Critical Mass - Phoenix

As a nationally certified cycling safety instructor I was intrigued by Critical Mass's endeavor to improve cycling in the Valley, so I participated in Friday night's ride. To the consternation of leaders I stopped for red lights, but I also stood up to motorists that were trying to endanger cyclists by not following the rules of the road.

I fully support the effort Critical Mass Phoenix to bring attention to the lawlessness of some motorists relative to the legitimate use of bicycles on the roads, but not by breaking the law ourselves. How many law obeying and innocent motorists were wrongly delayed and inconvenienced and are now generally resentful of all cyclists? I believe it's the wrong message.

One reply I received was that the group was akin to a long limousine, the front of which entered the intersection on green, but the rear completed on the red. No, we are all separate drivers of our bicycles and are not joined by a steel frame. Hence we are individually under the rules of the road. Another reply was that keeping going on a red light kept the group together. I have led and been on other rides that stayed together by lawful means.

We all need to follow the rules of the road.

Gene Holmerud

Share the Road - Buses and Bicycles

"At first glance, it may not seem like a bike and a bus have very much in common, but in fact, they share a lot of things... both are usually in the same space on the roadway, the right lane. And both have slower than average speeds...", view the video presented by ChicgoBikes and the Chicago Transit Authority:

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LCI Instructor Class: Sept 9, 10, 11 in Gilbert, AZ

There will be an LCI Instructor Class held September 9, 10, and 11, 2011. This is the class to take to become a certified LCI (League Cycling Instructor), more info from the LAB.

The location will be:

Town of Gilbert, Heritage annex, 119 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, AZ 

This location will be empty except for our class and has a door directly from the conference room to the parking lot.

Application and Candidate Expectations.

questions? contact Kathy Mills.

CAzBike Membership Meeting: Monday June 20

next scheduled meeting: Monday June 20, 2011. 6:00PM.

Location: Boulders on Broadway Bar and Grill (map)
530 W. Broadway in Tempe AZ 85282, 480.921.9431

WATCH THIS SPACE

Cycle For Life registration for November open soon

Planning has begun for our next Cycle For Life bike event, organized by the Arizona Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The event has been moved to November where it will remain each year. This year, the ride will offer a 75-mile and 35-mile routes in Pinal County starting at Heritage Park in Florence, AZ on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011.

A focus group held in May helped to shape the future of this event with much potential to grow in a community where cycling is a popular activity. This year's fully-supported Cycle For Life will offer training rides to help beginner road riders prepare for a fun experience. Registration will open soon.

If you would like more information about Cycle For Life or would like to help plan this year's event, contact Sheryl Keeme at Skeeme@cff.org.

Support for Phx's Complete Streets Classification System

Mr. Shane Silsby
Deputy Street Transportation Director
City of Phoenix
200 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Dear Mr. Silsby

The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists would like to express our support for the City of Phoenix’s application to the FHWA Transportation, Community and System Preservation Program to create a “Complete Streets” Classification System. I have personally participated in the MAG Bike/Pedestrian Committee efforts to promote the Complete Streets concept in Maricopa County, and believe that this step is integral to, and supportive of, the efforts currently being made to better accommodate multi-modal transportation in our community. The CAzB believes that this will complement and support the following:

• The Complete Streets concept as outlined in the MAG Complete Streets Guide.
• The Phoenix General Plan Update.
• The Central Phoenix Transportation Framework and Sustainable Land Use and Transportation integration studies.

We fully support implementation of Complete Streets and multi-modal concepts in order to create integration of land use and transportation in an effort to improve both the livability and transportation safety attributes of the City of Phoenix and the Valley as a whole.

Sincerely,

Robert Beane
President, Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists
(501 c 3 bicycling advocacy and education organization directly representing over 3,000 individual and club member bicyclists in Arizona)
Member and former officer/board member, Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club (450 member recreational bicycling club)
Phoenix resident (Ahwatukee Foothills)