Bend’s streets could be safer and more accessible for everyone, whether walking, biking, or driving. While the city is working on major street redesign projects, these efforts are expensive and take years to complete. But there’s a faster, more cost-effective way to improve our streets: updating the city’s street standards.
Why Standards Matter
Right now, Bend is experiencing a building boom. New developments are popping up across the city, and infill projects are reshaping existing neighborhoods. Every new street or street improvement must follow the city’s established standards and codes. Developers have little flexibility—any deviation from the standards requires city approval, which isn’t guaranteed. Since developers aim to minimize risk, they rarely go beyond what’s required, even when better designs are possible.
That means the city’s street standards don’t just influence a handful of projects—they shape the entire future of Bend’s transportation network. Unlike city-led projects that take years and millions of dollars, updating street standards costs almost nothing and has an immediate, citywide impact.
The Benefits of Smarter Street Standards
Many of the changes Bend Bike advocates for wouldn’t increase costs for developers. In fact, some would make development cheaper. Reducing road widths or the number of required streets lowers asphalt costs, and smarter design choices can improve safety without extra expenses. Even when some changes come with added costs, the long-term savings from fewer roadway modifications and a more efficient transportation system make them worthwhile. Less feet of asphalt is not only greener but requires less money to maintain.
Equity and Accessibility
Street standards also affect equity. If certain features—like curb extensions for safer crossings—are optional, they often end up only in wealthier neighborhoods, reinforcing disparities in safety and walkability. By requiring these features citywide, we ensure that all residents, regardless of where they live, benefit from safer and more accessible streets.
A great example of a small code change with a big impact is Bend’s requirement for bike parking in new developments. Over time, this simple update has led to widespread bike parking across the city at minimal cost to businesses. As redevelopment continues, even older areas are gaining more bike parking, making cycling a more practical option for everyday travel.
A Simple, High-Impact Solution
One of the most impactful changes Bend could make is requiring protected bike lanes on key streets. Unlike painted bike lanes, which leave cyclists exposed to fast-moving traffic, protected lanes use physical barriers—like curbs or bollards —to create a safe, dedicated space for biking. Cities across the country have found that protected bike lanes dramatically increase ridership, improve safety for all road users, and make streets more inviting. By including them in street standards, Bend could ensure that every new development contributes to a safer, more accessible transportation network, rather than waiting years for costly retrofits.
Examples of Street Standard Updates We’d Like to See
Updating Bend’s street standards is a low-cost, high-reward strategy. With so much development happening, every street built today will define how we move around the city for decades to come. By modernizing our standards now, we can make Bend safer, more connected, and more equitable—without waiting years for expensive city-led projects.
It’s time to rethink our streets and make sure every new development contributes to a better, more bike-friendly Bend.