Wednesday, July 10, 2019

UO Baker Center

975 High Street, Eugene

6:00-8:00 PM

Currently Willamette Street between 18th and 20th is a one way southbound street with no northbound bike lane. There is no direct northbound bike route through this area. Many people ride their bikes on the sidewalk on Willamette to avoid the car traffic and sharp turns from Willamette onto 20th then Oak. This area will see a huge increase in all modes of traffic when the Civic Park is completed. The Eugene Civic Alliance will also connect Oak Street and Amazon Parkway with a new one-block two-way local street, extending 20th Avenue, and create a new path for people on bike and foot between Willamette Street and Amazon Parkway. The path is intended to remain open 24 hours, and lighting will be installed, but it is not clear whether lighting will be on 24 hours or just for events.

MPO collision map of area with fatalities and serious injuries.

For High Street, the City attempted a process last year to remove on-street parking to make space for a two-way protected bike lane from 19th Avenue to 6th Avenue, extending the River to Ridges Bikeway from Spencer Butte to the Willamette River. Currently for people on bikes there is a left-to-right multi-lane crossover near 7th that is poorly indicated to advise drivers and bicyclists to merge. Businesses in the area fiercely opposed this plan, claiming on-street parking is needed, even though there is a parking crater of off-street parking along High Street. We need to let the City and businesses know that our physical safety is more important than the convenience of car parking.

Parking crater

High Street crossover near 7th Avenue with sad warning signage placed too far north

For 8th Avenue from Lincoln to Mill, the project would include a two-way street, protected bike lanes, wide sidewalks, and narrow travel lanes. Additional transit stops will also be installed.

Please come out to express your desire to improve conditions for people on bike and foot, and to let the City hear loud and clear that we need a safe pleasant space to bike and walk in the public right of way more than we need on-street parking.