By Dallas Hammit
State Engineer/Deputy Director for Transportation

Sharing the road needs to be a focus year-round, and right now, as many children head back to school, it’s the perfect time for all of us (motorists, pedestrians and cyclists) to review and improve our habits.

Luckily, there are a number of resources available offering guidelines and safety tips that illustrate how each of us can safely and legally share the road.

“Sharing the Road with Pedestrians” and “Share the Road” are both available on the ADOT website and each publication offers up a comprehensive look at how to be safer out on the road. The guides give rules for several different scenarios and also provide information on Arizona traffic laws.

The National Center for Safe Routes to School website includes good tips for walking to school safely – parents should review it and share it with their children. This article from the National Safety Council is another one that’s focused on back-to-school safety tips for motorists and students.

Last year in Arizona, there were more than 1,500 pedestrian-involved crashes and about 1,700 that involved cyclists. Combined, those crashes resulted in 185 fatalities and more than 2,500 people who were injured.

The statistics remind us just how crucial it is for everyone to do their part. To get those numbers down, we all need to pay attention, stay alert and share the road.

Sometimes, living in this mostly-desert state really pays off.

Take right now for example. As the country’s eastern region braces for another icy winter storm, the weather here in Arizona is just perfect for spending some time outdoors…

In case anyone on the other side of the U.S. is reading this right now, we aren’t trying to brag (and we hope you’re keeping warm). We only bring up the weather because we wanted to point some attention to a brand new bicycle and pedestrian bridge that recently opened – now really is a great time to give it a try.

The bridge spans over the Loop 101 on Galveston Street (between Ray Road and Chandler Boulevard) and was built in partnership with the city of Chandler. We told you all about the construction last summer, but thought you’d like to see the finished product.

More about this project

The idea for this project actually originated back in 1999 during the update of Chandler’s Bicycle Plan. The project was eventually added to the city’s Capital Improvement Program in 2005, following approval by a seven-member Citizen Transportation Commission and the City Council.

The partnership between the city of Chandler and ADOT is spelled out in an intergovernmental agreement, but basically it means that ADOT will handle construction of the bridge, along with any structural repairs and Chandler will be responsible for on-going maintenance. The bridge’s construction cost will be paid for with Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant funds.

A few fun facts

These may seem familiar if you read our last post about this project, but we thought these were worth repeating…

• The bridge’s total length is 1,145 linear feet, which includes the span over the freeway, the spans over the northbound and southbound frontage roads, and the ramps.
• The bridge is 10 feet wide.
• 210,000 pounds of structural steel was used to build the bridge.
• 364,000 pounds of reinforcing steel was used (for placement in the concrete) during construction.
• 1,000 cubic yards of structural concrete was required for construction of the bridge.
• LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting is being used to light the bridge.
• A piece of the bridge (the center pier) was actually constructed more than four years ago when ADOT built an HOV lane on the Loop 101 freeway. Including the pier in the 2009 HOV lane project saved time, money and the need for additional closures in 2013.

We’ve got some news to share – ADOT has finalized its Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan update!

This is the update we’ve been blogging about since last year. We also asked for your feedback on it along the way.

So, now that it’s finished, are you curious to know what made it into the final plan update?

You can read the entire plan online – but, let’s run through some of the highlights…

If you read this blog post, you know that ADOT established the original Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan in 2003 to improve walking and bicycling options throughout the state.

The finalized 2013 update to that plan focuses on increasing bicycle and pedestrian trips, improving bicyclist and pedestrian safety, and improving bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure along our state highway system.

It was a collaborative effort with Arizona’s metropolitan planning organizations, councils of governments, and members of the bicycling and walking communities. These groups worked together to establish 25 strategies and outline a timetable to reach the plan’s goals. ADOT also conducted two public comment periods, collecting a total of 3,300 responses.

“The intent of the plan is to make it safer and more comfortable for people on foot or bicycle to cross or use Arizona’s highways for travel,” said Michael Sanders, ADOT’s bicycle and pedestrian program coordinator. “We’ve developed performance measurements to help us evaluate our progress. For example, one goal is to double the percentage of walking and bicycling trips statewide over the next 10 years.”

Specific improvements to bicycle and pedestrian facilities along our state highway system include bikeway and walkway facilities, enhanced road crossings, sidewalks and ensuring that our infrastructure is accessible and accommodating for people with disabilities. The updated plan is also centered on enhancing bicycle and pedestrian education, such as helping improve bicyclist skills, implementing design training for engineers and planners, increasing awareness and creating a greater understanding for all of us to follow the rules of the road.

ADOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan was developed in accordance with federal transportation policy to promote the increased use and safety of bicycling and walking as transportation modes. It is also part of Arizona’s Long-Range Transportation Plan.

“Bicycling and walking are important components of the state’s transportation network. This plan is another step in our commitment to increasing multimodal transportation options for Arizonans,” said Sanders.

Visit ADOT’s website to view the plan online and find details about the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. Learn more by checking out our previous blog posts.

By Laura Douglas
ADOT Office of Public Information

Arizona is considered a destination state when it comes to getting around on two wheels. Our state’s ideal weather, new infrastructure and numerous bicycling events continue to lure cyclists from all over the country and around the world to experience riding through Arizona’s scenic landscapes.

A new study by the Arizona Department of Transportation finds that these out-of-state bicycle tourists and customers bring in a significant amount of money to our state’s economy each year. More than $88 million in economic effects is generated each year from out-of-state bicycle enthusiasts. ADOT’s study also found that approximately 39,000 in-state and 14,000 out-of-state participants are involved annually in as many as 250 bicycling events held throughout the state, solidifying Arizona’s major role in bicycle tourism.

“The degree to which bicycling affects the state’s economy and Arizona’s quality of life was not well-known before this study,” said Michael Sanders, ADOT’s bicycle and pedestrian program coordinator. “The purpose of the study was to improve that understanding among policymakers, state agencies, local governments, the transportation planning community and the general public. This report represents an important first step in trying to ascertain what is known about bicycling in Arizona and an initial effort to estimate the sizes of various types of benefits that bicycling creates.”

While ADOT’s study focused specifically on the economic impacts from the out-of-state cyclists, it was determined that the economic boost came from a variety of sources in the bicycling industry, adding up to a major source of revenue for Arizona. Tourism dollars came from out-of-state bicyclists who participated in major events, like the El Tour de Tucson, sales at bicycle shops from customers who live elsewhere, out-of-state tour companies that come to Arizona regularly to host bike tours and professional racing companies that come here to train their teams.

“Every dollar that came in to Arizona added up to a major economic advantage for our state and helped define Arizona as a destination state for bicycling,” added Sanders. “Out-of-state visitors clearly import dollars into Arizona.”

ADOT’s study also found that the out-of-state bicycle participants bring in more than $30 million in tourism and more than $57 million in retail sales and manufacturing annually, adding up to a total of more than $88 million in economic effects for Arizona. This has helped create a total of 721 jobs throughout our state.

This is the first study of its kind for ADOT. The department decided to keep the study narrowly focused on the economic benefits specifically provided by out-of-state bicycle enthusiasts and participants. This methodology ensures that the “substitution effect” is minimized by eliminating in-state participants who would be spending their money elsewhere if they weren’t spending it on cycling events and purchases in Arizona.

“Every dollar spent by someone from out of state is a dollar that wouldn’t have been spent here otherwise,” said Tracy Clark, an ADOT economist and researcher for the study. “But with in-state residents, they could have spent as much or more on something entirely different from cycling. Since you can’t disentangle that, you have to leave it out of the study for it to be accurate.”

The entire final report titled “An Economic Impact Study of Bicycling in Arizona” and the executive summary can be found online.

The weather is beautiful right now in much of our state – what better time to step out and explore the scenery on two wheels!

Plus, if you’re out riding your bike you can see for yourself why Arizona has been ranked number 10 in the country for bicycle friendliness by the League of American Bicyclists in their annual survey.

That’s a jump from number 14 in 2012…

Many factors are considered when ranking a state’s bicycle friendliness, including the plans and programs that are in place to keep riders safe and to encourage bike riding.

ADOT constructs and manages the bicycle infrastructure along Arizona’s state highway system and has implemented a Bicycle and Pedestrian Program as part of the agency’s Multimodal Planning Division. Through this program, ADOT works to make improvements statewide and focuses on three main goals: increasing bicycle and pedestrian trips, improving safety and adding infrastructure.

“One of our most notable accomplishments this past year was the completion of a Bicycle Safety Action Plan to improve bicyclist safety on Arizona’s highways,” said Michael Sanders, ADOT’s bicycle and pedestrian program coordinator. “The goal is to reduce the number of bicyclist fatalities and injury crashes with motor vehicles. We ‘crash-typed’ nearly 750 reported crashes that occurred over a five-year period to better define the sequence of events leading to the collisions. For example, we found that more than half of all crashes occurred while a motorist was making a right turn. ADOT’s new plan consists of action items addressing potential changes to policies and education programs, along with new tools to improve bicyclist safety.”

In addition to implementing the Bicycle Safety Action Plan last fall, ADOT is working on updating its Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan this spring. ADOT works in partnership with state and local agencies to develop these plans, and to further education and enforcement efforts to keep bicyclists and motorists safe by sharing the road and learning the rules of the road. Arizona was the second state in the nation to adopt a three-foot passing law in 2000, which mandates that all motorists must give bicyclists at least three feet of space when passing.

Arizona’s strong showing in the national rankings is also due to a growing number of people who commute by bicycle and Arizona’s solid reputation as a destination state for bike tours. The League of American Bicyclists has also designated nine bicycle friendly communities throughout Arizona. Those areas include Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Tucson and the Eastern Pima County Region, Sedona, Cottonwood and Flagstaff.

The League of American Bicyclists is a national organization that promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle friendly America. The league represents the interests of the nation’s 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For more information about the league and the 2013 ranking of bicycle friendly states, visit bikeleague.org.

ADOT’s statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan has come a long way since we first told you about it last May…

Back then, ADOT was asking people across Arizona to share their thoughts on getting around by bike or by foot along our state highway system.

Today, we’re looking for feedback again, but this time around the plan is closer to being finalized and ADOT wants to know what you think of the draft final report.

“We’re calling on the public and members of the bicycling and pedestrian communities to provide us with their ideas on the 24 recommended strategies that are outlined in the draft final report,” said Michael Sanders, ADOT’s bicycle and pedestrian program coordinator. “It’s this kind of feedback that allows us to refine the goals and objectives of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and continue our work to develop changes in safety, infrastructure, and education, as they apply to our state highway system.”

The recommended strategies fall into three categories: plans and policies; education, enforcement, encouragement and evaluation; and bicyclist and pedestrian infrastructure. All of these strategies are aimed at building on programs and policies that first began in 2003 with the launch of ADOT’s first comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.

More about the plan
The updated Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan is expected to be finalized this spring. Last summer, more than 1,800 people responded to a survey during the first phase of public involvement for the plan update. The end of 2012 also brought the finalization of the Bicycle Safety Action Plan, a task defined in the 2003 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.

ADOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan was developed as part of a federal long-range bicycle transportation and pedestrian walkways plan. It is also part of Arizona’s Long Range Transportation Plan, also known as “What Moves You Arizona.”

How to give your feedback
The public comment period runs until Feb. 8. You can find the draft final report and the comment form can be found on the ADOT website.

Paper copies of the comment form can be requested by calling 602.712.8141or by sending the request to ADOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program at 206 S. 17th Avenue, Mail Drop 310B, Phoenix, AZ 85007.