Arizona's Stop Signs Could Become Yield Signs

Many of you will remember that last year a bill was introduced in the Arizona State Legislature that would have effectively permitted cyclists to treat stop signs as if they were yield signs. If the bill had become law, cyclists approaching a stop sign would have been required to slow down, and if the intersection had been clear, would have been permitted to proceed through the intersection without coming to a complete stop. The bill made sense, because a cyclist who comes to a complete stop and puts a foot down requires much more time to clear an intersection than does a cyclist who is able to keep both feet on the pedals. However, most non-cyclists do not understand this, so the bill never reached the floor. It was killed in committee on a straight party-line vote after all of the minority Democrats on the committee voted in favor of the bill but every Republican committee member voted to kill it.

Now a new version of bill has been introduced in the house by representative Daniel Patterson, who is a bicycle rider. This bill may overcome the objections of those who consider cyclists to be "Spandex-clad leftist liberals" who demand superior privileges by treating motor vehicles and cyclists equally, giving both classes of road users the right to proceed through a stop sign without coming to a complete stop as long as they are able to safely make it through the intersection without interfering with traffic that has the right-of-way. If the bill is passed, I wonder what purpose stop signs will serve. Why not just change them all to yield signs? Of course, regardless of the law, most motorists and almost all cyclists already treat stop signs as if they were yield signs, so the proposed change to the law could be viewed as an attempt to make the law reflect reality.

If you would like to read the bill and follow its progress through the Arizona State Legislature, you can do so by clicking here.

New pictures on Geezer Website

Pictures of some the Wheezers and Geezers before and after the 100 Ride for Jim Stenholm have been added to the Wheezers and Geezers Website. The URL is http://www.mlr.biz/geezers/. Click on the "Photo Gallery" tab at the left of the screen. -- Jack Quinn

Republic Article on Cindie Holub's Death

The Arizona Republic has published an article on its azcentral.com Website about Cindie Holub's death that all cyclists should read. Cindie Holub was the cyclist who died after being struck from behind by a Waste Management garbage truck while cycling on Dynamite Boulevard near Alma School Road in Scottsdale. According to the article, driver Fernando Jiménez has been ticketed for violatiing the three-foot law. I wonder if he shouldn't have also been charged with manslaughter.

To read the online article, click here.

We're gonna be on TV!

The Maricopa Country Association of Governments (MAG) wants to include the Wheezers and Geezers ride as part of a publicity video that will be distributed to various TV outlets to promote the Valley as a tourist destination. Our job is to show the benefits of cycling.

I spoke to Jason Stephens of MAG on the phone, and we tentatively set up the day and time as Saturday February 6 on the 7:30 a.m. ride. I write tentatively, because the weather is supposed to be unsettled through March. I'm making a note to myself to send out an E-mail to the Geezers' mailing list a few days before the date as a reminder.

It would be nice if as many people as possible would show up for the 7:30 ride that week, either 7:30 at the roundabout or 7:15 at the Camelback Inn. Those who have Geezer jerseys are requested to wear them. (Let's hope that it will be warm enough that we can squeeze the jerseys on top of the other layers of clothing).

In addition to filming the ride, Jason wants to interview a doctor about the health benefits of riding and someone who commutes to work on a bike. I don't know who among the Geezers commutes to work by bike, so we need some volunteers.

Jack Quinn

Geezers Jerseys and two Rides for Geezers

Three topics: the long sleeved jerseys and two rides that many Geezers plan to participate in.

First the Jerseys

Karen is sending in the order to Voler for the long-sleeved jerseys on Monday., October 19, 2009. Because she needs to write a check to send with the order, she would be grateful if everyone who has ordered a jersey would pay. We don't want Karen to kite a check and end up in prison, because that means that Dave Weiss would be back in charge, and you remember what that was like. The jerseys cost $67 with the hidden zipper and $69 with the full-length zipper.

A ride for Jim Stenholm, next Saturday October 24

A number of Geezers have expressed interest in doing this ride as a group next Saturday. The ride will not only serve to remember cyclist Jim Stenholm, but it should also help relations with the Scottsdale and Phoenix Police Departments, which are helping to put on the ride. Geezers are requested to ride in their Geezer jerseys or, for those who have them, a Consumers jersey, as Jim was a member of the Phoenix Consumer Cycle Club. You don't have to register in advance; just show up and sign a waver.

As its name implies, this ride will be held in memory of Jim Stenholm, an avid cyclists, a great husband and dad, and a Phoenix police officer who died unexpectedly on October 24, 2008. Jim loved riding his bike, and there is no better way to remember him than to go out and ride our bikes on the anniversary of his death.

In an age when most supported rides are fund raisers with entry fees between $40 and $100, it's nice to find a ride that's free and even includes free food and free swag and whose only requirement is that you sign a release form. Well, to be honest, there is an optional $25 donation to the 100 Club if you feel the ride was worth it. The 100 Club is a not-for-profit organization that helps police officers fire fighters, other first responders and their families when they are in need. If you make this optional donation, this ride will still be a bargain.

Bring the entire family, as there is probably a ride option that will suit everyone: a 100-kilometer ride that I suspect will suit most Geezerettes and Geezers, a short 8-mile ride that should be ideal for many families, and a mini course for riders 10 years old and younger. All rides leave from the Desert Horizon Precinct at 56th Street and Paradise Lane (16030 North 56th Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85254).

Riders need to arrive at least one half hour in advance of their start times in order to fill out and sign a waver. As an incentive to sign up on time, the first 150 riders will receive a free ball cap.

The start times, which have been calculated so that we can all arrive back at the starting point at more or less the same time and have lunch together, are as follows:

8:00 a.m. 100 kilometer/62 mile ride. (To be honest, the route is actually about 92 kilometers or 57 miles.) This ride will have a motorcycle escort.

10:30 a.m. Short course (about 8 miles) This ride will have a ride leader.

11:30 a.m. The Little 100 Mini Course for cyclists 10 years old and younger.

12:00 noon. Free chow and good companionship
.
Maps will be provided at the start, but to get a look at the route (there may be minor changes by ride time), go to this URL: http://www.mapmyride.com/view_route?r=325125305521754256 (You may have to copy the URL and paste it into your browser's address bar to get to the correct map.)

ABC's McDowell Mountain Century, November 14

The other ride is almost a month away, but many riders may want to register in advance in order to avoid the late fee. Most of the Geezers will ride the 62-mile option, and many plan to ride as a group.

The Arizona Bicycle Club's annual McDowell Century takes place this year on November 14 in Scottsdale, Rio Verde, and Fountain Hills and starts at Serano Park, 56th Street and Sweetwater in Scottsdale. There are three versions of the ride: a 100-mile century, a 62-mile metric century, and a 30-mile half-metric century. Members of ABC, GABA, and Bullshifters pay $35 for the event, and non-members pay $45. Tandems are $45 for members per bike and $60 for non-members. After November 1, there is a $5 late fee for individual riders and a $15 late fee for tandems. (When I checked it, the ride's Website confusingly gave the late fee dates of April 15 and August 10, both of which must be incorrect. I reported that to the ABC, and hopefully the error will be fixed by the time you read this.) The entry fee includes sag stops with lots of munchies and insurance. The first 130 riders will also receive ABC logo insulated Polar water bottles.

Check-in and late registration open onsite at 6:30 a.m. The century ride leaves at 7:30, and the metric and half-metric century rides leave at 8:00. (Cautious riders will sneak off a bit early and avoid the dangerous mass starts.)

To access the ride's Website and/or to register online, click here.

Presumed Hit-and-Run Driver Arrested

Phoenix Police arrested 23-year-old Timothy Kissida, suspected of being the hit-and-run driver who killed 52-year-old cyclist Charles Waldrop on Cave Creek Road in Phoenix last Saturday (see entry below) after Kissida attempted to trade in his damaged BMW at a local car dealer under the Cash for Clunkers program. Kissler reportedly claimed that the damage to his car was caused when he hit a javelina. -- Jack Quinn

Phoenix Cyclist Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver

Phoenix Police report that a 52-year-old male cyclist was killed Friday just after midnight in the southbound bicycle lane of Cave Creek Road just north of Mountain Gate Pass while riding home from work. Police have not released the identity of the cyclist pending notification of next of kin.

According to Phoenix Police spokesman Tommy Thompson, the cyclist was riding legally in the bicycle lane with a headlight and a flashing red taillight when a sliver. late-model, four-door BMW with tinted windows swerved into the bicycle lane and fatally struck the cyclist. The driver of the BMW then fled the scene.

According to witnesses, the car had been weaving and speeding prior to striking the cyclist.

Police do not have the license plate number of the BMW, but witnesses say that the car had an Arizona plate and that the car suffered extensive damage to the right front bumper area and to the windshield on the passenger side. Police found the car's right clearance marker lamp and fog lamp at the scene.

Jack Quinn