Phoenix Bicycle:

Richard Metz and Bill Lazenby, along with representatives of other bicycle related organizations, met with John Siefert, Phoenix Bicycle Coordinator. The purpose of the meeting to discuss the update of the Phoenix Bike Plan that John had distributed for comment about two months ago. The Coalition, Richard Metz, was the only organization to present comments on the proposed Bike Plan. The proposed bike plan and the coalition comments are available for any one interested in reviewing what was presented by contacting me or Richard Metz.

What is happening on the ACDC canal. Well ground has been broken to build the tunnel under 19th ave. A pedestrian bridge is to be constructed over I17 at Maryland. The completion date is several years off however. The proposed tunnels at 43rd and Peoria, 51st ave and Cactus and at 29th ave at MetroCenter are moving forward.

Richard Metz sent a letter to the City of Phoenix Streets Engineer expressing concerns about the proper striping of the proposed roundabouts in the northern part of the city.

Peoria:

The Coalition met with the Peoria Director of Public Works about the lack of bike lanes on the 75th Ave Bridge over Skunk Creek. Peoria has an active plan for bike lanes. The plan ensures that any Peoria lanes connect with bike lanes from Glendale and Maricopa County, which border Peoria. Richard Metz also suggested that it would be a positive if Peoria had a Bicycle Advisory Committee. Richard was given copies of the Executive summaries of the Peoria Trails Plan and River Plan. Rich Rumer and Dick Lorance will review these summaries and report back to the Coalition Board with their comments.

Scottsdale:

A series of meetings are to be held to change the City master plan as it effects Via Linda thru to Fountain Hills. The City is being petitioned to drop the planned Via Linda extension and planned bike lanes. A letter outlining the position of the Coalition against the changing of the master plan was drafted and will be presented at the meeting, scheduled for November 16th.

Coalition Nominations:

President: Bill Lazenby
Vice President: Richard Metz
Secretary: Rich Rumer
Treasurer: John Burg
Legislative Liaison: Chris Moyer

The election will be held at the next Coalition meeting scheduled for December 20th. Prior to the election additional nominations will be accepted from the floor.

Other Items:

The By-laws of the coalition are in the process of being updated. Bill Lazenby, President of the Coalition is heading up this effort.

The Coalition Swap Meet held in conjunction with the Phoenix Clean Air and Bike week will be held on April 15, 2000.

Richard Metz has conducted two classes on Bicycle Safety at the Santa Maria School in the Southwest Valley.

The Coalition:

The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists is a nonprofit organization devoted to advancing bicycling as a sport and mode of transportation through cooperation with local and state government, by being active in government where it concerns bicycling.

Monthly meetings are held at the Los Olivos Senior Center on 28th street one block north of Indian School, the 3rd Monday of the month, 7PM. All are welcome and encouraged to attend whether you are a coalition member or not. If your club is not presently represented we invite you to send a representative.

Road hazards? Report them to the Hazard Hotline

Coalition address:
Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists
P.O. Box 54488
Phoenix, AZ 85078-4488
Phone: 602-485-1198
Coalition e-mail

Club annual membership is $150; individual annual is $25. For an application, e-mail the Coalition with your mailing address or call 602-485-1198 and leave your name and address.

Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG):

Dawn Coomer, MAG, spoke to the monthly Coalition meeting, Monday October 20, 1999. Her subject was Public Input on Regional Transportation Issues. She defined MAG as the Association that brings together local governments to discuss important regional issues facing citizens in the Maricopa County Region. The decision-makers participation are your local elected public officials.

Dawn discussed current and 20 year projected Growth and Travel conditions within Maricopa County. She presented MAG projected planning for regional highway projects thru 2007, the 20-year local and express bus plans and the 20-year light rail transit system. Within these various planning documents she outline possible transportation projects including pedestrian paths and bike lanes.

Following the presentation Dawn opened the floor for our input and suggestions from the Bicyclists viewpoint. She considers our input very important.

The following were the points that were considered to be of utmost importance in any planning activity.

• Light Rail - full access to the bicyclist with bicycle - current California locals were referenced.
• Light Rail - Adequate security facilities at or near rail stations - California again referenced.
• Bike lanes stripped on all new and rebuilt roads.
• Better bike lane connection and continuity between cities.
• Employers provide secured facilities for bicycles and showers and lockers for bicyclists. Motorola referenced here as excellent example.
• Overcome the I-17 barrier. Provide adequate means for bicyclists to cross I-17. Bridging over the Interstate.

Prescott Meeting:

The following is a summary of our meeting held on October 11, 1999:

1. The first topic discussed was the Prescott Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC), specifically the composition of the Committee. Also discussed was the history of Prescott Alternative Transportation (PAT).

Sue Knaup described for Bill Lazenby and Richard Metz the membership of the PBAC which clearly includes both public members as well as members who are City of Prescott employees. Bill and Richard urged Sue to publicize the public membership of the PBAC. Richard and Bill described their conception of how a public advisory committee would be structured; Sue later read from a LAB publication which presented a similar format. However, it is clear that the structure of the PBAC is one that fits the Prescott community and appears to be gaining momentum. Because of the dedication of all members of the PBAC they have made many impressive accomplishments some of which were reviewed by Sue during the meeting. Bill and Richard encouraged Sue as PBAC chairman to enhance the public's participation in the workings of the PBAC; Sue agreed with this.

Sue described to Bill and Richard the history of PAT, a non-profit organization.

2. The second topic was the construction of the Pioneer Parkway (PP), specifically covering the bicycle facilities.

Prior to arriving for the meeting, Bill and Richard drove the PP (a new four lane divided roadway connecting SR 89 near the airport to Williamson Valley Road)(though PP is a county road, the construction was a partnership between the county and the city to include enhancements). The shoulder is in fact 4 feet wide (Bill and Richard's measurement). It is not clear when the bike signs are to be installed. Sue will provide Bill with a name of a person in the county government so that the Coalition can obtain a final copy of the plans for the PP. At present, without signage, we agreed that PP should be referred to as a bikeable street.

3. The third topic was the realignment of state route 89A.

Sue then provided a description of other planned road construction in the Prescott area. She requested our assistance in contacting ADOT to assure that the new state roads would be bike friendly. The Coalition agreed to do this; in fact, a contact was made on 10/14/99. The new 89A connector will have 10-foot shoulders but they may be closed to bicycles due to this road being designed like a freeway. If this is the case, ADOT will provide bicycle access along the frontage roads that are also part of this project.

Bill and Richard provided Sue with a description of recent Coalition-ADOT meetings. She was encouraged to contact the ADOT District Engineer. Sue will soon be meeting with the District Engineer along with city, county, Prescott Valley staff and PAT board members to clear up misinformation on many road projects. She will update CAzB after that meeting.

4. The fourth topic was the proposed legislation from the Prescott City Attorney.

All parties agreed that the current proposal is unacceptable and that an alternative needs to be developed as a response. Sue provided Bill and Richard with some additional local history. Sue has developed a new approach to this bill. She has assembled a team of experts including PAT's attorney and an attorney that sits on PAT's board to rewrite the bill so that it would stipulate that every street in AZ is built and maintained to a standard of care that is reasonably safe for bicyclists. The new bill would have to meet with the approval of CAzB's president and board as well as other state bicycle organizations before any of us would support it. Even then we would carefully watch its progress through the legislature to ensure it is not amended against cyclists. Otherwise we will stand against it once again.

5. The fifth topic was the TEA-21 application submitted by the Prescott Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Sue provided Bill and Richard with a copy of the TEA-21 application, acknowledging the Coalition's assistance.

6. The final topic was the on-going relationship between PBAC and the Coalition.

Communication channels between PBAC and the Coalition were clarified.

Chandler Council Meeting:

Bill Lazenby-Coalition president, Rich Rumer-Coalition Secretary, and Doug Banfelder-Coalition Political Liaison attended the Chandler City Council Meeting on October 14, 1999. At the meeting they met with Bob Bogle, who has been instrumental in adopting a comprehensive bicycle plan for the City of Chandler. Bob and Ty Hofflander's Task Force held several open forums, mailed bike surveys and questionnaires to get input from the cycling community. Ty is the City Transportation Engineer-Public Works Department. The Coalition explained previously, at one of the open forums, why bike lanes on Chandler Blvd were to the connectivity of bike routes for commuters to get around the city. Tonight was the action to ratify the Resolution. 3127 - the adoption of the Chandler Bicycle Plan. It was a unanimous vote to approve. Councilman Boyd Dunn asked about Share the Road signs and the difference between striped bike lanes and etch lines as in other cities. Councilwoman Donna Wallace asked for Bob to get up and say a few words about the process and the task force itself. She was quite complimentary of Bob and Ty's work. Pat McDermott, the city manager, was noted as being a mountain bike rider but is also sympathetic toward cyclists. Their plan includes matching funds, AASHTO guidelines, and coordinating restriping with repaving. The City will be hiring a Community Bicycle Specialist to educate the motorists and to monitor the changes to be made by the Chandler Bicycle Plan. Chandler and Dobson be done by July 2000. This report is the observation of the Coalition Secretary and should not be considered as a complete accounting of the City Council Meeting.

The Coalition:

The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists is a nonprofit organization devoted to advancing bicycling as a sport and mode of transportation through cooperation with local and state government, by being active in government where it concerns bicycling.

Monthly meetings are held at the Los Olivos Senior Center on 28th street one block north of Indian School, the 3rd Monday of the month, 7PM. All are welcome and encouraged to attend whether you are a coalition member or not. If your club is not presently represented we invite you to send a representative.

Road hazards? Report them to the Hazard Hotline

Coalition address:
Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists
P.O. Box 54488
Phoenix, AZ 85078-4488
Phone: 602-485-1198
Coalition e-mail

Club annual membership is $150; individual annual is $25. For an application, e-mail the Coalition with your mailing address or call 602-485-1198 and leave your name and address.