Month: October 2015

Bicycle Law Enforcement

Police play an essential role in supporting bicycle transportation by enforcing the traffic laws that allow all road users to reach their destinations safely. As bicycle travel has grown in popularity, the public has asked law enforcement to become more involved in bicycling issues. This can present challenges for police, because misconceptions about safe bicycling practices and state law are widespread among the public. The Bicyclist Safety and Law Enforcement in-service training program was developed by the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists in cooperation with the Glendale, AZ police department to provide the most accurate and relevant information available to Arizona police officers. The program covers relevant traffic laws, common crash types and frequency, best bicycling practices, and effective enforcement techniques so that law enforcement officers can be confident when discussing bicycling issues with the public, and can effectively prioritize related enforcement and outreach activities to promote public safety.

Thanks to BikeWalk NC who developed the original material

This brief e-learning training video that will be used internally for all Glendale Police officers. Most of the material refers to state-wide laws and statistics; and is not specific to Glendale. The material was adapted for use in Arizona by the Coalition from Education Resources for Police created by BikeWalk NC.

Special thanks for Glendale Police personnel for their help in developing and reviewing the presentation: Chief Deborah Black, Detective Dan Mooney, Detective Ted Yoder, Officer Andy Lynes, and narrator Bicycle Officer Brian Ong.

The presentation is available in the following forms

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The Fruits of Police Training

News Item February 4, 2017

This is why training law enforcement is so important; beyond sworn officers, dispatchers should be informed as to the laws so as not to waste police resources on such non-issues. Do motorists call police when they are impeded by a slow-moving truck or bus? If they do, are police then dispatched? No, of course not, they would change lanes and pass; problem solved without any police intervention. News Item:

February 4 (2017): Traffic Hazard – 8:33 a.m. — Pacific Coast Highway and Seal Beach Blvd — the caller said approximately 30 bicyclists were taking up the entire no. 2 lane. According to police unit S21, none of the bicyclists were violating any laws. No further law enforcement services were required.

Police undoubtedly found bicyclists were indeed using the entire right-hand lane, and it was narrow; correctly determining this is not a violation, and is in fact the recommended and most safe lane position.

 

CAzBike Membership ANNUAL Meeting: Sat Oct 31, 2015

  • Where: Radisson Hotel Chandler-Phoenix 7475 W Chandler Blvd, Chandler, AZ 85226 Located just east of I-10 on south side of Chandler Blvd.
  • When: Sat Oct 31, 2015, room available 12 noon – 4pm. Meeting begins at 12:30p

At this point it looks like food will not be served.

The meeting is open to the public — please drop us a line if you plan to attend cazbike@cazbike.org of check-in on facebook.

Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists
2015 Annual Meeting
Agenda (12:30 pm – 4:00 pm)

Introductions of attendees
Treasurer’s Report
2015 – AZ Year in Review
Board Member Nominations/Elections
2016 – Priorities and Goals Discussion
Other Agenda Items (time permitting)

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2015 – AZ Year in Review

Law Enforcement Training Module completed (joint effort with Glendale PD – Review/Discuss)

ADOT – Safety initiatives, policy shift? (Chandler Blvd bike lanes over freeway approved), BFS ranking (19th, down from 15th in 2014)

LAB – BFC, BFU additions (Phoenix, ASU)
Regional/Local Progress

Yuma – Bicycling events, bicycle safety, sidewalk riding, active Yuma Regional Bicycle Coalition, Bicycle Facility Master Plan, Rails-to-Trails project/infrastructure, etc.
Tucson/East Pima Region – Loop (55+ miles) expansion, bond issue TBD including Veldrome funding, Vulnerable User law push, etc.
Metro-Phoenix – Updated MAG bikeways map published/distributed, MAG canal path wayfinding/signage project approved, Mesa MTB park opens, Phoenix Proposition 104 passes (includes funding for multi-modal including >1,000 miles of bike lanes), Phoenix receives $10.3 M grant for canal path improvements, Tempe and MAG bike counts,
Sedona – New MTB park approved and under construction.
Flagstaff – 72 bike racks installed at 27 FUSD schools, Flagstaff Bicycle Safety Initiative.
Other?

2016 – Priorities and Goals Discussion

CAzB role discussion (advocate network/support vs general membership growth…or both, state and regional issues vs local involvement, focus on municipalities vs legislature…or both, etc.)
Opportunity/Push for Law Enforcement training elsewhere in AZ
State Bicycling Summit (4/1/16)
Tucson velodrome assistance (matching funds)
Pecos Freeway bicycle path/route/access
Fund-raising ideas discussion (including license plate)
Regional/local goals/objectives discussion