Category: News

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Progress in the Santa Cruz Valley

The Santa Cruz Valley Bicycle Advocate Committee (SCVBAC) has had another successful year. This year’s Highlights and Objectives for next year are shown below. We appreciate the continued support and encouragement of Pima County, Sahuarita, ADOT, and the Green Valley Council to make all this happen. For updates to our “Master Plan” and “Projects Completed and Underway” since 2004, pls refer to our website, www.scvbac.org.
Thanks for continuing to make our region a real paradise to live and bike.
-Bill Adamson, Co-Chair SCVBAC

SCVBAC 2011 HIGHLIGHTS
1. FOUR BIKE LANE PROJECTS COMPLETED

  • SAHUARITA RD (I-19 – LA VILLITA)
  • I-19 EFR (CONTINENTAL RD – CANOA EXIT)
  • CONTINENTAL RD (LA CANADA – ABREGO)
  • WHITEHOUSE CANYON RD (OLD NOGALES HWY – CONTINENTAL SCHOOL)

2. TWO SHARED-USE PATHS COMPLETED

  • LA VILLITA (SAHUARITA RD – RANCHO SAHUARITA BLVD)
  • WHITEHOUSE CANYON RD (MADERA RESERVE – CONTINENTAL SCHOOL)

3. ANZA TRAIL

  • CONNECTED TO ABREGO TRAIL HEAD THRU TORRES BLANCAS GOLF CLUB
  • ALIGNMENT DEFINED THRU SAHUARITA

4. RIDE OF SILENCE – HELD 6TH ANNUAL RIDE

5. SANTA CRUZ VALLEY BIKE MAP UPDATED & 12,000 COPIES PRINTED

6. INCREASE RIDERSHIP – PLAN DEVELOPED AND INITIATED

7. CONTINUED COORDINATION, PLANNING, AND ADVOCACIES WITH:

  • PCDOT, SAHUARITA, ADOT, PAG
  • RTA BIKE/PED WORKING GROUP, TUCSON-PIMA COUNTY BAC
  • PC BOND ADVISORY COMM, PC CONSERVATION ACQUISITION COMMISSION
  • PC SHERIFF OFFICE – GREEN VALLEY SUBSTATION
  • GREEN VALLEY COUNCIL

Cottonwood Gets Sharrows

Cottonwood, AZ – December 16th, 2011, 12:00 – Bike shop owner Aaron Ruda was the first cyclist to use the sharrows painted on 12th Street in Cottonwood on Friday. The Public Works crew that had just painted the new roadway markings and can be seen driving away.  Shared-use lane markings, or “sharrows”, are used on roadways which are too narrow for bike lanes. They help remind motorists to share the road with bicycles, and indicate to cyclists the lawful direction of travel. Sharrows were adopted into the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) December 16th, 2009 – two years ago. The new shared-use lane markings in Cottonwood are the first to be installed in the Verde Valley. More info on sharrows can be found here.

photo/text Randy Victory

Meet Mary Kaye Black

Mary Kaye is the Coalition’s Eastern Arizona Representative, and currently serves on the Board of Directors. 
I currently live in Gilbert, but I grew up in Graham County. Since I spend a lot of time in Eastern Arizona, I cover that area of the state for the Coalition.
I started cycling a few years ago when I had to use a bike as my means of getting back and forth to school after wrecking my truck. I realized that I just loved the feeling of being able make the bike move faster or slower depending on my effort. One day as I was riding home after class at Mesa Community College, a road cyclist sailed by me with little or no effort, and I realized the cyclist that had just passed had given me a goal.
A few years later I got even more serious about cycling and started tracking my miles, and realized that one of my favorite things about cycling is that it a huge, “humbler.” You can ride the same course several days in a row and not have the same experience. Some days are hot, some days you have a head-wind, and some days are cold. The days that keep me cycling and keeping my wanting to learn how to ride better the days are typical sunny Arizona days when the pedals seem to have more than just the power that I give them to turn around, and I feel like I am flying.
I got involved with The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists when I had progressed enough on my own that I wanted to explore roads / highways outside the metro area and saw changes that needed to be mad to make cycling safer for everyone.
Arizona has some incredibly gorgeous scenary and great places where all types of cyclists, be they mountain bikers, road cyclists, those who participate in BMX, or those who are just out for a short ride on a cruiser can relax and have fun. We simply all need to work together and with our state and local governments and communities to make sure we keep cyclists in mind and make thing safer for all of us.

Meet Ed Beighe

Ed Beighe

Ed is the Coalition’s Webmaster. 
Ed has been riding primarily for transportation, and to enjoy the health benefits, from his home in the Ahwatukee area of Phoenix on a daily basis for over 10 years. Ed also enjoys recreational MTB riding on the many trails of nearby South Mountain Park, the “largest urban park in the United States”.
A twenty-year computer industry veteran, Ed handles the Coalition’s website and technology needs, and also writes a personal blog at azbikelaw.org, covering transportation safety, justice, engineering and other issues, as well as monitoring legal issues of particular interest to Arizona’s bicyclists.
Ed was named the Coalition’s “Volunteer of the year” in 2009, and currently is serving on the Board of Directors.
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Meet Sheila Foraker

Sheila Foraker

Sheila is the Coalition’s Southern Arizona Representative. 
I love bicycles. If it has at least two wheels, I’ll ride it (two wheel minimum, since I haven’t figured out unicycles). Knobby, skinny, 20″ – 29,” fixed, single or geared, its all good. I love to race, but I’m cool with taking it easy on the bike path.
My first bike was a blue and white girl’s 24″ Murray Missile. When my friends were getting bikes with banana seats I wanted one, too. My parents said there was nothing wrong with my bike. Sorry mom and dad-wrong answer! I bought a can of gray spray paint, a banana seat and high rise handle bars. Off with the fenders and chain guard and on with paint, seat and new bars. Soon I was crashing with the best of them and loving every minute.
Many bikes have taken me many miles since that Murray Missile, but I’ve never forgotten the freedom it offered. As a League of American Bicyclst’s Certified Instructor, I work to revive that feeling in people I teach. Whether working with kids or adults, road bikes or mountain bikes, its all the same. Getting people on bikes is always a good thing.

Traffic Skills 101: Dec 3 THIS SATURDAY

THIS SATURDAY!
This is our Nation’s premiere street bicycling program taught by instructors certified by the League of American Bicyclists. Learn the basics of bicycle and helmet fit. Learn state bicycle laws. Learn how to predict and prevent crashes, and how to bail out as a last resort! Learn how to operate your bicycle in a skillful and confident manner, in any traffic — any time!
This class is designed to be of value to new and veteran cyclists. Class begins at 9am and finishes at 5pm. Global Bikes, 835 N. Gilbert Rd. #111 Gilbert, AZ 85234
Please visit www.meetup.com/Global-Bikes-Meetup/events/41668692/ for full information.

Meet Randy Victory

Randy Victory serves as CAzBike’s Northern Arizona Representative.

Chip & Karen Davis discussing
bicycling with Randy 

Known as “Ranger Randy,” Victory works at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood. He often patrols the park on his bicycle, offering his own special brand of friendly assistance to the public. Born in San Francisco, he grew up near Dallas, Texas, not far from six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong’s childhood home. After graduating from Redwood High School in Marin County, California –the birthplace of the mountain bike, Victory began cycling in the Rocky Mountains near Denver, logging 10,000 miles a year on his bike.
In fact, he lived an entirely car-free lifestyle, handling everything from commuting to shopping, “Although I really don’t miss riding through the snow in sub-zero temperatures!”

Volunteerism comes naturally to Victory, who was a Boy Scout and later volunteered as a National Mountain Bike Patroller, a program sponsored by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Besides trail building, he learned a lot about working with the public. “Volunteering really helped the Forest Service and the sense of fulfillment, accomplishment and service was phenomenal,” Victory says. “It also ended up leading to my current career!”
“Transportation is incredibly important to human beings. We even have a special symbol for people with mobility limitations. I’ve always believed that I should be able to freely choose my mode of transportation. If you look at our Federal budget, transportation is second only to defense. At the State level, transportation is the biggest budget item. According to the latest statistics, transportation costs for the average American household are second only to housing costs. So as you can see, we place a high regard on mobility. I’d like to help create a community where individuals actually have realistic choices about how to get to school, or work, or to the park – where they don’t just climb into a car because they’re afraid to get there any other way, or feel compelled to act as full-time chauffeurs to their kids because they feel the streets are unsafe,” Victory says.
Victory was the founder of the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition, a bicycle advocacy group whose membership promotes “share the road” principles, education, and bicycle infrastructure integration on behalf of the local community. Learn more by logging on to the VVCC Web site, www.vvcc.us. The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists asked him to serve on their board for a time, after Victory made three trips to the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. as part of the Arizona delegation. He also serves on the ADOT Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Cottonwood Bicycle Advisory Committee. “We don’t accomplish anything without the people around us,” Victory emphasizes.
In the coming years Arizona will probably be a lot bigger, and one of Victory’s goals is to work toward creating complete streets – streets that address the needs of pedestrians, bikes, cars, commercial traffic, kids, people who have had DUI or other license trouble or for some reason can’t drive, the disabled and adults – not just adults in cars.
The biggest challenge for cycling is compensating for the past 50 years of no education or bad education, Victory believes. “Education is a big part of the answer to so many of the world’s problems, and cycling is no exception. We need to help non-cyclists understand that infrastructure improvements and bicycle facilities benefit the entire community, not just bicyclists, and the time to put these improvements in place is now, while the cost is still low. Retrofits can often be a burden to the taxpayer.”
Promoting the bicycle as a preferred mode of transportation, Victory advises, “Just do it! Riding a bike is patriotic! And, if you’re going to do it, remember cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as operators of vehicles. Some folks ride their bikes in a manner driven by fear. So, they ride illegally and unpredictably.”  A League of American Bicyclists Cycling Instructor, Victory advises bicyclists not to do anything on bicycles that they wouldn’t do in cars, like riding on the sidewalk or against traffic.
There’s never a dull moment in Victory’s life. “After so many years acting as a full-time bicycle advocate, it’s nice to be able to branch out.” he says. He is still active as a cycling advocate, a National Mountain Bike Patrol Instructor,  teaches beginner mountain bike classes, spends a fair amount of time riding & wrenching on bikes, and even gets to hang out at the local bike shop!
It’s not surprising that Victory’s favorite quote is Albert Einstein recalling conceptualizing the Theory of Relativity, “I thought of that while riding my bike.”

Phoenix Political Pedal Power (P4) endorses greg Stanton

During the November 1, 2011 meeting of Phoenix Political Pedal Power (P4), the responses from the Candidates for Mayor of Phoenix were evaluated. P4 sincerely appreciates the time and effort given by each candidate.

The objectives of P4 are to influence the elections and decisions of City policy makers towards the betterment of Phoenix so that our favorite mode of transportation and recreation is encouraged, education is provided on safe and effective use of a bicycle, facilities are engineered in the same way, rules of the road are enforced for all users of the roadways, and how these efforts are progressing is evaluated regularly. Some of the questions included aspects of sustainable living. Cycling and sustainability, particularly the public transit aspects, have a strong synergy. Each benefits from the other, hence this topic was included in our questions.

The members found that a few of the answers were equally in line with our objectives. At the same time each candidate’s approach to the role of City Government became apparent. We found that the preponderance of answers by Mr. Stanton were substantially more in line with our objectives. Further, Mr. Stanton’s track record of cycling considerations vis a vis question number six was clearly ahead in our judgement.

Therefore, Phoenix Political Pedal Power endorses Mr. Greg Stanton for Mayor of Phoenix and encourages anyone eligible to vote in this November 8 election to vote for him.

CAzbike Officers

The (new) Board of Directors elected the following slate of officers at their first meeting which was held October 17, 2010:

  • Bob Beane – President 
  • Bob Jenson – Vice President 
  • Kathy Mills – Vice President of Education 
  • Gail Hildebrandt – Treasurer 
  • Sheila Foraker – Secretary

Results of elections for Board of Director seats at the 2011 Annual meeting held Oct 10:


Gene Holmerud, and Alison Van Uum will be stepping down as board members — the Coalition would like to thank them for all their hard work over the years. Alison will stay on as Membership Chair, and Gene will continue to monitor Rail safety issues relating to bicyclists.

The following board members will retain their seats:

  • Sterling Baer, 
  • Bob Beane, 
  • Sheila Foraker, 
  • Bob Jenson, 
  • Mike Kitchen, 
  • Kathy Mills.

New board members include:

  • Ed Beighe; Ed is currently the Coalition’s webmaster.
  • Mary Kaye Black; Mary Kaye is the Coalitions Eastern Arizona Representative.
  • Wayne Churchman; Wayne is also PBAA’s event director for El Tour de Mesa.
  • Gail Hildebrandt; Gail formerly served as Coalition president.
  • Sheryl Keeme; Sheryl is the founder of Girls Gone Riding., and organization to help and encourage women to participate in bicycling.

Officers will be elected at the next board meeting.
For those of you who plan in advance: the Coalition’s 2012 Annual Membership Meeting will be held Monday September 10, 2012.