Passionate about bikes? Let your local and state government know.

Whether you ride for the sake of health, transportation, or to support a deeper belief in a sustainable lifestyle it’s likely that you, as a cyclist, don’t favor the prospect of getting hit by a car, riding over cracked and bumpy pavement, or finding yourself in a bike UN-friendly neighborhood. Let your local leaders know!

As a cyclist your voice will be heard. TBAG Board Member and advocacy leader Scrottie recently went to Tucson to speak in a Arizona Department of Transportation meeting and the amazing thing is – they respected and heard his comments. For a complete account of Scrottie’s travels, view his blog post: http://www.biketempe.org/adot-loves-you/ ‎

Want to stay on top of bike issues and opportunities to become involved? Update your contact information with biketempe.org to receive advocacy alerts in the future:

http://www.biketempe.org/join-us/update-your-tbag-contact-info/ and get registered for advocacy alerts.

UPDATED: email your city council

Support proposed local bike infrastructure such as green bike lanes and traffic slowing medians by emailing the Tempe City Council at councilcommunicator@tempe.gov

Businesses hoping to dissuade the council from going forward with some of these changes have been meeting with your city leaders. Make sure their voices aren’t the only ones heard.

Online public comment on the city’s forum has closed, but you still have time to contact your city leaders directly by emailing councilcommunicator@tempe.gov.

Want to post your support but don’t know what to say? Here’s a few lines you can simply copy and paste;

• Thank you for adding green bike lanes to Tempe, they are greatly needed!

• Please continue to go forward with all median plans. They will help keep traffic from colliding with cyclists on the roadways.

• Please install a stoplight at Roosevelt and Farmer, this will help cars, bikes and pedestrians safely cross, rather than forcing us to play frogger in traffic.

(From previous TBAG post)

The city of Tempe is introducing plans that help you and your fellow two-wheeled friends to more easily and safely commute through Tempe. These plans could have a great impact not only on the safety of the roadways, but also in the beautification of our city… that is, if the city continues to hear from YOU!

Bike lane modifications, medians and other proposed changes are being fought by some who may not understand what it’s like to cycle in traffic with little to no bike infrastructure. Don’t let the proposed plans fall by the wayside. Join in on meetings, email your city leaders and let Tempe know that the growing bike community demands safer, bike-friendly streets.

Thanks to those of you who joined the University/Hardy Drive Screetscape Project open house, the Broadway Road Screetscape meeting and every one who has been submitting comments and statements on behalf of bike Tempe cyclists.

Be seen. Be heard. Be a bike champion in Tempe!

Please share this on your wall:

The University Drive Streetscape project is in danger of being drastically scaled back. Please go to this site http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=1418 and click on University Drive Streetscape Project. Post your support for ALL aspects of the project including traffic calming, median islands with turn pockets, improved bike lanes and sidewalks, and street crossings at Roosevelt and Farmer. Help improve University Drive for all types of traffic, and make Tempe a better place to live!

The city of Tempe is holding an open house to talk with residents, neighbors and businesses about two adjacent projects to improve pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities and enhance the streetscape on Hardy Drive between University Drive and Broadway Road and University Drive between Ash Avenue and Priest Drive.

Let’s show up to represent local cyclists!

The open house will be held Feb. 20, 2013 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Gililland Middle School, 1025 S. Beck Ave.

Click here to learn more about the University Drive project and here to see current design proposals and for a form to enter your comments.

Click here to learn about the Hardy Drive project and click here to see current design proposals and for a form to enter your comments.

The city of Tempe is holding a public meeting to talk with residents, neighbors and businesses about a project to improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities while enhancing the streetscape on Broadway Road between Mill Avenue and Rural Road.

Click here for more information on the Broadway Road Streetscape Project.

Let’s show up and represent the cycling community!

Time and Location: Feb. 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Community Christian Church, 1701 S. College Ave.

The 2012 Tempe Tour de Fat was our biggest yet. THANK YOU to everyone who attended! And thanks especially to the 350+ volunteers that made the event possible, YOU ROCK!

This year we raised over $87,000 for local Arizona non-profits like TBAG, Bike Saviours, and the Mountain Bike Association of Arizona. This was the largest amount raised of any Tour de Fat stop, including New Belgium’s home town of Ft Collins!

New Belgium also had a record setting Tour de Fat season in 2012, raising over $500,000 in 15 cities across the country. This is huge for cycling non-profits, thanks New Belgium for all that you do to make cycling more fun, safer, and more popular!

Some stats on the 2012 Tempe event:

Attendance: 10,000+
Bike Parade Attendance: 5000+
Money Raised: $87,216
Waste Diversion Rate: 88%

And check out New Belgium’s press release covering all of the 2012 Tour de Fat stops:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/belgium-brewings-2012-tour-fat-150500544.html

Most cities in the United States create “general plans” to guide future development and investment in their cities. These plans cover issues such housing, parks, and transportation. The City of Tempe is launching its general plan updating process – called “General Plan 2040.” You can learn more here, and to see the last general plan for 2030, visit here. The city will host a variety of public meetings to get feedback from residents about the plan. They will also post draft chapters for public feedback. The city’s bicyclists and pedestrians need a voice in this process.

The first public meetings are being held at the Tempe History Museum – 809 E. Southern Ave, Tempe 85282 on:

September 24th, 5-7pm
January 22, 5-7pm

If you’re interested in joining the TBAG advocacy team, please email me. We will need help to follow the process, attend all of the meetings and review draft documents to insure that the general plan includes a strong emphasis on making the city more bicycle and pedestrian friendly. We will have a meeting (details to come shortly) before the 24th to discuss our TBAG vision and priorities.

You’ve been warned- this year’s Tempe Tour de Fat is going to be unlike any other.And here’s why: The Tour de Fat week of warm up events. Clear your schedule, it’s a TBAG takeover baby!

Tour de Fat warm up events

• Friday Sept. 28th Pedalcraft Phoenix
  6- 10 p.m. ׀ Kitchen Sink Studios Gallery, 828 North Third St. Phoenix

• Sunday Sept. 30th Brett Saks Memorial Bicycle Safety Festival
  8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Tumbleweed Park – 202 and McQueen, Chandler

• Monday Oct. 1 FilmBar Bicycle Movie Night
  6-9 p.m. | FilmBar – 815 North 2nd Street, Phoenix

• Tuesday Oct. 2 Tour de Fat Pub Crawl – TBAG Bike Raffle – Pedal Craft Tempe
  7 p.m. | Ride: Meet at Tempe Beach Park, on the corner of Rio Salado Pkwy & Mill Ave
  7pm to 10pm | Pedal Craft: Boulders on Broadway - 530 West Broadway Road,  Tempe
  Raffle tickets are available at Boulders on Broadway or online here: http://www.biketempe.org/events/raffle/

• Wednesday Oct. 3 Loops Ride and MBAA Papago Peddler
  Loops: 7:30 p.m.׀ Meet at Tempe Beach Park, on the corner of Rio Salado Pkwy and Mill Ave.
  MBAA: 6 p.m | Papago Park, Tempe (1300 N College Avenue) end at Boulders

• Thursday Oct. 4 New Belgium Bike Giveaway
  6- 9 p.m. | Casey Moore’s Oyster House - 850 South Ash Avenue,  Tempe

• Friday Oct. 5 MADCAP Theater movie night
  730 South Mill Avenue, Tempe

• Saturday Oct. 6 Tour de Fat
  Registration starts at 9 a.m. | Bike parade starts at 10 a.m. | Beer is a flowin’ 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.  | Tempe Beach Park

Event Details:

Friday Sept. 28th Pedal Craft Phoenix

6- 10 p.m.׀ Kitchen Sink Studios Gallery, 828 North Third St. Phoenix

Celebrate the urban bike scene in downtown Phoenix. Mix bike-themed arts and apparel and some deliciously crafted beverages and you’re sure to have a grand time. Throughout the evening rides ranging from an easy spin to more hardcore will be hosted. Free admission. For more information, visit www.pedalcraftphx.com

Sunday Sept. 30th Brett Saks Memorial Bicycle Safety Festival

8:30 a.m. – 3p.m. | 202 and McQueen, Chandler

Bring the whole family down for this safety and awareness event which will include family rides, guest speakers and bike safety education. All proceeds to AZ disabled sports. Visit http://brettsaksfoundation.org/events/brett-saks-safety-festival/ for more details.

Free parking | $5 attendance per family  | $10 per individual for safety ride | $25 per family for safety ride | Tot ride for ages 5 & under is free

Monday Oct. 1 FilmBar Bicycle Movie Night

7-10 p.m. | FilmBar – 815 North 2nd Street, Phoenix

FilmBar will be showing two bicycle movies on their big screen. Ride you bike and enjoy the show with all of your Phoenix cycling friends.

Tuesday Oct. 2 Tour de Fat Pub Crawl – TBAG Bike Raffle – Pedal Craft Tempe

7:00 p.m.׀ Ride: Meet at Tempe Beach Park, on the corner of Rio Salado Pkwy & Mill Ave
7pm to 10pm | Pedal Craft: Boulders on Broadway - 530 West Broadway Road,  Tempe

Join your friends and sip some succulent brews around the Tempe neighborhood. We’ll be stopping at The Handlebar and Grill, World of Beers, and Devil’s Advocate for New Belgium specials. The ride will end at Boulders on Broadway where you’ll not only get a chance to get a brand-new cargo bike, proceeds benefitting TBAG, but you’ll also be able to peruse the Pedal Craft art sale if you missed Friday’s Pedal Craft in downtown Phoenix.

Raffle tickets are available at Boulders on Broadway or online here: http://www.biketempe.org/events/raffle/

Wednesday Oct. 3 Loops Ride

7:30 p.m.׀ Meet at Tempe Beach Park, on the corner of Rio Salado Parkway and Mill Avenue

Get ready this ride isn’t exactly at Tempe Tour de Fat parade speed. Enjoy a ride through town with the State Bike crew on their Loops Ride.

-and- MBAA Papago Peddler

6 p.m | Papago Park, Tempe (1300 N College Avenue)meet end at Boulders

Get some dirt on your tires for this non-technical ½ mile cruise through Papago Park. For more information, visit http://www.mbaa.net. After the ride the crew will stop by Tavern on Mill and end at Boulders on Broadway for another couple sips of delicious mana from heaven, craft brew.

Thursday Oct. 4 New Belgium bike giveaway on Mill

6 p.m. – 9p.m. |A Tempe bar TBD

Sip some amazing New Belgium brews and … wait for it… enter to win the New Belgium bike that will be given away. Just think of sporting those wheels during the Tour de Fat bike parade!

Friday Oct. 5 MADCAP Theater movie night

730 South Mill Avenue, Tempe

On the eve before Tempe Tour de Fat, take it easy at MADCAP with your friends and a good bike-themed show.

Saturday Oct. 6 Tour de Fat!

Registration starts at 9 a.m. | Bike parade starts at 10 a.m. | Beer is a flowin’ at 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.  | Tempe Beach Park

It’s like Christmas, New Years, your birthday, and Halloween all wrapped in one.

The City of Tempe is holding their second public meeting about the streetscape redesign on Hardy Drive between University Drive and Broadway Road. While the last meeting was very positive towards bikes and pedestrians, we need to show up to continue that positive energy. Details are below.

From the City of Tempe Announcement:

Contact:
Sue Taaffe
Public Information Officer
480-350-8663
sue_taaffe@tempe.gov

The City of Tempe is holding a public meeting to talk with residents, neighbors and businesses about a project to improve pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities and enhance the streetscape on Hardy Drive between University Drive and Broadway Road. This project is funded with $1.2 million in federal grant money.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, Aug. 15 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Gililland Middle School, 1025 S. Beck Ave., Tempe.

Discussion at the meeting will include:
• Gathering input from residents, businesses and organizations along the Hardy Drive corridor on potential design elements
• Review and solicit comments on the preliminary design concepts
• Updating the public about the project process and timeline

The project will likely include bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities enhancements, ADA improvements and landscaping. The project will make the street more user-friendly, multi-modal and sustainable.

Comment online about the project at http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=2350

Tempe PD arrested a man in conjunction with a hit-and run that occurred on Memorial Day. Justin Allen Erickson, 19, of Tempe is facing  Class 2 Felony charges for leaving the scene of a serious injury accident. He admitted to being under the influence of alcohol at the time. Jessica Durand, 25, was riding her bicycle near Rural and Broadway when she was hit, she is in the hospital recovering from her injuries.

Coverage is here:

http://www.azfamily.com/news/Man-arrested-in-Memorial-Day-hit-and-run-158380145.html

http://www.azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/2012/06/11/20120611tempe-makes-arrest-alleged-hit-run-crash-abrk.html

http://www.kpho.com/story/18718952/arrest-made-in-tempe-hit-and-run-with-bicyclist