The Data Was In: Main Street Bike Lanes Worked
The City of Medford's own project page for the Main Street Multimodal Improvements tells a story the city council apparently didn't want to hear.
Let's look at what the city's own data says about the protected cycle track installed on Main Street between Bear Creek and Oakdale Avenue in October 2023.
5x More People Biking
Bicycle activity on Main Street increased approximately five times from pre-project levels to September 2024.
Slower, Safer Streets
Vehicle speeds dropped 1-4 mph at measured locations along the corridor. That might not sound like much, but the difference between getting hit at 30 mph versus 26 mph can be the difference between life and death.
No Safety Problems
The city found no major safety issues. Crash patterns remained consistent with historical data. The doom predictions about the cycle track causing chaos on Main Street simply did not happen. A cursory look at the data also seems to imply we are having fewer crashes, not more! The streets are actually safer with a bike lane than without.
A $500K Investment the City Barely Paid For
The project cost approximately $515,000 and was over 90% funded by an ODOT Safe Routes to School grant. The city's share was a fraction of that. This was essentially free infrastructure for Medford, paid for by the state because it made our streets safer for kids. Not only were streets safer, but the majority of business owners supported the new bikelane..
Now It Costs $1 Million to Tear Out
The city council voted on January 21, 2026 to rip out this infrastructure. The estimated cost to revert? $1 million. That includes repaying the state grant.
So let's add this up: Medford got a $515,000 protected bike facility for roughly $40,000 out of pocket. It worked. More people biked. Streets got slower and safer. No crashes. And now we're spending $1 million to remove it and go back to bikes sharing a lane with cars.
The reverted layout will feature three travel lanes with cyclists sharing the right lane and curb-tight parking on both sides. If that sounds less safe, it's because it is.
What You Can Do
The city plans to finalize the reversion design by spring 2026 and complete construction by fall 2026. That means there's still time to push back.
The numbers are on our side. The city's own data proves this infrastructure worked. Don't let them spend $1 million to make Main Street less safe. We want a fiscally responbile city government. It's time to let city council know!