Sometimes it’s the small things that make a big difference when it comes to bike commuting.

Take the photo above as an example. That’s a University of Arizona CatTran shuttle, which in itself is pretty great. It offers rides to students and employees all around campus helping them move around without cars.

The shuttle you see here runs people from a parking lot at Ft. Lowell and Mountain to campus.

The trouble is, the UA has created a timed stop for this particular shuttle at the stop just south of Ft. Lowell and Mountain Avenue. Because it is a timed stop, the driver is required stay at the stop until a specified time regardless of whether students are waiting or not.

I’m a fairly confident cyclist and feel comfortable merging into traffic, taking the lane and passing the shuttle, but I’ve seen many less expericned cyclists freak out and not know what to do. Some merge without looking. Some get on the sidewalk and go around and still others stop behind the shuttle trying to figure out what to do.

It may seem like a small detail in the grand scheme of UA transportation, but it make a big difference in someone’s commute.

I’ve called the UA’s Parking and Transportation director who said he would look into alternative options, but did not say he would change it. I don’t expect it to change overnight, but the small details matter when trying to convince more people to ride and feel safe.

What seemingly small things make a a big difference in your bike rides?

Pro Men, including eventual winner Mimmo Futia (No. 2), wait at the line for the start of the race.

Editor’s note: Karilyn Roach wrote this post. She holds a MS in Urban Planning from the University of Arizona and works as a Program Coordinator with Watershed Management Group, a Tucson non-profit. She currently sits on the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee and rides a Jamis Aurora Elite.

Cyclists participated in the second race of the MBAA, Mountain Bike Association of Arizona, 2012 race season on Saturday. The White Tank Whirlwind was held at the Competition Track in White Tanks Mountain Regional Park in Waddell, west of Phoenix.

Krista Park, who trains in Tucson, took first place for the Pro Women once again. First place for the Pro Men went to Mimmo Futia, who rides for Swiss American Racing, a Phoenix area team. Full results are available here.

The next race, Hedgehog Hustle, will be held Saturday Feb. 25 at the Competitive Track in Estrella Mountain Regional Park in Goodyear, southwest of Phoenix.

Riders vie for position at the Category 2 Men's start

Riders entering the final loop on the course.

Post-race refueling station.

The bike corral in front of Time Market adorned with bows on day of unveiling in October 2009.

Editor’s note: This post was written by Colby Henley one of Tucson Velo’s newest contributors. Henley is a daily bicycle commuter and advocate. 

The City of Tucson installed its first bike corral in front of the Rialto Theater in August 2009, the second at Time Market in October 2009, and the third at Epic Cafe in April 2010. Since then, no new corrals have been installed, but Tucson’s bicycle and pedestrian program manager Tom Thivener maintains a list of potential future locations, including some along the Modern Streetcar route that would need to be temporary installations or delayed altogether due to streetcar construction.

Thivener said that businesses that would like to have the city install a bike corral on the street near their location can submit a written request to the city. The requesting business would need to be okay with losing an on-street car parking space and need to get approval from any other businesses within 50 feet of the lost space. Additionally, if the space has a parking meter, approval from Parkwise would also be needed.

Here’s the list of potential future bike corral locations:

• 7th Street at 4th Ave
• 48 W. Pennington – City High
• 135 S. 6th Ave – Downtown Kitchen north of new sidewalk extension
• Treat north of Speedway – Xoom Juice
• Copper east of Campbell – Blue Willow
• 123 S. Stone - Cope Behavioral Health
• Pennington near Stone – University of Arizona
• Congress Street west of Stone – Fox Theater (streetcar)
• Congress Street – Yoga/Sparkroot (streetcar)
• Food Conspiracy Coop/Cafe Passe/Antigone Books (streetcar)

Where else do you think would be a good location for a bike corral?

A cyclist makes a turn along the UA mall.

The University of Arizona is hosting four workshops this week to get the public’s input on its bicycle and pedestrian study, which they launched last year.

The UA and Pima Association of Governments contracted ALTA Planning, a Portland Ore. planning company specializing in bicycling and walking planning.

Starting tomorrow, members of the public can join walking and bicycling audits to help determine where there is a critical need for bicycling and walking facilities.

Here is what the planners say about the study and public sessions:

Transportation Services and the Pima Association of Governments is working on improving walking and bicycling at and around the University of Arizona campus. The project will guide the development of bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs in the area over the next several years.

You are invited to join us for a public workshop, bike audit, and walk audit to discuss issues for bicycling and walking, help identify locations where bicycle and pedestrian facilities are most needed, and brainstorm solutions.

Here is the schedule of public sessions that will allow participants to walk and ride with the planners.

Walk Audit #1 (Pedestrian Facilities Assessment) 
Wednesday January 25th | 4-6 pm
Meet at the parking kiosk at the 6th Street parking structure

Public Workshop
Thursday January 26th | 11 am-2 pm
Student Union, Catalina Room

Walk Audit #2 (Pedestrian Facilities Assessment)
Thursday January 26th | 2-4 pm
Meet at the bike valet on the Mall at the University of Arizona

Bike Audit #1 (Bike Facilities Assessment)
Thursday January 26th | 2-4 p.m.
Meet at the bike valet on the Mall at the University of Arizona

During the lunchtime rush, riding through campus can be a challenge. Check out the video below to see what it looks like.

Check out the photos and video of what could be the final criterium held on the University of Arizona campus.