Month: November 2014

Our entire summer on the bike

Chandler, AZ couple Steve and Kathy McDermott describe their 4,500 mile transamerica adventure.

by Steve and Kathy McDermott

We decided that this summer (2014) was going to be THE summer that we cycled cross the United States. Using Adventure Cycling’s Trans Am Route, we left Mechanicsville VA May 13 for our wonderful adventure. Our route, with some deviation, took us 114 days (88 cycling and 26 planned off days), totaled 4,546 miles, with 173,941 total feet of climbing. We love cycling and bicycle touring but had never done a self supported tour lasting more than 3 weeks.

We have been married 36 years and travel extremely well together. This entire trip was not a one-person-did-it-all adventure. We have no children and are very close in everything we do. We did not once feel the need to get away from each other. You must be on the same page as your travel partner or you are setting yourself up for disaster. Our years of marriage pretty much took care of this for us. We cannot for one minute imagine having done this trip with anyone but each other. We both feel so very fortunate to enjoy the same activities. This trip would not have been the same with anyone else.

We like plans so we, in essence, planned a one to two week vacation every couple weeks in order to have a definite place to stay and known route. We did prepare cue sheets prior to the trip which were immensely helpful. We just read the turns on the Adventure Cycling Maps and typed up the cues. We stayed in hotels/motels every night except for a few nights when we stayed in a bicycle hostel. Our preference is not to camp; however, we did carry a light tent, sleeping sacks and Thermarest pads in the event we were forced to camp.

We were very thankful for GPS and smart phones, although cell coverage was sporadic in some parts of the country. We carried an iPad with a wireless keyboard to create an on line journal and posted daily updates. If you are interested in our journal, the link is as follows: www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/kstransam2014

We flew from our home in Chandler AZ to Richmond VA. We traveled east to west because we knew the heat, humidity and hills in Virginia, Kentucky, southern Illinois and Missouri were going to be brutal. We were not disappointed. We have biked the Rockies in the past, and we were looking forward to biking towards them. Many people also feel the prevailing wind is west to east. From the countless journals we read both before and during the trip, this is not true. We had just as many days with tailwinds as headwinds. Which direction you travel is a personal preference; ours was east to west.

climb from Halfway,OR to Richland,OR

Physically the trip was very demanding. We are 63 years old, avid and very experienced cyclists, and had some very tough days. However, it was nothing more than we had done before. We were each carrying about 50 pounds of gear on our touring bikes. You must remember bicycle “touring” is different from daily riding. Although we approached each day with the attitude that it is just another day ride, we were in no hurry. We averaged approximately 10 to 12 MPH most days. Our slowest day was approximately 7 MPH and our fastest approximately 14 MPH.

We had many good days and a few not so good. Numerous factors enter into the evaluation of a day; e.g., weather (rain/sun/snow; wind; temperature; humidity); traffic; road conditions; road surface, scenery; and terrain. It is all relative as a bad day could be an exceptional day given different conditions.

The people we met did make the trip, and we met countless people who made the trip enjoyable.
The simplicity of self supported bicycle touring for an extended period of time is liberating. Everything we needed was on that bicycle, and we had more than enough. We did not carry food or cooking gear, opting instead to eat in restaurants. However, we did always have emergency rations and snacks on the bikes.

Grand Tetons

We biked through Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Oregon. Everyone in every state was wonderful to us. However, our favorite state was Kansas for the people. Our favorite states for scenery were Colorado, Wyoming and Oregon.
Not that we needed confirmation, but this trip most definitely confirmed that America is beautiful, and we are so very proud to be Americans. It was wonderful to see it all at an average speed of approximately 10 MPH.

League names Phoenix Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly City

League Announces Fall 2014 Bicycle Friendly Communities

First time honoree: Phoenix is named Bicycle Friendly at the Bronze level. “Achieving Bronze level BFC is a great first step on Phoenix’s journey to Platinum level. We have a soon-to-be-approved bicycle master plan with 380 projects. I am excited for the future of bicycling in Phoenix.” — Joseph Perez, Phoenix Bike Coordinator

Arizona communities currently enjoying BFC status are

  • Gold — Tucson/East Pima Region, Scottsdale
  • Silver — Tempe, and Flagstaff
  • Bronze — Phoenix, Chandler, Cottenwood, Gilbert, Mesa and Sedona

Coalition supports the community

The Coalition is proud to announce two $1,000 grants to two organizations that promote safe bicycling to needy bicyclists and would-be bicyclists. The awards will be used to purchase helmets, lights, or any other supplies that need to be purchased in furtherance of their mission.

We-Cycle exec director
Robert Chacon, right, at a
recent bike safety event

The first recipient, Phoenix-based WE-CYCLE-USA: Helps kids and adults in need through the recycling of used bicycles while promoting the use of bicycles as an environmentally friendly form of transportation. We provide the tools, supplies and knowledge necessary to recycle, maintain and SAFELY operate each bicycle. We believe by teaching kids and adults to recycle, repair and SAFELY maintain their own bicycles we empower them and promote independence.

Crossroads Mission Bike shop mechanic
Mike receives Cazbike donation from
Lynn Dalbey

The other recipient, Crossroads Rescue Mission of Yuma Arizona, is a full-service, human rescue mission in every sense of the word. They prepare over 120,000 meals a year, house transients, have one of the best GED programs in the county, drug & alcohol rehab program and have approximately 102 in our family shelter (49 are children). Included in all of this is a very good, well-equipped bicycle shop. Park tools and stands and all. They have a full time mechanic who repairs bicycles for the needy as well as for the thrift store, and sell them to those who need transportation and enjoy bicycling. “The Bill Anderson Crossroads Mission Bicycle shop is most grateful for the donation of $1,000 from Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists. This money will go to buy parts that are not available from other old salvaged bikes”.

***

More about the Coalition: the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists promotes efforts that improve bicycling usage and safety within the state of Arizona by addressing law enforcement and transportation engineering issues through education, outreach and advocacy programs thereby enhancing the role of bicycling in local, county and statewide transportation plans. Learn more about the Coalition at www.cazbike.org, or find us on facebook at www.facebook.com/CAzBike

Meet Spencer Scharff

The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists is pleased to announce that Spencer Scharff of Phoenix has joined the Coalition’s Board of Directors. Spencer has been a cyclist since he was very young and is looking forward to contributing to the Coalition’s important mission.

Spencer received his bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law in 2010. After law school, he clerked for the Judge Mary M. Schroeder of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He then practiced commercial and appellate litigation in the Los Angeles office of Paul Hastings LLP. This past year, he returned to Phoenix and the Ninth Circuit for an additional one-year clerkship with Judge Andrew D. Hurwitz. Following the end of his clerkship with Judge Hurwitz, he joined Thorpe Shwer P.C.

Cazbike 2014 Annual Meeting Wrap-up

The Coalition held its annual member’s meeting Saturday 10/18/2014. Thanks to all who came out to hear what we’ve all been up to. For a look forward to 2015 please see Striving for Significant Advocacy Milestones in 2015

Changes to Board and advisory positions are detailed below — the updated positions are listed at cazbike.org/contact

(unapproved) MEETING MINUTES:

The meeting was called to order by president, Bob Beane, at 1:00 pm. Having made introductions during the preceding lunch/meet-and-greet period, the board was recognized by raising hands. The agenda for the meeting was then reviewed.
Joe Perez, City of Phoenix, was not present due to schedule conflict, but hoped to arrive before the meeting concluded. As such, regional/community CAzB advocate discussions were moved to into this agenda slot.
  • Glendale (presented by Gail Hildebrant) – Gail reported on the initiative to prepare a short bicycle-related law enforcement training course for the Glendale Police Department. As a foundation, a similar course outline from Cary, NC, was used with permission of the creators of that course. CAzB board and advisors reviewing/editing the material included Gail, Eric Post, Ed Beighe, Radar and Sharon Matt and Bob Beane. Gail’s presentation of the draft course materials was very well received by reviewers from Glendale PD. Instructor voice over will be provided by Glendale PD using agreed instructor text. Reviewers suggested the possibility of a second module in the near future, due to the amount of content not able to be included in the initial 15 minute course. The intention of the CAzB is to offer the same course content to all law enforcement agencies throughout the state in an effort to reach common understanding of Arizona Laws and related safe bicycling practices between bicyclists and law enforcement.
  • Yuma (presented by Gene Dalbey) – Gene reported that he has had a number of successful contacts and meetings with Yuma County officials, the Mayor of Yuma and other city officials. The emphasis of his discussions has been bicycle safety. He has also taken the approach of “It’s about Yuma”, which can have tourism, economic impact and health aspect. One local perception is that there are some road cyclists exhibiting bad bicycle behavior. Gene put together a 100K major bicycling event for the Yuma Centennial, and is trying to follow that with at least one recreational ride per month. Gene noted that Yuma has a very high unemployment rate, and that a number of people ride bikes because they don’t own or can’t afford to operate a car. Gene is working on forming a Yuma Regional Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and is working on some signature events such as a closed-course ride on the General Motors test track that could draw participants from all over AZ and outside the state.
  • Tucson (presented by Wayne Cullop) – Wayne reported that one of the main issues in Tucson are the trolley tracks near the University of Arizona. The Living Streets Alliance is compiling information on the numerous crashes related to those tracks. Regarding Tucson bicycling infrastructure, “The Loop” is a large loop route, mostly pathway, that is substantially completed but with a few remaining sections and challenges to be addressed. One issue on The Loop is the speed of some bicyclists, as the paths are shared with pedestrians and slower riders. Bob Beane noted that similar infrastructure in the SF Bay area has a 15 mph speed limit. Wayne also reported that GABA-Tucson is running a Bike Ambassador program that includes “Bicycling 101” education classes, bike maintenance classes, bike repair events, Cyclovia and Perimeter Bicycling bike patrol. There is a bike repair program available for Boys/Girls Clubs, grade schools, etc. Wayne also reported that the bicyclist diversion program is working well and is full (bicyclists cited for traffic violations may avoid driver’s license points by attending this educational program). Car/bicycle crash data in Tucson continues to be “scrubbed” in order to have the most accurate causal data possible.


Michael Sanders, ADOT Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator, discussed priority topics related to ADOT and the Federal Highway Administration, as relates to bicyclists. ADOT’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan has been signed by Governor Jan Brewer. This plan includes as a priority non-motorized roadway users. As a result, some bicycle-related safety project could be funded by the FHWA (note: opportunity for advocates to identify and push important safety-related projects…can we include driver and bicyclist education in projects for funding?). FHWA also the following focus areas for AZ: (1) Pedestrians, (2) Intersections, (3) Roadway/lane departure crashes (note: rumble strips are the instinctive/preferred roadway engineer solution to this, which is generally not good for bicyclists’ available riding space and safety). How can bicyclists have a voice and make a difference? Get to know your ADOT District Engineer, and attend State Transportation Board meetings (held around the state…check their calendar).
Anthony Quintile, Flagstaff Biking Organization (and General Manager of Absolute Bikes, Flagstaff) discussed the bicycling environment in Flagstaff. IMBA has made a grant for a bike park in Flagstaff. Flagstaff has a trail network and trail user events, generally weekly. FBO conducts both MTB and road cycling advocacy, organizes a Bike to School day (900 students this year), helps promote Bike to Work Week (this year, 13th annual, 1500 participants logged in), Mega Bike Rodeo (160 kids this year, 35 business sponsors). Flagstaff (City and County) has a texting and driving ban and bond issue on the ballot for roadway improvements that would benefit bicyclists. A recent ADOT pavement preservation project between Flagstaff and Snowbowl resulted in rideable paved shoulder the whole route. FBO has worked with Navajo school to change policy to allow bikes at dorms, and has an ongoing communication with Sheriff’s department to address a few issues that have come up with bicyclists (in particular, on Lake Mary Road). A number of lanes on streets have had sharrows added, and some green bike lanes are now in place.
Bob Beane presented a brief list of CAzB accomplishments and reviewed a list of upcoming known opportunities for 2015, including:
  • POST training material review (in progress)
  • Glendale PD training class course content (in progress)
  • US Bicycle Route – Help insure bicycling community involvement
  • AZ Tourism – Content for web site
  • ADOT bicycle-relate program participation (ongoing)
  • Growing CAzB membership and volunteer base
A discussion of CAzB’s role in AZ followed, which has historically been focused on education, non-lobbying advocacy, connecting and supporting local/regional advocates, outreach and participation in community/state organizations as a representative of the bicycling community.
Suggestions from attendees included:
  • Wayne Cullop – Organize an annual meeting of all AZ advocates and a follow-up day visiting state representatives.
  • Spencer Scharff – Web site upgrade.
Board Elections – added to the board by unanimous vote of members attending were:
  • Sharon Matt
  • Spencer Scharff

Two donations of $1,000 each were approved to We-Cycle; and The Yuma Mission’s bike program. (more on this later).

The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 pm.


Respectfully submitted,

 

Robert A. Beane
 

Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists Striving for Significant Advocacy Milestones in 2015

CAzBike pres.
Bob Beane

Bob is the Coalition’s President. 

The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists began in 1991 with a dream of developing an effective statewide bicycling advocacy organization/network in Arizona. When we consider that meant developing a functioning team across geography the size of New England, with 45% of New England’s population, this was no small task. Early on, the founders expanded the group to include members from metro-Phoenix and metro-Tucson. In more recent years, the CAzB built a leadership team that included advocates from Kingman and the Verde Valley. In 2014, the group expanded further to add board and advisory board members from Yuma and Flagstaff, and we have assisted and/or worked with advocates in Sierra Vista, Green Valley, Prescott and Casa Grande.

As we continue to broaden and strengthen the team, we are finding more ways to make a difference for bicyclists in Arizona. Here are a few examples of programs in progress or on the docket for 2015:

  • We have been given an opportunity to review and comment on AZ’s bicycle-related standardized training outline for law enforcement officers (POST training). Our interest is in trying to get bicyclists and law enforcement officers closer to a common understanding of bicycle-related laws in Arizona, and to become a resource for law enforcement in that area.
  • Complementing the above, we have been invited to draft content for a short (15 minute) on-line police officer training course, bicycling related, for the City of Glendale PD. The reaction to the material has been extremely positive (of course, we provided much too much content), to the extent that the reviewers are suggesting that a second module be done to include more of the material.
  • The US Bicycle Route system is taking shape across the country, and we are being asked to help foster bicycle community involvement and comment on proposed route segments in Arizona.
  • After a presentation by Michael Sanders, ADOT Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator, that touched on Federal Highway Administration priorities, we want to alert the bicycling community to the potential for rumble strip issues in our future. FHWA is increasingly concerned about lane departure vehicle crashes, for which the top perceived remedy is rumble strips. Location, design and frequency of using rumble strips are all on the table. We want to publicize this and make sure our advocates keep a watchful eye for this issue in 2015.
  • Helping AZ Tourism promote bicycle-related tourism is another opportunity for us in 2015. We believe that AZ Tourism needs web site content (great ride descriptions, photos, video, etc.), and there has been initial feedback that we can work with them to accomplish this.

Other projects on the horizon include continued involvement in the ADOT bicycle-related safety plan and ongoing programs where bicyclist input is needed. Also, at least three new bicycle parks are being built between 2014-2015 (Mesa, Sedona and Flagstaff), and the Maricopa Association of Governments is in the design stage of a project to brand and sign the network of canal paths throughout metro-Phoenix. Great strides are being made in Yuma to revitalize bicycling there, including nearly monthly recreational events and a return of the North End Classic road race…Articles for IMBA and the LAB are planned to help promote these positive developments. There are “bicycle friendly” applications to review, infrastructure project rankings to do, and so much more.

So much is going on, and so many opportunities exist, that the CAzB leadership has come to the conclusion that we are primarily constrained by volunteer/member resources. That leads us to the final goal I’ll discuss for 2015: more resources. Please take a few minutes to visit our Facebook page (hopefully, you’ll “like” us while you are there) and our web site at www.cazbike.org. Also, please consider becoming a member and/or making a donation of time or financial assistance. We are a 501 c 3 non-profit organization. All of us are volunteers, and many work long hours for nothing more than the satisfaction of knowing that we are helping Arizona become a better, more safe place to ride a bicycle. Thanks for your time!

Bob Beane, President
Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists