Paint isn’t enough; Queen Creek needs protected bikeways

Nate Hunt

Submitted photo/Lola Hunt

Council

Queen Creek sets new goals with strategic plan

From 2,500 residents in 1990 to nearly 90,000 today, we know that Queen Creek is no longer a small country town. Yet, we still want country comfort alongside city convenience, but don’t build our infrastructure for convenient and safe mobility.

With most of our workforce commuting out of town, $200 million invested over the past decade and congestion remaining the top resident complaint, it is clear that we cannot pave our way out of traffic troubles.

Queen Creek's general plan promises a “multimodal transportation system,” but in reality, cars are the only practical mode.

Sure, road projects include bike lanes that are just a strip of white paint next to cars speeding by at 50 mph. Paint is not protection. It does not stop a distracted driver. It does not keep bikers safe from potential harm. Thus, it does not extend the freedom of mobility to those who can’t drive.

Ask yourself: Would you feel safe with your child biking on these lanes? If the answer is no, then our transportation system is wholly insufficient.

As long as our “network” consists of scary shoulders on high-speed arterials, residents will continue to drive, even for short trips, further clogging our roads. The solution? Prioritizing physically separated, practically protected cycling infrastructure when selecting and designing transportation projects, and planning for functional mobility, not just recreational riding.

We must pivot away from eternally adding lanes and instead work to separate cyclists with curbs or bollards, fostering a bikeable environment. We have the space, we have the budget; we just need the political momentum.

If we want a truly livable town, our bikeways must be suitable for all residents on any number of wheels. We have the policy on paper; it's time to put it into practice on our pavement.

Nate Hunt is a lifelong Queen Creek resident pursuing a degree in sustainability and urban planning at Arizona State University. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.