If you are seeing more bicyclists on Redmond streets, some of them sporting neckties, your eyes are not playing tricks on you.

The number of local cyclists is growing while the popularity of cycling grows nationwide. And with gas prices still near $5 a gallon, biking as an alternate means of commuting is gaining traction as well.

Redmond residents may be curious if their city is bicycle friendly and safe for two-wheeled travelers.

Nationally, Oregon is ranked number 2 by the Bike League for bicycle friendliness, the certifying organization most used to rate state and local governments. Within Oregon there are 12 certified communities, five universities and 28 businesses.

While not a certified Bike League city, Redmond comes close to meeting the five-point criteria.

The numbers

Redmond does have approximately 100 lane miles of bike lanes along shared streets.

That includes right bike stop boxes and one green bike lane that is used for the crossover turn lane at the intersection of NW 19th St. and Maple. There are also four green bike cross walks on Fifth and Sixth streets at Deschutes.

Additionally, there are 12 miles of designated bike trails and ten minor bike repair stations throughout the community.

Crowds growing

Both Redmond bike shops have enjoyed a sharp rise in sales since the onset of COVID and both are still experiencing supply chain issues due to the demand, although they now have an adequate inventory to offer riders plenty of options. For much of 2020 and nearly all of 2021 there were simply not enough bikes in Redmond to fill customer wishes.

Adrian Higham at Hutch’s Bicycles on 7th Street believes Redmond is completely safe for riders, even younger cyclists. They sell bikes to families whose 4th and 5th graders regularly ride to school unaccompanied.

Mason Moore, 15, a sophomore at Ridgeview, has a summer job at Hutch’s and has no fear of riding anywhere in town. He and his friends are regular riders in “the canyon” where they share the trail with walkers and a growing number of Onewheels, self-balancing electric skateboards that have exploded in popularity.

Dry Canyon is the destination of choice for many family bicycle outings as it is within range of almost any rider in the city. It offers unimpeded paved paths, intermittent shade and rest spots, and a feeling of being in the country while being just a few blocks from downtown.

Lock it and leave it

Redmond has some bike racks throughout its boundaries and particularly in the downtown core and its parks, some of them quite imaginative. The goal is to make bike commuting as easy as possible. All new multi-use projects in the city — from apartments to strip malls — are required by development code to provide adequate, secure bike parking.

Redmond is part of the national Bike Index program. It is the most widely used and successful bicycle registration service in the world with over 892,000 cataloged bikes, 1,420 community partners and tens of thousands of daily searches. That system can help connect a bicycle with its rightful owner if it stolen and recovered elsewhere.

Biking to work

More and more Redmond residents are commuting on two wheels.

John Meyer lives on SW Canyon Drive, about 2.5 miles from his office. Except for days when the weather is bad, Meyer makes trips to and from his office by bike, sometimes going back-and-forth from home more than once a day.

Meyer said that Redmond is a bike-friendly place to live.

“Definitely friendly,” he said, though noted that “in terms of safety, there are still too many people driving and texting.”

Meyer and Higham both cited the need for wider shoulders on some roads where the bike lane is precariously close to the edge of vehicle traffic.

Across Redmond you can find bike commuters from school teachers to professionals to executives. Meyer is a financial advisor. Greg Hodecker, owner of Midstate Fertilizer Company, commutes by bike — as does Mike Easterbrooks and David Woods of Hayden Homes. Easterbrooks, Hayden’s IT manager, and Woods, its controller, are but two of a number of Hayden staff who bike to work.

Bikes on the sidewalk

Downtown, it’s illegal to bike on the sidewalk — but riders are unlikely to be cited.

Redmond Police Department often uses the violation as a teaching moment so as not to discourage cycling but to keep it safe. Another rule to keep in mind: Bicycles cannot obstruct or impede access to local businesses.

Mason Brown and Austin St Clair, both 12 and seventh graders at Elton Gregory Middle School, ride as far as their legs will take them in Redmond.

“It’s completely safe,” they said in unison. “We never worry.”