Crater Lake National Park was Spencer McCullough's 20th national park visit on his cycling tour through the national parks in the contiguous United States.

Spencer McCullough is cycling through all national parks in the contiguous United States in an effort to change road culture.

He started in Florida and passed through Bend on his way to Crater Lake National Park earlier this month. He was en route to Yosemite when he spoke with The Bulletin on Monday.

“(Driving) is not good for people who are trying to enjoy the parks any other way than in their car,” McCullough said.

He pointed out that it’s cheaper for a family to enter the park to camp by car than by bike. At Crater Lake National Park, a day pass for a private vehicle is $30 from May 22 through Oct. 31 and $20 between Nov. 1 and May 21. Admittance per individual without motor vehicles costs $15 year-round.

“My big goal with this project is to work with the National Park Service to use their platforms to make a dent in our road cultures and make it safer for cyclists to be out on the road,” McCullough said.

He added the National Park Service has made an impact by raising public awareness in regard to staying safe around bears and leaving no trace. He hopes the park service will seize the opportunity to educate the public on how to drive around cyclists by disseminating information brochures or through policy change.

“There’s just no incentive (for cycling),” he said. “If you’re going to put up with being bullied on the road, it should at least be cheaper.”

Overall, McCullough was impressed by the cycling opportunities in Bend and the surrounding areas, especially in the city’s many roundabouts.

On his Instagram account, @spencexyz, he noted he got a flat tire on the day he arrived at Crater Lake National Park and the morning he left.

“In spite of that, it was still marvelous,” he wrote in a caption.

At the end of the phone interview, McCullough left a final word of advice. “Participate in your local elections. That’s how we’re going to get safer streets,” he said.

Follow McCullough’s journey online at onelongtrip.bike.

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“If you’re going to put up with being bullied on the road, it should at least be cheaper.”