Tonight Is the Night: Show Up or Speak Up
Tonight, Tuesday March 4th, the Medford City Council meets. This is the meeting where your voice matters most.
If you care about keeping safe cycling infrastructure on Main Street, you have two options. Both of them count.
Option 1: Show Up in Person
The council meeting starts at 6:00 PM at Medford City Hall, 411 West 8th Street. If you can get there by 5:45, even better. Arriving early means you get a seat and the council sees a full room before they even sit down. Public comment is your chance to tell the council directly why Medford's bike lane matters. You don't need to be a policy expert. You don't need a prepared speech. Just show up, say your piece, and sit down. Two minutes is all it takes.
Not sure what to say? Here are some ideas:
- Talk about your own experience biking, walking, or driving on Main Street
- Mention that protected bike lanes make streets safer for everyone, including drivers
- Point out that removing the bike lane sends the wrong message about Medford's future
- Remind the council that Oregon's Bicycle Bill was born right here in southern Oregon
Showing up in person makes a bigger impact than almost anything else. Council members notice when the room is full.
Option 2: Send an Email
Can't make it tonight? That's okay. Send an email to the council before the meeting. Even a few sentences make a difference.
Email the council at: PublicComments@cityofmedford.org
Comments submitted to this address are formally entered into the meeting minutes, which gives them more weight in the official record. Keep it short and personal. Tell them who you are, why you care about the bike lane, and what you want them to do about it. That's it.
Why Tonight Matters
Every time this issue comes up and nobody speaks in favor of the bike lane, it reinforces the idea that nobody wants it. That is not true, and we know it. But the council only hears from the people who actually show up or write in.
So pick your option. Show up at 6 PM or send that email right now. Either way, do something tonight. Medford's bike lane is worth two minutes of your time.