May is BIKE MONTH!

Since 1956, the League of American Bicyclists, with the support of bicycle organizations throughout the United States, has proclaimed May as National Bike Month. It's interesting to consider the impact bicycling has had on our culture.

In the late 1800s, times were undergoing tremendous change. Inventions such as the telephone and the light bulb were poised to radically change America. Mechanized farming was revolutionizing agriculture. It's noteworthy that even with these modern inventions, 51% of all patent applications in 1899 were bicycle related – 49% were EVERYTHING ELSE combined. This is not surprising considering the importance transportation has in our culture. Some of the first automobile manufacturers, such as Ford, Rover, and Mercedes-Benz, started out with bicycles – the automobile was still years away. And these early bikes rolled on tires made by Dunlop and Michelin. The bicycle was the mother of inventions such as

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Two Arizona Cities Ranked in top 10 for Cycling

...by Forbes Magazine. Tucson was ranked #5, and Mesa #10.
The rankings were based on the 2010 Benchmarking Report from the Alliance for Bicycling & Walking.
"The cities on our list are those, according to the report, with the greatest percentage of people who ride their bikes to work. If a city has a greater percentage of bicycling commuters, it's therefore more likely to be a bike-friendly city". Read the full article from Forbes.

Bikes Donated to AmeriSchools Academy

Words and photo by Sheila Foraker, CAzBike Southern Arizona Representative

Stealing from kids is among the lowest form of crime. Stealing from kids who have nothing is even worse. Consider the plight of KarmaRacer, supporter of Arizona Bicycle Club (ABC) and AmeriSchools Academy. KarmaRacer is a bicycle re-cycler that serves youth, families and adults with low income. Not once, but twice their donated bicycles were stolen from a storage facility.

Gary LeBlanc, Superintendent of
AmeriSchools, loads donated
bikes for transport to Phoenix

"I am so frustrated,” reported Luis from KarmaRacer. “I went to storage to bring the bikes and 25 [were] missing."
Gary LeBlanc, Superintendent of AmeriSchools charter school has been working for months with ABC and the families of the students. The plan is to provide these youth with an opportunity to improve their lives thought active participation, specifically in cycling.
AmeriSchools, through a tax donation, and ABC provides the youth, mostly middle school students, with jerseys, ABC Family Membership, helmets, socks, water bottles and bikes at no charge to the families.

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Scottsdale cyclist's death shows problems with law

Thanks to PMBC member and Arizona Republic reporter, Jane Larson, for connecting us and allowing the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists to contribute to this article.

But Arizona bicycle advocates are concerned that the state law mandating that motorists give bicyclists 3 feet of safe passing distance is inconsistently enforced.

"It seems more law-enforcement officers are aware of the law, but I think there is still some confusion on what the law is and how to apply it," said Bob Beane, president of the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists.

The group would like to see increased awareness of the law, increased penalties and a clarification of how the law applies if designated bike lanes are not suitable for riding, he said.

Scottsdale cyclist’s death shows problems with law,4/23/2010, The Arizona Republic

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CAzBike Membership Meeting: April 19, 2010

Next meeting: Monday April 19th, 2010. 6:30PM.Location: The loft at the Boulders on Broadway Bar and Grill (map)530 W. Broadway in Tempe AZ 85282, 480.921.9431

• Membership programs
• Mesa PD training topics/program
• Bicyclist classes (free or charge fee/rebate when attended?)
• Draft “CAzB Role/Organization Structure” in response to central/southern AZ advocates request
• Executive Director selection process
• General meeting frequency, location and purposes
  

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Chandler Family Bike Event Photos

A team of 17 volunteers from the Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club assisted the City of Chandler in putting on their Bike Month Family Bike Event Saturday 4/18/2010.

Bicycle Riders as Disciples of Progress

With smooth, paved roads and motor vehicles seemingly everywhere, it's easy to forget that bicyclists advocated for road progress first. The League of American Wheelman (now called the League of Amerinca Bicyclists) was founded in 1880 and became the umbrella organization for the good roads movement. "The 1890s popular movement for Good Roads, pushed most ardently by bicyclists, is of note for several reasons.Primarily the fight for better conditions for bicycling unknowingly set the stage...". The Great Bicycle Protest of 1896, Processed Magazine vol.2 no.1. [direct link to full .pdf article]

Glendale Ball Park Blvd Letter of Support

The following letter of support was sent to Felipe Andres Zubia, Chair, ADOT Transportation Enhancement Review Committee:

Dear Mr. Zubia:
The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists would like to register our support for the Ball Park Boulevard Connection Project in Glendale. This project will benefit bicyclists from all over the Valley as it will create a significant connection, controlled crossing and access parking integral to a developing path network that will be used by all types of cyclists.
We know that the New River pathway in Glendale will connect to Peoria's path on New River that goes all the way north of Happy Valley Rd. We also know that the Grand Canal pathway in Glendale connects to the Phoenix Grand Canal path that also reaches far into Phoenix.

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Southern Arizona Report: April

Perimeter Bicycling was awarded the grant to administrate the Pima Regional Middle School Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. I will be the manager much like I do for our current Bike Ambassador program. This is a Safe Routes to Schools curriculum model, much like the elementary school program already in existence, but with middle school students as the target age.

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LAB 2010 National Rally in Albuquerque, June 3-6

The League of American Bicyclists has named the Albuquerque Century on June 5, 2010, the site of its 2010 National Rally. There will be five distance options, including 10, 25, 50, 65 and 100 miles.

For registration or more information, visit: http://www.bikeleague.org/conferences/Rally10/index.php

Trek Bicycle Corporation joins Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists

April 5, 2010 – Phoenix Arizona – For Immediate Release

Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists' president, Bob Beane, announced today that Trek Bicycle Corporation has joined the CAzB as a sponsoring business member. Beyond the initial financial contribution of their membership, the Coalition is extremely pleased that Trek is taking a sincere interest in bicycling advocacy at the state and local level through the CAzB. "Trek Territory Manager, Greg DeCori, and I had nearly an hour of meaningful discussions related to the Coalition's role in Arizona advocacy, our goals, our expanding geographic representation and ways the Trek might assist in our efforts," said Beane. "Greg is very focused on how he and Trek Bicycle Corporation might partner with us to help expand both individual membership and bike shop membership in order to help provide an ongoing base of financial support for advocacy in Arizona".

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El Tour de Phoenix 2010 is on! : April 10

Open to all ages and abilities, the Tour offers 72 and 26-mile courses, all routed throughout Mesa, Arizona, and beginning ...full info

Bio's

Wayne Cullop has recently joined CAzBike as an Advisory Board member.has been very active cyclist in the Tucson area for 15 years. He has served on Tucson's GABA Board for more the 10 years. He is currently leading GABA's Advocacy Gruppo, and has served as Club President and Web Master. Wayne was selected to serve as the bike and pedestrian representative on the Grant Road Task Force, a major road improvement in Tucson. He has served on the Tucson/Pima County Bicycle Advisor Board, and is an active LCI instructor.

Ed Beighe maintains the CAzBike Website. Ed cycles daily in the Ahwatukee area of Phoenix. He blogs on cycling at azbikelaw.org.

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To get in touch with Wayne, or any other board or advisory member, visit CAzBike's contact page.