Noticed by Locals (Ahwatukee), Unfortunately

Phoenix Police Officer (and Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator) Toby Ehrler met with a group of Ahwatukee cyclists before dawn on Thursday, October 2. He had requested any interested cyclist to be present. Coalition Board members (and LCIs) Radar Matt and I attended.

The issue arose from complaints by neighbors that cyclists were monopolizing the street and not observing stop signs. Officer Toby Ehrler encouraged compliance with the rules of the road and came up with a good means for riders in a group to comply with stop signs. That is, groups of four (2 sets of 2-abreast) following each other make their brief stops as a group, then proceed (when path is clear). He pointed out that 4 cyclists have about the same footprint as a motor vehicle, hence the spirit of the rules are followed. Being a cyclist himself, he can speak from experience.
Afterward, Toby assured us that the enforcement he is talking about is the same for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike. On that we agree.

One of the group members, while appreciating the education and advocacy work of the Coalition, expressed reservations about the meeting in an email. I replied that our involvement is that when any cyclist breaks the rules of the road, there is a motorist that says “See, they don’t belong on the road” at best, or possibly, “The next one I see, they better look out” at worst.

That hurts every one of us

Gene Holmerud, This article originally appeared in Sprocketeer V02N04

Fifteenth Avenue “Lane Diet” completed

The City of Phoenix Street Transportation department just completed a landmark bicycle project. Fifteenth Avenue from McDowell Rd to the Arizona Canal received a “Lane Diet.” The former four lane arterial was reduced to one lane each direction with a center turn lane and bike lanes. Traffic engineer Kerry Wilcoxson credits City Councilman Tom Simplot for getting the project going. Funding for a bike/ped bridge across the canal has been requested. Way to go Phoenix!

This article originally appeared in Sprocketeer V02N04

Radio Waves

by Gene Holmerud

Over the last 5 or 6 weeks, I have been interviewed three times on broadcast radio. It seems that the reality of $4 or more per gallon of gas has increased the number of bicyclists on the road, and this has resulted in more frequent conflicts with motor vehicles on the road. This was the topic on National Public Radio’s “Talk of the Nation” on August 26 (carried locally by KJZZ 91.5 FM).
I was one of the call-in speakers and encouraged education for helping motorists and cyclists to follow the law and share the roads. That segment of the program can be heard here.

The report also caught the attention of both KAZG (an East Valley station, 1440 AM) and KTAR (92.3 FM). I was interviewed on September 16 on KAZG for about 10 minutes and on September 20 on KTAR for about 6 minutes by Michael Dixon. Dixon recognized that one can actually forget how to ride a bicycle, then was quite surprised when told the way to make a quick right turn is to move your handlebars to the left.
Coalition members have commented positively on the information I presented.
Radar Matt receives the requests from these stations, which means real interest in our endeavor is raising.
This can only be good.

Arizona pedals to 3rd place in ‘bike-friendly’ safe routes

Cazbike’s Director of Education Sharon Newman-Matt was featured in a Sept. 13, 2008 Arizona Republic article; Arizona pedals to 3rd place in ‘bike-friendly’ safe routes . She appeared in a photo of her participating in Valley Metro’s Bike on Bus. Her husband, RS Matt, was quoted extensively as was Coalition Member, and state of Arizona Bike/Ped coordinator Mike Sanders. More on LAB’s Bike Friendly America.