Shift Lanes: 13th Avenue

Ride + Seek Deals

Show your bike helmet at these businesses along the bikeway for weeklong deals from October 23 - 30!

Livestream Events

#CoffeeOutside on 13th

Join us online (or roll by!) for your morning coffee at  Moke's Coffee & Kitchen  with members of Eugene's Public Works staff as we chat with online & in-person guests about the bikeway's history, design, and construction as well as how it fits into Eugene's Transportation System Plan, active transportation network, and our Climate Action Plan 2.0. Streaming Live our YouTube channel and Facebook page!

• Tuesday, October 27, 8:00 a.m. at Moke's or live on Facebook or YouTube
• More details on #CoffeeOutside

Drop by the Shop w/ PeaceHealth Rides

Drop by the PeaceHealth Rides bike shop during our special shop hours for the opening 13th Avenue Opening Celebration Week. Ask our fleet technicians any questions you might have about bike repair, PeaceHealth Rides, safety tips, or the best place to get a good burrito in town. Whether you're a newbie or a veteran, get your bike questions answered! PeaceHealth Rides is a network of bike share stations where users can pick up and drop off publicly available bicycles for one-way trips across the city. Their staff repair, ride and think about bikes every day so drop by (virtually) and ask any bike questions you might have.

• Wednesday, October 28, 12 - 1  p.m.
• Thursday, October 29, 12 - 1 p.m.
• Drop on by: https://eugene-or-gov.zoom.us/j/96015746553
• Meeting ID: 960 1574 6553
• Passcode: PHRide2020

The Intersection of Racism and Transportation w/ Tamika Butler

University of Oregon's LiveMove student club will host Tamika Butler, a national expert and speaker on issues related to the built environment, equity, anti-racism, diversity and inclusion, organizational behavior, and change management. Tamika will discuss the intersection of racism and transportation, its legacy, and what it means moving forward. LiveMove promotes healthy, sustainable communities by integrating transportation and livability through collaboration, education, research and outreach.

• Wednesday, October 28, 7 p.m.
• More details on this LiveMove event

Film Fest + Art

Filmed by Bike Film Festival

The City of Eugene, in partnership with the David Minor Theater, invite you to a family-friendly movie night at home. Filmed by Bike film festival showcases the world’s best bicycle movies and now you can watch the whole show from the comfort of your living room. On a mission to inspire, these short films will leave you smiling and ready to ride. 

• Saturday, October 24, 6:30 p.m. show
• Get tickets, FREE

Eugene Printmakers' Snippets of Eugene

Catch Eugene Printmakers along the bikeway making prints from manhole covers on 13th Avenue. They'll also have prints to share from around the city on shirts, scarves, and more. Eugene Printmakers is a nonprofit arts organization committed to providing printmaking, letterpress and book art learning and working. Prints available to take home by donation. 

• Time: Friday, October 30, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
• Location: Falling Sky Oak Alley

Eugene's World-Class Murals

While riding the new bikeway, Eugene's murals are not to be missed! View four of the 20x21 Murals along or near the bikeway: WK Interact (from France and USA), Hush (from the United Kingdom), Fintan Magee (from Australia), and Bayne Gardner (from Eugene). Check out this mural map for details on where to go.

Sunday - Family Fun Day!

All day Sunday, October 25, families are especially welcome on the new bikeway. 

Kidical Mass - Dispersed Ride

Take the whole family on a ride along the new bikeway anytime between 3 and 5pm Sunday, October 25, for a dispersed group ride for families. Start anywhere along the route and wave to friends and neighbors you pass. Be sure to wear a mask! Kidical Mass is a legal, safe and FUN bike ride for kids, kids at heart, and their families. Started in Eugene in 2008 this family-friendly bike ride has spread around the world and brings families together to enjoy riding bikes together in their communities.

• Date/Time: Sunday, October 25, 3-5 p.m.
• Meetup Point: Anywhere along the bikeway – this is a dispersed ride!
• More details

I-Spy Along the Bikeway...

While riding, look out for interesting things along the bikeway with your littles.

AARP Day: October 30

Protected bikeways are safe for all ages and abilities. Come on out and give it a try!

AARP - Dispersed All-Day Ride

Try out this new, all-ages piece of protected bike infrastructure in our city! Put on your mask and roll down the new bikeway anytime Friday, October 30, with AARP.  Wave hello to friends and stop by local businesses along the route for ride + seek deals -- simply show your bike helmet to get a discount. The AARP's Livable Communities initiative  works to make communities more livable and inclusive for people of all ages. See below for COVID safety guidelines.

• Date/Time: Friday, October 30 - all day!
• Meetup Point: Anywhere along the bikeway - this is a dispersed ride!

It all started with UO students...

The LiveMove student organization at the University of Oregon started the conversation by developing the 13th Avenue Downtown-Campus Corridor Concept Plan, which envisioned a two-way bikeway on 13th Avenue from the UO Campus to Downtown. Based on positive community feedback and new student housing developments along the street, the City endorsed the idea by beginning a robust public outreach and planning process in 2013.

Emma Newman, former student and current Senior Transportation Planner for the City of Springfield:

"It is incredibly rewarding to do applied research that turns into something

that produces tangible benefits in people’s lives for years to come."

Ross Peizer, former student and current Commute Trip Reduction Specialist for Community Transit:

Planning for Safety

The City worked with the broader Eugene community and a consultant to build upon the students' ideas. Safety was the primary issue for community members, many feeling that a protected bikeway with separate signal phases for bikes would increase safety for everyone. The result of those conversations was a sketchbook of what the 13th Avenue Bikeway could one day be. After that, City staff secured mix of funding for the concept from a variety of sources, including an important contribution from the Minor Family.

Remembering David 

At age 27, David Minor was riding his bike when he was struck and killed by a car while turning at 13th Avenue and Willamette Street. He inspired those who knew him in the way he championed the rights of all people, cherished his relationships, and was a good steward of the environment. In his memory and honor, the Minor Family made a $150,000 contribution to the bikeway's development, a piece of transportation infrastructure that could have saved his life. Currently a memorial "ghost bike" is located at 13th Avenue and Willamette Street as a reminder of David's life; a permanent memorial will be established at the same location in 2021. 

Make Your Ride Smooooth....

Tips for a Better Ride:

• Wait for green bike light, the light will detect your bike and give you a green bike signal.
• Ride on the right-hand side.
• Treat the bikeway like a shared use path, stay right except to pass.
• Pass on the left-hand side.
• When passing, give the warning “passing on your left” or ring your bell.
• Look around and pay attention.
• Be aware of vehicle traffic at driveways and intersections.

13th Avenue Bikeway FAQs

Is the 13th Avenue Bikeway considered “complete” now?

While the bikeway is open for use, there are still improvements in it’s future. The progression of signals and other adjustments to the operations of 13th Avenue may be made over time. Additionally, a project to develop a permanent plaza at 13th Avenue and Willamette Street to commemorate David Minor is scheduled for early 2021. David Minor was killed when riding his bike at 13th Avenue and Willamette Street. The Minor family has donated $150,000 to the development of the 13th Avenue Bikeway. Their donation will be used to create safety messaging throughout the corridor and to add amenities such as bike parking, bike counters, and bike lean rails.

What does the green striping mean?  

Green pavement markings are used to enhance the visibility of a bike lane in places where there is a potential for conflict with cars- this includes intersections with streets, driveways, and alleys. The green pavement highlights that all roadway users should stay vigilant to avoid potential crashes.

How do I know if I’ve been detected by the signal (how do the signals work)?  

The bike signals along the majority of 13th Avenue are triggered by infrared cameras. The cameras are mounted overhead, focused on oncoming bike traffic, and will automatically detect riders. When the camera detects a person on a bike, it places a call for the bike signal to turn green.  

Why do I have to stop at a majority of intersections?

Each intersection on 13th Avenue operates independently. The signals detects bike and car traffic and respond with a call for the signal to turn green at that specific intersection.  Like most corridors in Eugene, signal timing and progression is a constant “work in progress” and improvements to the user experience are ongoing.   

Why do the cars sometimes get a green signal before me?  

If a car triggers a signal on 13th Avenue before a bike does, the car signal will turn green first. However, if no signals are triggered the signal will  “rest” on green in the car lanes.  

Why don’t I get a green signal when the cars (or pedestrians) next to me do?  

When the bike signal is green ALL the car signals are red, making the user experience safe and predictable at each intersection. The bike-only signal phase allows turns from the bikeway (on a green bike signal) across car lanes. Remember, pedaling through a red bike signal is a traffic violation. It is also unsafe, as the car signals and bike signals operate on separate phases to prevent crashes.    

Why does the pedestrian signal display “WALK” with the motor vehicle signals, and not with the bike signal?

Generally speaking, the motor vehicle signal phase is longer than a bike signal phase and allows enough time for people walking to completely cross the street.  

Can I skateboard/scooter/run in the bikeway?

The 13th Avenue Bikeway is designed for the bi-directional movement of people riding bikes on 13th Avenue.  There are some micro-mobility devices, like electric scooters, that have bike status in the motor vehicle code and are legal to operate in bike lanes. However, skateboards do not have bike status are not legally allowed to operate on the street. Sidewalks are provided on both sides of 13th Avenue for the movement of people walking or running. 

If I arrive at a red bike signal, can I pull out of the bikeway and use the automobile signal?

Oregon has what is referred to as a mandatory sidepath law (ORS 814.420- Failure to use bicycle lane or path) which means that certain user groups must use a bike lane or path if one is available. This law also requires that e-scooter riders use an available bike lane or path if one “is adjacent to or near the roadway.”

Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, a person commits the offense of failure to use a bicycle lane or path if the person operates a bicycle on any portion of a roadway that is not a bicycle lane or bicycle path when a bicycle lane or bicycle path is adjacent to or near the roadway.  

How do I get on/off the bikeway?

Riders can enter/exit the bikeway at any intersection along the corridor.  At some intersections, like on Pearl Street and High Street, there is a bike signal that allows people on bikes to turn either direction onto the 13tth Avenue Bikeway. In other locations, like on Willamette Street, people riding bikes should take the appropriate lane to turn into the bikeway. For bikeway users that want to access a destination mid-block (between intersections) there are breaks in the concrete barrier to allow access to a driveway, alley, or destination.  

It’s faster for me to use 12th Avenue or 15th Avenue when riding my bike.  Is there any expectation that I use 13th Avenue instead?

There is redundancy built into the Eugene bike network to enable users to select the route that best suits their riding style or destination. The purpose of the 13th Avenue Bikeway is to provide an all-ages-and-abilities bikeway that connects the University of Oregon campus to downtown Eugene for both eastbound and westbound travelers.  There may be many appropriate routes for you to ride your bike depending on your origin/destination and your confidence riding in mixed traffic.