Meggen Connolley, founder of Bisbee Bikeways, is proving that one woman from a small desert town can take on outdated systems—and win. Since 2018, Connolley has led a one-woman charge to create a safer, more connected Bisbee by advocating for shared-use paths in a community where car culture and motor-normativity have long dominated.
With no institutional financial support from local agencies, Connolley built a movement from scratch—relying on grassroots partnerships, grant funding, and the support of neighbors who believe in a healthier, more walkable future. She spearheaded the 27-mile Bisbee Area Master Mobility Plan, connecting all four neighborhoods of Bisbee with neighboring Naco. The City of Bisbee has formally adopted the plan, and Cochise County is actively involved in the initiative.
Like many rural communities, Bisbee is connected primarily by state highways. However, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) does not currently include pedestrian or bicycle pathways as part of its standard infrastructure. This gap leaves small towns with few safe, active transportation options—one of the very challenges Connolley set out to solve……read full story (online subscribers only)