Here’s the official press release:
Walking and Biking Summit Features Town Hall Meeting on Federal Funding IdeasThird annual Eugene Walking and Biking Summit will be held at South Eugene High School Cafeteria, 400 East 19th Ave., on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., with workshops from 1 to 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The Walking and Biking Summit is an opportunity for all who are interested in walking and biking to get together, celebrate successes, and plan for the future. The summit agenda includes a town hall meeting to discuss $50 million in potential funding for Eugene-Springfield walking and biking improvements. There also will be entertainment and a bike fashion show. The afternoon workshops include William Sullivan speaking on car-free recreation in Lane County. There also will be sessions on bike commuter skills, an update on Eugene’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Strategic Plan, basic bike repair, issues of accessibility, and an update on the Safe Routes to School Program. The Eugene Police Department will register bikes from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio has been invited to the town hall meeting. The meeting will focus on the area’s engagement in the national Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation, whose goal is to double the federal investment in trails, walking and biking. Specifically, the plan is to target these federal dollars to dozens of communities, including Eugene and Springfield. The idea is to bring $50 million in federal funds to the local area to build a complete network of safe places to walk and bike and to reduce auto-dependence. Local staff, officials, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy need the community’s participation to make this campaign a reality.
For additional information, contact Lindsay Selser, City of Eugene Public Works, 682-5094 or lindsay.r.selser@ci.eugene.or.us. Online information about Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s campaign is available at www.railstotrails.org/2010. For more information on the Campaign for Active Transportation for the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area, go to www.lcog.org/cat. The Walking and Biking Summit web site is at www.eugene-or.gov/bicycles.
