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Biking in Bend

@austinmazzolini.bsky.social
165 followers 82 following 210 posts

I make posts about bike infrastructure in Bend, OR

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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
It's never made sense to me that the argument is that ~4.5% of the US population being undocumented is the cause of so many issues. Like how does such a small group, the vast majority of whom work and pay taxes, change the national rent, groceries, cost of healthcare, etc? This is shifting blame...
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Cycling infrastructure has gotten way better in Bend in the last 10 years. There are still major gaps, and this data does shows percentage wise people can't rely on the network yet. But it is not the whole picture. Improvements are happening; it is better. A lot more to be done for sure. Part 2/2
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
There is a huge gap in data here as this only looks at work commutes. It does not look shopping or errands. I work from home but almost exclusively cycle, so I would not be represented in the cycling portion of the data. Often transit is looked at for work only. We need better/more data. Part 1/2
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
I was looking for Bend specific data and the main dataset I was pointed to is no longer available from the fed side. www.bendoregon.gov/government/d... I am very much looking forward to the results of the travel study. Several websites point me to oregontravelstudy.com but that link doesn't work :/
bendoregon.gov
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Sources: data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1... You can select the dataset year to check trends over time.
bikeleague.org
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Stats about Bend in 2024: - 108,408 people - 20.5% work from home (22,276) - 2.3% walk to work (2,521) - 1.4% cycle to work (1,568) - Only 26.2% of work cyclists are women (411) 🚩 Cycling and walking is on a downtrend in Bend. ~2.1% 🚴 & ~2.7%🚶 in 2016. We need safer streets. Source below ⬇
data.census.gov
Explore Census Data
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
There's great data out there, but I have to really work to find reliable cycling stats (most of which is published by non-profits). Car stats are abundant and overflowing at every level of government.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
I am trying to find data on transportation modality and the number of state and federal datasets that don't include walking and cycling is infuriating 😡 They'll distinguish by if someone rode alone or carpooled in a car, but not if they walked or biked.
media.tenor.com
a close up of a man 's face with his eyes closed
ALT: a close up of a man 's face with his eyes closed
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
I count 22 bikes in the space of two car parking spots. I strongly agree here as we have more than enough capacity. We just need to make alternatives to cars the desirable choice
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Urban design takes a lot of time and planning. A great city can be made average and a poorly designed city can be made wonderful given the proper time and resources.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
When I visited Rome a lot of the sidewalks were like this. It's crazy how a city heralded for its culture and urban design had transformed so much of the city to be a car sewer. The best parts were the historically preserved areas as they were still designed for people.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
We treat public transit like a charity that needs to provide a bare minimum service for the less fortunate rather than the incredibly convenient and cost effective mode of transportation it is. A good network is good for everyone and those who can just pay a little more
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
There have been dozens of times where I have actively sought out using the bus to go places like the store or gym and every time it's way more effort and time than it's worth. I would happily pay a sizable fare if it meant I could rely on the system and it picked up anywhere near my neighborhood.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
Surely they can't all be paid protesters
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
Creativity and fun in the face of adversity. The people of Bend make it the best place to live. Lots more photos in the thread.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
Central Oregon showed up big for the No Kings Protest
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Reposted by Biking in Bend
John Heylin @jheylin.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
As a voter, you should ask yourself two important questions about political candidates: - Do they have a concrete policy, or are they simply asking you to "trust me"? - Do they have a proven track record, or are they only reaching out because they want something? bendbulletin.com/2025/10/17/g...
bendbulletin.com
Guest column: It's time to reform the property tax system
We should reward full-time residents and landlords who rent long-term by giving them property tax discounts, the author writes.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
It's cool that there were several streets that were closed off for construction but still opened the bike lanes. Great vid.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Just got back from a trip to Texas where I lived for 7 years. Some things I miss, but man the entire state is completely swallowed by highways. I used to think they were efficient, but now its sad to see. Like a school a 1 mile from homes but separated by a 4 lane highway making walking impossible.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Today is the start of Week Without Driving. From now through Oct 5, challenge yourself: walk, bike, or ride transit instead of driving. You will learn a lot more about your community and some of the barriers that exist for non-drivers. weekwithoutdriving.org
weekwithoutdriving.org
Week Without Driving
Sep 29th – Oct 5th, 2025 - An experience created for everyone to learn firsthand about barriers and challenges for nondrivers. Join, support, or become a host.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Great to see the work @davidwelton.bsky.social and @bendyimby.bsky.social have been doing for a while to get more small-scale commercial into neighborhoods be recognized in the Bulletin as a solution to a common criticism for how communities are developed.
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Reposted by Biking in Bend
Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
City Council heard from a crossing guard at Bear Creek Elementary that in 2020 he saw an 15 kids on avg walking or biking to school. Today they are up to 75 and talking about needing a bigger bike rack. Every one of those kids arrives more ready to learn. This is what progress looks like!
A path leads to a covered bike rack with students visible in the distance. A grassy area is on the left with trees. A tan building is on the right. A boy walks next to a bike. Cars in a parking lot are visible on the left side.
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Reposted by Biking in Bend
Central Oregon YIMBY @bendyimby.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Next meetup: Ian and @jheylin.bsky.social just got back from @yimbytown.bsky.social in New Haven, and are going to lead a discussion about what they learned, who they met and what's happening in other places. Should be really interesting! September 24, 5:30 PM on, Wildwood Bar and Grill
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
I also recommend these monthly recaps by City Council that are equally as important and brief. This one featuring everyone's favorite @amendez.bsky.social youtu.be/NAZfZRayvOY
youtu.be
August 2025 Council Recap
YouTube video by CityofBendOregon
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
These weekly Q&A's with @melaniekebler.bsky.social and @ktvznews.bsky.social are incredibly important. They are short, topical, and always provide new information like the city's housing dashboard that I just learned existed. Video: youtu.be/0NwSLxE5t78 Dashboard: housingdata.bendoregon.gov
youtu.be
September 11th Ask the Mayor Bend
YouTube video by KTVZ News
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
Yeah exactly! I was going for a more "premium" price as most EVs are a higher end product, but you bring up a good point that there are some amazing mid-range e bikes that a credit like this would almost entirely cover.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
This is awesome. $1,800 covers 50%+ of the cost of an ebike. The $2,500 Oregon EV credit covers ~0.5% of the cost of a car. EVs are better than gas but promoting human scale design and more financially sensible transportation options are better than cars. Not a government program, but it could be.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
I wouldn't expect something like this to be built for a decade plus, but I guess the main question is when do we start thinking about it. Dedicated lines spur more development/confidence in long term growth than a bus. Not to say that I don't also want the bus system expanded 🚌
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Completely agree with both of your points. Much easier said than done, especially now with higher expectations around safety and environmental impact than 100+ years ago. I would love to see this idea included in cost/benefit analyses for new developments/roads though.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
These cities built their lines before cars became dominant, but their population density shows now is the perfect time for Bend to invest. A dedicated tram line would dramatically reduce the reliance on cars to popular destinations, especially with newer UGB expansions widening the city.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
When will Bend get its first tram or streetcar? Here’s when other U.S. cities launched their first electric routes and their then populations: Phoenix - 1893 - 5,500 LA - 1885 - 11,183 Miami - 1920 - 29,571 Houston - 1895 - 35,000 Portland - 1889 - 46,385 Denver - 1886 - 90,000 Bend: 106,926
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Dang, only 13% of that goal was permitted for, not even built. 50,000ish homes a year from 2019-2025 is crazy low for how much of a shortage there is.
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Reposted by Biking in Bend
Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Why bikes? Why slower speeds? Why not just add lanes everywhere? This is it👇🏻 Bend is 2/3 of the way to a full 12 months without a single fatality on a public roadway. Just two years ago we had 7. Zero is the goal.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
The North–South Bend Bikeway already shines in many ways - beautiful spaces, safe intersections, connected neighborhoods, and thoughtful design for riders and pedestrians alike. Excited to see it fully realized by 2026!
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
6. Road diets Multiple streets show clear signs of road diets, where a narrow bike lane expands to a double line. This creates a much more comfortable ride feel. The car lanes still have ample space, but some of that excess was reclaimed.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
5. Roundabouts and Bike Ramps The roundabouts and accompanying bike ramps make crossing busy intersections significantly easier and more comfortable. On one way roundabouts, cars are likely to stop for bikers and pedestrians at the crosswalk, making them faster too.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
4. Pedestrian Spaces A strong Bikeway benefits pedestrians too, and there were numerous examples of good pedestrian design. Smaller crossings with medians - completely transforms the experience whether its a neighborhood or 4 lane stroad Larger shared use paths Park and trail connections
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
3. Active Transportation The fact that this project encourages active transportation yields many physical and mental health benefits. It also allows you to stop and say hi to the neighbors 🦌
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
2. Beautiful Spaces The roundabouts art works, neighborhoods, trails, and parks all contribute to making this ride truly beautiful and enjoyable.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
1. Route The North start is on the Canal trail which is one of the most beautiful trails in the city. Any ride that starts here will a good one. The South start is at a high school. The route connects dozens of neighborhoods, providing instant access to thousands and spans most of the city.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Here are the highlights of the current North–South Bend Bikeway. Documenting now for historical context as this list will grow as the project nears completion in 2026. More info: www.bendoregon.gov/services/cit...
bendoregon.gov
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
The second image is a crappy AI generated one, but I am confident a much better, more useful one could be made.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
TLDR: The current Bikeway route has issues, but most are already being addressed. When it officially opens, it will be a safe, comfortable route for everyone. This post documents the present so we can appreciate the improvements to come. It’s an exciting project for Bend!
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
12. Public Transit Public transit integration is limited. Current CET bus lines were planned before the Bikeway, so coverage is spotty. Updating routes to connect with the Bikeway would better connect the system, making it more practical. Especially for poor weather days.
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Biking in Bend @austinmazzolini.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
11. Lack of commercial The Bikeway is almost entirely residential. Greenwood is the only commercial stretch, but it’s so car-focused that few would linger there on a bike. Future extensions could benefit from routing closer to shops and services, making rides more practical and engaging.
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