Category: LAB

LAB League Certified Instructor training in Portland, July 6-8

Posted on by RideCoordinator

Via LeeAnne from the BTA (I also should have spread the word sooner but there you have it).  I’ll be an assistant LCI Coach for this course and hopefully certified to lead Seminars in the future so that we might be able to have one locally.

Road One/Traffic Skills 101 is a prerequisite for this program. There just happens to be one being held in Eugene June 23/24- Register here! There is also one being offered in Bend next week (June 21-23)- Register here.

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance is hosting an League of American Bicyclists (LAB) League Certified Instructor (LCI) Training on July 6-8 and I have done a terrible job telling people about it.  There are 5 spots still available in the seminar and I need at least 3 more people to sign up for it to actually happen.  Please consider signing someone from your organization up if you would like to have a staffer who can teach the League’s adult education program (Traffic Skills 101).

More info and to register click HERE! The deadline for signing up is Friday 6/15 with a possibility to extend to Wednesday, 6/20, and the cost is $300 plus a LAB membership year long membership.  Sorry again for the short notice (see?… a terrible job).

My goal for hosting this seminar is to further entice Physical educators and Health teachers at elementary schools and middle schools in Oregon to be trained to teach bike safety education to students.  I will incorporate the Traffic Skills 101 class into the curriculum training to give the teachers as many certifications as possible while being trained. This will help principals, teachers, administrators and parents get behind this needed education program.  Please help me promote bike safety education and prepare teachers by helping me fill this LAB LCI training!  If you were ever planning to take this course, let it be now!
Thanks so much and let me know if you have any questions.
LeeAnne Fergason:  Education Programs Manager
leeanne@btaoregon.org, 503-226-0676 x26
Bicycle Transportation Alliance
618 NW Glisan, Suite 401, Portland, OR 97209 

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