Tempe is giving you another chance to tell them you want to keep seeing bikes on the streets.

Grab your friends and head to the Tempe General Plan Citizen’s Workshop Wednesday April 24 from 6-7 p.m. at the Tempe Library on Southern and Rural.

This working group needs community input – so be sure to drop by and tell them that the city of Tempe needs to continue funding bike infrastructure to support you, me and all the other two-wheeled gearheads out there!

Love bikes and want to join, but not sure what to talk about? Here are some starting points:

• Complete Tempe’s streets
• Expanding the bike network – both dedicated lanes and bike-friendly streets
• Create more bike boulevard systems
  

Join in and let your friends know you’re going to be there at the TBAG Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/570553759643281/#

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!

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.

At TBAG, we want all bicycles to have properly inflated tires, well oiled chains, and lights at night.  Lights are easier to buy and distribute than properly inflated tires, so I’m organizing a small team of volunteers to hand out lights.  Get in touch (scrottie at biketempe.org) if you’d like to help with this or other “action” programs, such as canvasing the spokes of ASU bikes with bike safety spoke cards, and I’ll add you to the mail list.

Hey Tempe Cyclists!! Tired of complaining about the unsafe riding conditions, bike lanes which seem to end for no reason, non-existent bike crossing signals, etc. etc. Quit complaining and help us do something about it. 2013 is going to be a busy year for TBAG advocates. There are major street re-design projects for us to monitor and influence, including the Mill Ave Streetcar, University Drive, Hardy Drive and Broadway Road. We also need to follow the update processes for the Transportation Master Plan and the General Plan. And we have our normal monthly committee meetings to attend.

Bring your ideas and your calendar and get ready to sign up to help!! See you at our 2013 kick-off TBAG Advocacy Meeting – Sunday January 6th 7pm at Boulders on Broadway.

The Transportation Master Plan provides the basis for how transportation funding is spent, and what projects or programs the City of Tempe focuses on to provide transportation services for its citizens through the year 2030. The Transportation Master Plan defines the transportation character within the General Plan to guide the growth and development of Tempe. As part of the plan, the City has proposed a set of “complete street” standards which include bike lanes, public transit and sidewalk standards, but they need feedback from TBAG members to support these changes.

To view the existing plan and see what changes are proposed, and to add your comments, please visit the City of Tempe’s webpage for the Transportation Master Plan here: http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=2602

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.

Attention TBAG advocates! The city of Tempe is holding an open house to talk about a project to improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities and enhance the streetscape on Hardy Drive between University Drive and Broadway Road. The open house will be held Wednesday, May 23 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Dennis J. Cahill Senior Center in the Westside Multi-Gen Center, 715 W. 5th St., Tempe.

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

See the City of Tempe website for more detail and a link to submit comments on the project.

METRO Light Rail is very interested in how bicyclists use the Light Rail. Please take a minute to fill out the Bike-Transit Integration Online Survey below. They hope to reach as many bicyclists as possible, so please forward and share as you like.

Survey Link