Verde Valley Cyclists reach agreement with ADOT for installation and maintenance of bike lanes in the Village of Oak Creek

Sedona, AZ- The Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition (VVCC) announced today that after years of work and leadership the locally active group has accomplished one of its main goals: bike lanes along SR179, Arizona's first All American Road, south of the Sedona city limits. 

As part of its redevelopment of SR179, ADOT has agreed to establish bike lanes in the Village of Oak Creek but only after a local agency committed to maintain the bike lanes, which will be in ADOT's right-of-way.

The VVCC shifted into high gear to obtain the necessary permit and has agreed to maintain the shoulders, at its own cost. The permit requires that the VVCC have insurance to cover any liability arising from its work in ADOT's right-of-way, which it has secured from the McKay insurance company, a national provider of insurance to bicycle clubs.

According to VVCC President, Dan Paduchowski, "We raised $4,000 a year for 3 years from four generous members, and then used those commitments to apply for a grant, which we received, from the Sedona Community Foundation that is a three year grant allowing us to make the commitment that ADOT was looking for."

Mr. Paduchowski went on to say, “This project will serve a very broad range of the Sedona area population because the bicycle is used by almost all age groups, especially those without a car, active adults, and seniors enjoying their bicycle all over again. We at the VVCC hear many different generations tell us how they would ride their bike more if only there were safe places to do so.”

VVCC is setting a valuable precedent for future roadway projects by showing how highway capacity and safety are improved for both bicyclists and motorists alike through the inclusion of bike lanes. Bike lanes should be an integral part of the roadway design and construction budget and should not be viewed as an amenity that can be ignored or simply deleted. Increased travel area improves safety for cyclists being overtaken by motorists who will not have to move outside the travel lane in order to pass a bicycle.

A “Bicycle Friendly Community” will be designated and marketed as such by the League of American Bicyclists (the national advocacy non profit in Washington D.C.) and the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. This will allow events like the Sedona Century, a 100-mile fundraising bike ride (which does not actually go through Sedona) to utilize Sedona as its primary staging area where the ride will begin and end. This will also fill hundreds of hotel rooms and restaurants with happy, healthy, hungry visitors and has the capacity to do so for much of our ‘slow’ season.

Look for special events in the near future along Arizona’s first All American Road to celebrate the tremendous success of the VVCC and highlight their achievement.

To learn more about the Verde Valley Cyclists, please visit www.vvcc.us.

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