Transportation Safety Community Forum

On February 12, 2026, over 200 people gathered at Roosevelt Middle School for an an evening of connection, reflection, and discussion to transform recent tragedies into collective work for a better future. The event was organized by BEST, GEARs, LTD, Shift Community Cycles, ASUO, GTFF, LiveMove, and UO Transportation Services.

Get involved

Complete a follow up survey to inform next steps and future events—whether or not you were able to participate in the forum:

On 3^rd Wednesdays, 5–7 pm, at Gratitude Brewing, continue the conversation in an informal setting with food and drinks:

Join the group that organized the forum to move the needle by advocating for a safer transportation system for the Eugene-Springfield area soon enough to save lives:

Takeaways

At the forum, participants:

1. Voiced concerns and hopes around how we travel around.
2. Previewed a range of possible solutions with UO Professor of City & Regional Planning Marc Schlossberg.
3. Heard responses from Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson, County Commissioner Laurie Trieger, and other officials.
4. Learned about next steps and opportunities for getting involved in lasting change.

Some immediate takeaways:

• Notes from Table Discussions
• Presentation Slides
• Photos by Robert Scherle

Stay tuned for an executive summary and report of what we heard and learned.

Why now?

In the last six months, people driving and dangerous streets killed three people bicycling in Eugene: Elizabeth Cardenas Figueroa, Merle Dean Sheffield, and Erick Munene Njue.

Despite Vision Zero efforts to eliminate fatalities and life-changing injuries, Eugene is seeing the total number of traffic deaths increase, mirroring experiences across the country.

Now community members and local organizations are coming together to envision and push for a safer and better transportation system for everyone. The community forum on February 12 is one of the first steps in this journey.

Further reading

• Addressing Eugene’s rising traffic deaths (Daily Emerald, 2/23/26)
• After string of cyclist deaths, a call for slower, safer streets (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 2/13/26)
• AUDIO: Tax hikes and ghost bikes: battles over taxation and road safety (Oregon On the Record, KLCC, 2/12/26)
• Forum to address ‘dangerous by design’ streets after UO student’s death (Register-Guard, 2/11/26)
• Public demands action after Erick Munene Njue killed on Patterson (Whole Community News, 2/10/26)
• ’45 or 50’ in 25 mph zone. Residents call on Eugene to reform Hilyard (Register-Guard, 2/9/26)
• After cyclist is killed on Patterson Street in Eugene, locals push for safety improvements (KLCC, 2/8/25)
• Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson reflects on protests, housing and other city challenges (OPB, 2/3/26)
• AUDIO: How Eugene’s mayor is tackling housing, public safety and other priorities one year into office (Think Out Loud, OPB, 2/3/26)
• Eugene police pulling over more drivers, issuing more citations, data shows (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 1/28/26)
• AUDIO: Unsafe streets: Trying to reach consensus on reducing road fatalities (Oregon On the Record, KLCC, 12/17/25)
• Mapping the most dangerous roads for cyclists, pedestrians in Eugene and Springfield (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 11/10/25)
• Fatal and serious crashes in Eugene double compared with pre-COVID levels (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 9/2/25)
• Eugene city report shows a new high for fatal traffic collisions (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 7/2/25)
• 10 years since tragic deaths of 3 children crossing Springfield’s Main Street (KLCC, 2/20/25)

In memorium

The Transportation Safety Community Forum was organized to honor loved ones, both those we have lost and those we wish to keep safe.

Following are some recent victims of traffic crashes.

Erick Munene Njue
(Patterson Street & East 22^nd Avenue)

• College of Education encourages scholarship donations in Erick Njue’s honor (Daily Emerald, 2/16/26)
• Erick Njue, UO Ph.D. student killed in crash, had a ‘disarming’ smile (Register-Guard, 2/6/26)
• Police request warrant to inspect car involved in death of UO student bicyclist (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 2/5/26)
• Crash probe in Eugene: car linked to UO student’s death seized (KEZI, 2/5/26)
• Recent Eugene bicycle deaths are tragic—and a reminder for motorists (letter by Mark Corley, Eugene, Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 2/5/26)
• VIDEO: Memorial Service for Erick Munene Njue (Willamette Christian Center at YouTube, 2/1/26)
• Hundreds celebrate and mourn UO student hit, killed on bike (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 1/31/26)
• Eugene vigil honors Erick Njue, PhD student from Kenya (KEZI, 1/30/26)
• Statement on Recent Bike Fatalities (LiveMove at Facebook, 1/29/26)
  • Template
• UO Ph.D. student killed in bicycle crash (Daily Emerald, 1/26/26)
• UO Ph.D. student killed in crash in Eugene (Register-Guard, 1/26/26)
• UO student riding a bicycle killed in vehicle collision at Patterson and 22nd (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 1/26/26)
• Speeding cars in Eugene raise safety concerns after tragic crash (KEZI, 1/26/26)
• Witnesses report speeding in fatal Eugene crash near campus, police say (KEZI, 1/26/26)
• University of Oregon doctoral student dies after getting hit by a car while cycling (KLCC, 1/26/26)
• Bicyclist killed in crash at Patterson and 22nd in Eugene (KMTR, 1/26/26)
• Bicyclist killed in crash at Patterson and 22nd in Eugene (KVAL, 1/26/26)
• Eugene Police is responding to a crash at Patterson Street and 22nd Avenue (Eugene Police Department at Facebook, 1/25/26)
• Bring Erick Home to Kenya for a Final Farewell (GoFundMe, 1/26/26)
• VIDEO: Erick Njue shares about why he is excited to make a difference in the field of special education (UO College of Education at YouTube, 4/12/24)
• Graduate Student Showcase (UO College of Education)
• Meet Erick Njue, ’23 (UO College of Education)

Merle Dean Sheffield
(Highway 99 & Side Street)

• Driver arrested in fatal hit-and-run has previous DUII charge pending (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 1/27/26)
• In State of the City Address, Eugene Mayor focuses on safety, especially on Highway 99 (KLCC, 1/12/26)
• Mayor Knudson’s 2026 State of the City Address (City of Eugene, 1/12/26)
• Bicyclist’s death another grim reminder of Highway 99 danger (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 1/9/26)
• Police arrest man in connection to hit and run death on Highway 99 (Register-Guard, 1/8/26)
• Eugene police make arrest in fatal hit-and-run on Highway 99 (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 1/8/26)
• Eugene police arrest suspect in hit-and-run that killed 63-year-old bicyclist (KVAL, 1/7/26)
• Cyclist dies after Highway 99 hit-and-run (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 1/6/26)
• Bicyclist struck in hit-and-run crash on Highway 99 has died (Register-Guard, 1/6/26)
• Bicyclist killed in hit-and-run; Eugene police release details on suspect vehicle (KMTR, 1/6/26)
• Bicyclist killed in hit-and-run; Eugene police release details on suspect vehicle (KVAL, 1/6/26)
• Suspect sought in hit-and-run crash on Highway 99 that hospitalized 1 (Register-Guard, 1/5/26)
• Driver sought in hit and run that injured cyclist (KLCC, 1/5/26)
• Eugene police seeking suspect vehicle in fatal alleged hit-and-run crash with bicyclist (KEZI, 1/5/26)
• Along Highway 99, pedestrian traffic deaths are another risk for the unhoused (12/28/25)

Jordan Schwartz
(Jasper Road)

• Bicyclist killed in Springfield collision, police say (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 9/18/25)
• Cyclist killed in suspected multi-vehicle crash on Jasper Road (KMTR, 9/18/25)
• Cyclist killed in suspected multi-vehicle crash on Jasper Road (KVAL, 9/18/25)

Elizabeth Cardenas Figueroa
(Hilyard Street & East 8^th Avenue)

• Hold committers of traffic violence accountable (letter by Willow Hamilton, Springfield, Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 11/24/25)
• No charges in fatal car-bicycle crash is an insult (letter by Kate Shapiro, Eugene, Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 11/19/25)
• Prosecutor declines to file charges in car-bicycle crash that killed UO student (r/Eugene, 11/15/25)
• Prosecutor declines to file charges in car-bicycle crash that killed UO student (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 11/14/25)
• UO student dies 10 days after bicycle crash on Hilyard Avenue (Daily Emerald, 8/20/25)
• 21-year-old University of Oregon student dies after crash near campus (Register-Guard, 8/20/25)
• Eugene bicyclist struck by driver on August 8 has died (KLCC, 8/20/25)
• Bicyclist hit by vehicle on Hilyard Street in Eugene dies, police confirm (KMTR, 8/20/25)
• Bicyclist hit by vehicle on Hilyard Street in Eugene dies, police confirm (KVAL, 8/20/25)
• Eugene bicyclist dies of injuries sustained in Aug. 8 crash (KEZI, 8/20/25)
• Bystander steps in after vehicle hits bicyclist in Eugene (KMTR, 8/18/25)
• Bystander steps in after vehicle hits bicyclist in Eugene (KVAL, 8/18/25)
• UO student hit while riding bicycle recovering from broken bones, brain injury (Lookout Eugene-Springfield, 8/15/25)
• Bicyclist critically injured in crash with car on Hilyard Street remains hospitalized (KMTR, 8/13/25)
• Bicyclist critically injured in crash with car on Hilyard Street remains hospitalized (KVAL, 8/13/25)
• Stand by Eli: Aid Her Recovery and Family (GoFundMe, 8/12/25)
• Traffic Advisory – Please avoid E. 8th Avenue from Broadway to Hilyard (Eugene Police Department at Facebook, 8/8/25)

Co-sponsors

The Transportation Safety Community Forum was organized by these co-sponsors:

         
         

Last updated 2/28/26.