Bicycling is only for kids and losers, right? This article examines the cultural associations related to bicycling. There’s also a link within the article to a series by the same author called “Bicycle Neglect.” Worth a read and worth examining if we want to change attitudes in the U.S. toward bicycling.

All,

It’s time to let your voice be heard about the Colorado bike/ped bridge being dropped. Please submit a comment in support of the bridge.

We’re working with City Council and with other advocates to get this project back on the ballot in November and need you to let your voice be heard.

Thanks!

Read the editorial here.

For those of you who aren’t aware, the City of Denver is proposing a bond issue to the tune of $550 million to address infrastructure and maintenance needs in the City. An Infrastructure Priority Task Force was assembled to create a list of projects to be funded by this money. Once the list was whittled down, one bicycle project remained: the bike/ped bridge over I-25 at the Colorado Center light rail station. This project was included in both the T-Rex and FasTracks plans and were removed at the 11th hour. Recently, the list was trimmed again and the bridge was eliminated from the list.

BikeDenver needs your help on this issue! The City Council Finance Committee is the next group to take action on this. Their meeting is scheduled for 8/1 at 1:30pm. At that time, they will make a recommendation to bring to the entire City Council. The Finance Committee members are: Faatz, Boigon, Brown, Lehmann, and Robb. Please contact your City Councilperson and urge them to reconsider. If you don’t know who your City Councilperson is, you can enter your address and find out here. Links to Council’s web pages are here.

If you are unsure of what to write, we have put together a form letter for you to send to your Councilperson. You can copy verbatim or add your own edits. Be sure to copy the at-large Council members Linkhart (linkhartatlarge@ci.denver.co.us) and Boigon, (carol.boigon@denvergov.org) as well as Mayor Hickenlooper (MileHighMayor@ci.denver.co.us). Let them hear from the bicycling community!

The text follows:

Subject: Infrastructure Priorities Task Force List

Dear Councilperson (insert name here),

It has recently come to my attention that the lone bicycle-related
Project on the Infrastructure Priorities Task Force’s list has been cut in the final recommendations provided to Council. As a cyclist in Denver, I am disappointed to see that the Colorado Light Rail bridge, which provides a critical bicycle and pedestrian connection, was removed from consideration.

This bridge is key in connecting the neighborhoods on both sides of
I-25 to the Colorado light rail station and provides an important north-south connection for cyclists. Supporting cycling by funding this project follows the directives of Greenprint Denver which aspires to complete transportation connections that support multi-modal transportation options for more of Denver’s citizens.

This is not the first time that the Colorado light rail station bike/ped bridge was recommended for funding and then removed. This project was originally included in the T-Rex plan and the FasTracks proposal and removed at the 11th hour. I urge the City Council not to let this happen again.

Please reconsider the final selection of bond projects for the upcoming November ballot by including this much needed improvement.

Sincerely,

John Q. Citizen

CC: Councilman At-Large Doug Linkhart
Councilwoman At-Large Carol Boigon
Mayor John Hickenlooper

Enter your address and get a walkability score as determined by proximity to shopping, schools, parks and other amenities. My neighborhood didn’t do as well as I thought it would. If you’re thinking of relocating, this may be the tool for you.

Watch it.

The Urban Assault Raceâ„¢ is a combination of an Adventure Race, Scavenger Hunt and Bike Race. Mental muscle is just as important as ripped quads - teams of 2 choose their own course to checkpoints around the city. The race is well-known for its checkpoints where fun physical and mental challenges must be completed before moving on. Some checkpoints are listed prior to the race, others must be found during the race.

Racers can be ages 7 – 100…anybody can do it! Male, Female, and Co-ed Teams will ride a total distance of 25-35 miles. Family Teams (requiring one racer to be 7-12 years old) will ride around 15-20 miles.

The first team to complete all the checkpoint and return to Start/Finish wins the race! Then the party begins!

It is “The most fun you will ever have on a bike”!

Want to help BikeDenver in our sponsorship of the event? Find out about volunteering and sign up now!

When might we see something similar in Denver?

With all of the talk surrounding “green” topics like conservation, recycling, and reducing oil consumption, we should look to the WWII generation for a living illustration of these very concepts. This article from the Sierra Club outlines the conservation efforts that took place during that time. It’s definitely possible, but are we willing to do it circa 2007?