Momentum for more protected active transportation is building in Bend, with City Councilor Anthony Broadman and Bend Park and Recreation Board Member Ariel Méndez submitting a proposal for the prioritization and augmentation of 17 miles of new bike paths in Bend.
The routes would run 7 miles in a north-south corridor and 11 miles east-west, both sharing a 1-mile segment around Pilot Butte. The paths will prioritize a separation from cars through “modal filters” and diverters.
“A modal filter is something that blocks cars, but allows people walking, biking or in wheelchairs, or using scooters to get through, and a diverter is something that allows people to drive through, but requires that they change directions. So it could be a forced right turn. It’s just it’s a mechanism of preventing cut-through traffic,” Méndez said.
The paths would connect Shevlin Park in the west to Big Sky Park in the east and Rockridge Park in the north to Alpenglow in the south.
“The approach up to this point has been more or less piecemeal,” Méndez said. “The two parts that have been missing are this higher standard of not sharing space with cars, and a contiguous network so that people feel like they can get somewhere safely and conveniently.”
Méndez said he’s already heard complaints that the new proposed routes wouldn’t connect some areas, like southwest Bend.
“I think that’s a totally legitimate criticism, and I had said, ‘this is a start.’ I think the concept is the most important part to provide this kind of protected connectivity across town,” Méndez said.
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The other two factors in deciding routes: catering to historically underserved neighborhoods and areas that will grow residentially in the next several years. Getting the paths approved will require the input of both the Transportation Bond Oversight Committee before approval or denial by the Bend City Council.
“The Transportation Bond Oversight Committee—one of the question before them is prioritizing which projects should be funded first,” Méndez said. “And in this case, what I’m suggesting is that they approve of a minor amendment and some realignments in some cases to fulfill some of Council’s goals for east-west and north-south connectivity.”
The next phase of planning for the proposal will be evaluating which routes can be done quickly and cheaply, and which will require more planning and investment before proceeding.
The next phase of planning for the proposal will be evaluating which routes can be done quickly and cheaply, and which will require more planning and investment before proceeding.
“There’s that that trifecta of fast, good and cheap, pick any two, and I think that applies here, as well,” Méndez said. “But I think there’s a lot of mileage that we’ll be able to get right off the bat because it was specifically designed to take advantage of existing conditions.”
The oversight committee held their first meeting on May 18 and will be meeting continuously to evaluate and prioritize projects that voters approved in the General Obligation Bond in November 2020. They will meet on at least a quarterly basis until they have satisfied the goals outlined in the Transportation Systems Plan.
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This article appears in May 26 – Jun 2, 2021.
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Conveniently omitted is that the east west path goes just feet from the doorstep of the magnanimous Councilor. Nice for him and the other rich NW CROSSING folks with their expensive ebikes.
Great that we get to subsidize rich people and their toys.
Seriously Source, no one will call this out? You rail about money, class and privilege all the time, and here’s a great time to prove your credentials. Next time you complain about money and privilege, remember this situation:
Broadman and Mendez are both married to practicing physicians. They can both afford to take unpaid political assignments. They have teamed up to push this project (good or bad, no matter) that runs right through the westside neighborhoods- right where they both live.
Doesn’t that warrant any comment by the Source? Or are you afraid to call these people and this self-enriching plan out lest you sully your cozy relationship with them?
Why do they get a pass?
Maybe ask them if they also support allowing the homeless to camp along the path like they do on the Portland Springwater corridor.
If some person married to a physician was promoting an idea you disagreed with you’d be all over it. How about an attempt at journalism instead of blatant biased promotion so you can continue to get invited to the right parties?
Great work! Thanks for putting the time in on this Anthony and Ariel. I’d definitely commute more via my bike if I didn’t have to deal with the ever increasing traffic.
Fortunately, the proposed routes also improve safety for riders of old human-powered bikes like mine. And they benefit less fussy neighborhoods and provide routes to several public parks.
Rather than partner-career shaming, let’s keep in mind that creating protected bike paths are a major stepping stone to creating more livable cities, and while it may be all too easy to criticize our representative’s motives and backgrounds, it’s important to remember that initiative like this is why many people voted for both of them to serve our community.
I’ve bike commuted in this town for close to 20 years, and cross town cycling is in many places, unavoidably dangerous. Building a system of protected pathways will lower the barriers to entry for people to feel more comfortable moving around in our city without using their own vehicle.
Aside from the critique on the article itself, perhaps Jerryl would have more impact by submitting a proposal for a solution to improve transportation and human movement, rather than just bashing those working to present a clear next step towards improving our city? Strong Town’s article about improving bike infrastructure might help both of your goals, ensuring our representatives indeed represent all of us (including us Eastsiders), and moving forward thoughtfully on important projects.
https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2014/4…
Loving all the attempts at people trying to get angry at protected pedestrian infrastructure and having basically…. no ammunition.
VERY excited to see this proposal! Anyone ticked at the traffic/how many people are moving here/not being able to find parking should be willing proposals like this forward with all of their might. Protected bike lanes = fewer cars and more people biking SAFELY.
“Transportation Oversight Committee” in title should be “Transportation Bond Oversight Committee”
This suggestion I believe falls correctly under transportation but would need to go through the MPO and would be subject to federally mandated public participation.
Welcome to being a city.
I’d like to hear the Bend BIPOC equity commission weigh in on this proposal