RSSThe mission of Bike Denver is to promote and encourage bicycling as an energy efficient, non-polluting, healthy, and enjoyable transportation alternative within the City and County of Denver.
NEXT MEETING: March 10, 6-7pm, Bicycle Colorado’s office in Union Station, 2nd floor, north wing
ITEMS IN THIS MONTH’S NEWSLETTER:
** BikeDenver Action Plan Update
** Road I Cycling Class and LCI Training
** Save the Date - Bicycle Colorado Gala
** News of the Denver Bicycle Program
** News from the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee
** Another Platte River Trail Construction Site
BIKEDENVER ACTION PLAN FOR 2005
ADVOCACY
BikeDenver is working with the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee to help enforce Denver’s bike parking ordinance in an effort to correct substandard bicycle parking accommodations.
SAFETY EDUCATION
Interest in the upcoming Road I and LCI Training classes has put both events over capacity. BikeDenver and Pikes Peak Area Bikeways Coalition are sponsoring these League of American Bicyclists events hosted by the REI Flagship Store in Denver. For further information, see the news item below.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
As the new season of festivals and events approaches, BikeDenver is once again preparing to provide safe bicycle parking facilities in an effort to encourage more people to choose bikes over cars. We are currently seeking volunteers for bike parking at the Peoples Fair (June 3-5) and for the informational booth at the Cycle Safety Circus (June 18). So volunteer now and always watch for specifics in upcoming newsletters.
WE WILL NEED HELP FROM OUR MEMBERS IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WORK. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON ANY OF THESE PROJECTS, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL MESSAGE TO info@bikedenver.org. INDICATE THE PROJECT(S) YOU ARE WILLING TO HELP WITH AND ENOUGH PERSONAL INFORMATION SO THAT THE LEAD PERSON FOR THAT PROJECT CAN CONTACT YOU.
LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BYCYCLISTS (LAB) ROAD I CLASS AND LCI TRAINING
The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) Road I class will be held on April 9th at the Denver REI Flagship Store starting at 9am. Jesse Birks of BikeDenver will contact those of you who signed up regarding final registration information. David Rapp is coordinating registration for the LAB League Cycling Instructor (LCI) course on May 13-15.
SAVE THE DATE - BICYCLE COLORADO GALA
The Bicycle Colorado Annual Gala Celebration will be held on the evening of April 16th at the Walnut Foundry. It’s going to be a fun one! There will be lots of celebrities, great auction items, and plenty of scrumptious food. The eclectic atmosphere and free parking at the Walnut Foundry is sure to please all.
Pre-Registration is required and space is limited. You can register for up to four people at the same time. Registration is now Open and Live on the Bicycle Colorado Website! Just go to www.Bicyclecolorado.org/to/Gala or call 303-417-1544.
NEWS FROM THE DENVER BICYCLE PROGRAM
The last wooden bridge over the Platte River, about midway between Alameda Avenue and 6th Avenue, is being replaced. During construction, an advisory route for experienced bicyclists has been provided and will be in use until mid-April. The detour diverts trail users across the old 3rd Avenue street bridge, through the Wastewater building site, and then uses local streets to reconnect to the trail adjacent to Alameda Avenue. However, this detour route does not have any sidewalks for pedestrians. The wooden bridge span has been in service for approximately 30 years and is being replaced by a new, steel span with a concrete deck.
Source: James Mackay, Denver Bicycle Program - www.denvergov.org/Bicycle_Program
NEWS FROM THE MAYOR’S BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Construction is presently underway to add another eastbound to northbound left turn lane at Sheridan & Quincy as well as to build a 10 foot concrete bikeway on the north side of Quincy from Sheridan to approximately 1300 feet west. This project is being built using 1989 city bond funds. A subsequent project, which will use transportation enhancement funds, is being planned and designed to continue the bikeway further west to Pierce Street. This project will be built in 2006.
The West Harvard Gulch trail has been partially built adjacent to West South Platte River Drive. Further to the west, on the way to the BNSF railroad corridors, there exists some pristine habitat where unique plants exist. Environmental considerations will influence the final design and alignment of the remainder of this trail connection.
Bike lanes are now in place on Montview Boulevard from Quebec to Yosemite.
The Sand Creek Regional Greenway connects from the Sand Creek confluence with the Platte River in Commerce City to Aurora. This summer there will be another $1.5 million project to construct the final two-mile section of the trail from Monaco to Quebec.  A future project will route the trail under Peoria Street to better connect with Aurora. There is also a desire to better connect with Havana Street. In Commerce City there is significant development shaping up for the Prairie Gateway area, including the new Kroenke soccer stadium for the Colorado Rapids team. But there are access issues at I-270 and Quebec. A bicycle and pedestrian only connection across I-70 is needed.
Source: Draft February minutes of the MBAC, James Mackay, Denver Bicycle Program
ANOTHER PLATTE RIVER TRAIL CONSTRUCTION SITE
There are trail improvements (widening and adding a crusher-fine path) going on into April (depending on weather), between C-470 and the Big Dry Creek Bridge, however, the trail is to remain open throughout construction. When necessary, there are supposed to be detour signs for bike path users. Any problems encountered should be referred to South Suburban Parks & Rec.
NEWS FROM BICYCLE COLORADO
HB 1218 passes House vote!
The bill passed the House today on a 41 to 21 (3 absent) vote. Thanks to each and every person who contacted their Representative this week. Those calls were needed as the factions against bicycling and road safety were out in full force. The bill now moves to the Senate. Senator Ron Tupa (D-Boulder) is the sponsor and will take up the charge there. Follow all the latest happenings, votes, and press coverage at www.BicycleColorado.org/for/BicycleSafety.
Central City Parkway
Central City has yet to reverse the City Council’s decision to ban bicycles on the new Central City Parkway connecting the town with I-70 at Hidden Valley. The road is constructed with eight foot paved shoulders that allow safe use by bicyclists. Amazingly the Central City Parkway’s website touts, “This important parkway has been designed to accommodate every type of visitor to the Central City area.” Our hope is that Colorado citizens and tourists who bicycle are welcome visitors too. Thanks to Bike Jeffco and Team Evergreen for helping connect with Central City decision makers and opening conversations to address their concerns and perceptions with the goal of convincing the City Council to overturn the bike ban.
Source: Bicycle Colorado - www.bicyclecolorado.org
BUILD THE BIKEWAY UPDATE
This project is currently at the draft EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) stage. There are several packages of transportation alternatives in this stage and each one currently includes the Denver-Boulder Bikeway! CDOT and RTD are currently reviewing the various packages and will select one of them as the preferred alternative.
By linking existing trails together a safe, direct, continuous, and popular bikeway will be formed that stretches from Denver’s Union Station to Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall. It will form the backbone of a bicycle network linking communities throughout the corridor and provide better bike access to RTD transit stations.
Source: Neal Lurie, Director, Build the Bikeway
CYCLE CIRCUS
The Metro Denver Cycle Safety Circus for Kids event will be held on June 18th at the Pepsi Center. This event is a program of the Brain Injury Association of Colorado. Helmets will be available for children and parents for a small donation. As it is important that cyclists wear properly fitting helmets, Denver Health Paramedics and Eagle Scouts will fit them at the circus. REI will conduct bike safety checks. Children are invited to bring along their bikes to have them checked out, and then ride in the Denver Police Department’s Safety Village.
A circus will also be held at the Boulder Outlook Hotel on Sunday, June 19th.
More information. Lynn Chambers, Dir. of Circus Programs, 303-355-9969 ext. 4 or lynnchambe@aol.com
POSITION AVAILABLE
Thunderhead Alliance has just issued a job announcement for a Member Resources Manager. The person in this position will work closely with Thunderhead’s Executive Director to develop our personal training program, coordinate trainers, and > increase our resources and productivity of our programs for our members.
Applications close June 15th. For complete details and application instructions, contact:
Sue Knaup, Executive Director
Thunderhead Alliance
P.O. Box 3309
Prescott, AZ 86302
928-541-9841
UPCOMING EVENTS - ADVANCE-PLANNING CALENDER
March 14-15
National Bike Summit
Washington, D.C.
www.bikeleague.org/events/summit05.html
April 6-7
24 Hours of Washington D.C.
International Mountain Bicycling Association
www.imba.com/resources/washington_dc/24_hours_dc.html
April 9
League of American Bicyclists (LAB) Road I class
BikeDenver and Pikes Peak Area Bikeways Coalition
REI Flagship Store in Denver
www.bikedenver.org
April 16
Gala Celebration & Auction
Bicycle Colorado
Walnut Foundry, 3002 Walnut Street, Denver
www.bicyclecolo.org
April 29 - May 7
Fruita Fat Tire Festival
www.fruitamountainbike.com
Fruita, CO
May 14-15
League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor (LCI) Training
BikeDenver and Pikes Peak Area Bikeways Coalition
Denver
www.bikedenver.org
May 15
Community Classic Bike Tour
www.tccbt.com
Loveland, CO
May 15
Santa Fe Century
www.santafecentury.com
Santa Fe, NM
June 5
Elephant Rock Century
www.elephantrockride.com
Castle Rock, CO
June 11
Tour de Cure
www.diabetes.org
Loveland, CO
June 18
Cycle Safety Circus for Kids
Brain Injury Association of Colorado
Pepsi Center parking lot, Denver, CO
June 19 - 25
Ride the Rockies
www.ridetherockies.com
The Denver Post
June 22
Bike to Work Day
www.biketowork.com
Various CO cities and towns
MEMBERSHIP IN BIKEDENVER means:
1. We have your email address. We send you action alerts and a monthly newsletter.
2. You act on BikeDenver action items, as you feel willing and able.
3. You recruit other bicyclists to join BikeDenver. Membership is FREE!!!
To join BikeDenver send an email to info@bikedenver.org and write “subscribe” in the subject.
