Protected two-way bike lane on Main Street in Medford, Oregon with green lane markings and physical barriers separating cyclists from vehicle traffic

Save the Medford Bike Lane

The Medford City Council voted to remove our protected bike lanes on Main Street. We need your voice to reverse this decision and keep our streets safe for cyclists.

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Photo: Joe Linton / Streetsblog

Council Ratifies Option 2A on 5-2 Vote

MAY20

Option 2A Is Now the Official Direction

On May 20th, the Medford City Council passed Council Bill 2026-38, ratifying its April 15th decision to move forward with Option 2A. The vote was 5-2 (Card, Ayers, West, Smith, Kerlinger in favor; Keating and Quinn opposed; Stine absent).

The resolution rescinds the January three-lane direction and directs staff to build angled parking on one side and a non-protected painted bike lane on the other. Public Works estimates construction can be delivered by Fall 2026.

This decision came weeks after the same council unanimously adopted the Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP), which identifies Main Street as part of the High Injury Network and calls for buffered bike lanes on Main Street.

Ride the lane while it's still here. Every trip you take on Main Street between now and fall is a visible reminder that this infrastructure is being used.

What You Can Do:

  • Use the bike lane. Ride it to work, to dinner, to the park. Bring a friend. Make the count obvious.
  • Be seen. The more bikes on Main Street between now and fall, the harder it is to claim no one uses it.
  • Read the full recap of the May 20 meeting
  • Stay engaged as Fall 2026 construction approaches: use our one-click form
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What's Happening?

May 20, 2026

Council Ratifies Option 2A on 5-2 Vote

The Medford City Council passed Council Bill 2026-38, formally ratifying its April 15th decision to move forward with Option 2A. The vote was 5-2 (Card, Ayers, West, Smith, Kerlinger in favor; Keating and Quinn opposed; Stine absent). The resolution rescinds the January three-lane direction and locks in angled parking with a non-protected painted bike lane. Public Works estimates the project can be delivered by Fall 2026. Read the full recap.

April 15, 2026

Council Votes 6-2 for Option 2A

At the April 15th council meeting, Councilor Card moved to reconsider the January Main Street decision and adopt Option 2A. The motion passed 6-2 (Card, Stine, Smith, West, Ayers, Kerlinger in favor; Quinn and Keating opposed). The reconsideration was not listed on the published agenda. Earlier in the same meeting, the council unanimously adopted the TSAP, which calls for buffered bike lanes on Main Street. A ratifying resolution is expected at the second May meeting. Read the full recap.

April 8, 2026

Study Session: Council Moves Toward Option 2A

The council revisited the Main Street reconfiguration at a study session. New alternatives with angled parking were presented, and Councilor Card pitched "Option 2A", two lanes, angled parking, and an unbuffered one-way bike lane. A straw poll showed enough support to bring it to a formal vote. Councilor Smith, who originally voted to remove the lane, indicated he would support this option. Read the full transcript.

April 1, 2026

18 Written Comments, 4 Speakers — All in Support

At the April 1st council meeting, 18 people submitted written public comments and four community members spoke during public comment — every single one in support of keeping the bike lane. A study session on the Main Street reconfiguration is now scheduled for April 8th.

March 18, 2026

5 More Speakers, Zero Opposition — Again

Five community members spoke in support of the bike lane at the March 18th council meeting. Not one person spoke in favor of removing it. The council is listening — a study session on the reconfiguration is confirmed for April 8th. Read the full transcript.

March 4, 2026

14 Speakers, Zero Opposition

All 14 public speakers at the March 4th council meeting supported keeping the bike lane. Over 30 written comments were also submitted in support. Not a single person spoke in favor of removing it. Read the full transcript.

February 18, 2026

Community Turns Out Again, Council May Reconsider

More than two dozen people made public comments at the February 18th council meeting, with the overwhelming majority supporting Option 3, the compromise that preserves bike lanes while addressing parking and visibility concerns. Pedestrians, kids who bike to school, environmentalists, and downtown business owners all spoke up. Council member Kevin Stine called for a reconsideration, saying the council has received "tremendous response online and in person from stakeholders." The issue may return to a full council vote. Read more.

February 2026

17 Supporters Pack City Council Meeting

17 community members attended the February 4th City Council meeting to voice their support for keeping the protected bike lanes on Main Street, demonstrating strong public backing for safe cycling infrastructure. Meanwhile, downtown businesses are urging reconsideration of the reversal.

January 2026

Council Votes to Remove Bike Lanes

In a split decision requiring Mayor Zarosinski's tiebreaking vote, the Medford City Council voted to abandon the protected two-way bike lanes on Main Street—just three years after installing them. The reversal will cost $1 million and delay other road projects.

November 2025

Public Input Sessions

75-80 citizens attended an open house at Oakdale Middle School to review four design options for Main Street. Despite staff recommendations to keep protected lanes, an online survey showed mixed opinions.

2023

Protected Lanes Installed

Medford invested $500,000 to create the city's first protected two-way bike lane on Main Street, reducing vehicle lanes from three to two and adding 12 feet of dedicated cycling infrastructure.

Email the Council in Support of the Bike Lane

On May 20th, the Medford City Council ratified Option 2A, putting the existing protected bike lane on Main Street on track for removal before Fall 2026 construction. Use the form below to tell the council you support safe, connected bike infrastructure in Medford, consistent with the Transportation Safety Action Plan they adopted, which calls for buffered bike lanes on Main Street. Every comment goes on the official record.

Your address shows council members you're a constituent.
Leave blank to use our suggested message, or write your own.

This will open your email app with a pre-filled public comment to PublicComments@cityofmedford.org — it goes on the official record.

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