Navigating the new Eighth Avenue in downtown Eugene

After months of construction, the downtown segment of Eighth Avenue in Eugene is complete. Eighth Avenue is now a two-way, urban street complete with fresh pavement, new sidewalks, updated curb ramps, protected bikeways and several new four-way stops. Read on for tips on how to make the most of the new and improved Eighth Avenue, whether you're walking, biking or driving.

Using the bike lanes

• Separate bike signals: At High Street, Pearl Street, and Charnelton Street, bikes have their own signal phase separate from car traffic. This means you can turn in any legal direction when the bike signal is green.
• Park Blocks bike lane: The bike lane through the Park Blocks merges into the pedestrian space but is still designated as a bike lane. Keep an eye out for people walking while using the bike lane through the Park Blocks and take the driving lane if necessary.
• Pedestrian signal at Oak Street: To cross at Oak Street, bike riders should use the pedestrian signal by pushing the button to request a WALK signal. Alternatively, bike riders can take the lane and use the green driving signal.
• Making turns from Eighth Avenue: At intersections with stop signs, you can merge from the bike lane into the travel lane to turn like a car. Eastbound riders will find gaps in the traffic separator for this. Westbound riders may need to merge a block early or use a 2-stage turn due to on-street parking. To perform a two-stage turn, ride straight across the intersection, then position yourself so you can ride straight across Eighth Avenue. This method provides a safer way to navigate busy intersections. Check out this video on how to make a two-stage turn.

Additional Features on Eighth Avenue

• ADA parking: More ADA parking spaces will be designated on or near Eighth Avenue in the coming weeks.
• Market days: During events like the Farmers Market and Saturday Market, bike lanes through the Park Blocks are closed. On these days, bikes should share the travel lane.
• Travel lane width: Although the travel lanes appear narrow along Eighth Avenue, they are indeed 10-foot travel lanes, the City of Eugene's standard lane width seen on other streets across town. Eighth Avenue is unique because the edges of the street have concrete adjacent to the asphalt, creating a narrower appearance, but still providing plenty of space. When a street is visually narrowed it encourages people to drive slower, creating a safer space for all road users.
• Floating bus stop: At the corner of High and Eighth, you'll see Eugene's first floating bus stop. This feature allows the bus to load and unload passengers at curb height without having to pull into the bike lane.

The changes made to Eighth Avenue were designed specifically to create a safer and more enjoyable street in the heart of downtown. The Park Blocks is one of the most lively spaces in Eugene, and this project took an unpleasant, one-way street designed for fast vehicles speeds and created an urban street that's designed for all road users.