Kudos to the City of Phoenix for beautifying the Highline Canal and Bike Path,  I have often ridden a bicycle on the path for about 25 years and noted the previous conditions on internet photo and video sites.  I am very glad the pavement is being improved and rain runoff has its own path.  The artistic additions wonderfully highlight the area’s history.

There will probably be more cyclists using the path now and motorists will notice that.  I am a League Cycling Instructor (certified by the League of American Bicyclists <www.bikeleague.org>) and practice and preach safe, legal and effective cycling.  For example, there are STOP signs for cyclists on the Highline Path at each street intersection.  Respecting these signs improves the interaction between the various types of traffic, just as it does at all intersections.

Several times, motorists have noticed me waiting for traffic to clear at one of those STOP signs, and have offered to let me cross in front of them.  Each time I have declined the offer, offering the explanation “Please do not encourage bicyclists to break the law”.  There are several reasons for that.  1.  Inexperienced cyclists will get a false sense of security and will, someday, encounter less benevolent motorists.  2. Trying to be “courteous” winds up delaying everybody.  Rules of the road not only protect all of us, they eliminate time waste when “who should go first” is re-invented over and over again.  3.  I’ve seen three or four following cars delayed when one was “courteous to a fault”.

These aspects of cycling as well as knowledge of laws and skills to keep cycling safe are given in our Traffic Skills 101 classes.  We teach driving a bicycle.  “Riding” is a passive act, such as riding in the back of a car.  Driving is a full-time, proactive process that requires constant attention to surroundings and being predictable.

Gene Holmerud

Educational VP – Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists

It’s a New Year, It’s a New Census!

It’s easy to understand why we celebrate the New Year, but you may not have given much thought to celebrating 2010 as a census year. Most everyone knows what the U.S. Census is – a count of the people – but in these challenging economic times, it’s important to spread the word about what the Census actually does. Each completed Census form equates to funding for important community services including job training programs, neighborhood fire stations, bus service, library hours, senior services and programs for children and youth.

For Phoenix residents, each person counted means $400 a year in federal and state funds for these types of services. Reverse that thought, and each person living in Phoenix who is not counted in the 2010 Census means a direct loss of $400 a year to the City budget.  When multiplied by your neighbors’ responses, that adds up to a potential loss of millions of dollars.

Conducting a count of the people every 10 years is part of our Constitution, which makes it the law for every household to return a completed census form. At the national level, getting an accurate population count through the census distributes more than $400 billion annually in federal, state, city and tribal funds. Counting our population also determines the number of Congressional seats for each state and defines state legislative districts.  Closer to home, the census count helps guide the boundaries of Phoenix City Council districts.

In this time of heightened awareness about protecting our personal information, it’s also good to know that the information you provide on the census questionnaire is completely confidential.  Personal census information is not shared with any other government agency or organization. There are no exceptions. As a matter of fact, Census workers take a lifetime confidentiality oath and can go to jail for revealing census information.

Another important feature of the 2010 Census is that it’s the shortest questionnaire in the history of the census (since 1790!). When you receive your 2010 Census form in the mail in March, it will have just 10 questions and should take just a few minutes to complete. A postage-paid envelope is provided, which makes it even easier for each of us to drop our completed form in the outgoing mail.

While many of us think of census workers going door-to-door to count our population, that’s really only used as a last resort. Getting an accurate count of the people is so important that, if you don’t return the questionnaire by the end of April, a census representative will call you or visit your home as many as six times. If you still don’t respond, your neighbors may be asked about the people residing in your home.

So when you see your own 2010 Census form arrive at your home in mid-March, fill it out and drop it in the mail. It’s easy, it’s safe, and it’s important. Because by doing so, you are not only obeying the law – you are helping ensure vital funding for important community services.