Rolling Into Spring: Rides, Routes & Updates
As the days get longer, there’s no better time to hop on your bike! In this issue, we’re sharing a great route to the medical district, perfect for commuting or getting to an appointment on two wheels. We’re also gearing up for our next Bikes & Pints social and our Second Sunday Spokes ride—join us for good company and great riding. Plus, we’re diving into important local updates, including the City of Bend’s People Streets project and why it’s time to rethink our street design standards for safer, more bike-friendly roads. Let’s ride! 🚲
Our Favorite Routes – Juniper Park to Mosaic Medical, Conners Clinic
Heading to work at the hospital or off to an appointment? This route offers a smooth ride to the medical district, connecting Juniper Park to Coyner and Larkspur trails with quiet residential streets. It leads to Mosaic but passes several clinics, and you can easily adjust it for your destination. The only tricky stretch is near the end on Purcell and Neff, but a wide sidewalk provides a safer alternative to the unprotected bike lane.
The Case for Updated Street Standards
For those who rely entirely on walking and biking to get around Bend, street safety isn’t just a preference—it’s a necessity. Without the option to drive when a route feels unsafe, every trip, whether to work, the grocery store, or a friend’s house, depends on the city’s infrastructure providing protection. As Bend rapidly grows, with new neighborhoods, infill projects, and renovations adding more roads every day, updating the city’s street standards is crucial to ensuring safer, more walkable, and bike-friendly streets become the norm. These updates wouldn’t add significant costs—many would actually reduce development expenses—while also promoting a more equitable city where safe infrastructure isn’t limited to wealthier neighborhoods. A small change, like requiring bike parking, has already transformed how people get around Bend. The same can happen with better street designs, but only if action is taken now, before outdated standards shape the city’s future.
People Streets Update
The final People Street Steering Committee meeting focused on creating a safer, more connected route between Drake Park and Juniper Park, ultimately leading into downtown. Discussions centered on balancing mobility, safety, and accessibility while fostering a vibrant public space that supports active transportation and community engagement.
A key takeaway for us was that current city street standards do not allow for plaza streets or shared streets. Updating these standards could help create safer, more inviting streets that encourage people to walk, bike, and roll while maintaining essential access. For more on why modernized street standards are crucial, check out our blog post on the case for updated street standards.
While some concerns were raised about parking, experience from other cities shows that well-designed people-first streets boost local businesses, increase foot traffic, and improve overall livability. The case study results also emphasized the need to consider traffic flow across the broader network, as well as long-term maintenance and emergency vehicle access.
Denver’s Complete Street Guide was used as an example showing how different streets serve different needs. A people-focused route like this should prioritize wider sidewalks, curb space, and comfortable gathering areas.
There is strong support for a continuous, safe connection between Drake Park and Juniper Park—especially with the upcoming Hawthorne Bridge construction along this route. A well-planned corridor will ensure people who walk, bike, and roll have safe and efficient travel options. Moving forward, City Council direction is needed to finalize the route and bring this vision to life.
Move Oregon Forward
We envision a future where we all enjoy green neighborhoods with safe sidewalks, bike paths, public transit, and the freedom to choose how we get around. All Oregonians have to go to work or school, the doctor’s office or the grocery store. It’s up to us to make our transportation system safer, more equitable, and more affordable for all Oregonians.
This legislative session, we have an opportunity to expand transportation choice for Oregonians. By prioritizing safety-focused public transit, sidewalks, bike lanes, trails, and crosswalks, we create vibrant, resilient neighborhoods where people can live, work, and play without fear.
To enact this vision, Bend Bikes teamed up with Move Oregon Forward, a coalition of transportation, climate, and environmental justice organizations from across the state who are working hard to achieve our transportation goals.