Category: News

was “Uncategorized”. All blog posts should have this category

Donation Received from Gage Safer Streets Foundation

The Coaltion of Arizona Bicyclists is pleased to announce a recent $2,500.00 donation from the Gage Safer Streets Foundation gagesaferstreets.org. This donation will be directed toward increasing awareness of Arizona laws intended to provide safe riding conditions for bicyclists (such as A.R.S. 28-735, commonly known as the “3 foot safe passing distance” law).

The CAzB is currently working on media and educational opportunities to increase both law enforcement and public awareness of the three foot safe passing distance law. We also are supporting efforts to create “vulnerable user” status
for non-auto/truck users of Arizona highways, roads and streets, with related safety responsibilities required of non-vulnerable users. This donation will specifically be put to use in a significant way to support one or more of these initiatives.

We greatly appreciate the support of the Gage Safer Streets Foundation, especially knowing that George himself was hit by a motor vehicle while on a training ride and has had a long and challenging road to recovery.

Biking Historic Route 66 in AZ

Get Your Bike Travel Fix on Route 66
Adventure Cycling’s planned 2,400-mile bicycle-friendly route will revitalize the “Main Street of America” — this time with touring cyclists
Missoula, Montana — Adventure Cycling Association today announced that its next long-distance cycling route will be Bicycle Route 66. Embracing the spirit of “The Mother Road,” the new route will follow the famous corridor… According to the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, there are over 200 miles of the original Route remaining in Arizona today and 70+ miles of wide-shouldered road is maintained by the Arizona Department of Transportation http://www.azbikeped.org/images/Map2009_v12%20_0409_side1.pdf 

The Route is also designated as a National Scenic Byway (see map; and highlights by segment:  Topock to Ash Fork  and Ash Fork to Lupton ; also see “Historic US 66 Signing in Arizona” at ).  
I’ve had numerous inquiries from cyclists planning to ride Route 66.  Clubs and individuals have posted their rides and journeys on the web (see a sampling at:  http://www.luffman.us/route66/ 
As Michael Wallis has said, “Arizona is one of the Route 66 states where tourists can gorge themselves with attractions” (p. 179) including these places along the corridor:  Oatman – Kingman – Hackberry – Valentine – Truxton – Peach Springs (not far from “Radiator Springs”) – Grand Canyon Caverns – Seligman – Ash Fork – Williams – Bellemont (highest altitude along the entire Route) – Flagstaff – Winona (Don’t Forget!) – (“Standing on the Corner” in) Winslow – Joseph City – Holbrook – Petrified Forest National Park – Lupton
We look forward to working with you to establish a US Bike route along the corridor in the future.
Best,
Michael N. Sanders
Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
Multimodal Planning Division
Arizona Department of Transportation

AAA Mid-Atlantic Proposes Federal Gas Tax Revenues Only for Highways

According to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, AAA Mid-Atlantic has proposed that Federal gas tax revenues only be used on highways, eliminating any share that has historically gone to trails, walking and biking programs. This is an example of what we should expect from the “I don’t care about anything but cars” community, given the current budget climate.
AAA National claims to support bicycling, but has allowed the above position to get public and political traction. They should not be allowed to have it both ways.

Bicyclists may register their feelings with AAA National by adding their name to a petition at www.railstotrails.org/AAA.

Bob Beane, President
Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists

19th Av & Greenway Multi-use bridge Meeting

There may be another Community Meeting with Councilman Gates regarding the 19th Avenue & Greenway Bike/Ped Bridge to link Cave Creek Wash paths on Dec 13. This project needs the support of our members, customers and other bicyclists and pedestrians. Stay tuned for location and time (date, too if it changes). This is probably the last time we can make our voices heard.

New faces in CAzbike Leadership

Sterling Baer has been elected to serve as a board member of the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists. Sterling is the a founder of the Not One More Foundation, a group who is dedicated to ending the cyclist-vehicle accidents on the roads today; and provides support and outreach to cyclists injured as the result of vehicle-bike incidents.
Also, welcome to MaryKaye Black has joined our organization as an advisory board member. MaryKaye is active in cycling issues with ADOT in the SE region and Apache Junction.

Spectrum to Gateway Bicycle Boulevard in Phoenix

On Wednesday evening (11.03), City of Phoenix Traffic Engineer and Bicycle Coordinator Joseph Perez presented his proposal of a Bicycle Boulevard in Phoenix running from Spectrum Mall through the northern “Presidential” streets of downtown through to Gateway Community College (40th St & Van Buren). Several representatives from neighborhood associations on or near the route were present as well as a dozen or so concerned citizens, mostly cycling enthusiasts.

Three alternative routes through the downtown area are being studied and one of the goals of this meeting was to select the best. These routes use collector and residential streets, but no arterial roads so that vehicular traffic is not a deterrent to cyclists.
Objectives of the boulevard itself is to provide a well designated route to connect origin and destinations along the way likely to be used by cycling commuters and recreational cyclists such as:
Spectrum Mall
Light Rail stations
Phoenix Public Market
Hance Park
Arts and Culture locations
Grand Canal
Gateway CC
Access to Tempe
The boulevard will be marked by signs, Bike Lanes (where appropriate), and informational signs giving the distance and time to important destinations near the route. In certain areas “Bike Dots” will be used on the road surface to remind motorists and cyclists alike that they are using a shared roadway. Depending upon which alternative route is actually chosen, one to three HAWK signals will be installed to insure the safety of the crossings of the arterial streets.
Construction consists of paint, signage and signals, which can be done within the City Transportation on-going budget funds. No road rerouting, pavement or curbing work is needed. This looks like a great addition to the cycle-ability of Phoenix. If used as much as anticipated, other such boulevards can be added. This has happened in other cities in the US.

Shortcuts to cycling-related websites

For AZ State Law, the form is www.tinyurl.com/AZ28### where ### is as follows:

101 – Definitions, one sub-section of which is the definition of a bicycle
735 – 3-foot passing law
812 – Bicycles are subject to same rights and responsibilities as motorists
815 – Conditions when keeping “…as far right as practicable…” is required, or not

Please note that capitalization after the “/” is important, both those above and those below.

For other websites, the form is www.tinyurl.com/cazbike## where ## is as follows:

01 – Light Rail safety for cyclists, Power Pt images on PhotoBucket
02 – Not available
03 – Photos of Washington & Jefferson St Bike Lanes next to Light Rail tracks.
04 – Photos of Highline Canal Multi-use path, mostly before 2010 upgrade.
05 – Photos of Abandoned RR track south of downtown Phoenix.
06 – Valley of the Sun Bike Rack map.
07 – US Secretary of Transportation Ray La’Hood at the 2010 Bike Summit in DC.
08 – CAzBike Fan Page on FaceBook.
09 – NTHSA Bicycling Tips for Adults, 7-min video produced by LAB
10 – online TS101

Bicyclists are urged to attend the Public Meeting this Thursday 5:30 pm Sunnyslope High School, 35 W Dunlap Rd, Phoenix

There will be a public hearing this Thursday to talk about a tunnel to be built under 7th Avenue to facilitate bicycle travel along the Arizona Canal.
Your attendance is needed to show support of this project.
There are already more than enough detractors of bicycling projects.
Thanks,
Joseph Perez

When:

October 28th, 2010,

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where:

Sunnyslope High School

35 W. Dunlap Avenue

Phoenix, Arizona 85021

East Parking Lot in the

Viking Conference Rm.

Questions:

Call the 24-Hour Hotline at:

1-877-349-1433