By Charles Pekow — The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is preparing its first Active Transportation Safety Action Plan (ATSAP) in response to a 66 percent increase in bicycle fatalities over the past decade, the department said.
The plan aims to reduce crashes by 20 percent by 2030 and is part of the Strategic Highway Safety Plan, a requirement for all states under federal law.
Last November, ADOT released a Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment, following a series of meetings. The report, available at https://azdot.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/ADOT-Vulnerable-Road-User-Safety-Assessment_Final-111523.pdf, focused on serious injuries and fatalities rather than the overall number of incidents. According to the findings, 55 percent of cyclists struck by vehicles were hit in intersections. The report outlined strategies to enhance safety, including improving roadway design and increasing awareness among drivers and cyclists.
In the spring, ADOT conducted virtual and in-person hearings and distributed an online survey in 11 languages to gather public input. Participants voiced a strong demand for protected bike lanes and expressed concerns about driver behavior, particularly drivers’ refusal to yield. In response, ADOT is now developing plans targeting specific locations where cyclists and pedestrians interact with state highways.
Read the final Active Transportation Safety Action Plan at https://azdot.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/atsap-final-10-15-24-withappendices.pdf.
During the public comment period, there was also significant interest in better regulation of e-bikes at the state, local, and tribal levels.
For further details on ADOT’s initiatives, visit https://azdot.gov/strategic-highway-safety-plan-shsp-active-transportation-safety-action-plan-atsap.
