To see the draft Bisbee Area Mobility Master Plan, and leave comments go to the link below and then email Christine McLachlan the County Planner working on the Plan at [email protected].  Please cc us on your email so we stay in tune with the community’s needs and desires at [email protected]. https://www.cochise.az.gov/sites/default/files/development_services/BAMMP_web1.pdf

Below is our response to the draft Plan:

Bisbee Bikeways has reviewed the DRAFT Bisbee Area Mobility Master Plan that is posted on the Cochise County website for public input. Bisbee Bikeways is very happy that a draft BAMMP has been completed. The efforts that the City and the County are taking to help make this plan a reality are very much appreciated. The document has a professional look and Bisbee Bikeways Board members feel enthusiastic about the many good ideas expressed, and that the Bisbee Bikeways concept map was almost fully incorporated into the Plan. However, Bisbee Bikeways considers this a preliminary draft that requires further development. We understand that a relatively small budget has been allocated for this Plan, and so in order to create a more robust Plan, we offer our dedicated time and energy free of charge to the City and County.

Background Information: The Plan could be improved by adding additional background information on how this plan came to fruition, and why it is important to area residents. We believe it is important for the motivation behind this plan to be clearly expressed and for the text to reflect aspirations of the City and County, and the values of the community. Similar to aspirational text that is often found in Master Plans, and a value that makes Bisbee a vibrant community, and that will strengthen governance in Bisbee and Cochise County is public participation. Thus, all sections, but especially the background and introduction, would be improved by acknowledging the value of public participation and the contributions of community organizations like Bisbee Bikeways and Bisbee residents. 

Goals/ Conditions: The Plan could be improved by providing information regarding what actually exists now, how rough or undeveloped that current status is, what would be required to make additional connections, what could be prioritized for completion with available resources or modest additional funds, and what will require substantial additional funding, acquisition, and development. Also, it is important to provide information on grants and funding options available. Such information is needed, to provide stakeholders and the public with adequate information to contribute to future discussions on the implementation of the Plan. Some portions of the recommendations made in the BAMMP are closer to implementation than others and this is not clear. This is the most important part of the BAMMP. 

Public Outreach: The outreach section must be improved for a more robust plan. To our knowledge, the electronic survey was posted in the library newsletter, for 14 days. This is not enough public outreach. How many respondents were there, out of how many residents? Bisbee Bikeways can contribute to this section with the results of the Spanish survey posted on our website, as well as reference to the focus group BB led. In addition, BB has collected 43 letters of support from the public and area stakeholders that can be referenced. Further outreach like intercept surveys and focus groups (using social distancing methods) can make this a more informed and robust plan. The goals/ timeline of the plan should reflect the values of the residents and of City and County governments. Recommendations based on the desires of the public would inspire residents to rally around, and community organizations to contribute to, through fundraising and grant-writing efforts.

In conclusion, three main areas could be improved to make this a more effective plan: background information, goals and conditions, and public outreach.

Meggen Connolley and Sarah Meggison would like to set up a meeting on behalf of the Bisbee Bikeways board to discuss this further. Please let us know when you are available and we will do our best to schedule around your availability.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Bisbee Bikeways Board Members: Stephanie Peavey, Gregg Garfin, Sarah Meggison, Eric Meyer and Meggen Connolley