Safe Communities!

People are in such a hurry these days, they seem to have forgotten that the speed limit on most neighborhood streets is 25 mph. Speeding increases the severity of vehicular accidents, endangers bicyclists, and makes it very difficult for pedestrians to cross the road (not to mention dogs, cats, and squirrels). Traffic speeding is a common complaint voiced at Neighborhood Association meetings. And yet it’s not feasible to put a traffic cop at every corner or a speed bump on every neighborhood street.

The City of Eugene is working with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to improve automobile, bicycle, and pedestrian safety in our neighborhoods. Part of the effort is to implement programs that empower Neighborhood Associations with information, training, and tools to help them become active participants in identifying and solving traffic problems.

What can you do? People can volunteer to measure the speed of traffic on a street, either through use of radar guns or speed reader trailers. Training will provided by the Eugene Police Department. Information about the circumstance will be recorded and the vehicle owner will receive a letter asking him/her to respect the speed limit in the neighborhood. Summary data will be shared with the traffic enforcement unit, to help them in their assignments of patrol officers.

Interested in volunteering for this program? Contact Neighborhood Liaison, e-mail: NALiaison@ci.eugene.or.us