A safe place to ride in the Phoenix, Arizona area


Phoenix is wonderful place to ride. Right now, in October as I write this, the weather is just glorious. And if you're tempted to get out there and pedal under those beautiful Arizona skies I encourage you. But I recommend that you find a safe place, and today I'd like to talk about my favorite one, Skunk Creek and the Arizona Diversion Channel.

If you've always spent most of your time traveling around the Phoenix area in a car, you may be saying "huh?" and really that's the point. This is a completely different space from the car world, for good reason. Cars and bicycles don't mix. In fact, it's a deadly mix, so avoid the temptation of riding around the streets, even the quiet neighborhood streets, of the Phoenix area. You're small and vulnerable on a bike, and cars are big and clumsy.

Now calm down there if you think that I'm blaming drivers, or the road designers of Phoenix, I'm not. The roads are wonderful for cars, safe, flat and wide. I've always appreciated excellent engineering, and the roads of Phoenix, including the freeways, are wonderful. But they're no place for bicycles!

Of course if you're one of those suicidal people who insists on bicycling around cars, I won't argue with you. My idea of a pleasant ride in the sunshine doesn't include risking my life because someone in a car looks down at their cell phone, or sneezes. When I do have to ride along a major street I use the sidewalk, and in neighborhood streets I just go slowly, watching carefully. But when I get to the Skunk Creek Trailhead I can relax. It's wonderful.


The trailhead in on 83rd Avenue between Thunderbird Road and Bell, and the smartest and safest thing is to drive there, unload your bike, and go for a ride. There's wonderful pavement for your wheels, and unlike the paths along the canal, the edge is protected with a fence. And here's the best part: you never, ever, have to cross a street - the paths go under the streets.

Put on some sunscreen, take along a bottle of water, and discover a whole new world. I'll see you there, and remember to yield to horses!



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