This presentation is a general overview of bicycling, suitable for general audiences, and was prepared and presented by Coalition President Bob Beane to the Phoenix Rotary on Wednesday 4/8/2015.
View the presentation on drive.
Category: advocacy
Arizona Legislation
Arizona’s 52nd Legislature – First Regular Session is now in full swing. Below is a brief guide to following legislation in Arizona… For the nuts-and-bolts of how a bill becomes law, the multiple “readings”, and the COW, and so forth, see e.g. this document from azpolicy.org Continue reading Arizona Legislation
Arizona Specialty License Plates
Arizona currently has a mechanism for groups to sponsor and fundraise by ‘selling’ specialty plates to motorist who pay “an extra fee, $25 above the basic cost for a plate. The state keeps $8 for administrative costs and passes along the other $17 to sponsoring charities”. This is a per year fee. Continue reading Arizona Specialty License Plates
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.
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| 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.
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| 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”.
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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
League Announces Spring 2013 Bicycle Friendly Communities
League Announces Spring 2013 Bicycle Friendly Communities
Gilbert’s bronze status was renewed; Glendale garners an honorable mention on their application.
Arizona communities currently enjoying BFC status are
- Gold — Tucson/East Pima Region, Scottsdale
- Silver — Tempe, and Flagstaff
- Bronze — Chandler, Cottenwood, Gilbert, Mesa and Sedona
Read the LAB press release here. (dead link)
Arizona is 4th Highest
Arizona has the fourth highest percentage of population living in bicycle-friendly communities, the top 5 are
- Alaska – 46%
- New York – 42%
- Nebraska – 38%
- Arizona – 36%
- California – 35%
(there was a typo/miscacluation in the list originally published in the March-April 2013 issue of American Bicyclist magazine. The LAB will correct)
Arizona back in top-ten in LAB Bike Friendly States Ranking
The League of American Bicyclists released their Bicycle Friendly State rankings for 2013 last week. Arizona was ranked as the 10th most bike friendly state, after having fallen to 16th spot in the 2011 rankings.
“…In the Southwest, Arizona moved back into the top 10. Among other strides, the state completed its Bicycle Safety Action plan to improve bicyclist safety on Arizona’s highways.
‘The goal is to reduce the number of bicyclist fatalities and injury crashes with motor vehicles,’ said Michael Sanders, Arizona Department of Transportation’s bicycle and pedestrian program coordinator. “We ‘crash-typed’ nearly 750 reported crashes that occurred over a five-year period to better define the sequence of actions leading to the collision. For example, we found that over half of all crashes occurred while a motorist was making a right turn. The Plan consists of action items addressing potential changes to policies and education programs, or new tools, such as bicycle road safety audit guidelines, to improve bicyclist safety.’
More info and links to the LAB rankings and report card at tucsonvelo.com.
League announces Spring 2012 BFC
League Announces Spring 2012 Bicycle Friendly Communities
Cottenwood joins the ranks of BFC cities at the bronze level, and Tucson maintained Gold.
Arizona communities currently enjoying BFC status are
- Gold — Tucson/East Pima Region, Scottsdale
- Silver — Tempe, and Flagstaff
- Bronze — Chandler, Cottenwood, Gilbert, Mesa and Sedona
Read the LAB press release here.
letter: Western Canal Multi-Use Path Improvements at UPRR Crossing
Re: Western Canal Multi-Use Path Improvements at UPRR Crossing Continue reading letter: Western Canal Multi-Use Path Improvements at UPRR Crossing
Central Ave Phoenix gets a Road Diet
Over the weekend, the City of Phoenix successfully completed the addition of bike lanes along Central Avenue from Camelback Road to Bethany Home Road as part of a “Road Diet”.
Sunday afternoon, January 8th, there were many bicyclists already enjoying the addition. The Coalition commends and appreciates the efforts of the city of Phoenix and all authorities that continue to work to make forward progress in providing better, safer routes for bicyclists all over Arizona.
The roadway formerly had 3 lanes in each direction, and no specific bicyclist facility; after the “diet” there are 2 lanes in each direction plus a buffer-separated bike lane. There is detailed information from city staff linked at azbikelaw.org including specific engineering data, traffic counts, etc.