Recently Ms. Kate Gallego announced her
candidacy for Phoenix City Council for District 8. We know her mostly
as the Chair of the City's Environmental Quality Commission, which is
the parent of the Bicycle Initiatives Sub-Committee (chaired
by Jeremy Stapleton). Thus she has fought for and won many
improvements in Phoenix's livability, including encouragement of
citizens to use their bicycles and improvement of the cycling
infrastructure so that folks are encouraged to do so.
I just
had the privilege of being asked by Ms. Gallego to support her
candidacy, to which I said yes, emphatically. I encourage all Phoenix
cyclists and those in District 8 in particular to also support her
campaign. This is a chance to have a solid champion of cycling on the
Council, who, along with the Mayor and others will bring us to being a
top notch cycling community. Her website for this campaign is http://gallego4phoenix.com/ and has links for contributions as well as social media joins. Please help our cycling future.
Gene
South
Mountain Park attracts hundreds of cyclists a day, and many more on
Silent Sundays. These people come from all over the Valley, the State
and the world. While here, many buy food and other products. It easily
earns its designation as a Phoenix Point of Pride. Pedestrians (hikers
& skateboard users) enjoy the scenery and wildflowers.
There is one problem: Getting through the Park entrance while not using a
car. Central Ave is wide (a 2-way left turn lane, 4 vehicle travel
lanes, 2 bile lanes, curbs, and sidewalks) until the entrance. Suddenly
it is one lane each way, no shoulders (in fact, an immediate drop into a
crevice), up hill and around a blind turn. Just about all the things
that discourage cyclists.
An alternative for pedestrians and
cyclists is to upgrade the existing path from Mineral Rd. and 7th St.
(near Mystery Castle) of the east edge of the Activity Center parking
lot. Pictures of the areas can be seen at http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.234141143322872.52658.211604375576549&type=1
Phoenix Transportation and Parks departments are in favor of the
project, funding is what is needed. About $130k is needed, which, is a
small amount of the City budget. Phoenix Political Pedal Power
(p4bike@activist.com) is urging contributions and writing the Mayor and
Council persons to support and finance this project.
