May is Bike Month

Are you bored with the pandemic restrictions? Who isn’t? Hop on a bike for some social-distance exercise and to get to know Eugene and Springfield from the ground up. May is Bike Month in Lane County, and there are plenty of riding events as well as virtual workshops on tap with no chance of cancellations. This week alone has separate rides through Golden Gardens Park and from Shasta Park to Golden Gardens Park, both May 8, as well as a Beginners Ride May 9 sponsored by GEARs (Greater Eugene Area Riders). Also, there is the Slo-Mo Monday Ride May 10 with GEARs, which starts at Alton Baker Park and goes 37 miles to Upper Camp Creek Road. Then there’s another Beginner-Friendly Bike Ride with GEARs at Alton Baker Park May 13. Online, there are courses on bike basics May 11 and tune-up basics May 13. Even without a pandemic, safety comes first — wear a helmet.

Lane County’s May is Bike Month runs through May 31. More information for free rides, speakers and workshops can be found at WeBikeLane.org.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!