Bicycle Friendly Communities

Cottonwood, AZ | Bronze Level

Recent bicycling investment: The development of a Bicycle Advisory Committee was Cottonwood's most signifcant investment for bicycling in the past year. The hiring of additional staff to help lead the committee and to oversee implementation of the Bicycle Plan, has enabled the City of Cottonwood to effectively move forward with implementation of several bicycle related projects and programs. With the committee structure now in place, continued implementation of the Bicycle Plan will be more efficient.

Bicycling highlights: The City of Cottonwood offers the most educational opportunities and provides the most bicycle signage in the area, because of the top-down support offered directly from City Council and City Management to actively promote bicycling in the community.
Bicycling in the City of Cottonwood is an effective means of transportation. The density, layout and overall connectivity in the City's street system enables efficient cycling trips. Furthermore, the compatibility with the local transit system makes commuting by bicycle even more appealing and effective for longer distances. The recent and future redevelopment of collectors and the creation of additional "connector" paths will help improve access and connectivity in the bicycle system.
Within 3 months, the Bicycle Advisory Committee developed a plan to build two shared-use "connector" paths in City rights-of-way, which will create vital linkages in the City's bicycle network. Construction began in February 2012 and will be done solely by volunteers and bicycle advocates in the community. Although funding will be requested for bicycle-related programs during the 2012/2013 budget cycle, the bicycle community in Cottonwood is actively showing their support by implementing this project without waiting for financial support.

Percentage of arterial streets with dedicated bicycle facilities: 100%

Bicycling education in 50% elementary schools and 100% middle schools

Signature cycling events: Cyclists participate in the annual christmas parade in order to promote cycling in the area. The Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition has a weekly Friday social ride. Every New Years Day there is a bike ride to usher in the New Year and in May there is a "Ride of Silence" to honor those cyclists who were injured or killed in Arizona in the previous year.

Some coming bicycling improvements: Next year the City would like to install bike racks at all public buildings and expand its inventory of bike route/wayfinding signage and sharrows.