Bike Around, Bend’s brand new bicycle blog, is bringing bicycle issues, news, and information to Central Oregon.
The blog was created last May by Lucas Freeman. Freeman became interested in bicycle advocacy while biking his daughter to daycare, when he realized that few other parents or children chose to walk or bike to school. Intrigued by the fact that so few people were using existing bicycle infrastructure, Freeman began to research what was dissuading others from taking part in this mode of transportation. The article was published in Fall 2008 in Central Oregon Family News and focused primarily on bicycling safely to and from school.
Bicycle access, Freeman believes, “ties into the whole concept of livability for the city.” Freeman found that even though Bend was not seriously lacking on bicycle infrastructure, the primary reason people chose not to bike was because they still perceived the roads as unsafe.
It was only after joining a Bicycle Advisory Committee that Freeman realized there’s a lot of useful information that exists on bicycle commuting options, but it’s not thoroughly distributed to the concerned bicycling audience. He realized there were other people like himself who were interested in bicycling, but did not know how to access information – or even know it existed.
“To me, information is power,” Freeman expressed when asked his purpose in creating a Bend-based bike blog. Statistics and studies demonstrate that when we can encourage more bicyclists to get out on the road, the road becomes safer for all modes of transportation–bicyclists and motorists included. When people are more aware of the available resources and facilities, roads become safer, consequently, more people are willing to consider riding their bike.
Freeman enjoys covering stories on infrastructure as well as human interest angles that provide examples to skeptical community members. The recent changes to Skyliners Road in Bend has been one of the most compelling issues he has blogged about thus far. It is a successful example of how bicyclists and motorists – with the help of law enforcement, education, and infrastructure– can work together to find a middle ground. People are beginning to identify and understand their responsibilities on the road, and as Freeman states, “If everybody plays nice, we can all get along.”
As a LAB-certified silver-level bicycle-friendly city with an increasingly widespread reputation for its active and outdoorsy culture, how can it be that Bend went bike-blogless until now?
According to Freeman, “timing is everything”. Rising gas prices coupled with the economic recession finally forced people to take a serious look at the cost of transportation. Additionally, though Bend has had a relatively decent network of bicycle infrastructure for several years, it is only recently that more commuters are taking advantage of bicycle transportation. With increased ridership comes more visibility and, in turn, more awareness of bicycling as a feasible commute option.
Unfortunately, Freeman noted, blogging is not the most lucrative business model. Every blog is going to face challenges to attract the readers and advertisers necessary to continue posting. Freeman looks to other bicycle blogs such as BikePortland as examples for Bike Around.
So, what’s the next step for bicycling in Bend?
Freeman notes that Bend could still use a more connected network of bike lanes and infrastructure to increase accessibly. However, to see a real change in bicycle use in the future, it will be critical that Bend develop a lasting bike culture throughout the city and establish the message that “it’s okay to share the road.”
Keep in tune with Bend’s blossoming bicycle culture by subscribing to the blog or check in often for up-to-date local bicycle news, information on bike-related events offered throughout the community, and other resources available to Central Oregon bicyclists.
