Author: News Letter

ADOT Continues Work to Develop Documents to Improve Safety for People Walking and People on Bikes

The Arizona Department of Transportation is continuing to develop guidance documents on ways to improve safety for people who walk and people who bike. The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists participated in the development and provided input on the 2023 and 2024 plans. It is our goal as Active Arizona, to be involved in the development of the 2026 State Active Transportation Plan.  Continue reading ADOT Continues Work to Develop Documents to Improve Safety for People Walking and People on Bikes

Maps, Maps, and More Maps

When advocating for better active transportation infrastructure, maps can be helpful for both doing research and presenting information. Many government agencies, communities and other organizations have maps available for public use. There are maps showing crash locations, roadway safety projects, traffic volumes, travel times, and more.

In this article, we highlight some of the maps that members of the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists have found helpful. Examples of the following types of maps are listed below.

  • Bicycle Lane Maps
  • Community Development Maps
  • Crash Location Maps
  • Motorized Traffic Volume Maps
  • Non-motorized Traffic Volume Maps
  • Recreation Map
  • Roadway Condition Maps
  • Roadway Ownership Maps
  • Roadway Safety Project Map
  • Suggested Improvements Maps
  • Travel Distance Maps
  • Vehicle Ownership Map

Continue reading Maps, Maps, and More Maps

Low Stress Bicycle Facilities Increase Bicycle Use as Transportation

While we have known for some time that bicycle infrastructure leads to more people on bicycles, recent research published in Nature Cities quantified the amount that protected bicycle lanes increase roadway use by people on bicycles. This study, conducted in 28 different cities in the United States, found that more people ride bicycles and that people ride farther when there are protected bicycle lanes.  Continue reading Low Stress Bicycle Facilities Increase Bicycle Use as Transportation

Economics and Bicycling in Arizona  

 As people involved in bicycle advocacy, we often hear people who don’t support active transportation talking about bicycle infrastructure as if it adds no value or creates some sort of burden on our communities.  

This article provides responses to some of those statements.   

  Continue reading Economics and Bicycling in Arizona  

FHWA Bike Lanes on Higher Speed Roads Summary

 

In June of 2024, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released their guidance on Separated Bike Lanes on Higher Speed Roadways: A Toolkit and Guide. The guide can be helpful for advocates and transportation planners in understanding how to promote and plan for the appropriate types of bicycle facilities on higher speed roadways.  In this article, the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists has summarized that guide. Continue reading FHWA Bike Lanes on Higher Speed Roads Summary

Arizona Bicycle Organizations – Volunteer and Riding Opportunities

Are you looking for bicycle advocacy or volunteer opportunities in your community or at the state or regional level?

Or are you looking for more opportunities to ride your bicycle?

The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists has compiled a list of advocacy groups, community organizations, and bicycle clubs. Continue reading Arizona Bicycle Organizations – Volunteer and Riding Opportunities

Stop as Yield aka “The Idaho Stop”

The Idaho Stop is the common name for any law that allows people who are riding bicycles to treat a stop sign as a yield sign, and/or a red traffic signal as a stop sign.

It is often referred to as the Idaho Stop as Idaho was the first state to adopt the law. Examples of existing laws are shown in the appendix below.

 States with Stop as Yield Laws in Place

Arkansas                   Effective 2019

Colorado                   Effective for Local Decision in 2018, State Law 2022

Delaware*                Effective 2017

Idaho                         Effective 1982

Minnesota*              Effective 2023

North Dakota*         Effective 2021

Oklahoma                 Effective 2021

Oregon*                    Effective 2020

Utah*                         Effective 2021

Washington*            Effective 2020

Washington DC*     Effective 2022

*Stop sign as yield only, not stop light

 States Considering Stop as Yield Laws in Recent Years

California                  AB73

New Jersey               A 1541 Title 39

New York                  S 920 1231-a

Virginia                      HB 2262 46.2-903.1

 CalBike “Bicycle Safety Stop” Efforts

There have been efforts in California over the last few legislative cycles in enact this law without success. The California Bicycle Coalition (CalBike) is one of the groups pursuing the “Bicycle Safety Stop” Law in 2023. This would allow people on bicycles to treat a stop sign as a yield sign, and would require traffic control signals be obeyed. CalBike created this video to explain the stop as yield process.  https://www.calbike.org/bicycle-safety-stop-law/

 Impact Study Results

Studies in Idaho and Delaware show significant decreases in crashes at stop-controlled intersections after the law was put in place.

Idaho – Bicycle injuries from traffic crashes declined 14.5%

Delaware – Traffic crashes involving bicycles at stop sign intersection declined 23%

NHTSA Fact Sheet

In their document Bicycle “Stop-As-Yield” Laws and Safety Fact Sheet, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration included the following statements:

“Bicyclist stop-as-yield laws allow cyclists to mitigate risk to their advantage, increase their visibility to drivers and reduce exposure.”

“[T]here is no evidence showing bicyclist stop-as-yield laws have increased bike conflicts with other bikes or pedestrians.”

“When bicyclists can maintain a safe but precautionary momentum through an intersection, it allows continuous traffic flow.”

https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2022-03/Bicyclist-Yield-As-Stop-Fact-Sheet-032422-v3-tag.pdf

Ad Hoc National Stop as Yield Group

There is an ad hoc group of Stop as Yield advocates coordinated through CalBike. There are currently representatives from California, Illinois, New York, Virginia, Michigan, Texas, Colorado, Utah, North Dakota, League of American Bicyclists, and DC. If interested contact Walt ‘The Bike Guy’ at bikeguy@surewest.net

 Current Arizona Law

  • Bicyclists riding in the road have the rights and duties of the driver of any non-motorized vehicle (§28-812)
  • The stop sign law (§28-855) and traffic control signal law (§28-645) require any driver of a vehicle (include non-motorized) to stop
  • Law does allow one to stop and ‘proceed with caution only when it is safe’ if the traffic signal is inoperable (§28-645) with mixed results for bicycle riders as a defense in court
  • Arizona does allow some local regulation of bicyclists, provided that ‘additional traffic regulations that are not in conflict’ with state law. (§28-627 §28-626)

The Coalitions of Arizona Bicyclists interpretation is that local ordinance cannot legalize Stop as Yield, and that state law change would be required. (This is not a legal opinion.)

Do you think stop as yield would be a good thing for people who ride bikes in Arizona?

Let us know by commenting below.

 

Appendix

Examples of Stop as Yield Laws

Idaho

49-720.  Stopping — Turn and stop signals. (1) A person operating a bicycle, human-powered vehicle, or an electric-assisted bicycle approaching a stop sign shall slow down and, if required for safety, stop before entering the intersection. After slowing to a reasonable speed or stopping, the person shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the person is moving across or within the intersection or junction of highways, except that a person, after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way, if required, may cautiously make a turn or proceed through the intersection without stopping.

(2)  A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a steady red traffic control light shall stop before entering the intersection and shall yield to all other traffic. Once the person has yielded, he may proceed through the steady red light with caution. Provided however, that a person, after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way, if required, may cautiously make a right-hand turn. A left-hand turn onto a one-way highway may be made on a red light after stopping and yielding to other traffic.

(3)  A person riding a bicycle shall comply with the provisions of section 49-644, Idaho Code.

(4)  A signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given during not less than the last one hundred (100) feet traveled by the bicycle before turning, provided that a signal by hand and arm need not be given if the hand is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle.

History:

[49-720, added 1988, ch. 265, sec. 209, p. 679; am. 2005, ch. 205, sec. 1, p. 615; am. 2019, ch. 84, sec. 6, p. 209.]

https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title49/t49ch7/sect49-720/

Washington, DC

A rider approaching a stop sign may go straight through the intersection or make a turn without stopping; provided, that the rider:

(1) Is traveling at an appropriate speed to reasonably assess and avoid hazards;

(2) Determines there is no immediate hazard; and

(3) Yields the right-of-way to pedestrians and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.”

DC Code § 50–2201.04d.(a)

Minnesota

Subd. 4a.Stopping requirements.

(a) For purposes of this subdivision, “in the vicinity”

means located in an intersection or approaching an intersection in a manner that constitutes a hazard of collision during the time that a bicycle operator would occupy the intersection.

(b) A bicycle operator who approaches a stop sign must slow to a speed that allows for stopping before entering the intersection or the nearest crosswalk. Notwithstanding subdivision 1 and section 169.06, subdivision 4, if there is not a vehicle in the vicinity, the operator may make a turn or proceed through the intersection without stopping.

(c) Nothing in this subdivision alters the right-of-way requirements under section 169.20.

The provisions under this subdivision do not apply when traffic is controlled by a peace officer or a person authorized to control traffic under section 169.06.

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF2887&type=ccr&version=0&session=ls93&session_year=2023&session_number=0

 

Here’s a List of Organizaations that Have Bicycles for People Who Need Them

While the Coalition of Arizona Bicycles doesn’t provide bicycles, there are groups throughout Arizona that refurbish bicycles and provide them to people who need bikes. These groups provide bicycles for adults and children. Some of these groups provide shop space for doing repairs, earn-a-bike programs, repair and maintenance instruction, and more. These groups have opportunities for volunteers and are often looking for donations of bicycles, parts, tools and/or cash.

Coconino County      https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=730728779081216&set=a.304668665020565

  • Coconino County Health and Human Services

Bicycles for people that need them for transportation

Flagstaff

Donates refurbished bikes to people in need

Repair space with tools

Bicycle repair and maintenance instruction

Fountain Hills

Donates refurbished bikes to children

Phoenix

For ASU students during school year

Repair space with tools

Bicycle repair and maintenance instruction

Some free maintenance services

Donates refurbished bikes to children

Donates refurbished bikes to children in foster care

Donates refurbished bikes to adults and children in need

Repair space with tools

Parts recycling

Bicycle education and outreach

Community event space

Mesa

For ASU students during school year

Repair space with tools

Bicycle repair and maintenance instruction

Some free maintenance services

Free rental bikes at Polytechnic campus

Groups can request up to 30 bicycles to refurbish and distribute to people in need

Donates refurbished bikes to adults and children in need

Repair space with tools

Sierra Vista

Library patrons may borrow a bicycle

Tempe

For ASU students during school year

Repair space with tools

Bicycle repair and maintenance instruction

Some free maintenance services

Repair space with tools

Build a bike program

Work trade program

Repair classes

Provides refurbished bicycles for refugees

Tucson

Repair space with tools

Earn a bike program (adults and kids)

Refurbished bikes for sale

Donates refurbished bikes to children in need

Yuma

Bike Shop

Bike repair and service

All these groups are looking for help in some way. You can volunteer your time, donate your unneeded bicycles and parts, or help in other ways. And if you know of an adult or a child that needs a bicycle and is not able to get one, see if one of these groups may be able to help.

Bike Lanes Make Roads Safer for All Road Users

Bike lanes reduce crashes and fatalities for all road users and make the roadway more comfortable for both motor vehicle drivers and people riding bicycles. According to Barbara McCann, the director of Safety, Energy & Environment at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), bicycle lanes “reduces the frequency of crashes. It calms traffic, which makes streets less chaotic and safer for everyone.”

The addition of bicycle lanes on streets has been shown to

        • Reduces frequency of crashes
        • Calm traffic
        • Encourage bicycle riders to stay off the sidewalk
        • Create a barrier between motor traffic and pedestrians
        • Make it clear to all road users which parts of the street are to be used by different users
        • Increase bike ridership
        • Reduce congestion for motorists

Ken McLeod of the League of American Bicyclists points out that

bike lanes of any kind calm traffic by reducing the width of the road, which signals to motorists that they should drive more carefully. Bike lanes also reduce the distance pedestrians are in contact with motor vehicles while crossing the street.

When protected bike lanes were installed on major streets fatalities fell by

38% in Chicago

40% in Denver

50% in San Francisco

60% in Seattle

75% in Portland, OR

A study in New York City found “when either conventional or protected bike lanes are added to NYC streets, risk of crashes and injuries decline by one-third and cyclist volumes increase by 50%.”

A study in San Francisco found that both motor vehicle drivers and bicyclists prefer separated bike lanes.

And a study in Chicago found that on roadways with bicycle rider specific traffic signals, cyclists are more likely to obey the red light than on streets without.

When advocating for better bicycle infrastructure you can use this information and point out that bike lanes are an USDOT Proven Safety Countermeasure. Keep in mind what Dan Burden, the founder of the Walkable and Livable Community Institute, says:

“The reason for bikeways is not just what they do for bicyclists, but what they do for the whole community.”

References:

People Who Ride Bicycles Have a Positive Impact on Local Economy

There are many studies that show people who ride bicycles in urban areas shop more often and spend more money with local businesses than people who drive cars. This means that in addition to supporting local businesses, bike riders are likely paying more money in local taxes that vehicle drivers.

When advocating for bicycle infrastructure, remember that government representatives, community leaders, and business owners typically underestimate the number of people who bike and how much money they spend. To help with these conversations, the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists is providing these references to bicycle economic impact studies.