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: July 14, 6-7pm, Bicycle Colorado’s office, Room 236 in Union Station
VOLUNTEERS GET FREE FOOD AND DRINKS
All it takes is a mere 3 hours of your time to help with either parking bikes or working at our booth to distribute literature and sign up new members.
This will be our 5th year providing bicycle parking for festivals and events. We’re looking forward to providing better services for both our parking patrons and BikeDenver volunteers. Food & beverages will be provided for our volunteers at all events this year. As always, Taste of Colorado supplies our volunteers with their food/beverage coupons. We plan to finish the season with a fun volunteer appreciation dinner at HandleBar & Grill.
So volunteer now by sending your name and phone number to: bikeparking@bikedenver.org.
ITEMS IN THIS MONTH’S NEWSLETTER:
** BikeDenver Action Plan Update
** Denver’s Drop To Bronze Level
** Cyclists NOT Allowed on US Hwy #6
** BikeDenver Surveys BTWD Cyclists
** Summer Ski Train Special for Members
** News from the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee
** Road Biking Colorado Author To Speak
BIKEDENVER ACTION PLAN FOR 2005
ADVOCACY
On Tuesday, David Rapp, President of BikeDenver, spoke at the monthly meeting to the RTD Board of Directors asking them to reinstate the bicycle/pedestrian bridges over I-25. These bridges, cited in the April 8, 2004 Summary of Bicycle Elements in the FasTracks Plan, would have provided essential access to the new University and Colorado light rail stations. BikeDenver is working with other bicycle/pedestrian advocacy groups and local government to see that these bridges are built.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
We are currently seeking volunteers for bike parking at the Taste of Colorado, the big 4-day event held at Denver’s Civic Center. BikeDenver will again be providing two secure bicycle parking facilities in an effort to encourage more people ride their bikes to the festival. SO VOLUNTEER NOW. Send an email with your name and phone number to: bikeparking@bikedenver.org.
In addition, BikeDenver continues to inventory areas where bicycle parking accommodations are either non-existent, inadequate, or not up to City standards. Send your nominations for worst example of bike parking to info@BikeDenver.org. Pictures are helpful.
DENVER’S DROP TO BRONZE LEVEL
News of Denver’s drop by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) to the Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community from their previous Silver level has generated considerable attention by the press and concerned advocacy groups.
According to Bicycle Colorado, at last week’s Bike to Work Day celebration, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper acknowledged, “The drop has happened on my watch and I am not going to stand for it.”
BikeDenver is committed to working with Mayor Hickenlooper, RTD, CDOT, DRCOG, Bicycle Colorado and other advocacy organizations to reverse the trend. Once the specific reasons for the downgrade are obtained from LAB, BikeDenver will take part in recommending to the mayor a goal of either the gold or platinum level and then help develop timelines to achieve his goal.
CYCLISTS NOT ALLOWED ON US HWY #6
Even though construction activity due to the recent rockslide has closed Clear Creek Canyon, it has been stated in the press that the road was open to recreational use, including cyclists. However, a number of cyclists were turned away from using the canyon recently.
Asked about this, CDOT replied:
“The canyon has been opened up on the Golden side only to mile marker 262.5 for recreational traffic that was previously allowed in the canyon which excludes cyclists. Bicycles have never had access to the canyon even when the roadway was open. The other recreational traffic is allowed until 7 pm each day.”
BIKEDENVER SURVEYS BTWD CYCLISTS
Over 125 cyclists completed a short questionnaire about their Denver cycling experiences while visiting the BikeDenver table during the Bike to Work Day festivities. The results of that survey will be used to guide our advocacy efforts in the coming year and will be reported in a future issue of this newsletter.
SUMMER SKI TRAIN SPECIAL FOR BIKEDENVER MEMBERS
The Ski Train is offering a special adult coach fare of only $39 for Bike Denver members as well as their friends and family. Children and seniors are just $34. To make your reservations call 303-296-4754 and mention this promotion or book online at www.skitrain.com. Just make sure you put BIKE DENVER in the comments field to receive this great rate! Bike transport on the train is FREE!
NEWS FROM THE MAYOR’S BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Downtown Multimodal Access Plan (DMAP)
As part of the FasTracks initiative, there is a need for an additional downtown bus circulator. Currently, 18th and 19th Streets are being looked at for the new RTD bus service. However, as there are now bike lanes on 18th and 19th Streets, many questions remain about how these bike lanes might be preserved or relocated within the streets. This could include keeping them in place, creating a shared bus/bike lane, moving the bike lanes to the left side of the street and/or possibly even removing on-street parking. The committee will write a letter to the Mayor in support of the complete streets vision in DMAP but identify the need to work out the details. A copy will be sent to RTD.
Route D-9 connection across the St. Charles Recreation Center
The Northeast/Northwest Neighborhood bicycle connection initiative was part of the 1989 bond program. A consultant study of this area recommended that the Cole and Clayton neighborhoods have a connection to the Platte River Trail. After considering a number of alternative approaches and routes across the UP railroad corridor, the decision was made to upgrade the existing 38th St. underpass. This connection is documented in the 2001 Bicycle Master Plan update and includes building a trail across the St. Charles Rec. Center site.
The 38th St. underpass has been upgraded to provide an ADA compliant profile sidewalk, widened from the original 1920’s sidewalk, with railings, lighting, etc. This is signed as bike route D-9, but ends at 38th St. & Marion at the St. Charles Recreation Center. Currently, there is resistance on the part of the Parks Department to allow the trail across St. Charles and a public meeting is planned to help resolve the issue with community input. The MBAC voted to send a letter to Mayor Hickenlooper and Kim Bailey, Manager of Parks, requesting action on construction of the trail.
Source: Draft minutes of the June MBAC meeting., James Mackay, Denver Bicycle Program
NEWS FROM BICYCLE COLORADO
GOVERNOR SIGNS BICYCLE SAFETY BILL
Governor Owens has signed the Bicycle Safety Bill which officially makes it law in Colorado effective July 1, 2005! Thanks to the thousands of folks who called and emailed their elected officials.
The new law protects bicyclists in four ways. Bicyclists may now legally:
1. Ride side-by-side if not impeding traffic
2. Ride across roads in safety crosswalks (obeying signals and traffic devices)
3. Signal right-hand turns with a bent left arm -OR- extended right arm
4. Now all law enforcement agencies are required to file a bicycle injury crash report upon request, even if a car was not involved (to better track bicycling statistics which determine road safety improvement projects).
Go to www.BicycleColorado.org/for/BicycleSafety for safety tips regarding these new laws.
RTD ALLOWS BIKES ON LIGHT RAIL
Since the opening of Denver’s first light rail line, bikes have been banned during peak times when, like other transit riders, bicyclists are most likely to want to ride the train. Bicycle Colorado has had a longstanding request for RTD to install bike hooks inside the cars and allow bicycle access during desired commute times.
Without adopting key recommendations from the bicycle community, RTD has started a pilot program wherein bikes will be allowed at all times on all trains on a space-available basis now through September 30, 2005. Bicyclists are still forced to stand balancing their bikes in the aisle using only the end of the cars. Bicyclists must also get a valid “Light Rail Bike Permit” by passing a test at www.rtd-denver.com, click on “Special Rides” button on the left side of the page.
We urge bicyclists participating in this pilot program to be extremely courteous to other transit riders and to follow all RTD guidelines for bikes on trains.
Source: Bicycle Colorado - www.bicyclecolorado.org
ROAD BIKING COLORADO AUTHOR TO SPEAK
Road Biking Colorado author Michael Seeberg will be at the Highlands Ranch Library for a slide presentation and book signing on Thursday, July 7th from 6-8 p.m. The event will be free. Sign-ups are suggested and can be made by calling the Library at: 303.791.7703.
UPCOMING EVENTS - ADVANCE-PLANNING CALENDER
June 26 - July 2
Bicycle Tour of Colorado
www.bicycletourcolorado.com
Aspen, CO
July 9
Triple Bypass
www.teamevergreen.com
Bergen Park, CO
July 9-10
Great West MS 150 Bike Tour
www.goforthegorge.com
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
July 16 - 18
Courage Classic
www.couragetours.com
Copper Mountain, CO
July 23
Bob Cook Memorial Mount Evans Hill Climb
www.bicyclerace.com
Idaho Springs to Mount Evans, CO
August 12-13
Kent Eriksen Tour de Steamboat
www.routtcountyriders.org
Steamboat, CO
August 20
Moonlight Classic
www.moonlight-classic.com
State Capital, Denver, CO
August 28
Tour of the Valley
www.discoverourtown.com
Grand Junction, CO
August 28
Griffith Centers for Children’s 12th Annual Road Ramble
www.roadramble.com
Larkspur, CO
September 11
2005 Buffalo Bicycle Classic
www.buffalobicycleclassic.com
CU Boulder, CO.
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.
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