12th Annual Tour for Tucson’s Children 2005
David Freund Memorial White Mountain Tour
Welcome New and Renewing Members!
A Convergence of Cycle Tourists
Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee News
New Day Ride Format for GABA-Tucson
GABA-Tucson Cancellation Policy
GABA Tucsons Bicycle Drivers License Classes!
Kids and Parents Try New Ways of Getting to School
Safe Routes to School National Training Course a Success!
Employers Can Encourage Cycling to Work with Showers & Lockers
Salt River Canyon Bike Tour 2005
Cattle Guards in Southern Arizona Either Getting Fixes or the Ax if not in Active Use
10th annual Tour of the White Mountains
(See related articles in this issue
for details.)
Ride Date Ride Name Organizers Leaders
7/4 (Mon) Tour for Tucson's Children Tucson Parks & Rec
7/4 (Mon) NO GABA MEETING TONIGHT
7/9 & 10 Dave Freund White Mtn Tour Phoenix GABA Jay Stewart
7/11 (Mon) GABA MEETING TONIGHT GABA TUCSON 7 PM
9/3-4-5 Blue Loop GABA-Tucson Dorothy Barth
9/10 (Sun) El Tour Training Rides GABA-Tucson
On Monday, July 4th
Our regular monthly meeting, usually held
on the 1st Monday of the month,
will be on the 2nd Monday of July,
because of the July 4th Holiday.
Monday, July 11 at 7 PM
No formal program tonight.
Join us tonight to socialize with other cyclists!
We will serve
eegee's Frozen Drinks and sub sandwiches.
Everybody is welcome!
Monday, August 1 at 7 PM
Join us to welcome Dorothy Barth, 2005 "Grand Canyon to the Border"
Bicycle Tour Chair Person.
Dorothy is organizing
our prestigious Bike Tour for the 2nd year!
She will give a presentation
about the 2005 Tour,
which is returning to the "traditional" route
used in previous years.
She will also show some slides
of the 2004 Tour.
Bring your questions!
If you think you might be interested
in riding the Tour in the future,
here's your chance to find out all about it!
Everybody is welcome!
JULY 2005
July 4th (Mon): TOUR FOR TUCSON’S CHILDREN. City of Tucson Parks & Rec. Lisa or
Jesus at 791-4969, or contact Lisa.Sommer@tucsonaz.gov.
July 9 & 10 : DAVE FREUND MEMORIAL WHITE MOUNTAIN TOUR. PMBC. Show Low to
Springerville via Vernon on the 1st day; Springerville back to Show Low via
Sunrise on the 2nd day. Leader: Jay Stewart, Jay.Stewart@Honeywell.com or
www.sportsfun.com
July 23: TAYLOR HOUSE BENEFIT CENTURY. Absolute Bikes in Flagstaff.
www.absolutebikes.net/flag_frset.html
AUGUST 2005
Aug. 19-21: FLAGSTAFF MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL. Absolute Bikes in Flagstaff.
www.absolutebikes.net/flag_frset.html
SEPTEMBER 2005
Sept. 3-5: THE BLUE LOOP. GABA-Tucson. Morenci to Glenwood, NW; Glenwood to
Alpine, AZ; and Alpine back to Morenci via the famous "Coronado Trail".
www.bikegaba.org
Sept. 10 & 11: GILA INNER LOOP. Starting in Silver City, New Mexico. Contact
twinsisters@gilanet.com
Sept. 11 (Sun): OPENING DAY OF “EL TOUR” TRAINING RIDES. GABA-Tucson.
www.bikegaba.org
Sept. 10 (Sat) (Sat):10th ANNUAL BENEFIT TOUR OF THE WHITE MTNS. Near Pinetop,
for mountain bikes. Starting at Thunderhorse Ranch, same courses as last year.
New Website for registrations on line, starting mid-June. For info and
registration, www.nrmc.org/twm.htm
OCTOBER 2005
Sept. 30-Oct. 2: TUCSON BICYCLE CLASSIC STAGE RACE. Steve Bohn, snsbohn@cox.net
or www.casaschurch.org/tbc/
Oct. 1-8: GREAT ARIZONA BICYCLE ADVENTURE. 25th Annual. Grand Canyon to the
Border in 2005. GABA-Tucson. www.bikegaba.org
Oct. 1 (Sat): COCHISE COUNTY CLASSIC XVII. Organized by PBAA. www.pbaa.com
Oct. 8 (Sat) : MEMORIAL RIDE FOR SAFETY. In Phoenix. PMBC for CAzB.
www.sportsfun.com
Oct. 9 (Sun): HEART OF ARIZONA CENTURY. GABA-West Valley, Bullshifters, & ABC.
www.sportsfun.com
Oct. 15 & 16: CAVE CREEK OVERNIGHT RIDE. GABA-Tucson. On east side of the
Chiricahua Mountains, from Road Forks, NM to Portal, AZ. Mike Thompson, myklcycl@cox.net
or www.bikegaba.org
Oct. 23 (Sun): GENE CHAPMAN MEMORIAL TUMACACORI CENTURY. GABA-Tucson. Most
options start in Sahuarita, south of Tucson, and go to the well-known Tumacacori
Mission. Judy & Bob Bolt, 512-0442 or bojubolt@aol.com or www.bikegaba.org
Oct. 30?: SOUL RIDE MOUNTAIN BIKE in Oracle. Todd Sadow, www.epicrides.com
Oct. 22 (SAT): TOUR DE FARM. Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association.
www.tourdefarm.com
Oct 30 (Sun) : PALO VERDE NUCLEAR CENTURY. GABA-West Valley.
www.sportsfun.com
Proposed Programs for 2005
Subject to change; check monthly articles.
July: Social hour with eegee's Frozen Drinks and sub sandwiches. No formal
program.
August: Dorothy Barth on the 2005 Grand Canyon to the Border Bicycle Tour.
Mtn. Standard Time, Tucson AZ
JULY
RISE SET
A.M. P.M.
1: 5:21 7:34
7: 5:23 7:34
14: 5:27 7:32
21: 5:31 7:29
28: 5:36 7:24
AUGUST
RISE SET
A.M. P.M.
1: 5:38 7:21
7: 5:42 7:16
14: 5:47 7:09
21: 5:52 7:02
28: 5:56 6:53
Monday July 4th
The Tour for Tucson’s Children was created in response to the passage of the
1994 City of Tucson Bicycle Helmet Ordinance. At the time, we were concerned
with the inevitable need to provide helmets for low-income youth.
Tucson Parks and Recreation Department and Tucson Fire Department were already
actively involved in a bicycle safety program. As a result of both departments’
commitment to Childhood Injury Prevention Programs, the staffs from both these
departments became the event organizers and have continued to manage the Tour
since its inception.
Options & Starting Times:
27-mile challenge 6:00 AM start
3-mile Run/Walk 6:05 AM start
10-mile Family Ride 6:45 AM start
6 ½-mile Family Ride 6:45 AM start
½ mile Kid's Ride (6 and under) 8:00 AM start
Start & Finish:
The start/finish line for all events is on the east side of the Tucson
Convention Center in downtown Tucson. This is also where the venue is located.
On site registration, packet pick up and refreshments are all located in the
venue.
Courses:
1. The 3-mile walk and the 6 ½ & 10-mile rides will take you through downtown
and along the Santa Cruz river path.
2. The 27-mile ride takes you out west along Mission, Irvington, Valencia and a
short part of Ajo before returning you downtown.
Ride Fee:
Adults (16+): $15 (on or before 6/21, $20 after 6/21)
Youth (Under 16): $10 (on or before 6/21, $15 after 6/21)
Kids event is free.
Medals: Participation medals are handed out to all event participants.
Packet pick up Location and Date: Sunday, July 3rd, from 9 AM to 3 PM at 900 S.
Randolph Way AND at the venue on Monday, July 4th.
Proceeds benefit Tucson SAFEKIDS Injury Prevention Program.
For more info, Lisa or Jesus at 791-4969, or Lisa.Sommer@tucsonaz.gov.
Volunteers needed to work at the venue and to ride the course. Contact Virginia
Martinez at 791-4683, or
Lisa.Sommer@tucsonaz.gov.
July 9-10, 2005
Sponsored by Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club
www.sportsfun.com/gaba
Due to the popularity of this ride, it is limited to the first 200 riders. Over
the years, this ride has earned the reputation of being one of the very best
bicycling tours in the Southwest. If you've ridden it before, you know what it
is like - if you haven't participated, there's much to look forward to.
Attracting even out-of-state riders, it has become so popular that it is
recommended that you REGISTER EARLY!
PMBC will treat you right on this fully-supported ride.
- Great catered dinner at the round Valley High School on Saturday night!
- Free camping at round Valley Middle School with showers and gym facilities.
- Friendly volunteers to transport luggage and serve goodies at sag stops.
This 2-day ride includes:
-T-shirt; sag support, emergency mechanical support, plenty of good snacks and
luggage delivery to your hotel or campsite, Saturday night dinner and raffle
ticket, and Saturday night camping.
New Starting Location this Year:
The ride starts and ends at Hon Dah Resort & Casino, intersection of Hwys 73 &
260, in the cool White Mountains. You'll be rejuvenated in the lush pine
forests, perhaps enjoy a cooling splash of rain on your body, and after a good
climb each day, you'll be rewarded with fantastic downhills into town.
Starting Time:
Saturday morning, July 9: Check in between 6 AM and 8:30 AM.
Sunday morning, July 10: Gather up at Reeds Motor Lodge for a continental
breakfast to get you up the hill.
Course:
This year, the ride will take you from Hon Dah Resort & Casino thru Pinetop and
Show Low, then EAST to Springerville, via Vernon on Hwy 60 on Saturday for a
total of 63 miles. On Sunday, you'll ride 38 miles from Springerville up Hwy 260
to the Sunrise turnoff, and back down to Hon Dah Resort & Casino.
Camping in Springerville:
Camping in Springerville/Eager will be available at no extra cost at the Round
Valley Middle School on Saturday night. The school's football field has the
softest grass that anyone has ever camped on. You can also stay at one of the
many hotels/motels in the area. A few of these are listed below.
Saturday Springerville Group Dinner:
Saturday evening, your dinner will be prepared by Celebrations - your catering
connection in Springerville. Your ride entry fee covers a great meal, with great
desserts too! For $16 each, friends and family can join in. The evening
festivities will include awards and raffles, and perhaps some entertainment.
Ride fee - before July 1st:
GABA/ABC members: $45.
Non-Members; $50.
Late fee after 7/1: Add $10.
Your ride fee includes:
1. Sat. night camping w/hot showers at the Round Valley Middle School;
2. Fantastic dinner at the Round Valley High School on Saturday evening;
3. Sag support along the route;
4. Sag stops well-supplied throughout the course on both days;
5. Riders' instructions & course map.
6. Raffle Ticket & T-Shirt.
Showers may be available at the end of the ride, so you don't have to drive home
smelly. This ride is truly a great ride, one you shouldn't miss! For more info &
to register, www.sportsfun.com/gaba or contact Ride Organizer Jay Stewart at
jay.stewart@honeywell.com or 480-250-1613. Volunteers are also needed: we very
seldom have too many volunteers!
White Mountain Tour Motel List
Show Low:
Apache Pines Motel: 928-532-4328
Best Western: 928-537-5773
Day's Inn: 928-537-4356
Downtown 9 Motel: 928-537-4334
Holiday Inn: 928-537-5115
KC Travel Lodge: 928-537-4433
Kiva Motel: 928-537-4542
Motel 6: 928-537-7694
Snowy River Motel: 928-537-2926
Hon Dah Resort & Casino: www.hon-dah.com/hotel.html
Springerville:
El Jo Motor Inn: 928-333-4314
Reeds Motor Lodge: 800-814-6451
Super 8 Motel: 928-333-2655
Corral Motel: 928-333-2264
Paisley Corner B & B: 928-333-4665
Rode Inn: 928-333-4365
Whiting Bros Motor Inn: 928-333-5870
Best Western: 928-333-2540
26 Bed & Breakfast: 928-333-2102
Spanish Trails B & B: 928-333-4034
A Premier Cycling Event
September 3, 4 & 5, 2005
The time is approaching for one of the best rides sponsored by GABA-Tucson! Come
out with us and escape the heavy traffic and pressure of the big city, and relax
in the remote Arizona and New Mexico's scenic mountain countryside. You will
enjoy a total elevation gain of 16,977 feet over 3 days and 216 beautiful miles.
This year's ride is the traditional route that you have grown to know and love:
Morenci to Glenwood, to Alpine, and back to Morenci via the famous "Coronado
Trail" - 215 miles worth of an end-of-the-summer hurrah! The ride is fully
supported with sag stops and sweeps to ensure everyone enjoys the ride to the
utmost!
This ride is for experienced riders who are conditioned for long gradual climbs
as well as long exhilarating descents. This is a scenic ride with demanding
terrain! If you are looking for a great training ride for GABA's "Grand Canyon
to the Border Bike Tour", held this coming October, this is the one you want!
Be ready for all kinds of weather: It may rain at one point or another, and the
temperatures are likely to drop considerably! Very cool mornings in the
mountains will alternate with very hot afternoons.
Registration, Friday, September 2nd.
Check-in for pre-registered riders, and registration for Day-of-Event riders,
will be held on the grounds of the Morenci Motel, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM on
Friday night. To find us, look for a yellow GABA sign pointing the way. The
Morenci Motel, with a brand new menu for diners, will be serving dinner in their
restaurant until 9 PM on Friday night if you arrive hungry.
1st Day, Saturday, September 3rd:
Morenci to Glenwood, NM - 66 miles & 4800 ft. of elevation gain.
Start your day right with a great buffet breakfast at the Morenci Motel starting
at 5:30 AM. Menu includes oatmeal, eggs, bagels, sweet rolls, juice & coffee for
only $6, pay as you go. After breakfast, get on your bike and roll on down into
Clifton, then climb out of the Gila River Valley heading northeast on Hwy 78
through Mule Creek and on to Glenwood following the San Francisco River Valley
into Glenwood. For those who prepaid for dinner ($12 per person), a barbecue of
beef and chicken for our meat eaters, and a vegetarian chili, with baked
potatoes will be cooked and served by the owner of the Double T Homestead B&B,
Polly Tipton. The meal, served at 5 PM (AZ Time) will also include salad, garlic
bread, brownies, iced tea and lemonade.
2nd Day, Sunday, September 4th:
Glenwood to Alpine, AZ - 58 miles & 5346 ft. of elevation gain:
To get your body ready for this day's ride, for those who prepaid for breakfast
($7 per person), Polly will prepare delicious breakfast burritos filled with
eggs, hash browns, onions & bell pepper, a side of salsa, a variety of muffins,
watermelon chunks, coffee and juice, starting at 6 AM (AZ Time). Then, it's back
on the bike with a gradual climb through pine forests in New Mexico as you
negotiate Saliz Pass and Luna Summit to the small town of Alpine at
approximately 8000 feet of elevation.
The group dinner will again be catered by our friends at the Alpine Inn B & B,
owners Sue and Dick Seehusen. This pre-paid meal ($12 per person) will offer
pasta for both meat eaters and for our vegetarian friends. Also included will be
salad, rolls, fresh fruit, iced tea, lemonade and dessert. The Inn is located
1/2 block north of Main St., across from the Bear Wallow Restaurant. There will
be signs directing you to the Inn and dinner will be served on their lovely
patio starting at 5 PM (AZ Time). While here for dinner, pick up a flyer for the
B&B, a wonderful place to spend a quiet, relaxing weekend with gourmet
breakfasts!
3rd Day, Monday, September 5th:
Alpine to Morenci - 92 miles & 6831 ft. of elevation gain.
To prepare for the beautiful ride on the Coronado Trail back to Morenci, a
pre-paid breakfast ($5 per person) of breakfast burritos wrapped in spinach
tortillas for both vegetarian and non vegetarians, along with coffee and juice
will be ready for you to pick up at 6 AM (AZ Time) on the grounds of the
Sportsman's Lodge, located just NORTH of the "T" intersection of US 191 on the
right side. After breakfast, head out SOUTH on US 191 along the famous "Coronado
Trail" bringing you "blue" vistas, green forests, and long descents! After a
series of ups and downs in high forests, riders arrive at Hannagan Meadow.
Prepare yourself for breathtaking scenery while cycling down many miles and many
tight curves, and another long gradual climb up to the lunch spot at Rose Peak.
There are many more downs and ups over small ridges, always with tremendous
views, before the final 20 miles of spectacular vistas as you pedal back down
into Morenci.
Camping:
Friday night: In Morenci, at the Morenci Motel, on the large grassy area behind
the motel.
Saturday night: In Glenwood at the park, across the street from the Double T
Homestead B & B, approximately 1 mile EAST of town on the Catwalk Road. Rustic,
friendly atmosphere with smooth camping spots! Hot & cold showers available.
Sunday night: In Alpine at the Alpine RV Park. Hot showers available.
Monday afternoon:
Showers will be available at the Morenci Motel at the end of the ride to refresh
you for the ride home.
Ride Fee for Pre-registered Riders:
GABA members: $85.
Non-members: $95.
Meals - Must Be Pre-paid By Aug. 14:
Sat. Dinner: $12.
Sun. Breakfast: $ 7.
Sun. Dinner: $12.
Mon. Breakfast: $ 5.
Early registration is critical to provide better support and meals for you, and
is very much appreciated.
Ride Fee for Day-of-Event Riders:
GABA members $105.
Non-members $115.
Blue Loop Tour Pre-Paid Group Meals
To participate in group meals, you must register/pre-pay by 8/14th. Our hosts
need enough time for getting the necessary food on hand to prepare these meals
for us. If interested in group meals, sign up early!
Morenci Sat. 5:30 AM (AZ TIME) $ 6. Morenci Motel YOU PAY.
Glenwood Sat. 5 PM (AZ TIME) $12. Double T B & B PREPAID.
Glenwood Sun. 6 AM (AZ TIME) $ 7 Double T B & B PREPAID.
Alpine Sun. 5 PM (AZ TIME) $12. Alpine Inn B & B PREPAID.
Alpine Mon. 6 AM (AZ TIME) $ 5. Sportsman Lodge PREPAID.
Pre-registration is strongly encouraged and helmets are mandatory. Any
questions, contact ride leader Dorothy Barth, (520) 349-5932 or e-mail:
dorothybarth2443@msn.com
Blue Loop Motel List:
Friday Night in Morenci:
Morenci Motel: 928-865-4111
Friday Night in Clifton:
Rode Inn: 928-865-4536
Saturday Night in Glenwood:
Double T Homestead B&B: 505-539-2812
Lariat Motel: 505-539-2361
Crab Apple Cabins 505-539-2400
White Water Motel 505-539-2581
Doc's B & B 505-539-2611
Sunday Night in Alpine:
Alpine Inn: 928-339-1840
Alpine Cabins: 928-339-4440
Sportsman Lodge: 928-339-4576
Mountain High Lodge: 928-339-4311
Coronado Trail Cabins: 928-339-4772 (1 mi. south of town)
Tal-Wi-Wi-Lodge 928-339-4319 (4 mi. north of town)
NEW:
James Kirsten; Kim Duchicela; Peter Shibuya; Jim Morris; Susan Winder & Paul
Cervantes; John Harrison; F. Dale Caughlin; Kris Selby; Dan Carroll; Roger
Harbin; Earl Humphries; Paul Jakeman; Clark Long; Paul Fishman; Ron Taylor;
Charles & Teresa Woodhouse;Jeremy & Heather Pinson; Don & Jeanne Jovag; Michael
& Wendy Magras; Rick Sazbla.
RENEWING:
Carmel Dubuisson; Marty Gawlik; Carol Merfeld;
Jim Pugh; Roger Radcliff; Matt Rotando; Jack Skeffington; Don & Barbara Supper;
Dave & Della Watson; John Aegerter; Tom & Ginny Beal; Jerry & Sharon Billington;
Elinore Craig; Marla Husz; Efraim Katz; Robert & Marie Klenke;
Jean Lindeberg; Bob & Donna Mathers; Tim Matthes; John Ostmoe; Ralph Phillips;
Ed Quick;
Thurston Smith; Noah & Kim Van Amburg; Elizabeth Wyer; Sharon & John Krimmel;
John fkathy millsGarcia; Roger Pierce; Dave & Jesseka Braswell & Jesseka Zeleike;
Philip Simpson; John & Karen Takacs; Robert Gensler; Susan & Mike Burdick; Bill
Dahnke; Gerry Hill; Family Toussaint.
By Richard E. “Rich” Corbett,
Certified Cycling Instructor & Coach
Platinum 2006 Steering Committee Education Chair
What is a right hook? If you don’t know, you should! A right hook is when a
motorist passes you, brakes, and then turns right in front of you, causing or
almost causing a collision. Most often, you run into them, but only after they
have broken the law by cutting you off.
Recently there have been several of these crashes, and, sadly, the police do not
always understand the physics of this classic motorist fault crash. So you need
to know some basics as to 1) how to prevent them from happening, 2) how to avoid
them as they begin to develop, and 3) what to do if you still get cut off by a
$#$%$ motorist who does not know basic traffic law and courtesy.
Prevention
Be aware of the intersections and drives on your route that people regularly
turn at, and watch (with a rear view mirror) as you approach these, and if you
see a motorist coming from the rear whose arrival timing might put them in
conflict with you, do two things: 1) put your left hand/arm out in a
slowing/moving left signal (hand and arm straight, pointed at about a 45o angle
to the left), then 2) move a foot or two to the left to emphasize your presence.
Motorists who are going to turn right will almost always slow and go behind you,
and those who are going thru the intersection will move left a little and pass
you.
Avoidance
Be prepared, as you approach these locations to brake and or swerve/turn to the
right, if someone sneaks past your prevention measures. This means you must be
extra alert as you cycle, especially as you approach intersections and
driveways. You don’t need to be fearful, just alert. Emergency braking (do you
know how to do this?), and/or a quick turn to the right (do you know how to do
this?) can stop or steer you out of the path of an illegally turning motorist.
Both these maneuvers are taught in the LAB Road I Course (see the August Update
for the upcoming classes for GABA members).
Mitigation/follow-up
If all your efforts fail, hopefully you are smart enough to be wearing a helmet,
and that you strike the offending vehicle at as shallow an angle as possible
(the quick turn will let you either avoid the collision or hit it at a very
shallow angle).
If a crash occurs, and if police respond, be sure to ask the Officer “ Have you
had any special training in bicycle-motor vehicle crash investigation?” If they
answer no, then ask if an officer with such training could carry out the crash
investigation. (no officer in this region has had such training).
Summary
Ride aware – know what is gong on around you and think ‘what if’ as you ride
along- know what you will do if various, predictable things happen.
Be prepared – know how to do emergency braking, and quick turns, as these two
maneuvers can save you.
Know what to ask – be sure to ask any police officer who responds if they have
had the special training to be able to do a competent crash investigation.
Ride safer by doing these things and your cycling will be more enjoyable, as you
will ride with confidence – not fear.
By Richard “Rich” Corbett,
Certified Cycling Instructor & Coach
GRRR! RARF! RARF! RARF! What looks like the world’s biggest dog charges out,
snarling as it chases you on your new carbon fiber bike. Your adrenaline surges,
you stand up and charge off! Crummpph! You crash into the back of the parked car
you failed to see . . . I hope this has not happened to you, and does not in the
future, as it really doesn’t have to, if you know how to ‘deal with dogs’.
How do you avoid that dog? Stop pedaling and call out to the dog, “No!! Bad Dog!
Go Home!” then watch for a reaction, such as slowing their approach. Then, there
are two possibilities. You make it, or you don’t! Let’s look at what to do in
each case:
Dog looks like it will not intercept you (you make it).
If you are reasonably certain that the dog will not be able to intercept you,
then consider shifting up a gear and sprinting away! But be very careful that
the area ahead is safe for you to ride into at a fast speed, as too many
cyclists, in avoiding a dog, have ridden into a parked car, another cyclist, the
curb, etc.
Dog looks like it will intercept you (you don't make it).
If after calling out to the dog, it does not slow down, and your judgment is
that the dog will intercept you, be prepared to stop, with your bike between you
and the dog. Use the bike as a shield, and move it as needed to keep it between
you and the dog (especially if the dog is aggressive), rotating it on the rear
wheel. Most dogs will go away if you stop, since you are (I hope) outside their
‘territory’, and, when you stop, their fun is gone! After the dog leaves or
calms down, you should be able to re-mount and continue on your way. If the dog
does not leave, while keeping your bike between you and the dog, pull your water
bottle out and squirt the dog with water – they hate this, and will almost
always leave!
DO NOT:
Don’t take your pump loose and swing it at the dog, as too many cyclists who
have done this have either a) dropped the pump, or b) worse, accidentally put it
into one of their wheels! If you are a skilled rider, you can, if you have
enough water, pull your water bottle out and squirt the dog, but only if you are
truly skilled (can you ride with no hands? Can you do the rock dodge
confidently?).
What if your efforts fail?
What if you get bitten? Assuming you are safe (the dog is no longer a threat),
call 911 to report the attack, and do file a police report. Identification of
the dog is important, as you may have to take rabies shots if the dog cannot be
identified and quarantined. Of course, you will want to see your doctor, as the
puncture wound(s) from a bite need to be treated.
There are a lot fewer loose dogs than there were 10 – 20 years ago, as the City
of Tucson, the City of South Tucson, and Pima County have leash laws. It is
still important to know how to deal with the occasional loose dog. This article
should equip you to do so.
(Almaty, Kazakhstan)
By Claire & Bob Rogers
Alice and Andoni found Bob waiting with the bike while I checked in. We were
having a good long visit in the tight driveway when Guiliano happened along. He
had told us about the budget accommodation a couple of days earlier. Guliano had
just crossed China by bike and was disdainful of the train. He was here
organizing visas for onward travel and seemed to have endless patience and
persistent charm.
Alice and Andoni were a golden brown from the sun and the extent of information
they shared was also like gold to us. They had come across the Caspian on the
Russian rustbucket we'd hoped to take. It turns out the ferry runs every 3-5
days, not every 10-15 as we'd been told earlier. They ended up taking the train
through a remote part of the desert and had to load their bikes in the overhead
luggage rack on the train. (No baggage car.)
We decided to meet at the grocery store for a picnic for dinner in a local park.
After settling in by the fountain of the Monument to Independence, three
cyclists rode up on touring bikes. Soon, we were seven, sharing food and stories
of who, what, where and when.
Alice and Andoni are Belgian and Basque, on the road a year now (five months in
Turkey), continuing on for probably two more years. (www.mundubicyclette.be.tf)
Allistair is a solo tourist going around the world for Hope and Homes for
Children. He gives slide shows at schools and stays with expats when the
opportunity arises. Central Asia and Eastern Europe are the last legs of his
tour. (www.roundtheworldbybike.com) Christine and Marlin are just in from
Western Washington for a tour down around the Tajik-Afghanistan border and to
really live on the edge; they usually don't treat their drinking water either.
(www.3Dslideshows.com) Next, they fly to West Africa.
To be able to sit in Almaty, Kazakhstan below the mountains of the Tien Shan,
hearing both familiar and exotic stories from cyclists who've toured all over
the world was a rejuvenating experience, Their reaction however, to hearing
Bob's age was a little disconcerting. Bob was more than twice as old as the
oldest one there.
We had so much to share that we ended up together again at the home of Christine
and Marlin's host. Alice came up with a chili con carne and we stayed late
visiting. I felt normal again, hearing and relating to the reactions of Alice at
being the only woman around in countries where the women spend more time inside
while the men hang out in groups outside.
Andoni, in thick Basque accent, told excitedly how the Azerbaijani love the
Basque and how the Georgians love their wine and could very nearly kill you with
hospitality. Christine and Marlin are photographers specializing in 3D. When
they aren't traveling collecting spectacular photos, they travel the U.S. in
their mini motor-home, presenting 3D programs complete with 3D glasses.
Some of the remote areas they will visit require special permits. They're up to
$500 so far. They've managed to cull their gear down to four cameras and fit it
all onto just the rear racks of two mountain bikes. Amazing!
We couldn't have had a better way to celebrate Bob's birthday. Christine even
had a birthday cake with a candle.
Bob and Claire Rogers
555 N. Pantano Rd., #359
Tucson, AZ 85710-2323
www.newbohemians.net
clairebike@yahoo.com
brogers644@yahoo.com
June 8, 2005 Meeting
By Richard E “Rich” Corbett
Announcements/News:
• Item # 3 – Call to the Public: 1) Doug Richardson stated that he sees he has
seen lots of improvements for cyclists in this region. He has suggested that
legalizing sidewalk cycling would help kids & casual cyclists ride more. 2) Bill
Katzel stated that last month there were three female cyclists who had been hit
by right turning drivers. As a result of the police actions in these three
cases, Katzel has contacted Tucson City Manager Mike Hein, and asked that a
special Task Force be set up to address education of motorists and police.
Assistant City Manager Liz Miller has been tasked with convening a meeting.
Katzel suggested that the BAC get involved as advocate for the ‘victims’. He
also pointed out that the first anniversary of the Platinum Challenge was passed
just recently. 3) Eric Gunnason stated that the streets are safe to ride, so
long as one rides predictably, like a driver. There a re many miles of fine bike
lanes, and where there are none, the right-most lane is a bike lane. This should
encourage more people to get out and ride bikes more.
• Item # 6 – Update on 5th– 6th Streets Livability & Circulation Study (taken
out of sequence): Roy Schoonover, introduced Steve Pageau, Deputy Director of
the Tucson Department of Transportation, and praised him for his support of
improvements for Houghton, Rita and the new Mary Cleveland Road, among others.
Pageau thanked Roy for the glowing introduction, and went on to explain the
crunch of time and dollars in the City’s sidewalk program. He explained that the
TDOT
• Staff was looking to get the most for the limited funds they had available for
sidewalks, and that was why the sidewalk on E 5th Street was constructed
immediately adjacent to the curb of the street. He pointed out that the sidewalk
is five feet wide, instead of the four that has been the norm in the past.
Vice-Chair David Bachman-Williams urged that whenever possible a buffer between
the sidewalk and the street be provided as important to the safety & comfort of
the walkers. Schoonover, referring to the 5th– 6th Streets Livability &
Circulation Study, asked to be more involved in implementation, and Pageau said
he and the Department would welcome the ‘institutional; memory’ Roy could bring
to the Project.
• Item #4 – Police Report: Tucson Police Sgt Tim Beam, made his monthly report
on May bicycle crashes, which were down from April. He said there were six wrong
way bicycle riders involved in crashes. Staffer Matt Zoll said pavement markings
and signs could help reduce wrong way riding. George Dudley asked why there are
no reports for the other jurisdictions.
• Item # 5 – Collision Investigation/Citation: Tucson Police Sgt Tim Beam made a
statement defending the citations given the three cyclists who were hit by right
turning vehicles in April & May. Rosemary Carmody told of a cyclist who was hit
from behind while waiting in a left turn lane, and then cited for not signaling.
David Bachman-Williams asked if there was physical evidence taken into account
in the three cases? Beam answered that it was almost totally witness statements.
Carmody asked where are the guidelines for determining who is at fault? Sgt Beam
answered that there are no specific guidelines for bicycle-car collisions.
Staffer Matt Zoll noted that as a general rule, when the number of cyclists
increases, the rate of crashes drops.
• Item # 7 – Bicycle Safety for Gates Pass & Kinney Road: George Dudley
announced that he had firsthand accounts of cyclists on these roads riding on
the wrong side of the road, and riding more than two-abreast. The subject of the
upcoming work on Gates Pass was brought up, and Staffer Matt Zoll explained that
there will be some widening of the clearance on the dies, but no real widening
of the roadway itself. The Road may be closed for as long as two months while
this is done.
• Item # 8 – Regional Bike Plan: PAG Staff Richard Corbett handed out the final
draft schedule for the Update of the Regional Plan for Bicycling. He went on to
explain that the BAC has the opportunity for key involvement and support of this
Plan Update, by sponsoring the public meetings, assisting with the inventory,
and setting up a sub-committee to work with Planning process. David
Bachman-Williams and Brain Beck volunteered to serve on the sub-committee. Other
volunteers are needed.
• Item # 9 - GVCC Letter: Bill Adamson related the development of the Green
valley bicycle & pedestrian plan supplement. He asked for a letter of support
from the BAC.
• Item # 10 - BAC Announcements: Roy Schoonover related the meeting with ADOT,
where 1) the need to fix transverse rumble grooves on State Highway 83 was
agreed to, 2) A fix of cattle guards (gaps between the grates) was announced,
and 3) systematic identification and removal of un-needed cattle guards. was
announced. He also related the news that three overpasses over I-10 at Rita,
Houghton and Vail Roads, were fixed or being fixed, without widening to allow
shoulders for bicycle travel. He also mentioned that the PAG Regional
Transportation Plan is out for Public review, and that all the bike projects are
found there. Dick Schaffer announced he is leaving PAG after eighth years there
and will be a Park Service Scholar, working with transportation problems for
Saguaro National Park, the west unit. John Nowak, of PBAA fame, announced he
will be heading to Scottsdale next week, as marketing director for Bicycle
Ranch. Jean Gorman mentioned that there are several openings on the BAC.
Actions:
• Item # 2 – Introductions and Approval of Minutes: Following a correction by
Bill Katzel, the minutes of the May 11th meeting were approved by motion and
unanimous vote of the members present.
• Item #4 – Police Report: After Tucson Police Sgt Tim Beam, made his monthly
report on May bicycle crashes, George Dudley asked why there are no reports for
the other jurisdictions. A motion was and passed, to ask the other PAG
jurisdictions to submit reports.
• Item # 9 - GVCC Letter: After relating the development of the Green valley
bicycle & pedestrian plan supplement, Bill Adamson asked for a letter of support
from the BAC. A motion was made and passed to table this until next month, as it
must have public notice on/thru the agenda. .
For More Information
If you have any bicycle related concern, you are invited to attend the T-PCBAC
meetings, which take place the second Wednesday of each month, 6 to 8 PM, at
Himmel Library (Treat Ave & 1st Street), and present your concern during the
"Call to the Public". You may also call the appropriate Bicycle Coordinator:
Richard Corbett, PAG 792-1093, Trace Tang, City of Tucson 791-4372, Matt Zoll,
Pima County 740-6747, and Nancy Ellis, Oro Valley 229-5057.
October 15 & 16, 2005
Looking for an out-of-the-ordinary ride this fall? This 42-mile "short but
sweet" road ride begins in Roadforks, New Mexico, and takes you to the eastern
side of the Chiricahua Mountains and the spectacular little town of Portal, at
the entrance to Cave Creek Canyon.
The first 30 miles is through rolling hills with one long downhill to the first
SAG stop. Then, we turn east towards the canyon and start a long gradual climb
to the Portal Country Store at about mile 37. You can stop for a lunch break or
continue to the Southwest Research Station (SWRS), about 5 miles further.
After riding along a flowing creek in the shade of lush sycamore trees, riders
meander on the canyon floor between spectacular towering cliffs! You’ll be in a
narrow canyon with small meadows where deer graze at dusk. And, you’ll see birds
of all descriptions everywhere around you! Our destination is the Southwestern
Research Station, located at the end of the paved road.
The dormitory-style lodging is operated by the American Museum of Natural
History. It is surrounded by the Coronado National Forest and offers a welcome
retreat from the heat of the desert. As you come upon this oasis, the beautiful
grounds with tall trees and green grass beckon you! The 60-foot long, cool,
creek-fed swimming pool will seem very inviting at the end of this gradual
climb! Enjoy ping-pong, volleyball, horseshoes and an interesting library as you
await a generous dinner prepared especially for us!
Ride fee: $85 for GABA Members; $90 for non-members. Your fee includes:
A social mixer with snacks on Saturday afternoon;
Dinner on Saturday evening and breakfast on Sunday morning;
Lodging with bedding, towels and warm showers;
Sag support on the road.
Sounds like fun? Look for more details in the next Update.
“Base Miles”
By Steve Wilson
GABA President
The summer is always a challenging time for riding in Tucson. To beat the heat
for a long ride, it seems you need to set your alarm for 4:30 AM and be on the
road by 5-something. It’s definitely easy to snooze in when the alarm goes off.
Summer is a good time to keep up the discipline of regular riding to keep adding
to the mileage log for the year. With some advance thought and planning, the
riding can actually be quite pleasant and rewarding. Little things can make all
the difference. Choosing a route with your favorite coffee shop or small café
along the route can make things quite a pleasure, especially if you’re riding
with friends. Being able to get a cold drink along the route can be a religious
experience at times. Personally, I’ve never been very fond of 90+ degree water
with the associated water bottle flavor.
Many of you have special techniques for keeping things cold. Frozen water
bottles, Polar or other insulated bottles, and putting socks around the bottles
are favorites. One of the biggest hazards of warm water is the tendency to drink
less because it is less appetizing. This, of course, happens at the worst
possible time. Putting some thought into what works for you to keep the liquids
cool or being able to purchase them at the right time can pay off with a safer
and more pleasurable ride.
It’s always been interesting to me how keeping up a regular riding schedule over
the long haul makes all other physical activities easier to do. While hiking
uses more muscles than riding does, having strong quads makes hiking up the
hills lots easier. If you’re an El Tour rider you’ll find the training rides in
the fall much easier if you’ve been keeping up the riding through the summer
months. Some riding helps, even if it’s less than you would be doing from
September through May.
When you head off for vacations, take your bike(s) along whenever possible. It
is lots of fun to explore places on your own bike, and it can really help to
counter the hours spent traveling and the increased calorie consumption that
universally goes with vacations. Come back home more fit and without weight gain
next time.
Hope to see you on the road this summer, I’ll be the guy on sitting on the curb
outside the Circle K with my 64-ounce thirst-buster.
Ride safe.
By Judy Bolt,
Day Rides Coordinator
Do you go on day rides only to find that you’re too fast (slow) to keep up with
the group? Would you like to find others who ride at your pace and general
riding level? How about cycling to challenge yourself to begin with, knowing
that you can drop back & have others to cycle with?
In response to these concerns, a group of GABA ride leaders has met for the past
few months to discuss and propose a STANDARD ride. They felt that, if a large
group ride could be organized on a consistent and predictable basis, riders
could feel confident that they would be able to find enough riders at their own
level to have a fun experience.
This would be a ride that starts at the same time (adjusted by season), from the
same place and does the same route every week. Eventually, it would draw a
sufficient number of riders to give everyone a chance to ride with others of
similar skills or to find a good challenge if so desired.
Similar rides have been done in other cities around the country, all to great
success! In fact, GABA’s own El Tour Training Rides have consistently had a good
turnout of riders (50 – 75 at each location). The new “Standard Ride” will be
similar, but with a slightly different format: riders will leave at various
intervals, depending on their average speed.
Preliminary plans are for riders of all levels to meet at a set location and
time. Riders will depart based on their level (speed), with the faster riders
going first. After a set period of time, the 2nd group will leave, then the
3rd…….etc. In this manner, you could start with a faster group (if you felt like
pushing yourself for a while) knowing that, if you slowed down, you could still
ride with others who were behind you.
Plans are still in the making………….BUT look for details in the August “Update”!!
That’s when rides are to begin!
Adopted by GABA-Tucson Board
- If you cancel 1 week (7 days) or less prior to a ride, you do not receive a
refund.
- If you cancel between 2 weeks (14 days) and 1 week (7 days) prior to a ride,
you get one half of your money back.
- If you cancel more than 2 weeks (14 days) prior to a ride, you get a full
refund.
Sorry but we cannot make exceptions.
However, you may locate a substitute rider and submit his/her completed
Registration Form and Waiver with a letter of explanation, in order to avoid the
cancellation charge.
(Or, "How to become a confident and skilled bicycle driver!")
Would you like to learn how to develop the knowledge and skills that will give
you the equivalent of a Bicycle Driver's License?
Here is what GABA President and experienced cyclist Steve Wilson had to say
about the Street Savvy, Confidence, & Safety Course he took from League Cycling
Instructors last fall: "I've been riding for many years, and consider myself a
knowledgeable and capable cyclist. I was pleasantly surprised at the new skills
and riding knowledge I gained in the League cycling course, and urge every GABA
member to take advantage of this opportunity to increase your own skills and
knowledge."
Are you 1) a beginning cyclist who is not very confident about riding on the
streets, 2) a more experienced rider wanting to sharpen up your training, bike
handling skills, and traffic savvy, or 3) a young rider just getting used to
your bike?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, GABA has what you need! This fall
and winter we will offer GABA members two of the League's riding courses suited
to the skills and needs of every level cyclist. See the League of American
Bicyclists (LAB) website for descriptions, or read on below. (http://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/courses.htm).
As a League Cycling Instructor and the GABA Education Coordinator, I and other
LCIs in the Club and Tucson area will be teaching courses for relative
beginners, more advanced cyclists, kids, and commuter cyclists in our club.
These classes incorporate both classroom and on-bike cycling instruction, and
are designed to give beginners, more advanced recreational riders, commuting
cyclists, and kids the skills, techniques, and knowledge to cycle more enjoyably
and safer.
We (Tucson LCIs, including Rich Corbett, Dick Schaffer, Donna Aversa, Henry
Hsieh, John Nowak, Ignacio Rivera, Peter Sadza, Trace Tang, and I) will offer
these classes beginning in September, for audiences of all ages. League of
American Bicyclists LCIs are fully trained and certified for all materials they
teach, in any setting.
The courses include:
1. Street Savvy, Confidence, and Safety (also known as Road I)
This 10-hour course is perfect as a primer for those cyclists who wish to gain a
full understanding of how to safely operate a bicycle in a variety of
situations. The class includes learning how to perform a quick, easy bicycle
safety check, fix a flat, on-bike skills and practice, interactive discussion,
and a student manual. Students will gain confidence knowing that they are riding
legally and safely. Crash avoidance techniques and crash types will be
discussed. Recommended for adults and children age 14 and above. This course is
a pre-requisite to Road II. The GABA Tucson Board has generously agreed to pay
the costs of the course for GABA-Tucson members, except for $5, which the member
will pay. Non-members will pay $20.
Dates:
A. September 8 (6:30 to 9:30 PM, in Room 4 at the Randolph Recreation Center,
200 S. Alvernon) & September 10 (7 AM to 2 PM, in the Himmel Park parking lot by
the Tennis courts, 1st Street, 1 block east of Tucson Blvd.)
B. October 13 (6:30 to 9:30 PM, in Room 4 at the Randolph Recreation Center, 200
S. Alvernon) & October 15 (7 AM to 2 PM, in the Himmel Park parking lot by the
Tennis courts, 1st Street, 1 block east of Tucson Blvd.)
C. January 19, 2006 (6:30 to 9:30 PM, in Room 4 at the Randolph Recreation
Center, 200 S. Alvernon) & January 21, 2006 (7:30 AM to 2:30 PM, in the Himmel
Park parking lot by the Tennis courts, 1st Street, 1 block east of Tucson Blvd.)
2. Training & Fitness (also known as Road II)
For more advanced students who have an understanding of vehicular cycling
principles, as evidenced by successful completion of Road I, this 12-hour course
includes fitness and physiology, training for longer rides, advanced mechanics,
paceline skills, advanced traffic negotiation, foul weather riding and night
riding. Student manuals included.
December 1 (6:30 to 10 PM, in Room 4 at he Randolph Recreation Center, 200 S.
Alvernon) & December 3 (7:30 AM to 4 PM, in the Himmel Park parking lot by the
Tennis courts, 1st Street, 1 block east of Tucson Blvd.)
3. Getting to work safely & cheaply (also known as Commuting)
This class is for adult cyclists who have recently started, or who are thinking
about, commuting to work or school by bike. This three-hour follow-up to Road I
covers topics including route selection, bicycle choice, dealing with cargo and
clothing, bike parking, lighting, reflectorization, and foul weather riding such
as extreme heat, cold and rain. Included with the class are handouts and student
materials.
A. February 16, 2006 (7 to 10 PM, in Room 4 at the Randolph Recreation Center,
200 S. Alvernon)
B. March 1, 2006 (7 to 10 PM, in Room 4 at the Randolph Recreation Center, 200
S. Alvernon)
4. WOW - My kid's first bike! (also known as Kids I)
This course is designed for GABA members who are parents. Instructors will help
parents understand how to teach a child to ride a bike safely and legally.
Parents will learn how to perform a bicycle safety check, helmet fitting and
bike sizing. Includes the 10-minute 'Kids Eye View' video and a brochure for
parents.
A. February 15, 2006 (7 to 9 Pm, in Room 4 at the Randolph Recreation Center,
200 S. Alvernon)
B. March 9, 2006 (7 to 9 PM, in Room 4 at the Randolph Recreation Center, 200 S.
Alvernon)
5. Let's Cruise (also known as Kids II)
This 7-hour class for 5th and 6th graders covers essentially the same topics as
Road I, including on-bike skills, and choosing safe routes for riding to school,
the park, a friend's house, or a short ride with friends.
A. March 11, 2006 (7 AM to 3 PM, in the Himmel Park parking lot by the Tennis
courts, 1st Street, 1 block east of Tucson Blvd.)
Contact me, Matt Zoll, at mattzoll@cox.net
, (321-4471), or Rich Corbett at
kc7ovm@dakotacom.net , (623-0017). for more information.
By Donna Lewandowski,
Pima County Safe Routes to Schools Coordinator
On Friday, April 1st, 14 Tucson area schools experienced the simple joys of
walking and riding to school by celebrating the 3rd annual Walk n’ Roll to
School Day. Held in conjunction with the Clean Air Fair, kids and parents around
the county did their part to help ease air pollution and traffic congestion
around the schools while getting a little fresh air and spending some time with
their kids in the simple exercise of walking to school together.
In addition to prizes and treats for the students who walked and rolled to
school that morning, Donaldson Elementary School had the clever idea of setting
up a Coffee Cart for those “older kids” who walked with their children that
morning. This proved to be very popular, as parents milled around, drinking
coffee and catching up with one another, proving that socializing on the way to
school isn’t just for kids anymore.
Participation in the event was high, with special congratulations going to the
winners of Peter Howell’s Golden Shoe Awards. In the K – 2nd category, Mrs.
Byrd’s class won with 57% participation, and for 3rd – 5th grades, Mrs. Robles’
class took the coveted trophy with a whopping 70% of her class walking and
biking to school. Overall Howell Elementary had 35% participation.
Other success stories include Agua Caliente Elementary, with 92 out of 315
students officially signing in. They even made sure their bus students could
participate by having the bus drop-off on a corner down the street where several
teachers and parents met them to parade into school together. At Dunham
Elementary, students were walking, rolling, and hopping – it’s rumored that one
student pogo-sticked his way to school that day.
If this sounds like a fun way for your school to help the environment and
encourage kids to exercise, October 8th, 2005 will offeer anther opportunity
with International Walk to School Day. If you’d like your school to participate,
contact Donna Lewandowski at 740-6941.(Reprinted from Pima County Walkin' and
Rollin' June/July 2005 Newsletter,
www.dot.pima.gov/tpcbac)
By Donna Lewandowski,
Pima County Safe Routes to Schools Coordinator
This March, Tucson was host to the first-ever Safe Routes to School National
Instructor Training workshop. The workshop, sponsored locally by the Pima County
and City of Tucson Departments of Transportation, certified 24 national leaders
to deliver the National Safe Routes to School course to schools, community
leaders, and state and local decision makers.
The new Safe Routes course is designed to help communities create programs based
on local conditions that improve child safety and encourage responsible use of
resources. It brings together transportation engineers and planners, law
enforcement, schools, parents and children, community leaders, government staff,
and public health professionals in a collaborative safety program.
Safe Routes has the potential to increase exercise among our youth, provide
cleaner air in and around the schools, reduce traffic during the morning
commute, and ease the morning school drop-off congestion. For more info, contact
Matt Zoll at 740- 6746 or Donna Lewandowski at 740-6941. (Reprinted from Pima
County Walkin' and Rollin' June/July 2005 Newsletter,
www.dot.pima.gov/tpcbac )
By Matthew Zoll, Pima County Bicycle
and Pedestrian Program Manager
Over the past several months I’ve kept track of my average speed cycling within
urban Tucson, which turns out to be 16 mph. My car also has the capabilities to
indicate average speed: 19 mph, including a small amount of travel on I-10. I
was surprised at how close these speeds were.
If I drive to work, a distance of 4.5 miles, it’s a 22-minute commute to my
office when I include walking from the parking lot. If I cycle it’s about 15
minutes, including the walk from the bike rack to the office.
When a person factors in the amount of work time required to own and operate the
average newer car, at over $5,000 per year according to AAA, driving a car to
work can indeed be quite time and resource-consuming compared to cycling or
other modes.
National surveys find that the majority of urban trips are less than five miles
in length. Trips by bike, transit, and walking can fill in a lot of these
shorter trips, and in fact surveys by the Pima Association of Governments have
found that trips by alternative means of transportation constitute nearly twenty
percent of total work trips in the region at larger employers.
Certainly not all folks can cycle, walk or take the bus to work or other places.
However, a significant number of people can and are doing their part to lessen
traffic congestion, improve their health and air quality, and reduce the demand
on our limited resources.
Twenty percent may not sound like much, but imagine what traffic, air quality,
and parking problems would be like of each of those persons were to drive?
(Reprinted from Pima County Walkin' and Rollin' June/July 2005 Newsletter,
www.dot.pima.gov/tpcbac )
By Dave Burnham,
Pima County Graphic Services
In a recent survey conducted in Wisconsin, one of the top three reasons people
gave as preventing them from cycling to work was the need to maintain a
professional appearance, meaning the requirement to dress in formal attire at
the workplace. Employer-provided incentives such as showers, locker rooms and
secure bike storage are ways to encourage workers to ride to the office. The
Pima Association of Governments notes that of the 271 Pima County employers with
over 100 staff members at a single site, 130 employers currently offer shower
and locker facilities to their employees who ride to work, walk to work or do
some kind of workout at lunch.
“The Travel Reduction Program promotes the use of showers and lockers for any
employer that has employees who can bicycle or walk to work. The showers and
lockers respond to a need of an employee to change clothes, shower or freshen up
for the work day,” says Rita Hildenbrand of the Pima Association of Governments.
PAG is a major proponent of alternate modes of transportation in the Tucson
area. Currently there are no local government incentives or requirements for
employee shower or locker facilities.
Midtown bicycle shop Supergo works hard to make sure its 25 employees can ride
to work. They offer a shower, lockers and interior bike storage to their
employees and nearly 100% of the staff cycles to work.
Having a shower on site is appreciated by bike shop workers who like to get in
fast training rides before work. More than 25% of the Supergo staff uses the
shower and nearly 100% make use of the lockers and bike storage facilities.
Local bike shop Arizona Cyclist built a shower, bathroom and changing facility
for $500, slightly more in cost than just providing a bathroom for its
employees. Each of the shop’s employees rides to work as well as doing workouts
from the shop. Riding to work helps employees maintain good mental and physical
health as it helps to reduce air pollution in urban areas. It can also save on
parking costs and reduce automotive congestion. Better facilities at work are
among the best ways an employer can encourage alternate modes of commuting.
Others include incentive programs such as emergency transportation available on
site for employees who leave their cars at home. Having co-workers to ride with
was also listed as an important incentive to ride.
The Pima County region has one of the nation’s best systems of bike lanes and
paths, and an excellent year-round climate for cycling and walking. When
employers work to overcome barriers to alternate modes of transportation many
more people can be encouraged to experiment with other and better ways of
getting to work. If I drive to work, a distance of 4.5 miles, it’s a 22-minute
commute to my office when I include walking from the parking lot. If I cycle
it’s about 15 minutes, including the walk from the bike rack to the office.
When a person factors in the amount of work time required to own and operate the
average newer car, at over $5,000 per year according to AAA, driving a car to
work can indeed be quite time and resource-consuming compared to cycling or
other modes.
National surveys find that the majority of urban trips are less than five miles
in length. Trips by bike, transit, and walking can fill in a lot of these
shorter trips, and in fact surveys by the Pima Association of Governments have
found that trips by alternative means of transportation constitute nearly twenty
percent of total work trips in the region at larger employers.
Certainly not all folks can cycle, walk or take the bus to work or other places.
However, a significant number of people can and are doing their part to lessen
traffic congestion, improve their health and air quality, and reduce the demand
on our limited resources.
Twenty percent may not sound like much, but imagine what traffic, air quality,
and parking problems would be like of each of those persons were to drive?
By Matthew Zoll,
Pima County Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager
As of this writing, the Mt. Lemmon Highway is scheduled to be open for bicycle
travel at Windy Point in both directions seven days a week. The full 26-mile
roadway will now have continuous paved shoulders. The Federal Highway
Administration may continue to have periodic closures to traffic for short
periods as they finish up the project over the next few months. Many thanks to
FHWA for their terrific work and the smooth paved shoulders.
Brad P. Gorman Memorial Bikeway
As a reminder, two routes have been developed to help bicyclists avoid the
Catalina Highway construction zone. The routes are signed and may be viewed on
the Tucson Metro Bike Map, which is available at bike shops, libraries or online
(www.pagnet.org). Motorists and cyclists are reminded to share the road and to
be cautious in this area. The second half of the bike lane project, from
Houghton Road to the base of Mt. Lemmon, will be started this summer.
While River Road and Alvernon Way are under construction this summer and for the
next 18 months, an alternate route around the construction zone for cyclists
includes the north bank of the Rillito River between Campbell Avenue and Country
Club Road.
Although the bank is currently unpaved, most cyclists using road bikes will find
that they can cycle the route, and those cyclists on mountain bikes will have no
problem.
There are access points directly on the north side of the Rillito at Campbell
and a bike/ped bridge at Country Club. Once on Country Club, cyclists can use
Kleindale to avoid the construction zone and can access the south bank unpaved
path just east of Alvernon (see map).
The north bank path from Campbell to Dodge is scheduled to be paved later this
year.
The path on the south bank between Campbell and Country Club is currently being
paved and should be open by July, providing cyclists an even better alternate
route.
By Rhonda Smith, Ride Organizer
This year’s ride was once again spectacular in spite of the winds and rain on
Saturday. The first day’s ride into Quemado was as beautiful as ever. The
rolling grasslands are always a sight to see, especially when you can see
antelope running across the range. The ride into Reserve was also a beautiful
sight to see. Unfortunately, we had some hail and rain on the ride into Reserve
from the lunch SAG, but it sure cooled things off and no one was injured.
Usually, Reserve is so uncomfortably warm, but not this year. On Sunday, the
ride back to Springerville was quite windy and cool, but still a beautiful
route. We had 74 riders this year and we all had a great time.
In Reserve, a new restaurant by the name of Little Casas Adobe Café and Bakery
catered our supper and breakfast meals. The food was superb and I received many
compliments for finding them, but it was actually the Chamber of Commerce who
found them at last minute for us. I thanked them and let them know how much we
appreciated them taking the time to take care of us.
Very special thanks to all the volunteers who assisted me this year. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, VOLUNTEERS! The ride was very successful this year because of all
your help:
Thank you to Dorothy Barth for helping me do the food shopping for both SAGs and
for our Social Hour; to Bill Sievers with the help of Dorothy at the Lunch SAG
for their terrific job; to my husband, Ike Smith, for taking such good care of
the riders for the Morning SAG and setting up a portable potty for everyone to
use instead of having to hide behind a bush somewhere (Great idea, Ike!); to
Dick and Caroline Shaffer, and Stuart Carter for their great job as Sweeps; to
Richard McBain for being a last minute, end of the ride Sweep, helping bring
some of the last riders who just couldn’t quite make it into Springerville; to
Caroline and Stuart who also assisted me with registration; and to Jerry Imel
for driving our baggage truck this year. We look forward to seeing you all next
year!
By Kathy Mills, Ride Organizer
Early in the morning on May 14, 40 brave riders took on the challenge of the
Salt River Canyon Tour. They rode out of Globe and climbed hill after hill to
reach the first sag stop where David Hendricks and Thurston Smith had a spread
of breakfast foods for refueling. Then it was down into the canyon with a rush
of wind before starting the climb back out. Near the top of the climb out of the
canyon, Dorothy Barth and her mother Ruth from Prescott served sandwiches with
fresh lettuce and tomatoes and other lunch fixings.
After a tasty lunch, the riders headed up some more hills. This ride is never
flat – it is either up or down! A nice downhill into the Carizzo Creek canyon
was followed by another hillclimb to the third rest stop where watermelon
awaited. Kathy Mills and Carol Harris handed out cold drinks and food. From
there, the riders climbed up rolling hills through pine tree forests with a few
glimpses of the devastation from the Rodeo-Chedeski fire.
The last uphill was assisted by a tailwind, ordered especially for this ride.
Sweep driver Michael Thompson watched to make sure every cyclist pulled into
Show Low without trouble. People spread out to various hotels and to Fool Hollow
Lake campground for rest and recovery before the ride back on Sunday. Ray Rai
made sure the luggage was distributed to each location.
Sunday started cool in the pine trees of Show Low with a long down hill jaunt,
but soon warmed up as the climbing continued. Thanks to all the participants,
and especially, to all volunteers for making this ride a success!
Report polluting vehicles
to the Smoking Vehicle Hotline, 622-5700.
Report road maintenance needs
within Pima County
to Pima County Street Maintenance, 740-2639.
Report roadway maintenance needs
within Tucson
to City of Tucson Street Maintenance, 791-3154.
Report roadway maintenance needs on
state highways
to Arizona Dept. of Transportation, 628-5705.
Report aggressive drivers
to the Tucson Police Department's
Road Rage Hotline, 235-RAGE (7243).
At the June 2 ADOT Bike Coordination Meeting attended by Richard Corbett, Roy
Schoonover, Trace Tang, Dan Williams and Matt Zoll, Dan Williams reported that
ADOT has inventoried all ADOT cattle guards in southern Arizona.
A bicyclist beneficial fix - a specially designed clamp to hold the grates
together, preventing gaps between the grates where bicycle wheels could fall in
or get caught - is being implemented in the I-19 corridor, and in the next few
weeks, all the cattle guards in that corridor will have been clamped together.
Other corridors will also be done, as a part of a statewide fix of all ADOT
cattle guards.
ADOT has also completed a study as to whether cattle guards are in active use
(are there cattle within ½ mile of the cattle guard?). After all the fixes
described above are in place, the inactive cattle guards will be removed.
Other News Discussed at that meeting:
Sahuarita Road: Sahuarita Road permit for shoulders at I-19 has been issued with
limited shoulders constructed at this time.
I-10 & Valencia: I-10 & Valencia Bike Lane and Sidewalk project is about half
finished. It will take about another month to complete this TE project.
S.R. 83 safety work has been a start and stop affair, as there is opposition
from Friends of State Route 82. There are transverse rumble grooves as one goes
north on the big downhill. These are a safety problem for cyclists reaching
speeds of 25 up to 40 mph. Dan will address this at the Sept. meeting. Richard
provided a sketch to both illustrate the problem and offer a solution that could
be most easily implemented, yet workable for cyclists.
The S.R. 86 shoulders from Three Points to Valencia are outstanding in quality
of workmanship. There will be construction in 3 stages to widen the highway.
The 12th Ave. transition to westbound I-10 frontage road has a "no bicycle" sign
that has no basis. Dan will address this at the Sept. meeting.
The I-10 & 29th underpass was not striped with shoulders, even though the left
turn lanes are 16 feet. Dan will address this at the Sept. meeting.
- Mountain Bike Rides -
Saturday, Sept. 10th, 2005
An Unforgettable Mountain Biking Event in Arizona's High Country!
Sponsored by the Navapache Regional Medical Center Foundation.
Thunderhorse Ranch in Pinetop, Arizona
This event showcases some of Arizona's most awesome mountain biking trails.
Discover the challenges of rugged terrain in Ponderosa pine forests at this
popular, word-of-mouth event - a favorite of avid mountain bikers in the state.
It is considered one of Arizona's most fun-filled mountain biking events, with
80 percent of riders returning each year!
There are five challenge courses:
Enjoy the beautiful White Mountain trail system and the forested roads through
Apache- Sitgreaves National Forest when you select one of four officially-timed
courses:
1) 66-mile Single Trail Race -for the very tough seasoned rider.
2) 52-mile Trail Challenge - strong experienced riders.
3) 41-mile Trail Tour - for experienced riders.
4) 35-mile Forest Service Road Tour - for fit riders.
5) 10-mile Breezers and Geezers Tour.
Plus:
- Free kid's Bike Rally!
- Plenty of rest stops with food and drinks!
- Free camping around Thunderhorse Ranch in Pinetop!
- Showers, massages and delicious BBQ after the ride.
- Awards ceremony with prizes to 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners in all categories!
Proceeds will help fund the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment for private
patient rooms in our new three-story tower. The upcoming expansion at NRMC is
scheduled to begin Summer 2005.
For more course details, to get a registration form, to find out ride cost, to
see maps and photos, go online to www.nrmc.org/twm.htm. Registration will be
available online.
Limited to 300 riders! Register early!
September 10 & 11, 2005
Sponsored by the Silver Spokes Bicycle Club of Silver City, this tour has it all
– beautiful vistas and light traffic on well-paved winding mountain roads
through some of the most beautiful country the Land of Enchantment has to offer,
plenty of good food and entertainment!
DAY 1: Ride 45 miles from Silver City to Camp Thunderbird. For a greater
challenge, add 17 to 43 more miles by taking a side trip to Clinton P. Anderson
Vista or the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Start at 5,900 feet and climb to 7,473 feet
at the highest point. Ride north on New Mexico Highway 15, a narrow, winding
mountain road through Ponderosa forest. There are some fast downhills, tight
curves and no lane markings, so caution is in order. Vehicle traffic is light,
which makes for a very pleasant ride.
DAY 2: Return to Silver City through the Mimbres Valley with optional side trips
through San Lorenzo and to the Kneeling Nun Vista. Distances range from 35 to 52
miles for a week-end total of 84 to 140 miles.
Special after-dinner entertainer is Joe Kurmaskie, author of Metal Cowboy, Tales
from the Road Less Pedaled, and Riding Outside the Lines.
Your Registration Fee Includes:
Sag Support: Baggage transported; you and your bike transported if necessary;
rest stops with fruit, cookies, bagels, water, sports drinks, etc.
Meals: Dinner and breakfast, as well as a lunch buffet upon your arrival at Camp
Thunderbird.
Lodging: Saturday night at Camp Thunderbird, a private camp in the Mimbres
Valley, which will provide dinner, breakfast, shower facilities, bunkhouses with
bunk beds & mattresses, and outdoor camping.
Free hot showers Sunday after the ride just across the street from the finish at
WNMU swimming pool from 1 PM to 4 PM. Thanks to Barbara James, WNMU Director of
Special Events for arranging access to the showers!
Start: Begin and end in the Western New Mexico University parking lot, 12th
Street & Louisiana, in Silver City. Registration & check-in from 8 to 9:30 AM on
Saturday. If planning to go all the way to the Cliff Dwellings, register at 8
AM.
Cost: $60 per rider, $45 per non-rider.
Limit: 130 people.
Weather: Expect daytime temperatures of 70's and 80's, with nights down to the
40's and 50's. Afternoon thundershowers are possible.
New feature: One room of one of the bunkhouses will be designated for snorers,
and heavy sleepers who don't mind those who snore. If you snore, look for this
designated room. Or camp outside. Thank you!
For more information and to register; please visit their website at
www.twinsisterscycling.com/gila_inner_loop_bicycle_tour
(Reprinted from Pima County Walkin' and Rollin' June/July 2005 Newsletter,
www.dot.pima.gov/tpcbac)