Residents of the Pima County region frequently use bicycle and pedestrian facilities as a means of transportation for commuting and/or recreation. Pima Association of Governments (PAG) coordinates the regional bicycle planning process among local jurisdictions. The current bicycle network consists of over 700 miles of bicycle lanes, routes and shared-use paths/trails. The 2009 Regional Plan for Bicycling was the sixth update in a series dating back to 1975. (See Draft Plan in module below.)
Cycling has grown in popularity and use in the last 10 years. To address this trend, many local jurisdictions have policies to provide bicycle lanes or paved shoulders, whenever feasible, as part of major roadway projects. Other plans and programs exist to help provide bicycle lanes or shoulders where no major road projects are scheduled.
In 2006 and again in 2008, the Tucson Arizona /Pima Eastern Region received a Gold Level designation from the League of American Bicyclists in recognition of the region's ability to provide a bicycle friendly environment.
Pedestrian facilities such as sidewalks, crosswalks, shared-use paths, bridges and HAWKs (High intensity Activated crossWalKs) provide safe and accessible travel by foot throughout the urban area. The PAG region has received national recognition for innovative facility design and inclusion of ADA-compliant (Americans with Disabilities Act) features in all new and retrofitted roadway projects.
PAG coordinates the regional planning process among local jurisdictions and adopted the first Regional Pedestrian Plan in July 2000. It also developed the first-ever comprehensive sidewalk inventory which is used as a tool for identifying important gaps in the regional pedestrian network.
A growing emphasis on regional coordination and regional solutions has accelerated progress toward meeting the multi-modal transportation needs of our citizens. The Regional Transportation Authority plan and half-cent sales tax passed by voters in 2006 included substantial levels of funding for bicycle projects as well as vital roadway and transit improvements. As the regional planning agency, PAG has been a leader in bringing together diverse groups, interests and jurisdictions and has initiated major new work efforts to improve decision-making. Most recently, PAG established an annual regional bicycle count program to collect data on rider numbers and characteristics at locations throughout the region. PAG also initiated an annual regional bicycle crash analysis that examines types of crashes and their locations to help identify where and what types of improvements may be needed. |