Train in the Summer, Cycle in the Fall! This fall, Team Challenge Cycle will kick off its inaugural season with a beautiful 50-mile race in Ontario, hosted by Centurion Cycling on September 19, 2010. Raise funds for Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis while riding with our national team in the picturesque Blue Mountains, just two hours North of Toronto and right at the base of the Niagara Escarpment. More at ccteamchallenge.org
The Alliance for Bicycling and Walking is reporting that the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program is under attack, is and is requesting that members contact their federal representatives in Congress… see more…
Jay Fretz was killed in a collision with an automobile at the intersection of McClintock and Alameda Drive, in Tempe on 5/17/2010, some more details…
A memorial fund to benefit Anika, the daugther of Jay Fretz, the cyclist commuter who was killed recently in Tempe has been set up, donations can be sent to:
Desert Schools Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 2945, Phoenix AZ
85062-9876
Directed to John Fretz for the benefit of Anika Fretz
.
Join or renew your membership with the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists between May 1st and August 31st 2010 and you will be registered to win $500 MSRP credit towards any Trek or Gary Fisher bike valued at $500 or more at any authorized Trek or Gary Fisher dealer in AZ as well as Tour de France and Livestrong prizes.
Visit cazbike.org/join where you can join or renew instantly, or get the form to mail in.
The following letter to the editor was published in the Arizona Republic Jun. 1, 2010, under the heading “Bicyclists should ride facing traffic“:
Once again, it has happened – another bicyclist run down. This time an 8-year-old girl is in serious condition.
I want to know why the law hasn’t been changed to have bicyclists ride facing traffic so at least they can see if the car is being driven erratically, giving them a chance to avoid being hit. This type of accident will surely increase as warm weather approaches. I have lived here since 1959 and come from a state where this has always been the law – and I don’t remember any bicyclist being hit there.
This letter, of course, shows a profound misunderstanding of traffic safety, so Gene Holmerud, our VP of education, penned a short response letter that was published June 7:
Regarding Ms. Hilliard’s letter “Bicyclists should ride facing traffic”.
I am glad for the writer’s concern for the safety of cyclists and desire for cycling to be a legitimate mode of transportation in our state. The latest comprehensive study of bicycle crash and injury incidents shows only one-third involve a motor vehicle. Of those incidents that do involve a motor vehicle, the largest single category of causes is the error of riding against traffic, nearly five times the motorists’ error of being hit from behind.
The League of American Bicyclists and the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists present fact-based classes for cyclists and motorists on how to “Share the Road” safely and effectively. State laws are an important part of the program, none of which condone riding against traffic. We encourage participation in these classes.
Gene Holmerud
Educational Vice-President
Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists
League Cycling Instructor #1193
…
Reports from the 2010, along with many media links, and loads of pics can be accessed at the rideofsilence.org site.
The Green Valley – Sahuarita area Ride of Silence was held on May 19 and the report to the national Ride of Silence organization has been submitted and can be viewed along with sevaral other Arizona rides at the above link. (enter year, state and click on ‘view by state’. Since it is organized alphabetically Green Valley happens to pop up first on the AZ list! 🙂
You will find links to the various publicity releases that we were able to arrange this year. We did have great publicity this year and surely that helped increase the participation by about fifty percent to our record high of 110 riders!
You can find identical information on the website of the Santa Cruz Bicycle Advocacy Committee, scvbac.org.
Many thanks to those who were able to attend or support us in some way. We appreciate you! This has grown to be significant event for the community.
The ADOT is developing a Bicycle Safety Action Plan to reduce the number of bicycle-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities on state highways.(Note: State Highways are roads that are maintained by ADOT and are numbered as SR-89, US 60, etc.)
One of the most important steps toward creating the Bicycle Safety Action Plan is to document the perspectives, concerns, and input, as it relates to bicycle safety, of residents from throughout the State of Arizona.
All residents of Arizona are invited to participate and complete a Public Input Survey for bicycle safety. The results of the survey will serve as input to identifying important bicycle safety issues and will help to establish goals and objectives for the Bicycle Safety Action Plan.
A link to the survey can be found on ADOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program website www.azbikeped.org. The results of the on-line survey are collected automatically so respondents do not have to email or print the completed survey.
For assistance completing the survey or for more information on the Bicycle Safety Action Plan, please contact:
Michael N. Sanders, Senior Transportation Planner
Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, Multimodal Planning Division, ADOT
MSanders@azdot.gov
(602) 712-8141
Fax (602) 712-3046
 Bill Lazenby represents the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists on the Safe Routes To School (SRTS) Advisory Committee, and participates in funding and project selections. |
|
|
Infrastructure
|
|
|
Gilbert |
$300,000
|
|
Joe Carlson Safe Routes To School
|
$300,000
|
|
|
$298,724
|
|
CHAMP Sidewalk Improvement Program
Pinetop – |
$296,022
|
|
SRTS in
|
$285,515
|
|
Total Infrastructure Projects
|
$1,480,261
|
|
Non-Infrastructure
|
|
|
Apache Junction Safe and Fit: Year 2
Apache Junction |
$34,175
|
|
Walk. Bike. Get Fit.
|
$117,000
|
|
Wilson Walk-n-Rollers
|
$120,000
|
|
|
$45,000
|
|
Williams Safe Routes To School
Williams |
$45,000
|
|
|
$45,000
|
|
Safe Routes To School in
|
$44,004
|
|
Bringing Schools & Neighborhoods Together for Safety
|
$42,682
|
|
Round Valley in Motion
Springerville |
$14,196
|
|
Sells-Indian Oasis Baboquivari USD SRTS Project
Sells |
$2,082
|
|
Walking Wednesdays / Crossing Guard Kits
Maricopa |
$10,150
|
|
Casa Grande Walk-n and Roll-n
Casa Grande |
$5,460
|
|
Total Non-Infrastructure
|
$524,749
|
|
Materials and Regional Support
|
|
|
Pima Region Safe Routes To Schools
|
$27,300
|
The League of American Bicyclists has announced its 2010 Bicycle Friendly State Rankings (BFS). Arizona was ranked 9th overall bike friendliest state — slipping two places since last year. Arizona was awarded a bronze BFS designation in 2009.
It seems that the LAB BFS Rankings are a bit emblematic of the “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” nature of Arizona cycling. Here are a few examples:
What seems so obvious to those of us who ride a bike seems philosophically out-of-reach to many officials in our state and many of the non-bicycling public. But there are shining examples of what is possible, and changing the past scenario is CAzB’s mission. We appreciate the support of our members and contributors as we continue to pursue a safer and more bicycle-friendly Arizona.
Bob Beane, President
Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists
