Follow the “ABCs of School Zones” 
This September, after more than a year of distance learning and empty playgrounds, children across Lane County will head back to school (September 8 for Bethel and September 9 for 4J) — and traffic around school zones is expected to increase.

The Safe Lane Transportation Coalition launched a new campaign, “The ABCs of School Zones”, reminding parents and other people driving around school zones to be attentive while driving, have both hands on the wheel and slow your vehicle down when children are around.
 
The safety campaign comes at an important time: 2020 saw an alarming increase in traffic fatalities in Oregon, especially Lane County. Drivers often make mistakes when they are caught in traffic, stressed, or running late for work. If parents are planning to drive their children to school, they should schedule at least 15 extra minutes each day when driving through a school zone, and if they need to drop off or pick up their child, they should expect at least 20-minute delays. 

Parents can avoid the hassle all together, and make our community safer, by having your child ride the bus, walking or biking with your child or, if they are old enough, having them walk or bike on their own. View walking and biking resources here.

As school resume, drivers can expect an increase in:

• Congestion – more drivers during the morning and afternoon commutes
• Pedestrians – students walking to and from school or the bus stop
• Buses – picking up and dropping off students
• Bicyclists – traveling to and from school
• Fines – speeding in a school zone in Lane County can cost up to $875

For more information visit safelanecoalition.org/distracted-driving or contact Drew Pfefferle at dpfefferle@lcog.org.

Vision Zero Advisory Committee Launches 
The Vision Zero Program is launching a new advisory committee to oversee implementation of the Vision Zero Action Plan. To receive a diverse set of perspectives on transportation safety, the advisory committee will include representatives from City of Eugene Public Works, Eugene Police Department, Eugene Springfield Fire and Emergency Services, ODOT, LTD, Peacehealth, Better Eugene Springfield Transportation, local school districts and more.

These committee members will use their professional expertise to advise staff on challenges related to implementation of the Vision Zero Action Plan and help identify areas for interdepartmental and interorganizational partnership. City staff will also use committee meetings to provide updates on crash trends, projects and programs, legislation of importance to Vision Zero and emerging research and case studies related to the goal of eliminating traffic deaths. 

For the latest information on Vision Zero, read the summer safety update here.

Path Etiquette Campaign Continues
Have you seen the signs around town messaging courteous and safe behaviors on our local shared-use paths? The distinctive blue signs remind community members: 

• Paths are for everyone (all modes)  
• Travel a safe speed—20 MPH maximum speed on paths, slower as needed  
• Stay in your lane—stay right, pass left, don’t take more than your half  
• Give warning when passing—call "passing on your left” or ring bell  
• Dogs on a short leash 

The path etiquette campaign aims to promote courtesy and safety among all shared-use path users and includes community outreach, education, media and temporary signage. The City launched the first phase of the campaign in July. Throughout July and August we popped up around Eugene with surveys, fun prizes, and biking resources and maps. The second phase of the campaign launches this month, with print and online media, signage along paths, and further data collection. Look for City staff placing signage and recording speeds along popular paths, and for educational ads online and in local newspapers.  

Park(ing) Day Coming to Eugene
Local community members, in collaboration with Better Eugene-Springfield Transportation (BEST), won a SPIN Scooters and the Better Block Foundation $1000 Park(ing) Day grant to install a temporary parklet in Eugene! The one-day Park(ing) Day installation will take place Friday, September 17, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. outside Palace Bakery (842 Pearl Street) in Eugene. Stop by to participate in the fun, view art by Helen Liu and drink coffee and eat cookies from Palace Bakery.

Park(ing) Day is a day where people across the world temporarily repurpose street parking spaces and convert them into tiny parks and places for art, play, and activism. It's a unique and exciting opportunity to engage in the ongoing dialog around how our cities are designed and built. 

Townscape Adventure Walks
If you would like to get out and about in Eugene this fall, consider trying one of these #Townscapeadventure Scavenger Hunt Walks! The walking routes and maps are created by Eugene community member, Tyler E. Burgess in the book “Eugene and Springfield Townscapes Walks.”

Some of the #Townscapeadventures you can experience are: 

• Mansions and Meadows: On this 4.4-mile hilly walk in South Eugene you will traverse through Amazon Park and up Spring Boulevard. Try to find the memorial bench!  
• Gillespie Bute: Enjoy this 6-mile walk in central Eugene through Alton Baker Park and along the Willamette River. Seek out the North Bank trail marker! 
• Friendly Street Loop: This walk has three different difficulty levels with 3.5, 4, and 5.5-mile options to walk in west-central Eugene. On this adventure you will cross Amazon Creek and stroll through Westmorland Park. Look for the medal sculpture fence !  

For the full walk routes and maps, visit walk-with-me.com or look for “Eugene and Springfield Townscapes Walks” in local stores such as Kiva, Sundance and Tsunami Books. If you go on a #Townscapeadventure and find one of the landmarks - snap a picture, post it on social media, and tag City of Eugene Transportation to see if others can find it as well! 

New Bike Share Out-of-Hub Fees
Since PeaceHealth Rides Bike Share launched in 2018, bike share users have enjoyed the option to end their trips in two ways:

• Locked to a PeaceHealth Rides Hub at no added cost.
• Locked to any public bike rack in our system area for an additional  $1 fee (this is called "out-of-hub")
• To continue this service, PeaceHealth Rides is adjusting the out-of-hub fee for ending a trip to $2. 

Bait Bike Operations Deter Theft
The theft of a bike can hit someone hard, especially if it took their last penny to buy it or it is their main means of transportation. The Eugene Police Bait Bike stings are one way to help deter bike thefts in Eugene. 

Throughout August, the EPD Property Crimes Unit detectives placed a changing supply of bait bikes at various locations in the city to combat the problem and arrest those who are responsible. On August 19, a bate bike was deployed in the west Eugene area and placed in racks outside a business at different times throughout the day. On each occasion, the bike was taken a short time later and the suspect was contacted by police.

UO Transportation Day
The University of Oregon Outdoor Program will be hosting its annual UO Transportation Day with other local transportation-based organizations on October 5 and 6 from 10  to a.m. 2 p.m. 

This two-day event will highlight various transportation options and more information on how students and community members can navigate to campus and around Eugene. The Office of Sustainability, LTD, City of Eugene, PeaceHealth Rides Bike Share, UO Transportation Services, and more will be offering materials and resources to aid in making transportation more accessible to the Eugene community. Stop by for free bike repairs, free bike lights, bike share demos, and a chance to win some prizes by entering the raffle! 

LTD Hiring Transportation Outreach Specialist
Lane Transit District is recruiting for an Employer Transportation Outreach and Marketing Specialist to lead outreach and marketing efforts to local employers sharing their passion along with resources for transportation options. The position will also assist with developing content for marketing messages for transportation and transit along with assist the Marketing Department with marketing campaigns and projects as needed. Learn more and apply here.

America Walks Community Change Grant
America Walks annual Community Change Grants will be accepting applications this month. The popular program aims to provide support to a growing network of advocates, grassroots organizers, organizations, and agencies using innovative, engaging, and inclusive programs and projects to create tangible change at the community level.
 
Consider applying if you have a project that:

• Increases physical activity, mobility justice, walkability and/or active transportation in a specific community
• Works to cross engage people and organizations newer to the efforts of walking and moving and walkability
• Demonstrates a culture of antiracism and inclusive health
• Supports and cultivates connected, active and deeply engaged communities

Funding for Active and Public Transportation
Now more than ever there is an increased emphasis on having a safe and equitable multimodal transportation system. Having more options to get where you need to go just makes sense in today’s environment, especially now that equity and climate issues are at the forefront.

Recently the Oregon Transportation Commission allocated additional funds to:

• Address pedestrian and bicycle gaps on the state system.
• Prioritize projects at locations that provide an equity and safety benefit.
• Identify cost savings through leveraging with other ODOT projects.

To learn more, attend ODOT’s presentation at the League of Oregon Cities webinar at noon on September 14 or check out their Pedestrian and Bicycle Strategic Funding Program Website.