and enjoy another bike/ped connection in our area!

Eugene's 2009 Walk and Bike Summit

Posted on by RideCoordinator

This years summit was a great success!  More than 2o tables from community groups, bike shops, bike builders, and city organizations lined the perimeter of South Eugene High School’s cafeteria and more than 150 people showed up to hear from the Rails to Trails Conservancy, City Council Member Alan Zelenka, Congressman Peter DeFazio, the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), and city officials about the state of biking and walking in our community and the plans and hopes for the future.

A great lunchtime entertainment break  provided a debut performance of a Bicycle Tango by the local bike dance troupe, The Bottom Brackettes and an amazing bike fashion show with models from Revolution Cycles, Paul’s Bicycle Way of Life, Human Powered Machines, Bike Friday, Proletariat Cycles, UofO’s  Bike Loan Program, and Cetma Cargo Bikes.  The fashion show is a must repeat for next years event and really showed some great local builders, bikes, and styles.

The day wrapped up with workshops on Bike Commuting, an update on the Bike & Ped Strategic Plan, Car-Free Recreation, Safe Routes to School, and a basic Bike Repair class.

Here’s a bit from KLCC with an interview with David Roth:
[audio:walk-bike-summit-on-klcc.mp3]

Leave a comment on what your favorite part of the conference was.

 

bb-tango

Some of the Bottom Brackettes doing the “Bike Tango” thang.

 Congressman Peter Defazio

Shane greets Congressman Peter DeFazio

 

Some other blogs and photos of the Summit:

Duck Floater Photos

MyBagIsBigger

Some Flickr shots from Chris

Stimulating the Same Old Thing?

Posted on by RideCoordinator

The economic recovery legislation that is on the path to being approved  has been released and is being reviewed by federal, state, and local representatives and the analysis will continue but today ODOT released their official list of projects they will submit for the federal stimulus money.  BikePortland.org has a report on it and they list four projects worth $3.8 million (out of the $179 million requested) going to “bicycle and pedestrian” projects, which is just 2.5% of the total amount to be utilized.

None of these bike/ped projects are in Lane County, in fact NONE of the projects are (see BikePortland’s list).  The Eugene area submitted ‘active transportation’ projects that are ready to be built right now (shovel ready as they say) yet none seemed to make the ODOT list.  It seems that putting the money through ODOT will just continue their tradition of building for motorized vehicles almost exclusively.  The BikePortland.org article puts it into context:

For perspective to the $3.8 million total being spent on “bicycle/pedestrian” projects, $8 million is being requested to build 2 miles of passing lane on Highway 97 in Klamath County to “address safety and add capacity”.

Obviously investing in bicycle and pedestrian transportation gets you A LOT more bang for your buck.  Here is a sample of the projects that were submitted for the Eugene Area and then a list of the specific bike/ped program that did make the ODOT list.  This first list does not include some of the Safe Routes to School projects that we are also in the middle of working on:

Westmoreland Path Project

This project will provide 2,500 feet of multi-use path from Fillmore Street to Taylor Street in Westmoreland Park as well as pedestrian scale lighting for 1,000 feet of existing multi-use path. Paths will be 12 feet wide with 2 foot shoulders on a crushed rock base. Concrete pads and bike parking will be added. Safety and wayfinding signs will be installed. This project has been planned since 1974, and is listed as a priority in the TransPlan document. The popular, existing path in the park ends in the parking lot of the K-8 Arts and Technology Academy School, and pedestrians and bicyclists must travel through the congested parking lot. The new path will reduce this direction of travel. The new path will also serve existing disc golf course, tennis courts and sports fields. By providing these new path connections to surrounding residential neighborhoods, this project will enhance people’s access to the 7-mile long Fern Ridge Path. (Project by the City of Eugene, Eugene, OR). Total length of the project is 0.41 miles. Total cost of the project is $993,000.

Bike Path/West Bank Trail-Treatment Plant to Formac Ave.

Construct a portion of the West Bank Trail from River Ave. to the existing trail segment at Formac Avenue. Not Started In 2006-11 CIP Specific Plans/Polices Related to this Project TransPlan  Cost: $1,350,000

Commerce Connector Multiuse Path

This project will provide a 10 foot concrete multi-use connector path with 2 foot shoulders from the Fern Ridge Path to a large developed commercial area near Commerce Street and W. 11thAvenue. Two bicycle and pedestrian bridges will be constructed to span the Amazon Channel and wetland areas. This project will provide pedestrian and bicycle access from a nearby well used multi-use path along the Amazon Channel that connects West Eugene with downtown Eugene. Workers and shoppers will find a convenient, scenic and safe off-street travel route while avoiding nearby roads with high average daily traffic. (Project by the City of Eugene, Eugene, OR). $840,000.

Spring Boulevard Path

This project will provide a connector multi-use path from 29th Avenue to 30th Avenue, which will connect two residential neighborhoods with a major roadway leading to the local community college. Project will construct a 1,500 foot long, 12 foot wide concrete path to current standards, including lighting. Public Works has been receiving requests for the completion of this project from neighbors, students and hikers who use the existing well-worn trail through the woods. There is a need for a legitimate connection along the boulevard. (Project by the City of Eugene, Eugene, OR). Total cost of the project is $850,000.

Jessen Path

This project will provide a multi-use path from Green Hill Road to Beltline Road as part of the TransPlan document. The path will go along the A-2 channel at Golden Garden’s park, which is currently seeing improvements and expansion in Eugene’s Bethel neighborhood. The multi-use path will connect to an existing path at the Beltline, creating a key off-street bicycle linkage in the area. (Project by the City of Eugene, Eugene, OR). Total length of the project is 1.81 miles. Total cost estimate $2.1 million.

Delta Ponds Overpass, Goodpasture to Robin Hood Lane

This project will provide a multi-use path and a grade separated crossing (overpass structure) over Delta Highway between Goodpasture Island and Robin Hood Lane for pedestrian/bicycles. Secured federal funding of $2,880,000 will be administered by ODOT and will not be received by the City of Eugene.

This project meets priority measure 4 of TRANSPLAN Financial Policy #6. This project fills in a missing segment of the City’s planned river bank trail system, and is included in the Six-Year CIP because it includes funding sources – transportation SDC’s and federal transportation funds – that are not available for projects that meet the first priority measure of “Protect the existing system”. Not Started New in FY08-13 CIP. Funding gap of $2.2 million.

Beaver-Hunsaker Trail Project

Lane County Transportation System Plan has identified Hunsaker Ln-Beaver St project as an urban improvement project. The project limit starts at Division Ave and ends at River Road. The preliminary scope of the project is to provide 2 travel lanes, curbs, gutters, concrete sidewalks, and bike lanes. Planter strips and drainage improvements will be considered. The project will also look into turning lane needs at River Road and Division St. The estimated project cost for the 1.141 mile long project is $3.3 million [cost updated].

Middle Fork Willamette River Path

Dorris Ranch Living History Farm to Clearwater Park, in Springfield.  This will also include a bike/ped bridge to HBRA. Project Cost: $4.5 million [estimate]

_____________

ODOT’s List:

    I-205 Bicycle Path Improvements & Illumination (Multnomah County)
    Improves and illuminates bicycle path north of Clackamas Town Center to Woodstock/92nd.
    Project cost: $2,000,000 – Stimulus portion: $2,000,000.

    I-205 Pedestrian Path at Woodstock/Flavel (Multnomah County)
    Improves pedestrian and bicycle safety at I-205 crossing Bicycle/pedestrian Multnomah.
    Project cost: $500,000 – Stimulus portion: $500,000.

    Roseburg – Winston Multi-Use Path (Douglas County)
    Extends existing project to build multi-use path between Roseburg and Winston.
    Project cost: $2,000,000 – Stimulus portion: $500,000

    US 197: Burnham Ave. – 3rd Street (Maupin) (Wasco County)
    Builds new curbs, sidewalks, pedestrian features and streetscaping in Maupin; includes a new storm drainage system and reconstruction of the roadway.
    Project cost: $3,700,000 – Stimulus portion: $800,000

Where’s the money for Bicycle/Pedestrian Projects in Lane County?!?!?!?!