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By Kelsey Moore
Transportation Options Specialist, Lane Council of Governments
In Lane County, active transportation plays an important role in how people move around. Walking, biking, and busing are essential modes of travel, but challenges like disconnected infrastructure, funding constraints, and the need for greater public awareness remain. That’s where the Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) and our partners come in. Together, we’re working to make it easier, safer, and more enjoyable for people to choose active and shared transportation.
At LCOG, our Transportation Options team is dedicated to making active travel a reality across Lane County. We offer programs encouraging walking, biking, rolling, and busing while providing direct support through education, events, and free safety gear. You may already know some of our work—programs like May is Bike Month, Walktober, See & Be Seen, and the Get There Challenge. We also operate the coast-bound Link Lane Bus, connecting communities to the Oregon Coast!
Since 2022, we’ve been expanding our programs to better serve the community. Every May, Bike Month invites people of all ages to get out and explore their neighborhoods by bike. Bike Month offers free community rides, bike repair pop-ups, bike-up business discounts, and bike valet parking at events. Local artist Erick Wonderly Varela’s colorful Bike Month artwork brings visibility to the effort, sparking interest and excitement around biking.
The success of these programs relies on strong partnerships. We collaborate closely with organizations like Shift Community Cycles and Cascadia Mobility to provide free bike repairs, lead community bike rides, and offer secure bike parking at events. These partnerships help build a sense of connection among neighbors while encouraging people to feel more comfortable getting around by bike.
While we’ve seen momentum in Eugene and Springfield, there’s growing opportunity to expand programming in smaller towns and rural parts of Lane County. Many of these communities have fewer safe routes, limited access to sidewalks and transit, and would benefit from outreach tailored to their unique needs. Strengthening our partnerships with schools, community centers, and local artists can help us reach broader audiences and create programs that reflect the character of each city.
There’s also a clear need for infrastructure improvements in Eugene and Springfield. Gaps between neighborhoods and paths, missing sidewalks, and unclear signage all limit the system’s usability. Filling in these connections, improving crossings, and adding destination-focused signage along multi-use paths would make walking and biking more intuitive and safer for everyone. Of course, there are other challenges, including long timelines and funding restrictions. But with continued collaboration and public support, we can keep moving forward.
Whether I’m biking to work or chatting with folks at a local event, I see firsthand how small changes—like a new path connection or a free helmet—can make a big difference. With continued collaboration and creativity, we’re building a Lane County where walking, biking, rolling, and busing are easy, safe, and part of everyday life.
About the author
Hi, I’m Kelsey (Moore)! I grew up in Eugene walking, biking, rollerblading, and busing to school, events, and around town with friends. My professional experience has focused on transportation in Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County for over 15 years. From my work managing a local bike shop, to the Bike Program Coordinator at the University of Oregon, the Coordinator of the 2019 Eugene Sunday Streets, the Transportation Community Engagement Coordinator at the City of Eugene, to my current position as a Transportation Options Specialist at Lane Council of Governments, I’ve maintained a focus on community building, program creation, resource delivery, and communication between local government and community members.
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