Bicycle Friendly Community

Bend, OR | Silver Level

Education: Through Bend’s educational programs, students learn to be predictable cyclists who follow traffic rules and regulations. In addition to teaching safety, the program increases youth bicycle ridership. Students in Bend-area schools are encouraged to ride their bikes to school on every Tuesday from May to June. A local TV station highlights a different area of Bend each week, showing students safely navigating a variety of on-the-road situations. Local papers run cycling-related stories, including a student of the week feature. Bend initiated a seven-route, fixed-route transit system in fall of 2006, and all buses are equipped with bike racks.

Engineering: Bend has capitalized on Oregon’s resources and programs, including the Bike Bill, ODOT Training, BTA Education Programs, and the Commuter Choice Program. The community has created 21 roundabouts, three new pathway bridges, a new U.S. Route 20 tunnel, 85 percent of arterials have bike lanes, and they have recently installed a new European-style raised bike lane.