Projects funded for Safe Routes

Bill Lazenby represents the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists on the Safe Routes To School (SRTS) Advisory Committee, and participates in funding and project selections.

The following projects and amounts were recommended by the SRTS Advisory Committee and approved by the State Transportation Board for funding in Cycle 4.
Infrastructure
Gilbert School Crossings and Sidewalk Safety Improvements
Gilbert
$300,000
Joe Carlson Safe Routes To School
Douglas
$300,000
Wilson Primary School Sidewalks
Phoenix
$298,724
CHAMP Sidewalk Improvement Program
Pinetop – Lakeside
$296,022
SRTS in Prescott — Lincoln Elementary School
Prescott
$285,515
Total Infrastructure Projects
$1,480,261
Non-Infrastructure
Apache Junction Safe and Fit: Year 2
Apache Junction
$34,175
Walk. Bike. Get Fit.
Flagstaff
$117,000
Wilson Walk-n-Rollers
Phoenix
$120,000
Cottonwood Safe Routes To School Program
Cottonwood
$45,000
Williams Safe Routes To School
Williams
$45,000
Nogales SRTS Initiative
Nogales
$45,000
Safe Routes To School in Prescott
Prescott
$44,004
Bringing Schools & Neighborhoods Together for Safety
Tucson
$42,682
Round Valley in Motion
Springerville
$14,196
Sells-Indian Oasis Baboquivari USD SRTS Project
Sells
$2,082
Walking Wednesdays / Crossing Guard Kits
Maricopa
$10,150
Casa Grande Walk-n and Roll-n
Casa Grande
$5,460
Total Non-Infrastructure
$524,749
Materials and Regional Support
Pima Region Safe Routes To Schools
Tucson
$27,300

LAB ranks Arizona 9th Friendliest

The League of American Bicyclists has announced its 2010 Bicycle Friendly State Rankings (BFS). Arizona was ranked 9th overall bike friendliest state — slipping two places since last year. Arizona was awarded a bronze BFS designation in 2009.

It seems that the LAB BFS Rankings are a bit emblematic of the “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” nature of Arizona cycling. Here are a few examples:

  • Out of 50 states, we are rated highly (6th) in legislation, due primarily to our “3 foot safe passing distance” law and the general equivalency of bicyclists’ rights and responsibilities on the road…however, as a state don’t really educate drivers regarding bicyclists rights to the road (beyond sections of the drivers manual), we have not rigorously or consistently enforced the laws we do have and we still rank fairly high in bicyclist deaths as a percentage of driving/riding/roadway miles.
  • We dropped to 20th in policies and programs in the 2010 ranking. The LAB said last year that we were 49th out of 50 states in utilizing federal Highway Safety Improvement Program funds. ADOT has seemingly abdicated their responsibility in this area: the state has effectively turned its back on a program that has a 90% federal to 10% local funding ratio. Given Arizona’s budget situation, this is just incredible. I inquired of the current governor (via e-mail) how this could be, and got no response. I hear from ADOT’s Bike/Pedestrian advocate that this situation will improve, but at last check nobody was driving this program within ADOT.
  • The good news: A Context Sensitive Solution revamping of Hwy 179 from Village of Oak Creek to Sedona is nearing completion, and it is a shining example of what could be done in some of the most scenic and bike-able areas of our state. The process was put in place by ADOT, to their credit, and our Advisory Board member, Randy Victory, led the bicyclist accommodation “charge”. Legislators, city officials, tourism officials, and citizens in general need to wake up and smell the Gatorade. We’ve got natural beauty, climate, fiscal opportunities and a national health crisis that are all point to the same thing: Make AZ a better, safer place to bike and it will move the needle in a positive direction on many fronts.
  • More good news: The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists has made great strides this year in locating matching funds for a full time director, in uniting advocates around the state and in making alliances with sponsors such as Trek Bicycles to develop an increased membership base and a more cohesive advocacy voice in Arizona.

What seems so obvious to those of us who ride a bike seems philosophically out-of-reach to many officials in our state and many of the non-bicycling public. But there are shining examples of what is possible, and changing the past scenario is CAzB’s mission. We appreciate the support of our members and contributors as we continue to pursue a safer and more bicycle-friendly Arizona.

Bob Beane, President
Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists

Tour de Payson Revived

CAzBike Pres. Bob Beane (kneeling…or maybe ducking
because he know the hills the riders will soon confront)
with a mini-peloton of some of PMBC’s best riders
who have just refueled at SAG #1 on the outward
leg of Doll Baby Ranch Road.

CAzBike president, and Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club member Bob Beane recently organized a revival of the PMBC’s Tour de Payson ride, which took place on Saturday, May 8. This event had not been conducted since 2005. This year, the Payson community (Mayor Kenny Evans, Parks & Recreation champion Mary McMullen and local bike/multi-sport shop owner Mick Wolf) stepped up big time to support the event.
73 brave cyclists participated in this scenic but lung-busting adventure. Based on the positive feedback, 100+ riders are expected next year.

“Three foot” Signs to remind drivers

Coalition president (at the time in early 2007) Bill Lazenby worked with Phoenix councilman Greg Stanton to get  the huge (eigth feet wide) signs produced. “The 3 feet is not a recommendation, it’s the law,” Councilman Greg Stanton said.

New signs warn motorists of bicyclists on Pecos Road
By Doug Murphy, Staff Writer AFN. February 2, 2007

Phoenix Councilman Greg Stanton (speaking), George
Eschak-Gage, Rita Anselmo. photo taken 3/17/2009
at the unveiling.
More than two years after Don Anselmo was run down on Pecos Road while riding his bicycle, and two months after George Esahak-Gage was hit on his bicycle while riding on Chandler Boulevard, [by a red-light runner exiting I-10] the city is preparing to install giant signs reminding motorists that the law says they must stay 3 feet away from bicyclers when passing.
“The 3 feet is not a recommendation, it’s the law,” Councilman Greg Stanton said.
It will take a few weeks for the signs to arrive and for installation to begin. “These signs will appear first in Ahwatukee and then all around the city,” Stanton said.
For local bicyclist Jim Barry, it’s about time.
“Drivers just don’t seem to either notice us or care,” he said Wednesday during a break in his rainy day ride along Pecos Road. “I don’t think the signs will be a magic bullet, but at least it’s something.” The signs will first go up along Pecos Road and then expand to other parts of Ahwatukee Foothills and the city.
While vehicle/bicycle crashes occur everywhere, Stanton said Ahwatukee Foothills is particularly vulnerable because it attracts so many bicyclists. “I actually think that bicycling is what makes Ahwatukee, Ahwatukee,” he said.
In 2004, Anselmo, a 68-year-old retired electrical engineer, was struck while in the middle of the 8-foot-wide shoulder near 24th Street on Pecos Road – far from the flow of traffic – by a pickup driven by Clinton Cabanillas, according to police.
Anselmo died instantly. Cabanillas was never charged in the crash.
In November, Esahak-Gage and his wife Jane were returning to Ahwatukee Foothills after a morning ride when they were struck by 23-year-old Jose Juarez. Juarez had no driver’s license or auto insurance and was cited for that, plus failure to control his vehicle before being released, according to the Department of Public Safety.
Esahak-Gage received major injuries, including broken bones and a ruptured artery that almost killed him. His wife received minor injuries. A triathlon on Sunday was held to help raise money for Esahak-Gage’s medical bills.

Signs will point to bike safety
Foothills selected to post warnings alerting motorists
Kerry Fehr-Snyder, The Arizona Republic, Feb. 3, 2007

Phoenix has selected Ahwatukee Foothills for bike safety signs to remind motorists that they must give cyclists at least three feet of roadway.
The signs, which could be 8 feet wide by 3 feet tall compared with standard street signs that are about 2 by 3 feet, come more than two years after a retired engineer cycling along Pecos Road was struck and killed by a car and about three months after a triathlete was seriously injured when struck by a car on Chandler Boulevard.
The driver walked away without a ticket in the Pecos Road incident in which Don Anselmo died, outraging fellow cyclists and other Valley residents.
His widow, Rita Anselmo, and other bicyclists groups pushed for the signs “because you know, motorists think they own the road down there,” Rita Anselmo said.
Phoenix plans to erect the signs first along Pecos Road as part of a pilot program that will be rolled out to other popular bicycle routes, said John Siefert, Phoenix’s traffic engineering supervisor.
“Pecos Road is just a phenomenally popular road used by joggers, cyclists, hikers, and it’s closest to Ahwatukee,” he said. “Ahwatukee has a great audience for this.”
Siefert said the city plans to place four to six signs along Pecos, which is on the southernmost edge of Ahwatukee and is a relatively open area that could handle the large signs.
Smaller signs that would measure 24 by 30 inches are planned for busier roads in Phoenix where other signs compete for drivers’ attention.
The city has yet to fix a program cost, he said. That will depend on the number, size and location of signs, which have yet to be determined.
Phoenix unveiled a mockup of the signs on Sunday during a fund-raiser attended by 150 people for injured triathletes George and Jane Esahak-Gage. They were pedaling over Interstate 10 on the Chandler Boulevard overpass toward Ahwatukee when a car driven on an I-10 off ramp by Jose Juarez hit them.
Juarez, 23, was cited with failing to control his speed, driving without insurance and driving without a license. The bicyclists had a green light, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
The accident brought bicycle safety to the forefront in Ahwatukee Foothills, a Phoenix village that uses a drawing of a bicycle to identify the 88,000-resident community.
“Of course you always think about the future – your kids’, your grandkids’, your friends’, yourself,” Rita Anselmo said in lobbying for the signs. “Why don’t we have a real bike route for these people?
“On the village signs for Ahwatukee, it’s bikers. Hello, how about doing something for them?”
Phoenix City Councilman Greg Stanton, who represents the area, said he immediately liked the idea of erecting large signs throughout Phoenix to warn motorists that giving cyclists 3 feet of roadway is the law, not just a courtesy.

Flagstaff gets Silver BFC

League Announces Spring 2010 Bicycle Friendly Communities

Flagstaff, Ariz. also moved up from their 2006 Bronze designation to Silver. The community is known for its commitment to investing in cycling and encouragement efforts, such as the citywide commuter challenge, the world-class Flagstaff Urban Trails System and 200 miles of singletrack.

Arizona communities currently enjoying BFC status are Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa (Bronze); Scottsdale, Tempe, Flagstaff (Silver); and Tucson/East Pima Region (Gold).

“Green Riders” plan stop in Flagstaff: May 4

The brother and sister team of Catherine and Oliver Bock, also known as the “Green Riders,” will be stopping in Flagstaff next Tuesday during their two-month journey from Palo Alto, California, to Washington DC on electric recumbent bicycles.
You can meet the Bocks at Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 4, 2010. Stop by and say hello!
The Green Riders are undertaking this journey with the goal of exploring sustainable solutions being created all across the country. Stops in towns and cities along the route are planned to explore and celebrate a variety of innovative people and projects dedicated to sustainability.
More information is available at www.thegreenriders.org

May is BIKE MONTH!

Since 1956, the League of American Bicyclists, with the support of bicycle organizations throughout the United States, has proclaimed May as National Bike Month. It’s interesting to consider the impact bicycling has had on our culture.

In the late 1800s, times were undergoing tremendous change. Inventions such as the telephone and the light bulb were poised to radically change America. Mechanized farming was revolutionizing agriculture. It’s noteworthy that even with these modern inventions, 51% of all patent applications in 1899 were bicycle related – 49% were EVERYTHING ELSE combined. This is not surprising considering the importance transportation has in our culture. Some of the first automobile manufacturers, such as Ford, Rover, and Mercedes-Benz, started out with bicycles – the automobile was still years away. And these early bikes rolled on tires made by Dunlop and Michelin. The bicycle was the mother of inventions such as pneumatic tires, statistical quality control, alloying of metals for light weight and strength, road maps, driver’s licenses, vehicle insurance, and sadly, planned obsolescence and even “chop shops”. Bicycle advertisements featured attractive models posing with the latest products. There were bicycle ambulances, bicycle postmen, and even bicycle traffic cops (often ex-bicycle racers) who would chase down and ticket “scorchers” – what we now refer to as “speeders”. The inventors of the era’s high-technology, the “aero plane”, were bicycle manufacturers Orville & Wilbur Wright. In fact, Orville was a former bike racer himself! The bicycle was as influential in the 1890s as the personal computer was in the 1990s
Because it was impossible to ride a bicycle wearing traditional long dresses, female cyclists adopted “rational dress” – pantaloons which exposed the ankle. Women were arrested, which led many women to re-think their place in society: “Why can’t WE wear pants, work like men, and vote?” Susan B. Anthony said, “I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a Wheel. The picture of free, untrammeled womanhood!” This new “freedom machine” was important in the struggle for women’s rights. On Sundays, cyclists who worked the standard six-day work week opted for all-day bike rides, foregoing church services. Noting a significant drop in attendance, some churches embraced the bicycle, offering outdoor services and valet parking. Others decried the invention. On a Sunday morning in 1896 a Baltimore preacher thundered from his pulpit: “These bladder-wheeled bicycles are diabolical devices of the Demon of Darkness. They are contrivances to trap the feet of the unwary and skin the nose of the innocent. They are full of guile and deceit. When you think you have broken one to ride and subdued its wild and Satanic nature, behold it bucketh you off in the road and teareth a Great Hole in your pants! Look not on the bike when it bloweth upon its wheels, for at last it bucketh like a bronco and hurteth like thunder. Who has skinned legs? Who has a bloody nose? Who has ripped breeches? They that dally along with the Bicycle!” Yes, the bicycle was definitely an engine for social change.
Often, when I’m teaching bicycle safety classes, students will ask me, “Don’t bikes follow the same rules as cars?” The unexpected answer is, “Well, sort of. Actually, cars follow the same rules as bikes.” Traffic law and principles underwent an important period of rapid development and refinement from the 1880s into the early 1900s as the roads were inundated with scores of cyclists. These thousands of new roadway users needed a body of regulations to reduce accidents and smooth traffic flow. They also demanded better roads. The Good Roads Movement took off in the United States beginning in May, 1880.  Advocates for improved roads led by bicyclists turned local agitation into a national political movement. In the early 1900s, when the automobile began production, this body of traffic laws and transportation infrastructure was quickly co-opted by motorists. If you appreciate having a place to drive your car, and to do so safely, you owe a debt to the humble bicycle.
Also see related post: Bicycle Riders as Disciples-of Progress.
Randy Victory, Cottonwood
League of American Bicyclists Cycling Instructor

Board Member, Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition

Two Arizona Cities Ranked in top 10 for Cycling

…by Forbes Magazine. Tucson was ranked #5, and Mesa #10.
The rankings were based on the 2010 Benchmarking Report from the Alliance for Bicycling & Walking.
“The cities on our list are those, according to the report, with the greatest percentage of people who ride their bikes to work. If a city has a greater percentage of bicycling commuters, it’s therefore more likely to be a bike-friendly city”. Read the full article from Forbes.