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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1981)
On the paths, cycling is a breeze Miles of paved bike routes provide easy riding for families or single commuters Eugene accommodates cyclists Bicycles are not toys in this city. In this special section, bicycle rules and regulations — both on campus and off — are discussed. So are local bike shops, safety suggestions and theft prevention measures. By ERIC JONES For *w EmaraM Amid a steady stream of traffic a young woman sings as she pedals her three-speed equipped with bulky fenders and a large basket A racer shifts gears and passes the woman The scene could be almost anywhere in Eugene More than 80 miles of bike routes in Eugene and Springfield radiate from the University, connecting the campus with West Eugene River Road Valley River and Spring field A 10-mile bike path skirts both banks of the Willamette River providing long, leisurely rides and allowing access to riverside parks and neighborhoods Three bike bridges cross the river — the Autzen Bridge the Greenway Bridge at Valley River, and the Willie Knickerbocker Bridge |ust below Interstate 5 A new lighted stretch of bike path connects the Knickerbocker Bridge with Franklin Boulevard Bikes also can cross the Ferry Street Bridge And work continues on new bike routes The Amazon bikeway is being rebuilt with a tunnel under 30th Avenue and according to Charles Nordgaard bicycling co-coordinator for the city, a new city policy calls for including bike lanes whenever a street defined in the bicycle master plan is reconstructed The original plan tor 150 miles of bikeway in Eugene has been expanded to more than 170 miles We re adding more all the time, Nord gaard says A map compiled by the Eugene Public Works Department and Peter Eberhardt. a recent University geology graduate will be pub lished sometime this fall Eberhardt says the map. based on Portland's bike map. will be on a larger scale than the present map and will use a four-color code to indicate safe routes Nordgaard says the University generates much of the bicycle traffic in Eugene Counts taken on Alder Street last year showed between 1 OCX) and 2.000 bicycles passing in a single day, twice the amount carried by most other routes in the city Nordgaard says he feels that more cooper ation in bicycle planning is needed between the city and the University "(The University s) facilities connect with ours We've got to have consistency, because lack of consistency can lead to confusion, he says University planner David Rowe agrees that the University and the city don't always work together but he says cooperation is a two-way street " In defense of the 15th Avenue bike lane between University and Agate streets which has been criticized by city planners for not con forming to city standards Rowe says, It works — there haven't been any accidents, not even any near misses " Rowe also says the city has not been willing to cooperate with the University in designing a connector path along the south side of the Willamette River Despite our objections, the city has de signed a bike path right through the center of the biology experimental gardens,” he says Eberhardt, a member of the city's bicycling committee, says that everyone is welcome to express his or her ideas to the city "It's the best way to help us fine tune such a big system,” he says Nordgaard says the importance of bicycling as a means of transportation has been firmly established in Eugene, and now the biggest project is safety education Bikes are no longer toys, they're now commuter vehicles,” he says Nonetheless, “Sprocket Man,” a red and blue-suited superhero" who looks a lot like Spiderman appears in educational comic books and locally televised public-service announ cements to carry his message of safe bike riding Nordgaard warns cyclists that most ac cidents happen because motorists aren't aware that bicycles are in the street Following traffic rules and wearing a helmet can prevent simple errors in judgment from becoming fatal ac cidents, he says Nordgaard has worn a helmet since he received a concussion after beinq struck by a Continued on Page 24B \ Photos by Erich Boekelheide In the city, caution and safety equipment are necessary, but ample bike lanes keep cars and cycles separate If PORTER^ uo STUDENT HEALTH CENTER 13th and Agate GENERAL MEDICAL CARE - APPOINTMENTS (686) 4441 Monday through Friday 8 00 a m to 4 30 p m Saturdays 8 00 a m to 11 30 p m URGENT CARE is available Monday through Saturday from 8 00 a m to 8 00 p m and Sunday from 12 00 noon to 8:00 p m If you sustain injury or suffer sudden illness, report to the Health Center or call (686) 4441 Call CAMPUS EMERGENCY EXT 3333 for assistance The urgent care entrance is on the west side of the building (Beech Street entrance) Emergency calls are made to all campus housing and University buildings when necessary SERVICES (for details see U of O Health Center brochure) 1 General medical attention and treatment (includes clinical gynecology and family planning counseling) 2 Minor surgery (major surgery and other procedures requiring general anesthesia and specialists’ services are referred to private physicians) 3 Psychiatric consultations by staff psychiatrists 4 Sports Medicine Clinic 5 Allergy Clinic 6 Immunizations Clinic for treatment as indicated 7 Physical Therapy Department 8 Licensed clinical laboratory and diagnostic x-ray facility 9 Pharmacy with registered pharmacists 10 Care of simple fractures 11 Premarital examinations The Student Health Center can meet your primary health needs while you are a student at University of Oregon It is funded by student health fees and charges for laboratory tests, x-rays, medications and other items. You must bring your current student identification card and fees receipt to obtain services All expenses of or connected with consultations, surgical operations, or special procedures must be borne by the student, the Student Health Center will not pay or be responsible for bills from private physicians, hospitals, laboratories, etc Your Health Center provides general medical ambulatory care. There is no hospital care. It is strongly urged that you have health insurance coverage for hospitalization and unexpected emergency situations. Call the A.S.U.O. at (686) 3724 for insurance Information.
