Bike to Work Friday in Phoenix

For those Phoenicians interested in biking to work but still concerned, why not get your feet wet by joining the newly established Bike to Work Friday group, meeting up every Friday at 7 a.m. at Park Central Center in front of Jamba Juice. 

Kevin says biking to work helps him successfully manage the stress of his job at County Corrections.
He is one mellow guy, for sure.

I met up with the group for the first ride, seeing some familiar faces and meeting some new ones.

Joe explains the route and reminds bicyclists of the rules of the road.

The ride was lead by City of Phoenix bike coordinator, Joe Perez.  This was more natural than the Bike to Work ride in April with Mayor Stanton in that it was free of the police motorcade.  I have nothing against PD joining us on their bikes but it much prefer it when we have to stop at lights and behave in traffic as we normally would.  Joe reminded everyone of this fact before we set off.  Really, that's the only way to learn, and it certainly helps a new bicyclist to learn the ropes with a group of already experienced city cyclists.

This rider commutes by bike once a week one a long owned, well loved bike he
decorated with colored tape to hide the scratches and chips.  It was an attention getter.

Robert Chacun wears his Marine pride on his bike.

Traveling down 5th Avenue.

This cyclist's sleeves definitely say city cyclist.

This young bike messenger rides a bike created by a friend as an art project - not the chain and rims mounted to the middle of the frame.

 



Engagement and bike advocacy

John Romero (right) addresses the candidates about transportation cycling in Phoenix.

Phoenix Spokes People and others interested in expanding bike infrastructure in the city of Phoenix participated in a candidate forum hosted by Urban Choices this week.  The Planner Guy and I attended the Wednesday night City Council District 4 community forum where PSP member John Romero asked the candidates to comment on their commitment to transportation cycling.  From their responses it was pretty clear that District 4 candidates are getting the message that bicycling can and should be a viable transportation option, and one that can be combined with the investments already being made in public transportation.


Austin William Head (center) talks transportation options and the strengthening the urban core
at the Urban Choices candidate forum.

One of the candidates, Austin William Head, is car-free and already bikes everywhere.  Having already worked for a Metro Councilman who uses biking and the city bus as his primary means of getting around, I was pretty impressed.  It's one thing to say you support bike infrastructure and quite another to actually be out there using it everyday.  I don't live in District 4, and I don't know much about Mr. Head's other positions (he said he isn't doing fundraising because he doesn't like asking for money, so I guess he is going to rely showing up) but walking the walk is something I like to see in a candidate.  Anyone can say they like bicycles, just like they can say they like puppies and children, but what are they actually doing to back it up?

Combining bike and city bus to Desert Botanical Garden

A couple of weeks ago, I made plans with a friend to meet at Desert Botanical Garden to tour the garden and view the butterfly exhibit.  DBG is several, several, several miles from the city so I knew it would be a long and possibly sweaty ride.  What to do?  I check the Google bike route and I would have been able to take the Grande Canal and bike lanes a good bit of the way but I'd also need to pedal on sidewalks, something I prefer not to do for the sake of safety and politeness.  Short of renting a car, another thing I didn't want to do, I decided to use the trip as an excuse to combine the city bus with my bicycle.  Had not city bike coordinator Joe Perez himself told me that I could take the Brompton on board Valley Metro buses as long as they were folded?

With the Brompton no larger than a suitcase when folded, it was easy to bring it aboard a Valley Metro bus.

On the appointed day, I arrived at the bus stop with about 10 minutes to spare but ended up waiting about 15 minutes past the scheduled stop because, as told to me by a driver on a different route, my bus driver was knew and got off on the wrong street.  Good that I planned for late buses.  Eventually, though, my bus arrived.  I scanned my card as the driver looked askance at my folder bike ("WTF?", he appeared to be thinking.)  I took a seat mid-bus, across from the exit.  Pretty soon I was fielding the usual questions.  My favorite is "How much does that bike cost?".  My sister suggested that the best polite response is to feign ignorance and say my daddy bought it for me.  Despite the fact that he didn't, I've actually had a lot of experience saying my father bought this or that for me so it felt uncomfortably natural.

Two stately saguaro along the bike lane leading to Desert Botanical Garden.

The ride out to DBG was otherwise uneventful and took about 25 minutes.  The bus driver alerted me to my stop and after I deboarded, I pedaled over to the bike lane on a gently rolling boulevard leading to the garden.  The views by the way, were rather breathtaking and I was reminded that we live in the desert.  I stopped my bike a couple of time to take pictures.  I didn't feel too good about stopping though as the traffic moved pretty fast.  Given the setting, I was surprised I didn't see other cyclist on the bike lane; it definitely makes the trip to DBG more memorable.

The gardens flanking the path meandering its way to the DBG entrance are just a preview of things to come.

Desert Botanical Gardens is not at all lacking for parking for cars, and it looked like they were in the process of building more.  I didn't any bike racks but assumed I'd find some closer to the entry.  I walked my Brompton up a lovely meandering path to the entrance and stopped an employee who pointed me in the direction of the bike corrals.  There were about 6 inverted U racks  just outside the entrance.  Good corrals but they needed more of them, and I thought they should be placed somewhere that encouraged visitors to think about biking the next time.  Mine would be the only bike, which I thought was a shame.  Bike racks at Desert Botanical Garden should be full of bikes.  Biking in, even from just the nearby bus stop, just added to the experience.  I wondered how much all those parking lots cost and what, if any, financial impact it would have, to actively encourage visitors to bike to DBG?  Would there be any benefit to providing an incentive to bike?  Phoenix is a physically active community, including all those retirees; seems a bit to me like a missed opportunity to promote DBG as a bike tourism destination. 

The woody cylinder-like form on the right is actually the remains of an expired saguaro.

Anyway, now that I've conquered combining biking and busing (I've made trips to several other places this way since then), my next big adventure will be to make the trip to Desert Botanical Garden completely by bike.  I had originally arranged for Joe Perez to make the trip with me last month but school priorities got the best of me; now the weather is getting too hot for me to commit to that long a trip completely by bike so that will be a story for this coming October. 

More Phoenix murals and a bike advocacy update

Because I spent the better part of this month preparing my final projects for the end of spring semester, I did very little blogging.  When I wasn't ironing my husband clothes (he cooks, I iron), or writing for a class, I was out there doing bike advocacy with the other Phoenix Spokes People.  On occasion, I went out to dinner.  Our new favorite place for Mexican food is the Barrio Café on 16th Street, near the corner of Thomas.  I can't believe we have lived so close by and never tried Barrio Café before April.  Anyway, I noticed they have some really amazing murals on the side and rear of the building.  I mean really amazing.  Here are just a few:

Just a small section of this wall.  So beautiful





So while you are enjoying the art, let me tell you how showing up and advocating for what you want and need pays off.  The City of Phoenix's initial proposed budget for bike infrastructure was $50,000.  Well, we at Phoenix Spokes People knew that just wasn't enough.  Tucson, our neighbor to the south, and a much smaller city, ranks fifth in the nation at per capita funding and Phoenix currently doesn't even come in within the top 20!  So we went to all of the City Manager's Trial Budget meetings and asked for more money for bike infrastructure and talked about how bike infrastructure supports economic development and makes bicycling a viable transportation option for all our citizens, including those who for whatever reason do not own a car.  I personally attended about four meetings, spoke at all of them and attended two or three city sponsored bike events.

Wow!

We also talked with our elected officials one-to-one to let them know about our experiences biking in Phoenix and offered to partner on projects supporting bike infrastructure.  We sent letters, a petition and an informational packet supporting our requests.

Insanely creative!

Looks like our perseverance paid off.  The City Manager's Proposed Budget upped bike infrastructure funding from $50,000 to $1.5 million!  Will we get all that?  We don't know but we certainly aren't done making our case.  We've come to far to get lazy.  There are many competing interests, including a few that prefer the status quo.  We are grateful for a Mayor, City Council and City Manager that listened to what we wanted and who were actually pretty enthusiastic about incorporating more bicycle infrastructure in our city's transportation plans.

Nothing beats a dress for beating the heat. 
This is what I'll probably wear for next Friday's group ride.

So, if you work downtown or just want to enjoy a morning group ride, make plans to attend the International Bike to Work Day group ride on Friday, May 17 at 7 a.m.  City Bike Coordinator Joe Perez is leading the ride, which starts at the Jamba Juice at Park Central in Midtown and takes us to City Hall.  We'll end the ride with a pot luck breakfast so pack a little something to share.  Invite a friend who is interested in riding her bike more but unsure of how to get started.   We'll provide plenty of inspiration.

That Sunday, May 19 you could also make plans to attend the May meeting of Phoenix Spokes People, at the Phoenix Bike Lab, 740. W. Grant (NE corner of Grant and 9th Avenue).  We get started at 5 p.m. and we're doing an appetizer and dessert pot luck (we cyclist love our food!).  Don't worry if you don't have a bike yet or can't pedal that far from your home.  Drive your car - it happens!  We  just want you to show up.

Two wheeled traction

On my way to a morning trial budget meeting and dressed for success.

Bike month is winding down in Phoenix but the push to increase City funding of bike infrastructure has only gained steam.  Phoenix Spokes People as attended and participated if most, if not all, of the trial budget meeting held throughout the City for the last month.

Hard to advocate for bike infrastructure and ignore the importance of public transportation. 
The two go hand in hand.

I personally have spoken at four meetings, at one of which my cousin Angie also spoke.  PSP representatives attended Bike to the Ball Park, Bike to Work Day and Feast on the Streets, all in support of our message that a bike friendly Phoenix is a Phoenix that places a high priority on a quality of life that supports future economic needs and realities as opposed to unsustainable status quo thinking. City Hall knows who we are and have publicly acknowledged our efforts. 


Lisa and Robert represent two generations with the same vision for transportation cycling in Phoenix - more funding
better, safer and connected bicycle infrastructure.



Haley beams with excitement listening to a PSP speaker while Nicole jots down notes for her comments.

We always acknowledge the good work that the City and the Maricopa Association of Governments have made on behalf of the cycling community while being very specific about what we need to make bicycling a truly viable and safer transportation option for all in the community:  more funding to build on what we have, to fill in the gaps where bike infrastructure starts and (often suddenly) stops, and to improve prove upon connectivity between public transportation and biking and walking.  I think one of our biggest strengths thus far has been our ability to attract so many energetic, creative and like-minded individuals to our cause, thus increasing our voice.  At every meeting someone brings someone new.  In addition, we have been thoughtful about our message and clear among ourselves as to our goals.  We still have a lot of growing to do but when I consider that in the fall I actually questioned whether or not I was wasting my time by joining an advocacy group, I'm truly amazed by what we have accomplished so far.  Today, I will attend the monthly City of Phoenix Bicycle Initiatives Subcommittee meeting at City Hall.  Back in November I would have said the meeting was not the most efficient use of my time.  Today, I know that my small voice, combined with the voices of others,  is required to build the kind of community I want to live in.  The meeting is at 4:30 at City Hall, 200 W. Washington if you are in the mood to be heard.  It's open to the public.

Bike to Work Day in Phoenix

Have cruisers will bike! 

By the time I arrived at Park Central at 7 a.m. for the Bike to Work parade to downtown, a large gather of bicyclists had already arrived.  Lead by Mayor Stanton and his bike and motorcycle escorts from Phoenix PD, this years ride had over 250 participants registered and more attended on top of that. 



With bike equipped with lighting, multiple locks, baskets and crates, most of the cyclists I saw looked like already committed bicyclists ready to demonstrate bike commuting fun and ease.

Approximately 150 more people signed up than had done so one year ago.  Pretty impressive and indicative of the increased interest among Phoenicians for transportation cycling.

The ride definitely had stylin' bikes on display.

Love the basket!

Opa, a fellow Brompton owner who I met up with along the route. 

The ride down 5th Street, an already bike friendly one-way street with a good bike lane for most of the route, covered approximately two miles.



City bike coordinator Joe Perez (white shirt) is having a Joe Perez day.

We congregated afterward at the front porch of City Hall to enjoy coffee, bagels and egg wraps.  Mayor, Councilmembers and city staff spoke about the city's commitment to making Phoenix a world class city for cycling.

The people who helped make it all happen.

Inspiring bike infrastructure with artful bike racks

Get it?  It's a bike rack shaped like a bike!  And so many places one can lock up to.

Artists almost always are on the forefront of cultural change so when I see artists devoting their energies to creating beautiful bike racks that act as not public art but functional pieces I wonder if they just might be on to something.  Here are a few we saw this Bike Week in Phoenix at the mini-ciclovia and Bike to the Ballpark.

Same artist, Aaron Voigt of Voigt Metal.

If you are interested in your own Voigt Metal bike rack for your home or office check out his website ,http://www.voigtmetal.com/

How I wouldn't love to have one of these in our backyard.

This bike rack would solve the problem of inadequate bike parking at the downtown AMC theater.
Hint.  Hint, Arizona Center?  There just isn't enough bike parking.