Month: August 2010

Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements in Mesa – Opportunity to Comment

Dobson Road Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements in Mesa – Opportunity to Comment

The Coalition recently received a letter notifying us that the City of Mesa, in association with ADOT and the FHWA, will begin a project in January 2011 to provide accommodation for bicyclists and pedestrians on Dobson Road between Broadway and Main Streets. This project will also improve local non-motorist connectivity to a Metro Light Rail station just to the NE of the project location. The City of Mesa is inviting comment by August 20, 2010 to Johnida Dockens (480-894-5477, jdockens@acstempe.com).
The project will include:

  • Widening of Dobson Road in that area.
  • Creation of five foot width (minimum) bike lanes.
  • Median turn-lanes (which reduce incursions into bike lanes by motorists).
  • Functional and aesthetic improvements (e.g. relocate drainage inlets to facilitate above).

The CAzB apologizes for the short notice (we just received the letter), but is appreciative of Mesa’s attempt to let bicyclists review and comment.
The CAzB does participate in project review of many projects such as this via the Maricopa Association of Governments Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee, and has a role in that process as a non-voting but commenting member of that body. MAG Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee meetings (generally monthly at the MAG offices in Phoenix) are open to the public, and include a period for public comment and questions at the beginning of the meeting.

Bob Beane, President
Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists

Right to the Road

Your rights as a cyclist are under constant assault all around the state. Over-zealous law enforcement officers, mis-applying laws, along with sometimes compliant courts can have a chilling effect. [Flagstaff][Tempe][Pima County]

One way you can support efforts to make cycling safer and more enjoyable throughout Arizona is by joining the Coalition. There’s still time to get in on the 2010 Membership Drive, until August 31 anyone joining or renewing will be entered to win.

Help us make our voice in the fight for bicycling rights a little stronger!

Memorial Ride for Safety XIII, Oct 23 2010

The 2010 theme is Riding (Safely) With Friends. Join The CAzB, Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club and other friends for this great ride. The routes are 100K, 35 miles and a new intermediate route (“tbd”) through Carefree and scenic vista’s North in the Tonto National Forest, Pinnacle Peak and up to Sears Kay Ruins. The Start/Finish is near AJ’s market at Pima and Pinnacle Peak Rd. Your entry fee will include a ride map, 2-3 rest stops, and a Bar-B-Que meal at the finish.

Registration starts at 7:00 AM Ride at 7:30 (100K) or 8:00 (other routes)
The Safety Ride and the safety message grew out of the tragic cycling accident Winston Benson had approximately 13 years ago and the many more since then in Arizona. The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists is an organization dedicated to educating bicyclists, motorists, and government officials on all issues concerning bicycling, and supporting safe cycling in Arizona. (www.cazbike.org)

Join PMBC and the Coalition (CAzB) for a ride that benefits all AZ bicyclists. Ride goes rain or shine call Bob B 480-861-7750 with any questions.

GABA/ABC/CAzB members pre-registered only ———$25.00
Non-members pre-registered only ——————–$30.00
Day of Registration ———————————- $30.00
Tandem members pre–registered $35.00 Day of ——- $45.00


All cyclists must wear an approved helmet and obey all traffic laws. Ride Smart to Ride Again.

ONLINE Pre-REG HERE
MAIL-IN Pre-REG form HERE

Phoenix Names Bicycling Coordinator

The Coalition looks forward to working with Joe on enhancing the environment for bicyclists throughout the city of Phoenix:

Date: August 3, 2010

From: Wylie Bearup, PE, PhD
Street Transportation Director
Subject: ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW PHOENIX BICYCLE COORDINATOR
Effective August 2, 2010, Joe Perez will serve as the official Bicycle Coordinator for the City of Phoenix. Joe is a Traffic Safety Engineer in the Safety and Neighborhood Section of the Street Transportation Department. About half of his time will be devoted to bicycle facility design and planning, coordination of safety campaigns and events, and other bicycle-related activities citywide.
Joe graduated from the College of Engineering from Arizona State University and has worked in Street Transportation since 2007. He has coordinated “Bike to Work” events and has previously served as the Phoenix Bicycle Coordinator from September 2007 to April 2009. He is an avid bicyclist and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Tempe Bicycle Action Group and is a member of Institute of Transportation Engineers and Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists.
Joe’s office phone number is (602) 534-9529 and his email address is joseph.perez@phoenix.gov.
Addressees:
Kay Diaz, Police Department
Katherine Coles, Planning and Development Services
Mark Glock, Street Transportation Department, DCM
Michael Hammett, Public Information Office
Kini Knudson, Public Transit Department
Rick Naimark, City Manager’s Office
Kathyrn Reichert, Parks and Recreation Department
David Urbinato, Parks and Recreation Department
Tauny Woo, Public Works Department
Phil McNeely, Office of Environmental Programs

[update] Enforcement at Tucson Mountain Park

[UPDATE: click here to read a reply from Priscilla Cornelio, Director Pima County DOT]

The following letter was sent regarding enforcement of traffic safety at Tucson Mountain Park:

Dear Chairman Valadez, Supervisors Elias, Bronson, Carroll, and Day; and Sheriff Dupnik:

The purpose of this letter is to thank Pima County for the excellent work you have been doing in support of bicyclist access and safety throughout the County and to request balanced education and enforcement of drivers and bicyclists to help everyone safely share the road.

We understand that Pima County has recently been requested to increase enforcement related to bicyclists in the Tucson Mountain Park regarding various concerns, including speeding, riding more than two abreast, slowing traffic, and other issues. We understand concerns about the Park safety and we support reasonable education of bicyclists as appropriate.

But, we also understand that according to information presented at the March 10th meeting of the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee, 98 percent of recorded traffic crashes within Tucson Mountain Park over the past decade were caused by drivers. Only 8 crashes out of a total of 337 in an 11-year period involved bicycles.

It was reported that of the 337 crashes from 1999 through 2009, there were 325 that were the driver’s fault, with a small additional number involving drivers hitting wild animals within the Park. Only two of the crashes out of 337 were the fault of bicyclists. Another crash was due to the mechanical failure of a bicycle, and one was joint-fault of both a driver and a bicyclist.

It was also reported that 52 percent of the driver crashes were due to speeding, with the remainder being primarily due to driver inattention, failure to yield, failure to obey stop signs, and other driver-caused infractions.

We therefore respectfully request that a majority of the education and enforcement in Tucson Mountain Park be focused on those drivers who are the primary cause of traffic crashes, property damage, injuries, and deaths. In addition to enforcement related to speeding drivers, we would also like to specifically request enforcement of the 3-foot safe passing law (ARS 28-735), vehicular harassment of cyclists, and failure to stop or to yield when making turns.

We understand that the Pima County Sheriff’s Office has limited ability to educate and enforce, and that the Sheriff’s Department does an excellent job with traffic safety with limited resources.
Thank you very much for your ongoing concern for safely sharing the roads and for considering the bicyclists’ view of the above factual data. For any further discussion of this matter, we may be contacted at the above address.

Sincerely,

Robert Beane
President, Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists