Explore Eugene on Two Wheels!
April is warm and dry enough to explore Eugene and beautiful Lane County Oregon on a bike. Whether you’re staying at the Inn at the 5th one night or 10, we suggest hopping on a bicycle to see it. Bike Month isn’t until May, so you have time to make plans! Arriving sooner? No problem! Strap on your helmet to get a head start! But there are a calendar full of community rides, self-guided tours, talks, and classes coming up, so there’s bound to be something that’ll spin your wheels.
Eugene has honored Bike Month since its nationally recognized birthday in 1956. Throughout the month, new riders and experts hit the road to participate in any number of scheduled activities designed for riders of any age and ability. We call them do-it-yourself tours offering visitors to Eugene the convenience of riding at any time, once you’ve rented a bike through one of our easy breezy Bike Share programs. Here are a few ideas to get you on the road:
The i-Spy 13th Avenue DIY Ride guides bikes on a stress-free tour of Eugene’s downtown while sticking to 13th Avenue’s two-lane designated bike lane. What will you see along the route? Start at the intersection of Lincoln Street.
Beginning downtown on Broadway and Oak, the Downtown Mural DIY Ride will send you on a loop past some of the city’s famed artwork. It’s one of our favorite routes since Eugene and neighboring Springfield are decorated with dazzling scenes from the imaginations of talented muralists from around the world. Whether it’s the mastodon on West 2nd, the Pied Piper on East Broadway, or the “Discussion About the Red” on Willamette Street, murals in Eugene help tell the community’s story. And the story has only just begun; twenty new murals were added in Eugene in 2021 alone!
The Solar System Trail DIY Ride takes you on a 9-mile round-trip excursion through the first ever scaled solar system trail in the country. Pass alongside the Willamette River as you discover more about our Sun and our planets, and even the dwarf planet, Pluto! The trail originated in 1990 when Jack Van Dusen and his son, Ben, painted the sun and planets along a bike route near their home. An enthusiastic response from the community led to a more permanent installation in 1997. In 2018, The Eugene Science Center collaborated with the Eugene Parks & Open Space division and Jack Van Dusen to adopt and upgrade the trail.
The 30 Bridges in 30 Miles DIY Ride is worth packing a lunch for. Start at the Frank Kinney Bridge and pedal over 29 other ped/bike only bridges in Eugene. See our waterways on wheels!
Don’t have a bike? No problem! Local bike shops are making it easier than ever this month to participate; bike share or more traditional bike rental options are on discount in some places to make even a quick ride affordable if you’re tight on time or money. Check the WeBikeLane website for all links and details you need. Make your reservation at Inn at the 5th today and explore Eugene on a bike!