President Bob Beane's message

Recently, the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists held board of directors and officer elections. During that process, I was elected your CAzB president, which I consider both an honor and a challenge. So, I’d like to take this opportunity to both introduce myself and give you a preview of what our newly formed leadership team will be working on in the coming months and during 2010.

My name is Bob Beane, and I live in the Ahwatukee-Foothills area of Phoenix . I have been a recreational cyclist for 20 years, riding mostly on the road but also riding a mountain bike from time-to-time. Among my most memorable accomplishments on a bike are a brief stint as a Platinum level PBAA cyclist, and completing the full El Tour de Tucson on a tandem with my then new girlfriend (now fiancée), Linda, in 7:46:19, and having her still talk cordially to me after the ride (it was only her 20th time on a bike…but it was her request to do “the whole enchilada”).

I am a past treasurer and president of the Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club (former GABA chapter), and have been the newsletter editor and a board member since 2004. During my year as president of that organization, PMBC and ABC formed an understanding that our clubs would put on rides and would fund the Coalition in its advocacy efforts, separating those functions and allowing respective organizations to do what they do best. I believe this understanding/agreement needs to be expanded to include many more organizations within Arizona , and that will be part of my challenge to the cycling community.

The current CAzB leadership is embarking on a planning and objective-setting process that should culminate in a set of 2010 goals and objectives by January, 2010. We will be seeking your input on those goals and objectives between now and the end of 2009.

Among the key top-level goals and objectives currently being discussed are the following:

Conducting a review of our officer, director and advisory members to determine our roster of skills and experience relative to the goals we set. There will no doubt be some gaps, and we will seek to fill the gaps with other capable people from throughout Arizona ’s bicycling community.
Develop a set of clear, concise, measurable, assignable and actionable goals, and task one or more members of our team to champion each goal and task.
Increase both the numbers and geographic coverage of our membership and alliances, specifically to achieve true statewide coverage of bicycling advocacy issues and representation of all possible constituents.
Develop and/or improve marketing and communications plans in support of our other goals and objectives.
Develop improved/alternative funding sources in addition to membership fees. This will include grants and corporate and/or philanthropic donors.
Increase constructive involvement in highway/street planning processes throughout the state.
Increase and promote educational programs, including programs for schools, law enforcement agencies and other appropriate venues.
Achieve noticeably improved public awareness and enforcement of the three foot safe passing distance law (ARS 28-735), Safe Routes to School and the concept of Sharing the Road.
Pursue legislative initiatives to create a safer climate for bicycling in Arizona .
Defend bicycle-related policies and funding which may come under pressure in today’s economic situation.

As we go through our planning process, we will be fine-tuning our goals, adding to the list and defining more detailed tasks in support of the top level objectives. We will agree on as many items as we think realistic in January, and then will set out to achieve everything that we can during 2010. We will remain flexible, as conditions and opportunities arise, and as more resources (members, volunteers, donors, etc.) become available.

We welcome both your input and participation. Currently, our “team” is fairly small and 100% volunteer. It is our hope that once we present a clear vision and plan (by January 2010) that many more current and new members will actively engage in some portion of our collective goals. When many people take on just a small part of our mission, the mountain will move.

We’ll see you at the base of the mountain!!!

Bob Beane

President's Message