Membership Meeting: Nov 17

The next Coalition Membership Meeting will be at 7PM at the Veterans Hospital (7th ST & Indian School Rd.). We wil meet in the ACC (Ambulatory Conference Center) conference room in the basement. Location

FEATURED SPEAKER:

Have you tried to ride your bicycle to a bus stop, then watch an arriving bus that already has the bicycle rack full? Are you anticipating using Light-Rail and fine that all 12 racks on a train are used, or are not confident on lifting your bicycle to the wheel hook near the cieling? If yes, LCI and Coalition board member Sharon Newman-Matt has a solution: A FOLDING bicycle. She will demonstrate and answer questions during the program.

Please join us. Munchies and drinks will be provided.

Bike Lane installed on 51st Street

The city of Phoenix has recently installed a bike lane on 51st Street in Phoenix (Ahwatukee), between Warner and Elliot roads [area map]. It is approximately one mile in length. The stretch has appeared (incorrectly) as a bike lane on the MAG Regional Bike Map for years and years.

Formerly, an annoying fog line demarcated an approximately two-foot shoulder, causing confusion about where cyclists should ride. The elimination of the fog line, the source of confusion, IS A DEFINITE PLUS. More details and photos here.

South Phoenix: Highline Canal Bicycle Path gets makeover

HURRAY! Our pleas have been heard.
The bike path from 40th St to Central Ave. has had it’s potholes patched and has been thoroughly swept of sand, gravel and debris. But most importantly, the approaches to 32nd St. have been fixed with asphalt paving. 32nd St and its bridge over the canal were widened a few months ago, and, basically, the path approaches were ignored by the contractor. Now they are very ridable.

I rode it both directions today (16th St to 40th St). Now there is pavement where there was so much sand washed in that previously I didn’t know there was pavement below it! The many cracks are still there, but most are hardly felt and virtually all are at 90-deg to the direction of travel so they are not a problem to steering. The Artistic and Improvement Project will be repaving from 40th St to 12th St over the next six or so months.

Gene

Light Rail is Coming!

Actually, it’s already here in heavy testing. Please take a moment to review the safety tips below.
There is a spiffy brochure that will be available soon.

Expect a train anytime from either direction around the light rail tracks. METRO light rail is vehicle testing on Valley roadways. Trains are out there everyday, with several trains out at one time. In the fall, trains will be testing such a regular rate, across all 20 miles that the system will appear in service. Specifically in the months of November and December, “simulated service” testing will occur and continue up until our grand opening on December 27, 2008.

So it is more critical than ever to practice safety around the METRO system. Please remember these key bicycle safety tips:

  • Never bike on light rail tracks and always walk your bike onto the station platform.
  • Obey traffic lights. A red arrow means “do not turn.”
  • Look both ways before crossing the tracks.
  • Light rail trains are quiet. Look for flashing headlights and listen for warning bells and horns.
  • When crossing the tracks at intersections, cross at an angle of least 60-degrees, but as close to 90-deg as practicable to avoid falling or tire damage.

Tour de Tempe community bike ride Oct 26

The 13th annual Tour de Tempe community bike ride will be Oct. 26. The ride starts and ends at Tempe’s Kiwanis Park (Parking lot off All-America Way just north of Guadalupe Road). Registration starts at 7am, and the ride begins at 8:30am.
Tour de Tempe, Tempe’s free leisurely community bike ride, is a fun, non-competitive ride that weaves through diverse neighborhoods, downtown Tempe, public art projects and other Tempe sites. MORE INFO.

Membership Meeting: Oct 20

Membership meetings are held the third Monday of Every month at 7 PM. Meetings are held at the VA Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ. We meet in the ACC Conference Center which is in the basement below the South West entrance of the building. Executives meet at 6 pm followed by a 30 to 60 minute Membership Meeting and social time.
Location-VA Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ: 7th Street and Indian School [map].

October Featured Topic: improving cycling in Arizona and a presentation of Operation Lifesaver oriented to cyclists. OL is the international rail industry safety program (or how not to get smushed by a train). Board Members Charles Sobczak and Gene Holmerud have been trained as presenters. Chuck has been certified.
With Light Rail already in testing in the streets of Tempe, Mesa & Phoenix, and service starting in just a little over two months, it is time to Stop, Look and Live. Please join us.

Meeting Minutes

Attending the Oct 20 Board Meeting were:
Gail H., Pres
Bob J., VP
Sharron N-M., Director Education
Chuck S., Board Member
Allison V-U., Membership Chair

Gail reported we received the $5k REI Grant that was matched by Eric Post, and another $5k from the daughter of Pete Bennett, the cyclist killed in Northern AZ last year in appreciation of all the help from Coalition members given the family. Treasury now has about $17.5k in it.

We’re going to renew our “non-profit” postal permit, but prepare for Periodical rate over the next six months.

Radar M. & Gene H, were “promoted” to VP to add weight to their efforts.
So we now have 3 VPs.

In the regular meeting we discussed the bike lanes around Light Rail tracks along Washington & Jefferson between 7th St & 24th St in Phoenix. People from the City & the State attended a “field” meeting at 4PM. A number of them are bicyclists and understand the issues.

An Operation Lifesaver program followed. Chuck S. (already a certified OL presenter) evaluated Gene’s presentation to meet his requirements for certification as well.