BEST Happy Hour with Tanner Faris

Safe Routes, Predictable Streets, and Takeaways.

Eugene has long prided itself on being a wonderful place to ride a bike. From our robust off-street path networks to a community culture that loves active transportation, getting out on two wheels is a way of life here. But as local ultra-endurance cyclist, teacher, and advocate Tanner Faris pointed out at the BEST Happy Hour on September 15, there is a critical question we have to ask ourselves:

“We have such a robust system to get people on bikes in this city—do we have a robust system to get them around safely?”

Sitting down at Gratitude Brewing, community members, advocates, and local commuters dove deep into what it takes to transform Eugene’s streets from stressful corridors into welcoming spaces for everyone.

The Reality of Our Intersections: The 12th & Chambers Challenge

Tanner grounded the evening’s conversation in real-world local friction points, pointing directly to spots like 12th & Chambers Street. As a parent who crosses busy intersections every day to pick up his kids, he highlighted a daily stressor familiar to many Eugene families: seeing children and parents forced to nervously negotiate complex traffic crossings every single morning.

To drive the point home, Tanner used a classic teacher trick: he instructed the room to turn to the person next to them and discuss the distinct responsibilities split between the cyclist and the driver at these touchpoints. The exercise illuminated a core issue: predictability and visibility.

When infrastructure lacks intuitive design, human error spikes. Tanner posed a vital room-wide question:

“Where are there examples like that in town where predictability is lower than you would hope?“

Walking the Talk: Community-Led Advocacy

Sharing insights from walking on Grove Street with a class of students, Tanner emphasized that making a route truly safe to school requires more than just hope—it requires active community pressure and planning.

The discussion centered on two pillars of street safety:

• Predictability: Making sure road users (cars, bikes, and pedestrians) intuitively know who has the right-of-way and what movements to expect.
• Visibility: Eliminating blind spots, improving lighting, and ensuring clear sightlines at critical crossings.

Cutting Through the Red Tape

One of the most inspiring takeaways from the evening focused on how Eugene reacts during major community events. Tanner noted how incredible it is that when a life is lost on our streets, years of bureaucratic red tape are suddenly cut through overnight. The consensus in the room? That same urgency should apply to everyday safety fixes. We shouldn’t have to wait for a tragedy to prioritize human life.

What Can We Do?

The evening wrapped up with actionable steps for everyone who wants to see safer streets in Eugene:

1. Reach out to the city: Don’t keep your safety concerns to yourself. Let local leaders and public works planners know where predictability breaks down in your neighborhood.
2. Spread the word: Figure out how to get predictability information out to everyone in the community, empowering more people to advocate for safe routes.
3. Show up: Keep attending events like the BEST Happy Hours to build collective momentum.

Let’s take the energy from Tanner’s talk and keep pushing for a Eugene where getting around safely is the baseline, not the exception!

This video provides a look into Tanner Faris’s impressive endurance cycling background and his dedication to riding across long-distance routes.