Our entire summer on the bike

Chandler, AZ couple Steve and Kathy McDermott describe their 4,500 mile transamerica adventure.

by Steve and Kathy McDermott

We decided that this summer (2014) was going to be THE summer that we cycled cross the United States. Using Adventure Cycling’s Trans Am Route, we left Mechanicsville VA May 13 for our wonderful adventure. Our route, with some deviation, took us 114 days (88 cycling and 26 planned off days), totaled 4,546 miles, with 173,941 total feet of climbing. We love cycling and bicycle touring but had never done a self supported tour lasting more than 3 weeks.

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League names Phoenix Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly City

League Announces Fall 2014 Bicycle Friendly Communities

First time honoree: Phoenix is named Bicycle Friendly at the Bronze level. "Achieving Bronze level BFC is a great first step on Phoenix's journey to Platinum level. We have a soon-to-be-approved bicycle master plan with 380 projects. I am excited for the future of bicycling in Phoenix." -- Joseph Perez, Phoenix Bike Coordinator

Arizona communities currently enjoying BFC status are

• Gold -- Tucson/East Pima Region, Scottsdale
• Silver -- Tempe, and Flagstaff
• Bronze -- Phoenix, Chandler, Cottenwood, Gilbert, Mesa and Sedona

Coalition supports the community

The Coalition is proud to announce two $1,000 grants to two organizations that promote safe bicycling to needy bicyclists and would-be bicyclists. The awards will be used to purchase helmets, lights, or any other supplies that need to be purchased in furtherance of their mission.

We-Cycle exec director
Robert Chacon, right, at a
recent bike safety event

The first recipient, Phoenix-based WE-CYCLE-USA: Helps kids and adults in need through the recycling of used bicycles while promoting the use of bicycles as an environmentally friendly form of transportation. We provide the tools, supplies and knowledge necessary to recycle, maintain and SAFELY operate each bicycle. We believe by teaching kids and adults to recycle, repair and SAFELY maintain their own bicycles we empower them and promote independence.

Crossroads Mission Bike shop mechanic
Mike receives Cazbike donation from
Lynn Dalbey

The other recipient, Crossroads Rescue Mission of Yuma Arizona, is a full-service, human rescue mission in every sense of the word. They prepare over 120,000 meals a year, house transients, have one of the best GED programs in the county, drug & alcohol rehab program and have approximately 102 in our family shelter (49 are children). Included in all of this is a very good, well-equipped bicycle shop. Park tools and stands and all. They have a full time mechanic who repairs bicycles for the needy as well as for the thrift store, and sell them to those who need transportation and enjoy bicycling. "The Bill Anderson Crossroads Mission Bicycle shop is most grateful for the donation of $1,000 from Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists. This money will go to buy parts that are not available from other old salvaged bikes".

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More about the Coalition: the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists promotes efforts that improve bicycling usage and safety within the state of Arizona by addressing law enforcement and transportation engineering issues through education, outreach and advocacy programs thereby enhancing the role of bicycling in local, county and statewide transportation plans. Learn more about the Coalition at www.cazbike.org, or find us on facebook at www.facebook.com/CAzBike

Meet Spencer Scharff

The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists is pleased to announce that Spencer Scharff of Phoenix has joined the Coalition’s Board of Directors. Spencer has been a cyclist since he was very young and is looking forward to contributing to the Coalition's important mission.

Spencer received his bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law in 2010. After law school, he clerked for the Judge Mary M. Schroeder of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He then practiced commercial and appellate litigation in the Los Angeles office of Paul Hastings LLP. This past year, he returned to Phoenix and the Ninth Circuit for an additional one-year clerkship with Judge Andrew D. Hurwitz. Following the end of his clerkship with Judge Hurwitz, he joined Thorpe Shwer P.C.

Cazbike 2014 Annual Meeting Wrap-up

The Coalition held its annual member's meeting Saturday 10/18/2014. Thanks to all who came out to hear what we've all been up to. For a look forward to 2015 please see Striving for Significant Advocacy Milestones in 2015

Changes to Board and advisory positions are detailed below -- the updated positions are listed at cazbike.org/Contact.htm


(unapproved) MEETING MINUTES:

The meeting was called to order by president, Bob Beane, at 1:00 pm. Having made introductions during the preceding lunch/meet-and-greet period, the board was recognized by raising hands. The agenda for the meeting was then reviewed.

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Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists Striving for Significant Advocacy Milestones in 2015

CAzBike pres.
Bob Beane

Bob is the Coalition's President. 

The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists began in 1991 with a dream of developing an effective statewide bicycling advocacy organization/network in Arizona. When we consider that meant developing a functioning team across geography the size of New England, with 45% of New England’s population, this was no small task. Early on, the founders expanded the group to include members from metro-Phoenix and metro-Tucson. In more recent years, the CAzB built a leadership team that included advocates from Kingman and the Verde Valley. In 2014, the group expanded further to add board and advisory board members from Yuma and Flagstaff, and we have assisted and/or worked with advocates in Sierra Vista, Green Valley, Prescott and Casa Grande.

As we continue to broaden and strengthen the team, we are finding more ways to make a difference for bicyclists in Arizona. Here are a few examples of programs in progress or on the docket for 2015:

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