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Light Rail Grand Opening Celebration


The Coalition exhibited at Metro Light Rail’s Grand Opening Celebration.

The booth was in Tempe on Opening Day, December 27, at Veteran’s Way & College Ave.) from 10AM to 5PM.

More photos from grand opening here.

Cycling and Light-Rail go hand-in-hand since each extends the destination horizons of the other. So whether you are primarily a Light-Rail / Bus rider or primarily a cyclist, you can benefit from using both. We are asking for volunteers to staff the booth. You will be answering questions about bicycles on L-R vehicles and handing out safety fliers. If we have enough volunteers, we may have a second booth at the “Green Scene” in Tempe as well. Please contact cazbike@gmail.com if you can help.

L-R rides are free Saturday Dec 27 thru Wednesday, Dec 31 so you can help a couple hours and still have plenty of opportunity to “Ride the Rails” in smooth, quiet comfort with your (optional) bicycle on the rack (video demo).

And don’t forget to review the safety considerations of operating around the Light rail.

CAzBike 2008 Year in Review

For nearly twenty years CAzBike has been YOUR advocacy and education resource in Arizona. Made up of hundreds of individual and family members, as well as many supporting businesses and clubs, we have represented you across the state and nation.
Our advocates have represented Arizona Arizona at the Bike Education Conference in Austin Texas, The National Bike Summit in Washington DC, and The Pro Bike/Pro Walk symposium in Seattle Washington. Within Arizona our advocates have served….read the rest in .pdf

Pedaler should ride light rail: Bicycling on it is a danergous choice

The following guest editorial published Dec 10, 2008 Arizona (Phoenix) Republic was in reply to a “Letter to the Editor” (see comments for original letter).

Mr. Wilson advocates the use of Light-Rail Right-of-Way for cycling. I am very glad he touts the clean and healthy effects of our great sport and mode of transportation. As a League Cycling Instructor and a specialist in rail-bicycle issues, I am aghast at his disregard of his own safety and the legitimate users of Light-Rail (L-R) and the streets. Let me detail the dangers he creates.
L-R trains have been running in our streets for over a year now and will soon be running almost around the clock. “Not-yet-in-use” is a fantasy that is clearly self-destructive to one’s life.
“Pothole free” is one of his claims. In fact there are two holes in the road for every track. They are a bit more than an inch wide and miles long. They are the flange groves of the track itself that can grab a wheel in a split second. The next split second, the cyclist’s body will collide with that smooth concrete, or whatever is nearby. I have such a picture in my safety materials.
L-R vehicles are fast and very quiet. Mr. Wilson may be temporarily away from automobiles, but he will encounter trains, whether he sees or hears them, or not. I say temporarily since there are intersections regularly. These intersections do have traffic lights to protect against close encounters of automobiles, pedestrians, L-R trains, and bicyclists following the rules of the road. For cyclists in the L-R Right-of-Way, there is no protection. Do we need to coin a new term here, namely Jay-rider?
Mr. Wilson claims, albeit tongue-in-cheek, that he is not “driving” on the tracks, and therefore not breaking the law. Aside from the few seconds that that argument might last before a judge says otherwise, driving a bicycle is exactly what we teach in our effective cycling classes. Riding is a passive approach that lets things happen to you. Driving is actively taking the responsibility of one’s own actions while keeping in mind the rules of the road and how to anticipate and avoid mistakes of others, 100% of the time!
The irony of this argument is that our L-R system is “Bicycle Friendly”. There are twice the Federally required number of bike racks on each vehicle. Additional space in the entryways may be used during non-peak hours. Lockers are provided at the park-and-ride stations. Metro Light-Rail has reached out to the cycling community recognizing that these modes of transportation go hand-in-hand. Each extends the destination horizons of the other.
My suggestion to Mr. Wilson: Drive your bicycle to the L-R station, then ride the train. Above all, “Watch Your Back, Keep Off the Track”.

Gene Holmerud
PE (AZ, Electrical, retired)
Rails-to-Trails Member #6246510
League Cycling Instructor #1193
Vice-President for Rail Safety and Access, Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists
Operation Lifesaver Presenter

Membership Meeting: Nov 17

The next Coalition Membership Meeting will be at 7PM at the Veterans Hospital (7th ST & Indian School Rd.). We wil meet in the ACC (Ambulatory Conference Center) conference room in the basement. Location

FEATURED SPEAKER:

Have you tried to ride your bicycle to a bus stop, then watch an arriving bus that already has the bicycle rack full? Are you anticipating using Light-Rail and fine that all 12 racks on a train are used, or are not confident on lifting your bicycle to the wheel hook near the cieling? If yes, LCI and Coalition board member Sharon Newman-Matt has a solution: A FOLDING bicycle. She will demonstrate and answer questions during the program.

Please join us. Munchies and drinks will be provided.

Bike Lane installed on 51st Street

The city of Phoenix has recently installed a bike lane on 51st Street in Phoenix (Ahwatukee), between Warner and Elliot roads [area map]. It is approximately one mile in length. The stretch has appeared (incorrectly) as a bike lane on the MAG Regional Bike Map for years and years.

Formerly, an annoying fog line demarcated an approximately two-foot shoulder, causing confusion about where cyclists should ride. The elimination of the fog line, the source of confusion, IS A DEFINITE PLUS. More details and photos here.

South Phoenix: Highline Canal Bicycle Path gets makeover

HURRAY! Our pleas have been heard.
The bike path from 40th St to Central Ave. has had it’s potholes patched and has been thoroughly swept of sand, gravel and debris. But most importantly, the approaches to 32nd St. have been fixed with asphalt paving. 32nd St and its bridge over the canal were widened a few months ago, and, basically, the path approaches were ignored by the contractor. Now they are very ridable.

I rode it both directions today (16th St to 40th St). Now there is pavement where there was so much sand washed in that previously I didn’t know there was pavement below it! The many cracks are still there, but most are hardly felt and virtually all are at 90-deg to the direction of travel so they are not a problem to steering. The Artistic and Improvement Project will be repaving from 40th St to 12th St over the next six or so months.

Gene

Light Rail is Coming!

Actually, it’s already here in heavy testing. Please take a moment to review the safety tips below.
There is a spiffy brochure that will be available soon.

Expect a train anytime from either direction around the light rail tracks. METRO light rail is vehicle testing on Valley roadways. Trains are out there everyday, with several trains out at one time. In the fall, trains will be testing such a regular rate, across all 20 miles that the system will appear in service. Specifically in the months of November and December, “simulated service” testing will occur and continue up until our grand opening on December 27, 2008.

So it is more critical than ever to practice safety around the METRO system. Please remember these key bicycle safety tips:

  • Never bike on light rail tracks and always walk your bike onto the station platform.
  • Obey traffic lights. A red arrow means “do not turn.”
  • Look both ways before crossing the tracks.
  • Light rail trains are quiet. Look for flashing headlights and listen for warning bells and horns.
  • When crossing the tracks at intersections, cross at an angle of least 60-degrees, but as close to 90-deg as practicable to avoid falling or tire damage.