The best cycling and mountain biking rides are the ones that feel safe and secure. Here are tips for planning your ride in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region.

A Good Ride Always Starts with Good Planning
Knowing your route before riding can help you stay off busy roads or stay alert on roads you'll share with other vehicles. Ask yourself – what type of ride are you interested in? Something flat and casual that the whole family can enjoy? Something more technical with various twists, turns, and climbs to keep it interesting?
Get a sense for the type of ride you want, how long your bike ride will be, whether it's on a dedicated bike path, a road with a bike lane, or a small, rural road without a shoulder. Most of the routes we talk about will have a bike lane, or adequate space for riders to feel comfortable when riding – and we'll share extra details for those country routes that are best for more technical riders.
Make sure you consider:
- Distance: "What is the length of the bike ride? Have you ridden this distance before?"
- Terrain: "Is it fully paved? Are there sections that are gravel or surface materials best suited for off-road bikes?"
- Elevation gain/drop: "What's the total ascent or descent in altitude during the ride? Are you needing to ride in a low gear for a long period of time?"
- Min/Max grade: "What's the steepest incline or decline on the route? Is your bike suitable for climbing steep hills or braking when cruising downhill?"
- Estimated time to complete: RideWithGPS and other navigation tools will assume riders are going an average of 12 miles per hour. "Are you planning to go at a slower or faster pace?"
- Difficulty level: "Have you ridden routes classified at this skill level before?"
If you're trying to ride on a certain day, tune into weather reports before you go. Tripcheck.com is a great way to get real-time traffic information on road conditions, weather and more. If you're visiting during the summer, don't be surprised if some city roads are closed off for larger events. You can visit our events page to double-check what's happening around town during your stay.

Be Visible with Colorful and Reflective Gear
As you keep an eye out for cars, they'll need to do the same for you! Help drivers spot you more easily, and wear equipment that not only protects you – but makes you more visible to others. That includes wearing a bike helmet, bright clothing (during the day), reflective gear, and a white front light and red rear light and reflectors on your bike (required by law at night, or when visibility is poor).
Oregon law requires all bicycle riders under the age of sixteen to wear an approved helmet while riding on a public path or roadway – so make sure everyone has their helmet before you go! Also check that the rest of your clothing doesn't hinder your ride. Tuck and tie your shoelaces and pant legs so they don’t get caught in your bike chain. Carry all items in a backpack or strapped to the back of the bike.

How to Ride Safe
Even with all this planning, things can go wrong and accidents do happen. Keep yourself and your fellow riders safe by familiarizing with your riding environment, bicycle equipment and traffic safety rules wherever you ride.
When riding around the Eugene - Springfield metro:
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Keep an eye on the road ahead: Avoid running over potholes, gravel, broken glass, drainage grates, puddles you can’t see through, large tree branches or other unsafe road conditions. If the object must be avoided and you are unable to quickly stop ahead of it, first look over your shoulder to scan where there may be cars or other people bicycling and walking before moving away from your path. If necessary, use a hand signal before moving over.
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Ride steadily with traffic: People driving look for possible conflicts with traffic when they enter a road, turn or change lanes. If you are riding in the same direction as traffic, people driving will more likely see and yield to you. You should ride as close as practicable and safe to the right side of the roadway except when overtaking another bicyclist, when preparing to make a left turn, when necessary to avoid a fixed or slow-moving object or vehicle or when riding in a substandard width lane. Riding in the road against traffic is against the law – so respect where everyone is going.
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Always prioritize bike lanes: Oregon bicyclists are required to ride in or upon bike lanes or paths when it is adjacent to the roadway with exceptions for right and left turns and to avoid hazards. Cyclists riding on a sidewalk must yield the right of way to pedestrians and must give an audible signal before passing. Sidewalk riding is generally permitted for bicyclists, per the state's Stop as Yield Law, however the City of Eugene prohibits cyclists riding on downtown sidewalks.
If you need more information on the various rules on how to ride, check out the Oregon Bicycling Manual, published by the Public Transportation and Transportation Safety Divisions at Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
When riding around the greater Cascades and Coast area:
If you're venturing beyond the city to check out some of our more scenic routes – there are some extra safety tips you'll need to know before you go:
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Beware of hazardous route conditions: Some of our marquee routes, like the Aufderheide Drive, are enveloped in old growth forest, so expect heavy shadows and dappled sun that could block your vision. Beware of natural road hazards, like moss-covered pavement, encroaching brush, gravel, debris and leaf litter when riding. These older Forest Service or Lane County roads can also have cracks, sinkholes, striping and fading road lines.
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For Lane County roads: See road closure alerts on the Lane County Maps - Road Incidents webpage.
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For Forest Service roads: Check out current trail status and any alerts – such as temporary road closures – on the Willamette National Forest - Alerts & Closures webpage.
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Watch and yield to vehicles: Some of these rural routes are still used as a transport route for large trucks, with narrow to no shoulder for cyclists. Take extra precautions when approaching blind curves by reducing your speed and be prepared to pull over to allow loaded log trucks to safely pass. You can find more information on hauling schedules by contacting the Middle Fork Ranger District and the McKenzie River Ranger District.
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Bundle up and be visible: These rides can get chilly at the peak of the route, so make sure to layer up and take a jacket with you – regardless of the season and forecast! Even with those extra layers, don't forget to wear your light colors and reflective clothing so drivers can see you. Use lights on the front and back when riding at dusk or in other conditions when visibility is lower.
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Pack your bag: Some routes stretch for many miles without access to refreshments and accommodations until you reach the ride's endpoint. Take snacks, extra water, first aid, spare tube and a pump.
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Bring a map: Cellphone coverage is limited, so download any digital maps prior to your ride.
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Respect nature: These routes wouldn't be scenic if we didn't let nature do its thing! Every wild thing contributes to a healthy ecosystem, so leave what you find.
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Respect wildlife: Large cycling groups can stress the animals. Don't feed the wildlife, don't follow them or force them to flee either.
With this you're ready to start riding! If you're looking for route recommendations, check out the Oregon Scenic Bikeways.
Know Before You Go
Check park and trail status, road conditions and the weather before heading out on your adventure. Find the tips and tools you need to prepare for a successful…
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