City of Tucson Department of Transportation Director Jim Glock wears his helmet at the start of a City Council meeting about Tucson cycling.

On a day that saw Tucson ranked the ninth friendliest bike city, the City Council heard about what Tucson needs to do to become a League of American Cyclists platinum bicycle friendly community.

City of Tucson Department of Transportation director Jim Glock and Tucson’s bicycle and pedestrian coordinator Tom Thivener presented the council with information about the state of cycling in Tucson.

Thivener highlighted the miles of bike lanes and paths, the educational programs the city oversees and upcoming events like Cyclovia Tucson.

While the council was impressed by the infrastructure and programs in place, Thivener said the city needed to do more if they wanted to become a platinum bicycle friendly community.

According to Thivener the League of American Bicyclists said in order to receive platinum, Tucson would have to increase the percentage of people riding bikes, which is currently two percent.

TPCBAC President Brian Beck thanks the city for the support they have shown toward cycling, but says more can be done.

Ward 5 Councilman Richard Fimbres asked what needed to be done to increase the ridership and when the application process would start for the LAB Platinum status.

Thivener said they would begin preparing the application in a year and would submit it two years from now.

As for increasing ridership, Thivener said people had to feel safe and projects that made people feel safer would be the key to increasing ridership in Tucson.

Tucson Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee president Brian Beck also spoke during the study session.

Beck said that when Lance Armstrong calls your city a cycling mecca, you must be doing something right; but more could be done to help get new riders on the road.

Thivener said he was happy with the meeting.

“I think we are going to find a lot of support for initiatives though [the city council],” Thivener said. “When it comes time to do individual road diets and bike boulevards that they will stick with their support.”

Glock prepares to leave the City Council meeting. Thivener said he bikes almost everywhere he goes.

22 thoughts on “Push for platinum topic of discussion at City Council study session”
  1. Dear Tucson,

    I will always oppose Tucson getting Platinum status as long as it seems that the Tucson Police Department has more interest in busting bike riders for running stop signs then tracking down and ticketing those who endanger bikers lives.

  2. Dear Tucson,

    I will always oppose Tucson getting Platinum status as long as it seems that the Tucson Police Department has more interest in busting bike riders for running stop signs then tracking down and ticketing those who endanger bikers lives.

  3. Good picture of the City DOT Director riding a bike (in his suit no less!) – that sends a great message.

  4. Good picture of the City DOT Director riding a bike (in his suit no less!) – that sends a great message.

  5. “Glock prepares to leave the City Council meeting. Thivener said he bikes almost everywhere he goes.”

    Did Thivener say *Glock* bikes almost everywhere he goes, or did he say that he, Thivener, bikes everywhere he goes? I see Tom Thivener on his bike all the time, but haven’t yet seen Glock on one.

  6. “Glock prepares to leave the City Council meeting. Thivener said he bikes almost everywhere he goes.”

    Did Thivener say *Glock* bikes almost everywhere he goes, or did he say that he, Thivener, bikes everywhere he goes? I see Tom Thivener on his bike all the time, but haven’t yet seen Glock on one.

  7. E,

    He said Glock commutes on his bike a lot. Glock’s bike looked pretty well used too.

  8. E,

    He said Glock commutes on his bike a lot. Glock’s bike looked pretty well used too.

  9. Mr. Glock rides the ride. Tucson is fortunate to have a
    DOT Director whose view on transportation parallels
    cyclists’ views in many ways. He does, however, have to
    serve all transportation needs.

    It’s good to challenge Tucson’s readiness for Platinum status.
    In Bicycling’s ranking article, the great weather was mentioned.
    It always irks me when Tucson gets all puffed up about that as
    if it somehow arranged it.

    What we need to find out is why Portland’s ridership is
    nearly double ours with weather not as conducive for
    riding. I’m thinking it may have to do more with cultural
    acceptance than biking facilities.

  10. Mr. Glock rides the ride. Tucson is fortunate to have a
    DOT Director whose view on transportation parallels
    cyclists’ views in many ways. He does, however, have to
    serve all transportation needs.

    It’s good to challenge Tucson’s readiness for Platinum status.
    In Bicycling’s ranking article, the great weather was mentioned.
    It always irks me when Tucson gets all puffed up about that as
    if it somehow arranged it.

    What we need to find out is why Portland’s ridership is
    nearly double ours with weather not as conducive for
    riding. I’m thinking it may have to do more with cultural
    acceptance than biking facilities.

  11. Coghauler really hit it on the head I think. I have visited Portland many times and pondered the number of bicyclists there.

    Unfortunately, I think it comes down to the actual construction of the city itself. This sounds weird, but there are more places to go in Portland. More neighborhoods that are connected and accessible by bike and that have things in them people want to go to other their homes. Here in Tucson we just have so much god-awful sprawl that other than the U-District/4th Ave/downtown axis, there aren’t many places a person might like to try to go on a bike.

    So we may need to think bigger. However, connecting places with light rail and bike boulevards might go a long ways toward turning them into neighborhoods that people actually want to get to. Maybe that will happen with Menlo Park, the Barrio, and other areas where the only current reason to go there is if you live there.

  12. Coghauler really hit it on the head I think. I have visited Portland many times and pondered the number of bicyclists there.

    Unfortunately, I think it comes down to the actual construction of the city itself. This sounds weird, but there are more places to go in Portland. More neighborhoods that are connected and accessible by bike and that have things in them people want to go to other their homes. Here in Tucson we just have so much god-awful sprawl that other than the U-District/4th Ave/downtown axis, there aren’t many places a person might like to try to go on a bike.

    So we may need to think bigger. However, connecting places with light rail and bike boulevards might go a long ways toward turning them into neighborhoods that people actually want to get to. Maybe that will happen with Menlo Park, the Barrio, and other areas where the only current reason to go there is if you live there.

  13. I have thought long and hard about the Portland question for some time, and I often get irked with the whole Portland this and that thing.

    I have visited the city, in the summer only, and what I find is that infrastructurally they have no more or less paint then us, or designated bike ways.

    So what gives, if we have about the same ammenities?

    In my view two things.

    Number 1- Portland has the highest number percentigly of young white people under the age of 40 per capita in the US. A demopgraphic that rides a lot.

    Number 20- Their cities construction and where people work. They have a much larger downtown that consists of over 60% of all jobs in the city. Which means that most of the city needs to get to the same place in the morning, which translates into bad traffice, translating into bike being fast.

    These are the two factors that to me allow Portland to be so successful.

  14. I have thought long and hard about the Portland question for some time, and I often get irked with the whole Portland this and that thing.

    I have visited the city, in the summer only, and what I find is that infrastructurally they have no more or less paint then us, or designated bike ways.

    So what gives, if we have about the same ammenities?

    In my view two things.

    Number 1- Portland has the highest number percentigly of young white people under the age of 40 per capita in the US. A demopgraphic that rides a lot.

    Number 20- Their cities construction and where people work. They have a much larger downtown that consists of over 60% of all jobs in the city. Which means that most of the city needs to get to the same place in the morning, which translates into bad traffice, translating into bike being fast.

    These are the two factors that to me allow Portland to be so successful.

  15. You guys raise really interesting points.

    I’ve always thought there are two things that will get more people riding.

    1) When riding a bike becomes more convenient than driving a car, people will get on their bikes. Ridership surges in places that make driving less convenient. Look at places that have started charging congestion fees to automobile drivers. You see a rise in ridership. Or as Ignacio talked about, because so many people in Portland have to get Downtown at the same time, it is more convenient.

    2) I think it is a good idea to remind people how fun it is to ride a bike. I think most adults forget that. I sure did.

    People always talk about how high gas prices get more people on their bikes. I’d like to see a study of how many people keep riding when gas prices go back down.

    Lastly, is there any thought that Tucson’s cycling community suffers from the fact that Tucson is such a transient town and so many people leave in the summer?

  16. You guys raise really interesting points.

    I’ve always thought there are two things that will get more people riding.

    1) When riding a bike becomes more convenient than driving a car, people will get on their bikes. Ridership surges in places that make driving less convenient. Look at places that have started charging congestion fees to automobile drivers. You see a rise in ridership. Or as Ignacio talked about, because so many people in Portland have to get Downtown at the same time, it is more convenient.

    2) I think it is a good idea to remind people how fun it is to ride a bike. I think most adults forget that. I sure did.

    People always talk about how high gas prices get more people on their bikes. I’d like to see a study of how many people keep riding when gas prices go back down.

    Lastly, is there any thought that Tucson’s cycling community suffers from the fact that Tucson is such a transient town and so many people leave in the summer?

  17. There’s no indication, going by the photo, that Jim Glock, P.E., uses pant leg cuff clips.

    Does he or doesn’t he?

    Pant leg cuff clips minimize the risk that pant cuffs get involved with the crank and chain and make for a safer ride for pants, bike, rider and surrounding motorists. They can be purchased online or easily fashioned from electrical tape and velcro ™, or from wire shirt hangers.

    Time to safety-up, Jim Glock?

  18. There’s no indication, going by the photo, that Jim Glock, P.E., uses pant leg cuff clips.

    Does he or doesn’t he?

    Pant leg cuff clips minimize the risk that pant cuffs get involved with the crank and chain and make for a safer ride for pants, bike, rider and surrounding motorists. They can be purchased online or easily fashioned from electrical tape and velcro ™, or from wire shirt hangers.

    Time to safety-up, Jim Glock?

  19. “People always talk about how high gas prices get more people on their bikes. I’d like to see a study of how many people keep riding when gas prices go back down.” (Tucson Velo said: April 7, 2010 at 12:43 PM)

    Tucson Velo may have to wait a while for that go back down study. Gasoline prices may have bottomed-out and may be headed back up:

    http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_home_page.html

    this is considered a sign of economic recovery…

  20. “People always talk about how high gas prices get more people on their bikes. I’d like to see a study of how many people keep riding when gas prices go back down.” (Tucson Velo said: April 7, 2010 at 12:43 PM)

    Tucson Velo may have to wait a while for that go back down study. Gasoline prices may have bottomed-out and may be headed back up:

    http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_home_page.html

    this is considered a sign of economic recovery…

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