MEDFORD, Ore. (Apr. 9, 2026) — The Medford City Council signaled preliminary support Tuesday night for a new configuration of Main Street that would retain two travel lanes while reintroducing limited bicycle infrastructure and angled parking, marking the latest turn in a months-long debate over the downtown corridor.
During a study session, Councilor Nick Card proposed what he called “Option 2A,” a redesign that would keep Main Street at two lanes, add angled parking, and replace the current protected bike lane with an unbuffered, one-way bicycle lane. A nonbinding straw poll at the end of the discussion showed enough support among councilors to advance the proposal to a formal vote at an upcoming regular meeting.
The option would cost an estimated $1.2 million, exceeding the roughly $1 million plan approved by the council in January to revert the street to three lanes. City officials also indicated the change could require repayment of grant funding from the Oregon Department of Transportation, which had supported the existing protected bike lane.
The study session capped the latest chapter in an ongoing and often contentious public process. Councilor Kevin Stine opened the discussion with a brief history of the issue, acknowledging that the January vote to remove the protected bike lane “was not well received” and that public opposition had persisted longer than with previous transportation decisions.
City staff then presented several alternatives that would incorporate angled parking — adding about 40 spaces — while maintaining some form of bicycle access. Card advocated for a version similar to a previously considered compromise, shifting away from a protected bike track to a single, unbuffered bike lane alongside parking.
“We are a car-based community,” Card said during the meeting. “Most people who come to Medford are not walking downtown or biking downtown, they are driving downtown.”
Other councilors echoed concerns about broader community preferences. Councilor Keating cited demographics, saying, “We’ve got an aging community, and they do not like change. They’re not going to come down to Main Street in the rain at night.”
Stine added that current conditions may not support more robust bicycle infrastructure. “It’s just not that kind of community at this time,” he said. “Maybe it will be decades from now, but it’s not like that now.”
Despite those views, public testimony in recent meetings has consistently favored retaining or expanding bike infrastructure. According to city officials, every speaker at the last three council meetings supported keeping bicycle lanes on Main Street.
The emerging proposal would remove the protected bike lane in favor of a single, westbound unbuffered lane, leaving eastbound cyclists to navigate nearby streets, including sections with shared-lane markings. Supporters of bike infrastructure have raised safety concerns about that approach.
In a notable shift, Councilor Smith — who voted in January to remove the protected bike lane — indicated during the straw poll that he would support the new option, though he did not explain the change in position.
Advocates are continuing to urge public engagement ahead of the formal vote. “Keep showing up. Keep submitting comments. The council needs to hear from you,” said Logan Bell with BikeMedford.org.
Card said he plans to introduce a motion for reconsideration at the next regular council meeting, where the council is expected to take a formal vote.
The outcome could determine the future design of one of downtown Medford’s central corridors, as city leaders continue to weigh cost, safety, and competing visions for downtown transportation.
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