News Flash: Anarchist-Hippie Dunbar Spring bicyclists fight Tucson highway developers to a standstill!
I was so proud to be a Tucson bicyclist last night! Lots and lots of people showed up at a public hearing over the proposed new highway that will cut through downtown, linking Aviation Hwy (eventually) with I-10. The Dunbar Spring neighborhood (where BICAS is) really organized on this one, and turned out dozens and dozens of people who spoke out against the highway and for bicycles. Bicycles and bicycling came up repeatedly.
In the end, the committee decided to table the vote on the new highway and study other alternatives for three months. This never would have happened without the Dunbar Spring residents’ organizing efforts. That highway would have been approved if it hadn’t been for the many folks who showed up and spoke out.
I got there late after a tough day of lawyering and sat next to my friend Dwight. He turned to me and said, “oh, by the way, I signed you up to speak.” Then as I looked at him in horror he said, “and you’re pretty far up on the list so you should probably prepare something right away.”
What are friends for!
–Erik Ryberg