Travel and transportation have never been without some level of risk, whether it is by horse and carriage or plane, train and automobile. 

 

However it seems to me that the streets are becoming more and more risky with each passing year. Cars become larger, drivers become increasingly more distracted and the roads through Prescott have never been very large.

So between dodging pedestrians and other larger vehicles as they themselves try to navigate through the narrow streets, the driver has a lot to look out for.  

With the growing awareness of increasing oil costs and the nation still in recession, large numbers of people have taken to looking for another method of transport.  

I’ve noticed them; just take a look around; it’s easy to see. There are more and more bicyclists combing the streets. Why not, bikes are great. You get some exercise while getting to your destination in a more or less reasonable speed. 

They don’t excrete any harmful toxic vapors into the atmosphere and they rarely cause massive damage if they run into something. However, where do you place a bicyclist so as to have room for everyone else as well?

Arizona Law

According to Arizona State Law a bicycle is not allowed on the sidewalk which is reserved solely for on foot pedestrians. Unfortunately very few streets in, on, or around Prescott have bike lanes in the streets. Another unfortunate occurrence with that idea however, is that you are then placing a person on a bicycle which weighs anywhere from 20 to 70 pounds in the same area as vehicles weighing in on average 2,000 pounds.  

“However, where do you place a bicyclist so as to have room for everyone else as well?”

According to Lisa Barns, the executive director of the Prescott Alternative Transportation (PAT) program says that due to state law, bicycles have their own vehicular classifications. “According to Prescott city code” says Barns, “bikes are slow moving vehicles and are to be treated as such… sidewalks are for pedestrians”.

It’s about safety

Although not everyone seems to agree with this trend in Arizona history. Sonny Campbell a 20 -year old bicyclist says he feels endangered riding in the street. “I just don’t feel safe riding on the pavement that close to the vehicles… there aren’t that many people on the sidewalk anyway and then you’d have some room between you and the cars.” 

Personally, I believe that the sidewalks should be opened up to bike riders as well, especially in Prescott. Let’s face it, there aren’t that many people that are walking on the sidewalks around here and of those very few of them are in groups. So with the exception of Whiskey Row most sidewalks everywhere in the tri-city area are more or less open.  

Now armed with that knowledge, does it not make sense to place a person, on his bike, farther from harm’s way? The speed limit through most of the streets in Prescott is at least 35 miles an hour.  When was the last time you saw a bike keep up with your car while you were on your way to work?  Keep the bikes on the sidewalks and the cars in the street. 

PAT conference

However, regarding the future of bike riding in the tri-city area, in March the PAT hosted a conference open to the public considering all options and possibilities of requiring bike lanes in all future construction or reconstruction projects. The conference included speeches and discussions regarding the financial aspects of placing the bike lanes, as well as potential repercussions in doing so and whether or not it should happen at all. 
     As of now there are no outstanding policies or decisions based on the conference or any other such subsequent events regarding bike lanes on the streets or bicyclists on the sidewalk and Arizona state law still stands unchanged.
     However there are certain ways to go about trying to protect oneself and assist in the preservation of others. If you are either a bicyclist or a motorist. For instance, at the PAT office located at 309 east Gurley Street you can go and pick up a pamphlet containing the state laws regarding proper vehicle behavior on the road as well as the laws governing the actions of all bicyclists in Arizona. The PAT is also working to schedule education programs and activities for both motorists and bicyclists to help inform the community about transportation safety. 
     For more information regarding safety on the streets, Arizona law or any question regarding upcoming events for the education of pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists call (928) 708-0911.