OLD BEND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
www.oldbend.org
February 22, 2013
Bend Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee
Re: Riverside/Franklin Pedestrian/Bicycle Project
Dear Committee Members:
A consensus of the board members and residents attending a meeting of the Old Bend Neighborhood Association (OBNA) on February 20 at the Deschutes Public Library supported the concept of buffered bike lanes on Riverside Blvd. and sharrows along Franklin Blvd as proposed in the Riverside to Franklin Bike/Pedestrian Project. However, many in attendance voiced concerns about safety issues associated with the conversion of the intersection at Tumalo and Riverside from a four-way stop to a thruway flow.
OBNA supports efforts to improve both pedestrian and bike routes throughout the city. Our basic concern with the removal of stop signs at the Riverside/Tumalo intersection is that both bicyclists and pedestrians will find themselves in greater danger as they negotiate one of the busiest intersections in the city. In addition, this intersection will become even more critical as the Deschutes River Trail between the popular Drake Park and the newly developed Miller’s Landing to the south is completed.
Our recommendation is to proceed with the Riverside/Franklin development as outlined in the current design while maintaining the four-way stop at the Riverside/Tumalo intersection.
Old Bend Neighborhood Board
Jan Gifford, Chair
Cc: Robin Lewis, City of Bend