ADOT to build “high-speed” path along 202 Freeway

[UPDATE to this article which was initially written in 2017, see comments below; path is nearing completion as we approach Summer of 2020]

Having ADOT agree to construct a 20′ wide “high speed” bike facility that will be six miles long with less than five street crossings (first of its kind in AZ, and maybe the whole country) could be part of a major sea change in Arizona. This is on par with the Hwy 179 re-construction between Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek in north central AZ. Both projects are “ground-breaking” departures from ADOTs past behavior, even though the ultimate “maintenance owner” of the project will be a locality and/or groups
of bicycle-supporting entities. Bike lanes will also be added to the Chandler Boulevard extension as a result of meetings with the same group, which includes City of Phoenix.

Everyone listed as a signer in the attached letter had a valuable role in making this happen. Bicycling community kudos go especially to Joe Struttmann, who was what I like to call “the pit-bull on the pant leg” with respect to ADOT. We will continue to push ADOT to become more bicycle-friendly (watch for updates on this and other issues within the next couple of months). Bicyclists can be heard…we have to offer constructive options to ADOT, and speak from a base of support. Bicyclists who want better, more safe riding conditions need to join the efforts and speak up.
They need to join groups such as the Pecos Action Group, Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists, Arizona Bicycling Club, Living Streets Alliance
(Tucson), GABA (Tucson), CASAZ (southern AZ), Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition and/or other advocacy groups and ask for and be present in meetings that impact our bicycling environment (infrastructure, education, allocation of transportation funding, etc.).

Please read and share the attached letter to show what is possible when people work together in their community.

Also, if you can, please join us at the 2017 Arizona Bicycling Summit this Friday 3/31/2017 at the Mesa Convention Center.

Bob Beane
President, Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists

 

 

Dear Residents,

On March 22nd , we had a very productive and successful meeting with ADOT regarding the construction of the 202 Freeway. The meeting was led by Arizona State Representative Jill Norgaard, and attended by Arizona State Senator Sean Bowie, Phoenix Councilman Sal DiCiccio, Ahwatukee Village Planning Committee Chair Chad Blostone, Foothills HOA President Bill Fautsch, Club West Vice President Mike Hinz, Pecos Action Group President Joe Struttman, Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists President Bob Beane, high level staff from the City of Phoenix, ADOT Director John Halikowski and his staff.

This was a collective effort by all of us, regardless of party lines, to work together to solve significant issues facing our community. The majority of the issues below were resolved at this meeting.

Here are some of the items discussed:

1) Chandler Blvd Extension– the major concern was to design a safe and usable roadway that could accommodate vehicular traffic, cycling and pedestrians. As you may recall, this was originally designed with just two lanes. The roadway is now under construction with a much safer design which includes a center turn lane and two approximate five-foot (5 ft) bicycle lanes. Construction has started and is estimated to be completed this summer.

2) Request to extend traffic study to Desert Foothills/Chandler Blvd and Ray Rd/Chandler Blvd, including the intersection of Ray and Chandler. With the planned 202 footprint, it is critical for Phoenix to have a true analysis of the impact of traffic on our communities. The City has already begun this study and is reaching out to community leaders for input.

3) Shared Use Path running along the southern side of the 202- The final design will be completed shortly with direction to make it compatible with high speed bicycle use. This facility will be the first of its kind in the nation and is expected to bring cycling enthusiast from all around the state to our community. This started as an idea and has now transformed into what could be the first cycling park of this kind in the nation thanks to the collaboration of this group.

4) 32nd street emergency access and future intersection options- ADOT has agreed to creat an emergency access point for our schools in this immediate area.

5) Explore alternative water sources and water infrastructure for Ahwatukee- ADOT has agreed to bring a sleeve from the southern area of the freeway to the north side to help with a water solution. This should solve the water issue for Foothills, and creates a partial solution for Club West.

We are all committed to continue working together for a solution to completely solve this problem and we are happy to have ADOT’s support thus far.

As we continue the progress, we will keep you updated through a series of these open letters.

Sincerely,

Sal DiCiccio / Phoenix City Council District 6

Jill Norgaard / Arizona State Representative District 18

Sean Bowie / Arizona State Senator District 18

Chad Blostone / Ahwatukee Village Planning, Committee Chairman

Bill Fautsch / Foothills HOA President

Mike Hinz / Club West Vice President

Joe Struttman / Pecos Action Group President

Bob Beane / Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists President

Funding

Funding for the path construction has not been broken out; but the entire freeway project was funded primarily from sales taxes…

According to info posted on the FHWA website the Loop 202 / South Mountain Freeway cost nearly $2Billion (excluding financing costs), and has the following funding sources. Note that the largest funding source is a SALES TAX. ($702M, RARF) and and the 2nd largest source are bonds which will be paid off with SALES TAXES ($435M, RARF bond).

Cost $1.837 billion (YOE, not including financing costs)
Funding Sources Federal funds – $493.8 million
State Highway User Revenue Fund Bonds – $205.9 million
Regional Area Road Fund (1/2-cent sales tax) – $702.4 million
Regional Area Road Fund Bonds – $435.3 million

             retrieved from https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/project_profiles/az_loop_202.aspx

List of Cell Phone related driving restrictions

THIS LIST IS DRAMATICALLY OUT OF DATE; as of April 18, 2019 there are said to be twenty seven local laws(!) on the subject. On that date, the Arizona legislature finally passed a general purpose “handheld ban”.

Although the state of Arizona has no specific restrictions on operating a cell phone while driving, several cities and counties have enacted various restrictions on use of cell phones on drivers:

 

City or County Year Type of restriction more info
Phoenix 2007 Text Ban more info
Tucson 2012 Text Ban more info
Coconino 2014 Text and Talk (handheld) ban more info
Flagstaff 2014 Text Ban more info
Tempe 2015 drivers may not “hold” any mobile electronic device “if such driving constitutes a risk to that person or others”. more info
Pima 2016 Text and Talk (handheld) ban more info
Oro Valley 2017 Text and Talk (handheld) ban more info
Clifton 2017 Text and Talk (handheld) ban more info
Yavapai 2018 handheld ban news item ,
Ord 2018-2
Surprise 2018 handheld ban news item
Glendale 2019 handheld ban. news item
. . . .

 

(google docs table)

School bus drivers

School bus drivers in Arizona are prohibited altogether from using cell phones and related device when operating the bus, via an Arizona Administrative Code:

AAC R13-13-104(D)(28) Except as provided in subsection (D)(27), a school bus driver shall not use audio headsets, earphones, earplugs, Bluetooth devices, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, or other interactive wireless devices, whether or not hands-free, when the school bus is in operation.

Interstate Truck and Bus Drivers

Additionally, The US Department of Transportation issued a final rule in 2011 banning the use of hand-held cell phones by interstate truck and bus drivers while the vehicles are in operation.

Statewide Legislation, 53rd 1st Regular Session

The following bills have been introduced in the Spring 2017 (53rd 1st Regular) Session, courtesy of Look! Save a Life / Arizona:

***Sponsored Bills Prohibiting Texting/Driving & Protecting Vulnerable Road Users***

Sponsor: Senator Karen Fann
SB 1080 – teenage drivers; communication devices prohibited
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68707…
Bans cell phone use while driving for novice drivers in the first six months of their license. This is the only bill on the topic being pushed by AAA.
Easily passed Senate. Being held as of mid-April in House by Rules committee chairman Lovas, see comment below for update.

I’m concerned that this is worse than nothing. In effect, it says to new teen drivers (and everyone else!) that once they turn 16-1/2, driving while texting is A-OK. I can just imagine snapchat-while-driving parties to celebrate a 16-1/2 birthday, much like what happens with drinking on a 21st birthday. In this form, I would have to be opposed. Can only work in tandem with a statewide ban like 1087 or 1135 in place simultaneously.

Sponsor: Senator John Kavanagh

SB 1049 – text messaging while driving; prohibition
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68522…
A statewide texting ban, but does not ban reading facebook, snapchat, texts, emails, or anything else on your smartphone while driving. Also does not ban inputting visual messages. Would not have stopped Officer Huffman from being killed. Reading is as dangerous as writing in studies. This needs to be amended to ban reading as well.

Sponsor: Senator Steve Farley
SB 1135- Handheld communications devices; driving; prohibition
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68884…
Statewide hands-free only law, like the law recently enacted in Oro Valley, AZ; current law in 18 states.

Sponsor: Senator Steve Farley
SB 1086 – Sentencing; aggravating factor; texting
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68719…
Just like if you use a gun in the commission of a crime, you get more jail time, this allows judges to add jail time for the use of a cellphone while driving in the injury or death caused by a vehicle crash.

Sponsor: Senator Steve Farley
SB 1087 – Wireless communication device; driving; prohibition
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68720…
Statewide ban on the use of a handheld device to read or write a written or visual message while driving.

Sponsor: Senator Steve Farley
SB 1088 – Vehicles; collisions; injury; texting; penalty
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68721…
Allows judges to suspend a driver license if the driver has killed or injured someone while using a cellphone and driving.

Sponsor: Senator Steve Farley
SB 1085 – Vulnerable users of public ways
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68718…
Protects bicyclists, pedestrians, construction workers, first responders, and disabled people who are adjacent to or using a roadway from vehicular assault in a number of ways; establishes that throwing objects at vulnerable users or forcing them off the road are crimes.
*
*
*
Here is the link to both the House (60 Members) and the Senate (30 Members). It lists each elected officials email prefix and then add “@azleg.gov” but it shows everyone in each Chamber for the 2017 Legislative Session.

New list for the Senate:
http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster/?body=S
New list for the House:
http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster/?body=H

How to find your district:
http://azredistricting.org/districtlocator/

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Are YOU the new face of bicycling in Arizona?

Are YOU the new face of bicycling in Arizona? Do you have a vision of the future of bicycling in our state and would like to share talents and contribute ideas on making it a reality? Just want to get involved?

The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists is seeking interested bicyclists for  Board of Directors and Officer positions to be filled at our annual meeting.  Directors are elected by the membership bi-annually, elections will be held at our upcoming Annual Membership Meeting. Nominees do NOT need to be present at the meeting to be elected. 

Directors’ duties include regularly attending a Director’s meeting . Since directors can (and should!) reside all around Arizona, meetings are routinely held via via tele-conference.

Please contact us at cazbike@cazbike.org with a brief bio/background; or with the nomination of someone you think would be a good candidate. As always we are looking for volunteers in any capacity, not just directorial; please drop us a line, or better yet attend the annual membership meeting, being held this year on TBD (details forthcoming).

Are you interested in improving conditions for bicyclists in Arizona? The CAzB is actively seeking Board and Officer candidates especially with any of the following experience:

  • Grant writing for non-profit entities, preferably bicycling-related.
  • Donor fund-raising, preferably bicycling and/or community-oriented.
  • Membership development campaigns.
  • Bicycling event planning, organizing and management for paid events >200 bicyclists.

Can’t commit to a leadership role? The Coalition is always seeking individuals that can contribute in any way.

Contact us: cazbike@cazbike.org, or message us on facebook.

—
The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists; providing education and advocacy to Arizona’s bicyclists.

Coalition of Arizona Bicyclist’s Annual member’s meeting 10/18/2016

 

There is a plan to hold an in-person meeting sometime in the Spring 2017 as we transition our corporate year for Arizona Corporation Commission purposes.

 

Below are the minutes of the meeting (approved at the 3/21/2017 Board of Directors meeting):

2016 Annual Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, October 18, 2016 Attendees: Bob Beane, Bob Jenson, Wayne Churchman, Ed Beighe, Peter Mather, Gail Hildebrant, Sharon Newman Matt, Lloyd Thomas, Jeff Kafleck, Radar Matt

Called to order at 1837

Treasures Report Gail Hildebrant Checking Account $725.15 Savings Account $515.53 High Yield Account $32,872.55 Total 34,113.23 Report was accepted. Spread sheet shows that regular spending is typically under $2,000/yr. Most of that is for the storage locker & the monthly conference bridge.

Overview of what we are working on: State level: GOHS, ADOT, More input into the drivers license testing. Improve PSA/bikes Power point that was created for GPD. Sierra Vista PD has made contact.

Maricopa County: E bike – California has law classifying an E bike as a motorcycle. Tempe is in the process of drafting its own city laws. We need to get ahead of this, so we don’t end up with a lot of city or county ordinances.

Pecos Freeway: PARC & GRIC are still trying to block it. Sit is still unclear if cyclist will have access to the shoulder. Next meeting is 10/20/16 at the State capitol.

Regional priorities: Tucson- Yuma- Tempe-Lloyd Thomas-Traffic counts support the traffic calming on McClintock. Metro Phoenix-Bob Jenson- Light rail is extending to Dunlap for Metro Center access. No increase in bike facilities on the light rail. City is looking into putting bike lanes on several E-W major streets. Next meeting 10/20 at College of America

Bike Summit: still questionable Fri 3/31 or Sat. 4/1 Wayne Churchman to get back to us next week, on whether Perimeter would split the cost of the rooms. We need to take a survey of what last year attendees would care for.

Elections: CAzB is now at 8 Board Members with the resignation of Ben Dodge.

3 Serious/Fatal crashes in Phoenix on Friday

On Friday 9/23/2016 in Phoenix, two bicyclists were killed, and a third was seriously injured injured in three separate incidents. Police have so far not released many details.

[24th St and 202, 36th Ave and Van Buren, the serious injury was at 16th St and Southern]

We lost two bicycle riders in Phoenix, yesterday, and a third is in the hospital with serious injuries. Three separate crashes. We will follow all three to try to insure that appropriate citations, if any, are issued and to (as always) see what we can learn from each crash that we can use to prevent similar tragedies in the future. That’s part of what we do. — Bob Beane, President, Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists

Such a string of events attracts a demand for breaking news coverage, below is a brief interview, and below that the news piece that appeared in The Arizona Republic on Saturday…

  • what are things bikes can do to be safer on the roads?
    (1) Be visible and predictable (bright clothing, lights, etc. in low light; signal movements, etc.),
    (2) Ride with traffic. It is NOT safe to ride facing traffic and it is against the law in AZ.
    (3) Always be aware and don’t assume that drivers will see you and/or do “the right thing”…in other words, ride your bike with confidence but defensively.
  • what are things motorists can do to avoid endangering bicyclists?
    (1) Make safe driving your #1, #2 and #3 priority…no texting, no phone calls, no Internet searches…put the phone down while driving,
    (2) Be on the lookout for Vulnerable Roadway Users including bicyclists, pedestrians, road workers and law enforcement/emergency personnel,
    (3) Remember that it only takes a few seconds to save or end a life, depending on your attitude and level of care.
  • why do you think many incidents involving bicyclists and cars go unreported to police?
    Actually, over 800 have been reported so far this year in AZ. Thankfully, only a small percentage of those have been serious or fatal. My guess is that some incidents involving little or no injury are agreed between the parties as not necessary to report.
  • what specific reform do you think Arizona needs to help reduce bicyclist and motorist fatalities?
    Several: (1) More and better education of both motorists and bicyclists as to safe “co-existence” on the road, including re-testing of drivers every five or ten years as laws change and required testing within 90 days for drivers moving in-state,
    (2) Comprehensive texting, Internet and hand-held phone use ban with penalties comparable to DUI…in other words, we need to return to the concept that safe driving is priority one and various distractions that result in injury and death need to have significant consequences.

 

 

Separate traffic collisions in Phoenix kill 2 bicyclists, seriously injure another

SAUNDRA WILSON sewilson@arizonarepublic.com

THE REPUBLIC | AZCENTRAL.COM

Three separate collisions occurred between bicyclists and motor vehicles in Phoenix on Friday, leaving two bike riders dead and one more in the hospital with serious injuries.

One of the cyclists was killed Fridaymorning around 6 a. near 24th Street and Loop 202. Five hours later, a second cyclist died after colliding with a truck around 11 a.m.

Phoenix police reported a third bicycle- car collision near 16th Street and East Southern Avenue at about 11:30 a.m. The cyclist, an adult man, suffered serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital, police said.

The collisions prompted temporary lane closures to allow police to investigate on Van Buren Street from 37th to 39th avenues, and on Southern Avenue between 16th and 18th streets.

According to records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 29 Arizona bicyclists died in motor vehicle collisions in 2015. Fifteen of the incidents were in Maricopa County, the data show.

Countless more bicyclists have been seriously injured, a number that remains elusive because only an estimated 10 percent of bicycle crashes causing serious injuries are reported to police, data from pedbikeinfo.org revealed. [This isn’t quite the case, longer explanation and details here]

The average age of bicyclists killed in traffic collisions is 43, a NHTSA report said. An overwhelming percent of bicyclists killed are men and nearly half of the fatalities occur between 4 p.m. and midnight, according to the report.

Bob Beane, the president of the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists, believes Arizona needs “more and better education of both motorists and bicyclists as to safe ‘co-existence’ on the road.”

“We need to return to the concept that safe driving is priority one and various distractions that result in injury and death need to have significant consequences,” Beane said in an email.

In order to be safer on the roads, Beane said bicyclists should wear bright clothing and ride bikes with lights to be more visible to motorists.

“Ride your bike with confidence but defensively,” Beane said, emphasizing that bike riders should not assume drivers see them.

Beane said motorists can contribute to bicyclist safety by remembering that “it only takes a few seconds to save or end a life, depending on your attitude and level of care.”

Republic reporter Megan Janetsky contributed to this article.

 

 

CAzB seeks Board Members

Are you interested in improving conditions for bicyclists in Arizona? The CAzB is actively seeking Board and Officer candidates especially with any of the following experience:

  • Grant writing for non-profit entities, preferably bicycling-related.
  • Donor fund-raising, preferably bicycling and/or community-oriented.
  • Membership development campaigns.
  • Bicycling event planning, organizing and management for paid events >200 bicyclists.

Can’t commit to a leadership role? The Coalition is always seeking individuals that can contribute in any way.

Contact us: cazbike@cazbike.org, or message us on facebook.

 

Pima County Enacts Texting Ban

Pima county follows action by the cities of Phoenix, and Tucson (see this article for more about Tucson), and Flagstaff as well as Coconino County, with various bans on electronic communications while driving. The state legislature has repeatedly failed to act regarding limits on use of electronic devices while driving.

Sheriff Chris Nanos worked diligently with the Pima County Government Board of Supervisors to construct a new ordinance that prohibits texting and driving in Pima County. On May 17, 2016, the ordinance was approved. It became effective on June 16th, 2016.

According to this ordinance (10.34.020): A person may not, while driving a motor vehicle on a highway, manually manipulate a handheld electronic device for any purpose other than to initiate, receive, or engage in voice communication. It is a civil traffic offense to violate this ordinance. — see more

Click here for ordinance 10.34.020

 

Here is a text copy of the full ordinance:

ORDINANCE NO. 2016- 31

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA, RELATING TO THE USE OF HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICES WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE. (All Districts)

The Board of Supervisors of Pima County, Arizona, finds that:

1. The Pima County Board of Supervisors has the authority under Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) § 11-251(4) to lay out, maintain, control, and manage public roads, ferries, and bridges within the County; under A.R.S. § 11-251(17) to adopt provisions necessary to preserve the health of the County; and under A.R.S. § 11- 251 (31) to make and enforce all local, police, sanitary, and other regulations not in conflict with the general laws.

2. The Pima County Board of Supervisors has authority under A.R.S. § 28-626(8) and A.R.S. § 11-251.05 to adopt, by ordinance, additional traffic regulations on Pima County highways that are not in conflict with A.R.S. Title 28, Chapters 3, 4, or 5.

3. The use of handheld electronic devices while operating motor vehicles has increased in recent years and causes distracted driving, which has been shown to increase the risk of motor-vehicle crashes.

4. The Arizona Legislature, to date, has not enacted legislation directly regulating the use of handheld electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle.

5. Regulation of the use of handheld electronic while operating a motor vehicle will protect the public health and safety by promoting and encouraging safe driving on Pima County highways.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA:

Section 1. Title 10 of the Pima County Code is amended to add new chapter 10.34 to read as follows:

Chapter 10.34 USE OF HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICES WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE

10.34.010 Purpose and intent.

The purpose and intent of this ordinance is to promote public safety in Pima County by restricting the use of hand held electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle on Pima County highways.

10.34.020 Prohibited conduct.

A person may not, while driving a motor vehicle on a highway, manually manipulate a handheld electronic device for any purpose other than to initiate, receive, or engage in voice communication. For purposes of this section, “drive” and “motor vehicle” have the same meaning as those terms are given in Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28, Chapter 1.

10.34.030 Exemptions.

Section 10.34.020 does not apply to any of the following: 1. Use of handheld electronic devices by authorized law enforcement or emergency personnel in the performance of official duties. 2. A person driving a school bus or transit vehicle that is subject to Arizona or United States Department of Transportation regulations. 3. Use of a hand held electronic device on property that is not open to vehicular travel by the general public. 4. Use of a handheld electronic device while a motor vehicle is stationary.

10.34.040 Classification and penalty.

A. A violation of Section 10.34.020 is civil traffic violation. B. A peace officer may stop and issue a citation to a person operating a motor vehicle on a highway if the peace officer has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of Section 10.34.020 has occurred. C. A person who violates Section 10.34.020 and is not involved in a motor vehicle crash is subject to a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00), plus any other penalty assessments authorized by law. D. A person who violates Section 10.34.020 and is involved in a motor vehicle accident is subject to a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00), plus any other penalty assessments authorized by law.

10.34.050 Severability.

If any provision of this chapter, or the application of any provision of this chapter, is invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter. The provisions of this chapter are severable.

Section 2. The various County officers and employees are authorized and directed to perform all acts necessary or desirable to give effect to this ordinance.

Section 3. This ordinance is effective 30 days after the date of adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors, Pima County, Arizona, this 17th day of May , 2016. ~

 

Rich Corbett Biked to Work For 36 Years

Rich Corbett, a veritable fixture on the Tuscon and Pima County cycling scene for decades has succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease. As an LCI, a League of American Bicyclists Certified cycling Instructor, Rich taught hundreds of cycling safety classes to cyclists; as well as being an LCI “coach” — certified to train new LCIs.

He was a transportation planner for ADOT and PAG. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout, was a scout master, and served as Trail Steward on the AZ Trail. He rode 200,000+ miles and devoted his knowledge and energy to bicycling: Grand Canyon to Mexico bike tour, El Tour, Team in Training, BAC, and more. He is survived by wife, Connie; sons, Brian and Jason; brother, Bob and sister, Debbie. In lieu of flowers, donations to of America or Catalina Council of Boy Scouts would be appreciated. All are welcome at the Desert Museum on Friday, April 1, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. to celebrate a life well lived. Arrangements by HUDGEL’S SWAN FUNERAL HOME.

 

Here’s an auto-biographical article Rich wrote in the late-2000’s… At the time he had only ridden 180,000 miles 🙂

Rich Corbett Biked to Work For 36 Years

By Richard Corbett, 36 Year Everyday Bike Commuter

richCorbettIt was a long time ago that I started bike commuting (January 1971). So, you ask, why
did I start?
Well, I had gone through ROTC at the University of Arizona, and was commissioned upon graduation in June 1968, as a US Army Transportation Officer. The Army granted me a waiver to continue on to graduate school, as I was pursuing a graduate degree with a ‘major’ in transportation engineering. The Army liked having their officers educated in the fields they would be working in.
My graduate degree took three full years to complete, and in the middle of the third year, I received my orders for active duty (that Fall).
I was working part time as a planner in the City Planning Division, and one of my coworkers rode a bike back and forth to work. I knew that when I went on active duty, I would need to be in good condition, so I thought, ‘bicycle riding will help me get in shape’.
My eight year old nephew had just won a bicycle in a drawing, but he already had one, so I ‘bought’ the rights to the one he had won, and picked out an adult size bike from the dealership. I added wire baskets on the rear, and began to ride the three miles back and
forth to work in January 1971.
I quickly found out it was fun! I also was able to save the parking fee I paid ($4/month), as well as saving gas. Later, my auto insurance company found out I was not driving to work, and reduced mi auto insurance. I was saving money three different ways!
The first thing I did upon returning from active duty was to buy a better bicycle, and begin to ride farther (more exercise). As time passed, I took to riding ‘loops’ to add more and more miles. I then realized why ’bikers’ wore those funny shorts, when my trousers
began to wear thin at the friction points!
The years seemed to fly by as the miles added up and in early 1979 I joined the local bike club – Los Turistas. My love and enjoyment of cycling grew and grew.
I rode my first century in September 1979, and that was the beginning of at least one (and often more) century rides per year. I have now ridden 90 centuries, and have ridden over 183,000 miles on my bicycles.
I later found out that more than half of Tucson area residents live within 5 miles of their workplace. That is an easy distance to bicycle, especially when you ride early in the morning, and then riding home at the end of the day – what does it matter if you get sweaty?
The benefits of bicycle commuting include:

  • Saves you money on auto related expenses: gas expenditures, auto insurance, parking fees. The average annual price of running and maintaining a car is $8,410 a bike averages $200.
  • You reduce traffic, congestion, time spent commuting, and don’t have to hunt (or possibly pay) for parking
  • Helps keep (or get) you physically fit doing something you have to do anyway – travel to work. Sadly, over 60% of Americans are overweight, or obese (an
    increase of 40% in the last 10 years!)
  • Easy way to get the recommended 30 minutes a day of exercise -seven out of ten do not get this recommended exercise
  • Helps reduce air pollution

Bike commuting? It is a really special way to get and stay fit, while saving money and helping the environment at the same time !

tucsonaz.gov/files/bicycle/richCorbett.pdf