New bike lanes in Medford make people unhappy

(NOVEMBER 10, 2023) Medford is a city in Southern Oregon. Many residents in Medford are unhappy with new bicycle lanes on its downtown Main Street. Some residents have criticized the project. They call the bicycle lanes "stupid". They say that Medford is not like Portland, which has many bicycle lanes. 

John Vial is the director of Public Works. He gave a report to Medford's City Council. He said most residents are struggling with the changes. It can feel uncomfortable because it's different, he said. Some of the complaints include more congestion, less parking, and less sight distance. 

Vial explained that Main Street is not congested. In fact, Central Avenue is a two-lane road, but it has more traffic than Main Street. The new project is trying to slow down traffic, and that is a positive outcome. The project also added more parking spaces in the downtown area. Parked vehicles protect the bike lanes. Although sight distances for side streets are not the best, they are better now. The city plans to regularly evaluate the use of its bicycle lanes.

The City Council expressed its support for the removal of traffic lights at certain intersections. The Council also appreciated the unique crosswalk designs. Vial believes that the complaints from residents will decrease. That's what happened with other changes in the past, such as roundabouts. They were not liked at the beginning, either. 

The city's goal is to continue expanding bike lanes. The city wants to connect important parts of the city. It wants to encourage more cyclists. It wants to create a safer environment for alternative transportation methods.