Tucson Bicycle & Pedestrian Program Newsletter

Newsletter | September 2018

PROJECT UPDATES

Safe Routes to School Improvements Completed

Safety improvements were completed at Blenman and Howell Elementary Schools, as part of the City of Tucson's Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program. The improvements were identified and prioritized by Toole Design Group and the SRTS team. These projects were made possible thanks to funding from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA).

At Blenman, sidewalks and curb ramps were installed on the west side of Bentley Avenue, between Elm Street and Adams Street. At Howell, a pedestrian crossing island was installed on Columbus Boulevard, and curb ramps were installed at the intersection of Holmes Street and Irving Avenue.

New sidewalks at Blenmen Elementary School (above)

New pedestrian crossing island at Howell Elementary School (above)

Leading Pedestrian Interval at Broadway / Stone

Tucson's first Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) was installed at Broadway Boulevard and Stone Avenue. LPIs are traffic signals that give people walking a head-start before cars can enter the intersection. A few seconds priority gives walkers the chance to make it into the crosswalk — where they’re more visible to drivers — before cars are allowed to go straight or turn.

LPIs have been shown to reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions as much as 60% at treated intersections.

LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVAL SIGNAL PHASING

6th Ave / 7th St Intersection Transformation

In coordination with Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT), Living Streets Alliance (LSA) won a $10,000 grant from the AARP Community Challenge to take quick action on a project that is designed to improve mobility and safety, and promote public spaces. The temporary project aims to transform the intersection of N 6th Avenue and E 7th Street into a more people-centered, vibrant area, using temporary materials such as paint, flexible posts, planters, and street furniture. Below is a before and after conceptual rendering of the project.

ANTICIPATED PROJECT BENEFITS
• Calm traffic and slow speeds
• Create a new pedestrian space for people to sit and interact
• Shorten the street crossing distance for people walking
• Strengthen & build community through creative placemaking
• Expose Tucsonans to the concept that streets can be a public space amenity

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
The project will be installed over the course of one day, Saturday, October 20th from 6am to 6pm. TDOT and LSA are looking for volunteers to help out in shifts throughout the day. Contact LSA at 520-261-8777, info@livingstreetsalliance.org, or visit the website, for more information.

EDUCATION & ENCOURAGEMENT

5 Tips to Help Keep Your Bike Ride Enjoyable & Safe

SCAN AHEAD. LOOK BACK.
This is helpful if you need to merge into traffic or leave the bike lane to avoid an obstacle. Signal to let others know your next move. When driving, give bicyclists 3-feet of space, in case they need to swerve to avoid an opening car door or other hazards on the road.

WATCH FOR RIGHT HOOK
It's best to wait in front of cars at a red light. If you’re to the right of a car, make eye contact with the driver to be sure they know you’re there. When driving, yield to bicyclists to allow them to go through the intersection before making a right turn.

THE DOOR ZONE
Always leave 2-3 feet of space between yourself and parked cars. You’ll have room to adjust if someone opens a door in your path or passes too close. When driving, always look for bicyclists before opening your door or pulling out of a parking space.

CROSSING THE TRACKS
The track groove is just slightly wider than a typical bike tire, so your wheel can easily get stuck. The key to staying safe is to cross as close to a 90-degree angle as possible.

USE LIGHTS AT NIGHT
Give other people the chance to see you. Make sure your bike has a white headlight and a red taillight. It's not only safer, it's the law.

GET INVOLVED

Explore Proposition 407 Parks + Connections Projects

The PARKS + CONNECTIONS Bond includes $225 million in General Obligation bonds to fund parks and connections improvements throughout the City of Tucson. The program would be implemented in three phases: 2020-2022, 2023-2025, and 2026-2028. Prop 407 will appear on the November 6th ballot. To access the map and learn more about Prop 407, visit the website.

PROP 407 FACTS

$225M in General Obligation Bonds
Prop 407 must be approved by voters
Approval of Prop 407 will not increase property taxes. As old bonds are retired, new bonds will be issued to maintain a stable tax rate.
Prop 407 cannot be used for other City programs, salaries or pensions

CONNECTIONS PROJECTS FACTS

128 miles of Connections Projects (biking and walking projects)
34 bike safety & mobility projects
9 greenways & shared-use paths projects
10 pedestrian safety & walkability projects
Incorporates water harvesting, traffic calming & trees
Curb ramps and sidewalks for mobility & accessibility
Connections Projects fall into three main categories

1. Greenways & Shared-Use Paths are off-street facilities separated from car traffic to create a safer and more comfortable space for people walking, biking, running, horseback-riding, or using a wheelchair.

2. Pedestrian Safety & Walkability projects are sidewalk improvements on major streets to create safer and more comfortable routes for people walking or in a wheelchair.

3. Bicycle Safety & Mobility projects expand the existing bikeway network and fall into two main categories: (1) Bicycle Boulevards (residential streets designed to prioritize bicycling and enhance conditions for walking), and (2) Protected Bike Lanes (use physical dividers - like flexible posts, curbs, parked cars, planters - to separate bike lanes from both cars and sidewalks).

Share it with PeopleForBikes to help guide future improvements and influence the 2019 City Rating System. To take the 5-minute survey, visit the website.

EVENTS

Free Mobile Bike Repair Events

Living Streets Alliance hosts FREE Bike Repair events that are open to everyone. Bike repair is limited to first 20 bikes, so RSVP to Colby: colby@livingstreetsalliance.org or 520-261-8777. Add the upcoming community events to your calendar:

Ride El Tour with Team Tugo

The 36th Annual El To ur de Tucson takes place on Saturday, November 17, the same day as Tugo’s 1 year anniversary! To celebrate Tugo has created the Team Tugo fundraiser, benefiting Living Streets Alliance. Team Tugo is open to 130 riders to participate in the 25-mile El Tour fun-ride from Marana to downtown Tucson. To register or learn more, visit the website.

Tugo offers FREE RIDE WEEK!

We are midway through Tugo Bike Share's Free Ride Week!

To ride for free:
1. Stop by a Tugo Kiosk Station or download the Cyclefinder app
2. Select the "$0 One Day" option (riders will still need to enter phone # and credit card info to access a bike)
3. Start pedaling! Enjoy as many free 30-min rides as you'd like throughout the week (Oct 10 - 16)