Flagstaff Biking Organization » City News

Flagstaff Area Trail needs your help!

Jack Welch, Flagstaff Biking Org — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:11:02 +0000

Flagstaff Biking Organization is asking Flagstaff Trail enthusiasts to help out Timberline Trail with a quick email.

The proposed Timberline Trail is an urban-style trail similar to the Flagstaff Urban Trails (FUTS) that will link Flagstaff to the Timberline and Fernwood Estates in the Doney Park area. The proposed non-motorized trail is intended for hiking, bicycling and equestrian access to popular forest trails along Mount Elden and the Peaks. It will connect to the Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS) and the new Flagstaff Loop Trail. Current alignments place the 10 mile trail on public Coconino Forest land 1000 feet away from adjoining neighborhoods. Here’s a map, and more information about the proposed trail. This is a public trail to be built on public land for all to enjoy and it has already been funded.

FBO thanks those in the Flagstaff community who have supported the Timberline Trail in the past through petitions, e-mails or by attending public meetings in support of the Trail. We appreciate your prior efforts, but we fear our voice has not yet been heard by the decision makers– and the future of the Timberline Trail is in jeopardy. A small but vocal minority may destroy the Doney Park’s community’s opportunity to enhance it’s quality of life with a quality community trail– based on fears that have proven completely unfounded on Flagstaff’s urban trails. We know, and statistics abundantly prove, that urban commuting and recreation trails greatly enhance the quality of life and property values of any community.

We fear that the number of folks who support the Timberline Trail has been under-reported and we thus ask your help to secure this trail system.

Please help us by sending an email to Jack Welch (jack@flagstaffbiking.org) using this format:

“I support the Timberline Trail”; (Plus any additional arguments)

Your name,
Your address (optional but strongly encouraged), or at least your neighborhood,
City, State

FBO will present these tangible support statements at the next public meeting concerning the Timberline Trail. Currently we can’t demonstrate that support — that is why we ask you (and your friends as well) to email FBO your voice of support.

Our goal is provide 1000 e-mails in support of the trail. Please send your e-mail to Jack Welch at Jack@flagstaffbiking.org, and ask your friends to do so also. We can win this trail but we have to be able to prove the public support for the trail is far greater than the opposition.

Thanks,

Jack Welch
Flagstaff Biking Organization
Board of Directors

Loop Trail Day October 3rd at SKUNK Canyon!

Psiouxan, Flagstaff Biking Org — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:29:17 +0000

October 3rd’s Loop Trail Day once again returns to Skunk Canyon/Ridge.

We continue to work on the legal issues with the Observatory Mesa easement will delay, so don’t despair… WE WILL RETURN! Meanwhile, we built some great new trail above Skunk Canyon on our last day and we will continue to build this high quality trail toward the Fisher Point trail. Saturday’s long-range forecast? “clear- high 68″-–a perfect fall day.

DIRECTIONS: Take Lone Tree Road south to J.W. Powell Blvd and turn left/east. Go to the barricades and turn into Pine Canyon Club’s NORTH entrance: Important! Get a visitor’s pass at the booth. Follow signs: take an immediate left on Clubhouse Circle, drive 1.3 miles and turn left/east on Del Rae, following it 0.6 miles to the end circle. We will stage in front of “Lot 191″. Try this mapquest MAP.

Please come with sturdy shoes, long pants, water, sunscreen, and a hat or bike helmet; and gloves if you have some. Consider bringing raingear, weather is changesome. We will provide hard-hats, tools and equipment, guidance and training. Kids under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

You can help us prepare for the Loop Trail Day by pre-registering now so we can estimate lunch, coffee and equipment quantities. Contact Looptrail@flagstaffbiking.org with questions. THANKS!

Board of Supervisors

Flagstaff’s Pedestrian Awareness Week: Sept 30-Oct 7th

Psiouxan, Flagstaff Biking Org — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:34:25 +0000

Now it is the Pedestrians Turn! For all the pedestrians that wanted recognition during Bike to Work Week… we present Flagstaff’s annual Pedestrian Awareness Week. Be sure to share this post with your Ped-friends, co-workers and kids! Festivities begin Wednesday, September 30 and run through next Wednesday, October 7. Please join the many organizers for this fun series of events, which are intended to celebrate Flagstaff’s walkable character and to raise awareness of walkability issues in the community.

Listed below is an abbreviated schedule of the week’s events; for further information and details please visit http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/index.aspx?NID=1724

Wed Sep 30 7:30 am -> Breakfast Walk City Hall
Thu Oct 1 9 am-4 pm -> Safe Routes to School Workshop – Kinsey School Church of the Resurrection. CANCELLED, RESCHEDULING POSSIBLE
Fri Oct 2 8:30-11 am -> Sunnyside Fourth Street Walkability Audit: Coconino Co Health Dept
Fri Oct 2 4-7 pm -> Downtown Scavenger Hunt downtown Flagstaff
Fri Oct 2 4-7 pm -> Pedestrian Awareness Booth Heritage Square
Sat Oct 3 9 am-noon -> Community Sidewalk Clean-Up Day Kinsey School parking lot
Sun Oct 4 9 am -> Hike the FUTS/Ride the Bus Sechrist School parking lot
Mon Oct 5 All Day -> Try Transit Day All Mountain Line bus routes
Tue Oct 6 9-11 am -> Southside Accessibility Audit Downtown Transfer Center
Tue Oct 6 noon – 1 pm -> Brown Bag Lunch Presentation on Complete Streets Community Federated Church
Wed Oct 7 7:30 – 9:30 am -> International Walk to School Day Killip, Kinsey, Marshall, Sechrist, and Thomas Elementary Schools

PAW may not have all the great raffle prizes, but all of us self-propelled folks know that every walk and ride is replete with beauty, views, fresh air, great health and inner calm.

See ya on the FUTS!

Loop Trail Day September 19th at SKUNK Canyon!

Psiouxan, Flagstaff Biking Org — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:24:53 +0000

Our Sept 19th Loop Trail Day had to be moved from Observatory Mesa to Skunk Canyon.

Legal issues with the easement will delay, but not prevent, completion of our coveted link to Cheshire, so FEAR NOT! We have some great new trail to work above Skunk Canyon that will be perfect for the waning days of summer, which are forecast to be “partly cloudy- high 76″–perfecto.

We will be picking up where the CREC crew left off this summer… you’ll want to check out the sweet trail we have all built so far! There’s about a mile to go for us to reach the Fisher Point trail.

You can help us prepare for the Loop Trail Day by pre-registering now so we can estimate lunch, coffee and equipment quantities. Contact Susan@flagstaffbiking.org with questions. THANKS!

Helmet Ordinance passed 4 to 3 on Tuesday, Sept 15th.

Flagstaff Biking Organization — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:43:06 +0000

On September 15th, the Flagstaff City Council passed the Helmet ordinance for minors 4:3, with Mayor Presler, Vice Mayor White, Councilmembers Brewster and Swanson supporting, and Councilmembers Haughey, Overton and Evans opposing. The ordinance will go into effect January 2010.

There was a sizeable crowd of helmet-wearing public attending the final reading and vote on the law. FBO, in conjunction with SafeKids Coalition, will continue its efforts to educate grade school aged children through its bike rodeos as well as its program to provide helmets to kids at low or no cost. FBO welcomes the positive reinforcement that the Helmet law will provide, producing a new generation of savy cyclists.

Supporters for Flagstaff’s Helmet law needed at the City Council TONIGHT!

Flagstaff Biking Organization — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:13:03 +0000

The final vote on a Helmet Law for minors (kids under 18 years) will get it’s last reading and vote tonight. The vote on the initial reading was close: 4:3.

We would like to see Flag’s dedicated cyclists show up (with helmets in hand) in the Council Chambers at City Hall (211 W. Aspen) tonight at 5:30 pm– the council can’t ignore the need to protect kids, and kids in Flagstaff will get a head start on good bike riding habits … And ALL of us will get a pay off down the road in safer cyclists and better habits as more and more bike commuters take to the streets. To read more on FBO’s position on the helmet law, go HERE.

Thanks! See you there!

Valet Parking attracted nearly 300 cyclists on Labor Day!

Psiouxan, Flagstaff Biking Org — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:08:21 +0000

Valet bike parking was an outstanding success Labor Day when 270 cyclists pedaled to the Coconino County Fair with a free entrance for cycle-commuters. Our fair commuting cyclists then enjoyed decorative prize-winning chickens, deep-fat fried everything, and wild inverting rides; in addition to their refreshing and scenic commute along one of Flagstaff’s beautiful FUTS out to the Fair Grounds at Ft Tuthill.

The 4 day fair saw nearly 400 folks take advantage of Flagstaff Biking Org’s first ever “Valet Bike Parking Service” with reduced or free fair tickets. Friends of Coconino County Park’s also helped run the Ramada’s booth. In conjunction with the booth, Jack Welch lead a hike each morning of the fair that garnered 160 hikers free admittance to the fair.

That was a great deal for cyclists and hikers, and given the cost of building and maintaining parking lots, not a bad deal for the county either. The response was overwhelmingly positive and many grateful folks expressed the hope the service would continue next year! YOUR WELCOME… We hope to!

FREE Valet bicycle parking at the Coconino County Fair

Flagstaff Biking Organization — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:05:30 +0000

Ride your bicycle to the County Fair this year (Friday Sept 4th through Monday Sept 7th) and you’ll be able to leave your bicycle in the personal care of FBO/ Jack Welch & Co. / who will be responsible for the fair’s bicycle parking located at Cochise Ramada near tennis courts east of the main entrance. Riding out to the fair is super fun and easy with the FUTS trail that you can start just west of Big 5 Sports. The scenic trail keeps you and yours out of traffic and shoots straight to Ft Tuthill. AVOID CAR PARKING and Enjoy a beautiful ride!

Friday through Sunday the bicycle parking will be free, and you will get a $1.00 off the entry fee into the fair on those days. On Monday riding to the fair and using the valet bicycle parking will entitle you to free entry into the fair.

There are also 4 hikes scheduled on each day of the fair that will entitle you to free entry into the fair.

All the hikes (3-5 miles long) will start at 8:00 AM from the Cochise Ramada lead by Jack Welch.

Friday Sept 4: ~5 miles on the FUTS to FR 532 to the old dam in Sinclair Wash
Saturday Sept 5: ~4 miles on the Soldiers Trail behind the Race Track and Amphitheater
Sunday Sept 6: ~4 miles using the Bridge Trail off the Soldier trail
Monday Sept 7: ~5 miles on the Highland Trail to the Kachina Village wetlands

Ride your bike to the fair – do a hike – and get free parking for your bicycle plus free entry into the fair.

Fair Opens daily at 10:00 AM

Bicycle Parking Available from 9:30 AM until 3:00 PM

Questions? Contact Jack Welch, 928.714.0504 or at ADILLLO@aol.com

THANKS for great Loop Trail help Saturday

Psiouxan, Flagstaff Biking Org — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:34:30 +0000

We had a fantastic turnout for Loop Trail work Saturday Aug 15th. Flagstaff can deliver! FBO, Coconino County, Coconino Forest Service and the City of Flagstaff send their thanks to the 54 generous spirits that donated their time to complete Segment 55 of the Loop Trail on Observatory Mesa.

Next stop… Segment 56… the challenging and beautiful final link to Cheshire. We’ll need your help even more for that final piece, be sure to Save the Dates.. September 19th, October 3rd, and November 7th!

Thanks also to Biff’s Bagels, Late for the Train and Coconino County Supervisor Matt Ryan for sponsoring Saturday’s event. We’ve completed over 1.5 miles of trail this summer!

Lost and Found! A pair of Lady’s eye glasses were found at our lunch site. Please call 928.853.5542 if you lost these!

FBO-supported Helmet Ordinance passes 4-3

Flagstaff Biking Organization — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:53:28 +0000

Aug 19th, 2010 UPDATE: the City Council meeting of Aug 18th passed the FBO/SafeKids-supported Helmet law for Minors 4 to 3. This law will go into effect January 10th, 2010, and will be preceded by FBO’s ongoing education campaign and the effort to provide low or no-cost helmets to kids will be sustained and enhanced with a possible grant supporting that effort.

August 13th: Join FBO at the City Council Meeting on August 18th to support the proposed Helmet Law Ordinance. The meeting is at City Hall (Aspen Street) and starts at 4:30pm. Below are points that FBO will be presenting to the Council in support of this Ordinance:

Flagstaff Biking Organization has worked collaboratively with the Coconino County Safe Kids Coalition for the past six years to promote bicycle safety rodeos and a free and discounted helmet distribution program through local schools and other community organizations and events.

As part of the presentation and clinic that we do for children in the schools and at other public events throughout the year, we informally poll kids on how many own helmets and wear them when they ride their bikes. We are often astounded at how few even own helmets, let alone how few are encouraged to wear them while riding.

A mandatory helmet law for kids would at bare minimum raise awareness amongst parents and kids as to the importance of this inexpensive, simple step towards preventing serious injury and potentially death from what might otherwise be a minor accident. An enforceable law is often the best way to get kids to act in a more responsible manner than they might otherwise when outside of the oversight of their parents.

We disagree with those who insist that requiring helmets will cause parents to view cycling as too dangerous an activity for their children. Our efforts have shown that by encouraging children to ride safely and use appropriate safety equipment, we are able to generate more enthusiasm amongst the kids for cycling. Parents have many times thanked us for giving their kids more reasons to wear their helmets. Never have we been made aware of a scenario in which a parent discouraged his or her child from riding a bike because we had stressed the importance of wearing a helmet and obeying traffic laws while riding. We are first and foremost cycling advocates and we would not support this law if we felt that its implementation might adversely affect the perception of cycling as a safe, attractive and fun means of transportation and recreation.

We also find fault with the argument that this law’s enactment would be adding encumbrance to the legal system or that this ordinance would be an infringement on a person’s civil liberties. There are numerous laws that presume that a child’s well being lies ultimately with the community. For example, children are required to receive some sort of schooling and are required to travel in a child seat when in a motor vehicle. None of these laws are implemented with the intent of interceding in the deliberate intent and direction of a parent in raising his or her child. Rather, these laws are intended to protect the greater good of the community and/or the well being of the child in lieu of poor decisions on the part of an ill informed or misguided parent. We also point to the fact that this ordinance has the support of the Flagstaff Police Department in spite of any addition workload that it might create.

Flagstaff Biking Organization will continue its efforts in promoting safe bicycling and helmet use to children and adults in the greater Flagstaff area. Given appropriate funding and support, we are amenable to an increase in these efforts that might include assisting in a broader discounted or free helmet distribution program.

As Flagstaff continues to grow as a bicycle friendly community, it becomes increasingly important to act proactively in matters such as this. Bicycles are a safe and attractive means of transportation and recreation, and focusing on keeping this activity as safe as possible will help to promote bicycling in our community, thereby making Flagstaff even more livable, environmentally friendly and fun!

For more information, please contact Melissa at melissa@flagstaffbiking.org.