The Pima County Parks and Recreation department is currently developing two projects which they hope will make cycling easier and safer on the Rillito River path at Campbell Avenue.

A cyclist crosses the Campbell Avenue bridge on the sidewalk

Assistant County Administrator Nanette Slusser said the county is investigating paving the north side of the Rillito between Campbell Avenue and the Country Club bridge, as well as the south side of the Rillito from Campbell Avenue to Mountain Avenue.

County officials are working with area residents to ensure their concerns are considered in the development process. Slusser said no timeline for completion has been set.

The two projects would allow cyclists to remain on the north or south side of the Rillito without having to ride on dirt and would allow cyclists who want to switch sides to switch at the bike-and-pedestrian-only Mountain Avenue or County Club bridges.

Currently cyclists who want to remain on the paved portion of the Rillito must cross the Campbell Avenue bridge, which does not have bike lanes. Many cyclists ride on the narrow sidewalk instead of the road.

A hand cyclist rides on the unpaved south side of the Rillito bike path

Rosa Valenzuela, who rode against traffic on the sidewalk, said she rides the Rillito path often. She said crossing the bridge can be dangerous, especially when there are people trying to cross in the opposite direction.

Lynne Sterr said she thinks it is dangerous to ride on the dirt on the north side of the Rillito and is excited about the prospect of Pima County paving it.

“It is dangerous,” said Sterr, who was crossing the Campbell bridge to get to Trader Joe’s. “You have to go slow and you have to be careful. I’d like to get some asphalt and do it myself.”

Post any interesting links you find in the comment section.

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The Ride for World Health crew will be rolling into town next week. Check out the flier for details on their lecture and solidarity ride.

You can register for the ride at http://rideforworldhealth.org/solidarityrides. The ride will leave from Time Market on Saturday April 10, 2010 at 9 a.m. Click on the flier to see a bigger version.

Ran across this story on KVOA’s site:

TUCSON – Tucson Police have arrested and booked a man in connection with a fatal traffic accident involving a bicyclist and car.

Investigators say James Walley was riding a motorized bicycle on Prince Rd., near Fairview March 26th.

The suspect, Robert Young was in his vehicle, and according to police made a turn ahead of Walley, who collided with Young’s vehicle.

Walley was transported to a hospital where he died the next day.

Detectives on the scene noticed Young displaying signs and symptoms consistent with alcohol intoxication.

Young is facing one count of second degree murder.

State Representative Daniel Patterson

The bill introduced by Arizona State Representatives Doug Quelland and Daniel Patterson,  which would have allowed cyclists to treat stop signs like yield signs, is no longer being considered by the legislature.

Quelland’s assistant Jeanae Vernon said the bill wasn’t heard by the transportation committee.

“If they didn’t hear it in committee then it is, so to speak, dead in the water,” Vernon said.

Patterson, who represents Tucson said Andy Biggs, the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure committee, would not allow a hearing or vote on the bill.

“I don’t think he is particularly pro-bike,” Patterson said.

Patterson said the law would help cyclists around Arizona, but would be particularly useful to Tucson cyclists.

State Representative Doug Quelland

“It is particularly an issue in Tucson because Tucson Police continues to issue hundreds and hundreds of citations for frivolous stop-sign violations,” Patterson said.  “The situation with police stopping and ticketing cyclists for stop sign violations is worse in Tucson than anywhere in the state by far.”

Patterson said they will introduce the bill again next year, but need more help from the cycling community to get it pushed though.

“If cyclists want this there is going to have to be an organized campaign,” Patterson said. “People are going to have to back us up.”

Patterson said he thinks laws like this should be changed to help cyclists.

“There is a lot of lip service paid by politicians wanting to support people riding bikes,” Patterson said. Everybody talks about,  ‘we need to reduce traffic, help air quality, help people be healthy and help them get out of their cars. Cyclists deserve some advantages and one of those would be safely yielding at stop signs.”

Patterson is hopeful that next year the support will be there to get the law changed, but continued to stress the importance of support from the cycling community.

“If people want conditions to get better they are going to have to fight for it,” Patterson said. “That is just the way it is.”

You can still download the bill here.

I just received this email from James:

Someone was smart enough to steal the two most recognizable bikes on
our property.

A Trek Mountain bike spray painted pink.

And a Home Made Long Bike or Xtra Cycle with a Cheap Gary Fisher Frame
Mountain Frame, Road Handle Bars, Grey and Light Blue.

ALSO, I just remembered – Two Sets of Pannier Bags, One set is two
aqua blue bags, the other bright orange set made by knog.
ALSO, I just remembered – I had a brand new, still in the box,
Continental Four Season 700×25 Tire purchased at Ordinary that I
hadn’t taken out of the bag yet.

The Picture is of the bike before it had two racks attached to it. I
don’t have a picture of the Trek. If you see them anywhere let me
know.

Craigslist ad – http://tucson.craigslist.org/bik/1666646645.html

Update: Download the results

It was a beautiful day for racing at the 2010 Tumacacori Road Race. Check out the video and photos below.

The results haven’t been posted yet, but I’ll add the link when it becomes available.

Enjoy the pictures.

12►

If you find one of you, email me at tucsonvelo@gmail.com and I can send you the original hi-resolution photo for a small fee.

Post any interesting links you find in the comment section.

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• One family enjoying the adventure of a lifetime
• Tyred old technology for carbon-friendly cause
• Bikes = Economic Catastrophe

A Tucson Velo reader developed a short survey about biking downtown to gather data for a research project she is working on at the University of Arizona.

It only takes a few minutes to complete. You can find the survey at: http://www.tucsonbikesurvey.com/

Rangers in Saguaro National Park East are going to begin using, what Rincon Mountain District Ranger, Paul Austin calls the “4 Es” to help improve interactions between different groups and make it safer it for everyone.

While improving the interactions between walkers, runners, drivers and cyclists is a goal, safety is the main priority.

Austin, who is also a cyclist, wrote a report outlining the issue and how they hope to improve it. You can download the entire report here.

“One of our most concerning statistics at the park is that we have averaged 7 major bicycle related accidents a year over the past 5 years on the Cactus Forest Loop Drive. These are accidents that require helicopter evacuation, ambulance transport, and/or hospital time. Considering we have close to 25,000 bicyclists on the Cactus Forest Loop annually, that number may seem low. However, we know bicycling accidents are drastically underreported.. We are committed to reducing bicycling injuries in the park, as safety is always a priority.”

“We’ve had three bad accidents in the last 36 hours,” Austin said in a phone interview.

Austin plans to use the “4 Es” to help increase the safety in the park. Here is an excerpt from the report.

Goal 1: Education
Educate all road users, bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists, on legal, predictable and safe behavior. Continue and expand implementation of both adult and child bicycle driving and traffic education programs incorporating the mission of the National Park Service and Saguaro National Park. Coordinate with Pima County, area school districts, and with the state.

Goal 2: Enforcement
Establish and implement targeted enforcement of specific traffic laws for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, based on the documented, most frequent bicyclist–motorist crashes.

Goal 3: Engineering
Plan, design, construct and maintain facilities that meet or exceed accepted standards and guidelines.

Goal 4: Encouragement
Encourage use of bicycles for recreation. Encourage use of the park to experience the natural wonder of Saguaro National Park rather than a personal training ground (or only train hard while going up the hills). Encourage multi-modal use of all facilities.

“I ride myself, I know what it is like, Austin said. “I love to ride the loop, but it is not a race course.”

Austin said one of the big factors often contributing to crashes is speed.

Statistics show us that the majority of accidents in the park involve speed as the primary or a contributing factor.
Due to these results, focused enforcement patrols will be targeting speed. Do not be surprised to see Rangers with radar as well as radar trailers on the loop drive.

While his rangers have the authority to write tickets for infractions by motorists and cyclists alike, Austin said that isn’t the goal.

“Our goal is a partnership in recognizing what an amazing loop it is, but that it is also a loop for everybody,” Austin said. “It is a great place for us to ride, but it is also great place for that 82-year-old couple from Michigan to check out the Sonoran Desert.”

Austin is also working with GABA and Bike Ambassadors to organize a ride though the park on April 10, 2010. Here are the details:

The Saguaro National Park East is sponsoring two rides through the park on Saturday, April 10.  The first ride starts at 8:00 AM followed by a ride at 9:30 AM.  The rides on the Cactus Trail road are intended for those who have never ridden the route or have not done the loop in many years.  The rides are supported by the Park Rangers, GABA and the Bike Ambassadors. Safe riding techniques will be emphasized and support provided to those who may find the climb on the back side a little more difficult than expected.   So please come out and enjoy a ride through our magnificent National Treasure. Please remember to bring your pass or be prepared to pay applicable entrance fees.

Download Austin’s entire report here.