If you liked Eugene Sunday Streets, you’ll love the

Better Ways Block Party

Come learn about safe, healthy, affordable, and clean ways to travel!

Sunday, May 18, 2025
1 – 5 pm
Farmers Market Pavilion & Plaza
85 East 8th Avenue, Eugene

Transportation exhibits, demonstrations, and activities

Part of May is Bike Month

Venue

Indoors in the Farmers Market Pavilion, outdoors on the Plaza, and across East 8th Avenue to the West Park Block – all closed to motor vehicles to reclaim the feel of Eugene Sunday Streets.

Additional bike parking provided by Cascadia Mobility. Email them at valet@cascadiamobility.org to learn more about their services, from event racks to full service bike valets!

Educational Exhibits

  • Better Eugene-Springfield Transportation (BEST)
    Building a successful community by bringing people together to promote transportation options, safe streets, and walkable neighborhoods.
  • BEST Scavenger Hunt & Raffle
    Come to the Block Party, grab a scavenger hunt, talk to a few exhibits, provide some feedback, and you will be eligible to enter the raffle! Multiple raffle prizes available: $50 McMenamin’s gift card, tagalong bike, a new bike seat, and more! You choose which one you enter for!
  • Better Ways Block Party Selfie Corner
    Grab a selfie in front of our festive backdrop inside the Farmers Market Pavilion!
  • Cycle of Change (CoC)
    Effecting positive change while having fun and building community.
  • AARP Oregon
    Fights for the priorities of older Americans. They will be talking about options for transportation as we age and transportation issues relevant to those 50+ years old.
  • City of Eugene: Transportation Planning + Eugene BRiGHT Parade
    Working with community stakeholders and agency partners to design and build transportation projects for a complete transportation system. Enjoy an e-trike hay ride with the City of Eugene. The Eugene BRiGHT Parade celebrates illuminated human- and electric-powered art. Stop by to make parade hats!
  • Lane Council of Governments (LCOG)
    Providing a wide range of transportation services for our community. Come see the May is Bike Month Table! Free swag, t-shirts, bells, pins, seat covers, and fun!
  • Lane County Public Health
    Promoting community wellness and safety through services like immunizations, disease prevention, and family health resources. Participate in an interactive activity exploring what resilience means, get resources on emergency preparedness and volunteer opportunities.
  • University of Oregon LiveMove
    University of Oregon student group promoting healthy, sustainable communities through transportation and livability planning, focusing on walking, biking, and public transit. They’ll share student projects, set up a traffic garden, and offer interactive ways for visitors to explore the future of transportation.
  • City of Springfield: Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)
    Advises City Council and city staff on pedestrian and bicycle plans. The committee was established to provide input on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, policies. programs, education, and enforcement.
  • Springfield Eugene Tenant Association (SETA)
    SETA is dedicated to renters’ rights and interests and assisting, educating, and empowering tenants in Lane County and beyond. Talk about how transportation options shape where people can live.

Biking Exhibits

  • Cascadia Mobility
    At Cascadia Mobility, we are passionate about improving community health and connection. Improving access to healthy, shared modes and active transportation is our mission. 
  • City of Eugene Recreation
    Creating transformative experiences that build social connections and enhance the health, happiness, and livability of our community, including providing adaptive bicycles to children, teens, and adults with disabilities. Adaptive bikes on display.
  • Disciples of Dirt
    The Disciples of Dirt is a mountain bike club dedicated to the stewardship of sustainable multi-use trails and to preserving and enhancing access for mountain bikers through advocacy, outreach, social events, and promoting responsible trail use!
  • Quest by Cycle + 350 Eugene
    Learn about a fun quest-based biking game where you earn points and reduce carbon emissions while connecting with your community of fellow bike-riders. Also check out a nonprofit dedicated to climate justice, deep system change, and strong climate policies.
  • Shift Community Cycles
    Providing bicycle access and education to our underserved communities. Come get your bike fixed at their bicycle repair pop-up!
  • UO Bike Program
    The Bike Program is a comprehensive resource for students, faculty and staff that provides a free do-it-yourself maintenance workspace, classes, rentals, rides, and campus biking information. Our mission is to connect students to bikes.
  • Whiteaker Street Library
    A bike library supplying revolutionary and BIPOC literature to Whiteaker Neighborhood. We believe in giving space to lesser know writers.

Walking & Rolling Exhibits

  • The Obsidians
    Connecting our community to the mountains, waters, and trails of the great outdoors through exploration, education, and stewardship. Volunteer led, offering hikes, bike rides, and adventures both in the local area and out of town.
  • Eugene Roller Village
    Connecting our community to the mountains, waters, and trails of the great outdoors through exploration, education, and stewardship. Volunteer led, offering hikes, bike rides, and adventures both in the local area and out of town.

Bus, Train & Electric Vehicle Exhibits

Bike Makers & Artists

  • Bike Friday
    A second generation family business born in 1992 from passion to see the world and appreciation for the healthy, low impact beauty of a human on a bike.
  • Creswell Bike Mobile Shelters
    Providing the City’s unhoused population safe place to sleep by building Conestoga huts on wheels.
  • Cyclized
    Eugene based business specializing in electric bicycle conversions, custom eBike builds, and sustainable electric transportation solutions.
  • Erick Wonderly
    Illustrator, muralist, and teaching artist based in Eugene, Oregon! Lover of birds and fruit, trying to bring folks some rays of sunshine. Erick is the artist behind the May is Bike Month artwork!
  • Freak Bikes
    Where creativity meets cycling in a showcase of unique bikes that push the boundaries of design and imagination.
  • Liminal Machine Works
    Custom bicycle design and fabrication shop based in Springfield, specializing in hand-built frames, components, and tools tailored to meet the unique needs of cyclists of all abilities.
  • PNX Bags
    Portland-based brand born from punk, art, and the LA bike scene. Creating bold, handmade bike bags to celebrate self-expression, community, and the spirit of DIY.

For Kids

Are you a kid — or a kid at heart? Then these activities are for you!

  • A Muse Creations: Facepainting
    Nitai delights in painting faces on little and ‘big kids.’ You are never too old to get your face painted! She’ll be painting faces for free – bike themes included!
  • BEST Coloring Contest
    Join BEST’s coloring contest for children aged 5–13 and hear the winners at 4 pm! There will be three winners, one from each age group, each complete with a prize!
  • BubbleBro
    Street bubbler creating huge, magical bubbles! Catch the BubbleBro from 2 to 4 pm.
  • Healthy Moves
    Dedicated to bringing movement, fitness, and fun to elementary students. They’ll offer activities for both youth and adults, like hula hoops, jump ropes, and juggling sticks to keep everyone moving and playing.
  • growPPPM
    University of Oregon student group engaging the Planning, Public Policy, and Management community through networking and professional development. Not ready for the coloring contest yet? Warm up your crayons and creativity right here!

Food & Drink

Get something to eat or drink from these local vendors:

  • A Little Taste from Heaven
    At A Little Taste From Heaven, we bring people together through a diverse menu inspired by community favorites—from Momma’s tamales to sweet-and-spicy steam buns and irresistible desserts. Our mission is to serve soulful, feel-good food that reflects love, culture, and comfort in every bite.
  • Breaking Bread
    New twists on classic comfort food, serving sandwiches and soups. Additionally, they can provide a weekly meal prep service, delivering four meals per week to customers.
  • Eugene Tea Festival
    Developing tea community, promoting tea education and experiences. Stop by their tent for tea tasting!
  • Flying Fancy Cotton Candy
    Live cotton candy cart service that spins fresh, fluffy treats on-site. Delicious, fun, and a sweet treat.

Music

All concerts will be performed outdoors on the northeast corner of the Farmers Market Plaza:

1:15 – 2:15 pm
Still Thinking
A 3-piece indie Americana band, with acoustic, electric guitars, drums, and a good dose of fun.

2:30 – 3:30 pm
Paul Prince
Blends vintage swing jazz with Hawaiian and Zimbabwean guitar styles, bringing joy, rhythm, and melodies to his live sets.

3:45 – 4:45 pm
DJ Cumulus
Travels timelines with their contemporary remixes of songs from varying decades. Their goal is to get people dancing and create a musical container for connection.

Get Involved

Help us spread the word!

Do you want to help us make this new community event a success for everyone? Sign up to volunteer!

Is your nonprofit, business, or government agency interested in participating? Share your ideas in line with our theme of better ways to travel!

Do you want to help us build a transportation future that is safe, accessible, and equitable for all? Find out about opportunities to sponsor the Better Ways Block Party!

Thanks

The Better Ways Block Party is organized by: Better Eugene-Springfield Transportation (BEST).

BEST logo

It is made possible with generous support by the following sponsors:

Better Ways Legacy

The Transportation Options, or TO, program focuses on implementation of the Oregon Transportation Options Plan, including: managing demand across the transportation system; educating students and the public on travel options and how to safely use them; connecting veterans, low income populations, communities of color, and others with ways to get to and from work or school; supporting vanpooling; and more.

Better Ways Champion

City of Eugene logo

The City of Eugene Transportation Planning team works with community stakeholders and agency partners to design transportation projects, develop and implement short and long-range plans, and obtain funding to plan and build street improvements that lead to a complete transportation system.

Better Ways Advocates

AARP Oregon logo

The AARP Livable Communities initiative supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and rural areas to be great places for people of all ages and life stages by providing safe, walkable streets; age-friendly housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in community life.

Lane Transit District works with many partners, from city, county, and state agencies, schools, chambers of commerce, and area employers to provide transportation services that improve the quality of life in our community. LTD invites you to replace one trip per month where you’d normally drive alone with something new, like transit, bike share, walking, or carpooling. Learn more and join the pledge at LTD.org/MobilityPledge

The longest-serving community bank in Lane County, Oregon Pacific Bank believes that banking is more than just numbers – it’s about building relationships. They’re dedicated to serving their local communities and businesses by providing personalized banking solutions tailored to your unique needs.

Last updated 5/14/25.