Tony Geiger spoke after Lt. Scott finished. He said Bike Week is getting out of control. He has lived in Carefree, off of Cave Creek Road, for 20 years, and Bike Week has grown every year. There are too many bikes for the size of this community. There are repeated noise violations, with loud bikes on Cave Creek Road and on Tom Darlington Drive until 2-3 AM on both weekends.
Tony Geiger
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
There is dangerous behavior and overcrowding on the streets, with traffic fatalities every year. This year there was one on Carefree Highway around 7th Ave. In Mr. Geiger's opinion, this event has become a threat to the health, safety, and welfare to the citizens of Carefree. Something needs to be done to slow this down so we don't become another Sturgis.
So far, the leadership of Cave Creek has been unwilling to do anything, and in fact, has encouraged growth by closing down 2 lanes of traffic on Cave Creek Road for additional bike parking. To answer Councilman Hatcher's question, back during the big recession Cave Creek marketed this area for bikers. There was a quote to this effect from the Cave Creek Mayor in the CitySunTimes.
There are a lot of people in Cave Creek who are not happy about how this has gotten so big and out of control. There are lots of editorials in the Sonoran News. The owner/editor of the Sonoran News, has asked for candidates to recall the Mayor and enough Council members to have the votes to overturn what's going on with this event.
In the latest edition of the CitySunTimes, Mayor Bunch said, "I know it is inconvenient to our residents and some of the behavior is not what we would wish for our town, but as long as nothing illegal is taking place, the broadness of the 1st Amendment takes precedence". Mr. Geiger would argue that the massive number of people riding motorcycles after spending the afternoon or evening drinking in the bars holds the potential for DUIs to occur.
Mr. Geiger stated this cannot continue as it is or it will only get worse. Bike Week has a huge negative impact on Carefree citizens' quality of life. It is a truly dangerous situation, and presents a threat to our town's health, safety, and welfare. "Who will be held liable when one of our residents is killed as a result of an accident connected to Bike Week?"
He appreciated MCSO's efforts and asked if the Town can set up DUI checkpoints on those Friday and Saturday nights, since no one can get to Cave Creek without going through Carefree. If people know they will have to go through DUI checkpoints it will cut down on the drinking, improve safety, and will probably reduce the crowds. "Thank you."
Mayor Les Peterson said they have discussed DUI checkpoints with MCSO and it is still on the table, although it causes a lot of problems for MCSO. But the Town would like to continue those discussions.
John Traynor followed Tony Geiger, agreeing with him but saying he rode a bike for 30 years back east and understands the challenges faced by bikers. But he also respects the laws. He knows the effect of 2 beers when he gets on a bike. It has an undeniable impact, even if it's not over the legal limit.
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
There is dangerous behavior and overcrowding on the streets, with traffic fatalities every year. This year there was one on Carefree Highway around 7th Ave. In Mr. Geiger's opinion, this event has become a threat to the health, safety, and welfare to the citizens of Carefree. Something needs to be done to slow this down so we don't become another Sturgis.
So far, the leadership of Cave Creek has been unwilling to do anything, and in fact, has encouraged growth by closing down 2 lanes of traffic on Cave Creek Road for additional bike parking. To answer Councilman Hatcher's question, back during the big recession Cave Creek marketed this area for bikers. There was a quote to this effect from the Cave Creek Mayor in the CitySunTimes.
There are a lot of people in Cave Creek who are not happy about how this has gotten so big and out of control. There are lots of editorials in the Sonoran News. The owner/editor of the Sonoran News, has asked for candidates to recall the Mayor and enough Council members to have the votes to overturn what's going on with this event.
In the latest edition of the CitySunTimes, Mayor Bunch said, "I know it is inconvenient to our residents and some of the behavior is not what we would wish for our town, but as long as nothing illegal is taking place, the broadness of the 1st Amendment takes precedence". Mr. Geiger would argue that the massive number of people riding motorcycles after spending the afternoon or evening drinking in the bars holds the potential for DUIs to occur.
Mr. Geiger stated this cannot continue as it is or it will only get worse. Bike Week has a huge negative impact on Carefree citizens' quality of life. It is a truly dangerous situation, and presents a threat to our town's health, safety, and welfare. "Who will be held liable when one of our residents is killed as a result of an accident connected to Bike Week?"
He appreciated MCSO's efforts and asked if the Town can set up DUI checkpoints on those Friday and Saturday nights, since no one can get to Cave Creek without going through Carefree. If people know they will have to go through DUI checkpoints it will cut down on the drinking, improve safety, and will probably reduce the crowds. "Thank you."
Mayor Les Peterson said they have discussed DUI checkpoints with MCSO and it is still on the table, although it causes a lot of problems for MCSO. But the Town would like to continue those discussions.
John Traynor followed Tony Geiger, agreeing with him but saying he rode a bike for 30 years back east and understands the challenges faced by bikers. But he also respects the laws. He knows the effect of 2 beers when he gets on a bike. It has an undeniable impact, even if it's not over the legal limit.
John Traynor
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
A military presence can be put in Cave Creek or at the Carefree entry points and people will not cause a struggle because of that presence. However, he lives on the extreme east side of town and others live on the extreme west end. They may be able to lock down the corridor in Cave Creek and keep people orderly, but at 3 AM when a handful of bikes go through the stop sign at Pima and Cave Creek Roads, it jars him out of bed. He suggested Carefree host a joint session with MCSO, Cave Creek, and citizens before Bike Week to get collective input and ideas. He said there would be "a lot of pissing and moaning" but ideas could come out of it.
Councilman Stephen Hatcher asked if the driver for the Cave Creek Council is the financial benefits of this event. Are the business owners pushing hard for it? Vice Mayor John Crane replied, "What really matters is the impact that they have on us, which is negative. It's really negative." Mr. Hatcher agreed. "It's terrible." Mayor Peterson said all the major entries come through Carefree, so that makes it our issue.
https://vimeo.com/335298490
During Call to the Public, Mr. Traynor spoke on 3 topics.
1. "HB 2721, term limits statewide for elected officials. Much to our dismay, the Mayor and other folks made it a mission to contact legislators to try to kill it. Luckily for the town and other towns in the state, people of character approved it, so we'll go forward with a new agenda."
2. He looked at the budget and was astounded by the marketing budget.
3. He saw a lot of email about the water situation. "We're burning up the email lines with very pointed and negative comments about a fellow community, and from what I've understood so far, that community has followed legal guidelines, and in some cases apparently we have not". Mr. Traynor suggested that instead of "name calling", Carefree should disclose the results of the engineering study that Council members received months ago to the remaining 80% of the population, so all have the same information, not "selective people". A Freedom of Information request was denied. A response from the Town attorney is due. He wants detailed information.
https://vimeo.com/335285400
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
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