Category: Local

Transportation Remix- Save the Date!

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Transportation Remix
Building Livable Communities Through Bicycle & Pedestrian Design


What does the future hold for active transportation in North American cities?  With each passing year, walking and bicycling rates increase as more people choose to get around on foot or by bike based on interest in improved personal health, environmental considerations and simple economics.  While some North American cities are already figuring out how to accommodate these increasing numbers, others are playing catch-up after years of auto-centric development.  The City of Eugene, an early innovator in non-motorized transportation design, is preparing an updated Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan to help guide transportation decisions for the foreseeable future. How does creating more transportation options build a more livable community?  How can we make our public spaces, including our streets, more family friendly and usable by more people?  What are other communities doing and how can Eugene become an innovator again?

On the evening of Friday, October 22nd, you are invited to join us as we explore the topic of emerging and innovative bicycle and pedestrian design with a panel of speakers including Edward Fischer, former ODOT State Traffic Engineer- FHWA International Ped/Bike Scan Trip Report, Jessica Roberts, Alta Planning and Design- “Homegrown Innovation”, Tools & Projects from around the US, and Hugh Prichard, retired developer and real estate broker- Report from Velo-City Copenhagen.  Our panel will be moderated by Sheila Lyons, the ODOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Program Manager.

When: Friday, October 22. Happy Hour 5:00-6:00 PM Panel Discussion 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Where: Oregon Electric Station, 27 E. 5th Ave.
Details: Free valet bike parking, light refreshments and no-cost entry. Beer, Wine, & Food available for purchase

Event sponsored by, City of Eugene, point2point Solutions, GEARs, Eugene Safe Routes to School, and Envision Eugene

More Information: www.eugenepedbikeplan.org, or call Dave Roth, Associate Transportation Planner at 541-682-5727

Bikestravaganza: Off the Chainring Tour

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For our September general meeting GEARs is pleased to present Joe Biel and Elly Blue in their Travelling Bikestravaganza!  Please join us on Thursday, September 9th from 6pm to 8pm for a traveling road show of bicycle talk, movies, zines, and transportation activism and advocacy. Elly Blue and Joe Biel will present short videos and a slideshow about Portland, Oregon’s famous bicycle culture and infrastructure, followed by an interactive discussion of the future of transportation infrastructure and advocacy in our town and beyond.

Elly Blue and Joe Biel after talking with local bike advocates at the Twin Cities Zine Fest on July 10, 2010. Photo credit: Sarah Morean.

Joe and Elly are avid bike journalists and filmmakers (not to mention organizing conferences, publishing zines, going on cross-country bike tours…) from Portland.  Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in the conversation. Microcosm Publishing will have a table of books, zines, and movies.

Thanks to the generous support of our co-sponsor, LiveMove, this event is free to the public!

Who: Joe Biel and Elly Blue
What: Bikestravaganza: Off the Chainring Tour
Where: University of Oregon

McKenzie Hall, Room 240A

When:Thursday, September 9th

7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
They even made a video promo:

Save the Date- Delta Ponds Bridge Dedication

Posted on by RideCoordinator

Mark your calendars and be sure to come down for the Delta Ponds Bridge Dedication on Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 11 a.m

Join Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy and members of the community in celebrating the substantial completion of the new bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Delta Highway and through Delta Ponds. Put on your marching shoes! All non-motorized modes of transportation are welcome to participate in a short parade over the new bridge.  Note that this is a “dedication” and not an opening. With construction delays for the final touch of some ‘mood lighting’ the bridge won’t open until sometime in October.

On that same day (Saturday, Sept. 11th) Valley River Assembly of God (900 Robin Hood Street, where the East side of the bridge terminus is) will be holding a special celebration called “All Paths Lead to the Crossing” from 9:30-2:30. It will be both a celebration of the bridge and their annual community event that has a health, wellness, family, and community focus to it. It sounds like it will add quiet a bit to the celebration with a 10K run, bike stunts, lots of community booths, a bouncy house, and more. (link coming soon to that event…)

Information about the Delta Ponds Bridge project can be found at: www.eugene-or.gov/DeltaPondsBridge

Bike Move Report

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**This write up by Paul Adkins originally appeared on Eugroove.com**

If you were in the right place at the right time on Sunday morning, you could have added your own, “So Eugene, I love it!” to the chorus of drivers, runners and pedestrians who stopped to gape at (and cheer for) the 20 or so intrepid bicyclists, hauling an entire household along the paths and streets of Eugene.
The bicycle devotees — who came on their bikes with trailers or cargo hauling capacity — began their journey at what appeared to be a moving sale in the front yard of Steve and Annette Leibhardt and their two children. But this was no moving sale. This was Bike Move, the Eugene equivalent of an Amish Barn Raising. Tons of work, and tons of fun.

The starting point: West Amazon. The destination: Marion Dr. off of River Road. A total of 6.5 miles across four zip codes.
Together they hauled everything from mattresses to furniture, to appliances, to electronics, to packing boxes. Everything that usually gets dragged onto a truck and driven.
Kids and adults alike carried giant loads, and every conceivable bicycle hauling method was represented. The only thing bigger than the loads were the smiles as the crew rolled north along the Amazon Path to High St. and traversed westward on 11th through the Fair traffic to Monroe, one of Eugene’s Bicycle Boulevards. The group headed north into the heart of Eugene, the Whiteaker Neighborhood, and connected with the River Path system.

The band of Bike Movers made two trips over the course of the day. Roughly 400 bike miles were logged (with no injuries). Local Oakshire beer and Mezza Luna pizza were waiting as the final group rolled in weary from the road.

Many of the onlookers offered their help for the next Bike Move in Eugene. If you’re interested contact Paul Adkins at paul@eugenegears.org.

Here’s the full slideshow of the event from Paul:

Weekend Event Guide

Posted on by RideCoordinator

There are a lot of great events happening this weekend! Come join the bikecentric fun:

Mountain Bike Oregon– This event is sold out but if you’ve already registered it looks like a fun weekend of Mountain Biking up in Oakridge.  Registration for 2011 will open in 2011 so if this sounds fun be sure and sign up early:

Three full days of unequalled single-track riding in Oakridge, Oregon will leave you both exhausted and replenished. Each day offers supported ride options. The campground is on over nine acres along the bank of the refreshing Willamette River. Hundreds of miles of the world’s best singletrack trails. Three delicious squares meals each day. LOCAL BEER nightly in the FREE beer garden. Free mechanical support. Free demo bikes.

Bike to Shop– Join BikeLane, Market of Choice, PeaceHealth and PacificSource Health Plans for the Bike to Shop Challenge. Stop by Market of Choice at 29th and Willamette, Saturday 11 AM to 4 PM for a chance to win $150 in prizes, healthy food tastings, information on staying healthy, classes on bike maintenance, bike safety, commuting and shopping by bike. Drawings for the “Most Loaded Bike” contest.  Special thanks to Wheel Works, VeloGuy and Arriving by Bike for their support of the bike classes and prizes. More information HERE

via flickr: carfreedays

Kidical Mass Adaptive Rec & Swim Ride– Saturday, Noon at Hilyard Community Center (2580 Hilyard).   It’s the last ride before school starts, let’s make it count! We’ll be meeting at the Hilyard Community Center to check out some of their cool adaptive bikes, do a ride around the neighborhood, and then end up back at Amazon pool where we’ll get a special FREE & EARLY entry into the Rec. swim! Come check out a family tandem, a handcycle, or other interesting adaptive bike- you can even take it for a spin on our ride! Then join us for a special Kidical Mass swim and BBQ! Hot Dogs, buns, and fixings will be provided (as well as the grill), bring along a food or drink item to share if you can!  Thanks to the City of Eugene Hilyard Community Center and Amazon Pool staff for supporting the ride!
Register HERE so we can make sure we have enough food and pool passes

Adkins Car Free Party

Car Free Party–  Celebrating three years of being free from personal motorized vehicle trappings the Adkins family is hosting their annual car free party again this year.  Come celebrate with tunes, smiles, laughs, stories, and Oakshire beer. Just be sure and leave that fossil fueled vehicle at home… I mean they even have their own bike rack out front and no driveway so it only makes sense. If you want to bring something – bring it, if not, that is OK too. Bring your bike lights and a friend though.
Saturday night, 7:30 p.m.  180 N. Polk St.

Bike Move– There is a Bike Move scheduled for Sunday August 22nd. The Liebhardt Family, 2 adults and 2 kids, are moving from South Eugene – to Lower River Road neighborhood. We’ll be moving a lot of furniture and boxes of stuff. Annette and Steve will have everything packed up and ready to go. So bring your work bikes, cargo racks, trailers, Xtracycles, or other hauling devices, and tie-down straps and lets do the Bike Move. We need everyone we can get. We are planning to get going by 10AM or so. Fuel and refreshments will be provided. Contact Paul for more details 541-255-2478 or Paul (at) eugenegears.org.

Bike Move

Attend the Eugene Riverfront Celebration this Saturday!

Posted on by RideCoordinator

Originally Posted on the BTA Blog (by: Susan)

The members of Connecting Eugene are putting on a party this Saturday, April 24th to celebrate the Willamette River Appreciation Day. This is a free event with activities for all ages. There will also be speakers to address the challenges and opportunities facing the Willamette River now and in the future.

Riverfront Celebration!

Saturday, April 24th, 10 am – 4 pm
South Bank Path between EWEB and Autzen Footbridge

—

The BTA has been keeping tabs on Connecting Eugene’s fight against the development of the Oregon Research Institute building along the Willamette River. Here’s an update on what’s happened since January.

• Connecting Eugene appealed the City’s decision to grant an extension of a Conditional Use Permit to the University of Oregon. This appeal may take several months or more to resolve. Even after this issue is resolved the University must obtain a building permit and demonstrate that the proposed development is consistent with the 1988 Master Plan.

• Members of Connecting Eugene have met with Mayor Piercy and Councilor Alan Zalenka to discuss viable alternative sites for the Oregon Research Institute Building–including a site within the Riverfront Research Park designated for office buildings.

• The faculty of the School of Architecture and Allied Arts, the Graduate Teaching Fellow Federation (GTFF), and the Graduate Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Students have all passed resolutions opposing development north of the railroad tracks until a new master plan has been developed. These resolutions join many previous resolutions by UO students and faculty, and over 900 petition signers like yourselves.

• Amelie Rousseau was elected ASUO President. She strongly opposes development along the riverfront.

• EWEB (Eugene Water and Electric Board) continues to engage the public in planning the redevelopment of their site while the University of Oregon keeps the door closed to public involvement on their property just upstream from EWEB.

For more information visit the Connecting Eugene website.