Please contact your senator about SB09-148, Brophy-Merrifield. This will put teeth into the law that requires motor vehicles to allow at least 3 feet when passing cyclists.
It is essential that we make ourselves heard as similar bills have been shot down in the past
by the trucking lobby.
Follow this link to find your Senator’s contact info.

http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/CLICS2009A/csl.nsf/directory?openframeset

Attention BikeDenver members, subscribers and friends:
The Colorado State House is considering House Bill #1094 which
will prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Hands-free devices
will be allowed. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Claire Levy, Boulder.
I encourage you to contact your state representatives. Several of the local bicycle
advocacy groups are supporting this bill after a 9 year-old was killed last
fall while cycling in a designated bike lane in Ft. Collins. Many of you
remember the tragedy from several years ago when a text-messaging driver
killed a cyclist in Highlands Ranch. “I know that in my experience, the closest calls
that I have while riding in traffic are with distracted drivers, usually on the phone,” claims BikeDenver board member, Robert Clark.
Let’s join forces and contact our representatives now!

See the link below for contact information.

http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/CLICS2009A/csl.nsf/directory?openframeset

BikeDenver’s inaugural bike education course, called Traffic Skills 101, concluded on Wednesday, January 21 with 13 participants successfully graduating from the nine-hour course. Designed to give cyclists the tools to ride confidently and safely in urban traffic, Traffic Skills 101 was separated into three 3-hour sessions and taught by League Cycling Instructors Eric Bunch, Tracy Halasinski and Robert Clark. The course was held in the Webb Municipal Building.

“I really enjoyed the class,” said Cindy Bosco of the Mayor’s office and Greenprint Denver.

Another student added, “It helps dispel common myths about safety, improves confidence and encourages cycling.”

Cindy Bosco practices on-bike safety drills

Based on League of American Bicyclists (LAB) curriculum, the course related basic traffic principles to cycling in consideration of Colorado and Denver bicycling statutes. Additionally, in the classroom, students learned practical aspects of vehicular cycling, safe roadway positioning and how to approach bike lanes.

On-bike drills challenged the cyclists to learn new ways to avoid common dangers. In the safety of the Webb Building parking garage, students practiced drills called The Rock Dodge, Quick Turn and Emergency Stop and honed their scanning and signaling skills.

Students receive instruction on how to practice their drills
“The on-bike exercises were really helpful and fun,” one student responded on the course feedback form. “You never really practice those skills that could really help avoid accidents.”

Class participants also learned the nuances of crash statistics, types of crashes and practical crash avoidance techniques. On the final night students donned reflective vests and blinking lights for a night ride through downtown. Despite being scheduled in January, the weather proved to be extremely inviting for the final session’s road ride.

As a result of passing the course, each student is now eligible to participate in further training or to become League Certified Instructors (LCI). BikeDenver plans to host an LCI seminar this spring to certify more instructors to lead future programming.

Traffic Skills 101 is part of a larger education program called Smart Cycling, which is soon to be expanded by BikeDenver. The Traffic Skills 101 pilot was funded in part by a grant from the Downtown Denver Partnership.

Those interested in becoming a League Cycling Instructors or those interested in future programming should contact Eric Bunch at bunche@gmail.com or 573.701.2492.

For more photos of the event visit: http://picasaweb.google.com/bikedenverevents/20090109SmartCyclingJan09?feat=email#5290130397872204114

Hickenlooper Joins with Civic, Business Partners
To Announce Citywide Bicycle Sharing Program
Employee Program To Expand Citywide this Summer

DENVER — Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 — Mayor John Hickenlooper and several community partners today announced plans for a citywide bike sharing program – Denver B-Cycle – that will make 500 bikes available to the public at 30 to 40 stations throughout the city beginning this summer. Denver will be one of the first cities nationwide to launch such a comprehensive, bike sharing program, which will be funded initially with a $1 million donation from the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee.

“The positive feedback we received from the bike sharing program during the 2008 Democratic National Convention was remarkable,” Hickenlooper said. “We are confident Denver B-cycle will prove equally popular while improving our fitness levels and our environment. Our 358 miles of bike routes and trails combined with our 300 days of sunshine make Denver the perfect city in which to launch this citywide bike sharing system.”

At today’s announcement, the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee presented a $1 million check to Denver Bike Sharing, the nonprofit that will manage the citywide bike-sharing program. “On behalf of the Executive Committee, we are pleased to be able to support the launch of a citywide bike sharing program,” said Elbra Wedgeworth, president of the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee. “It’s an honor to help create such a meaningful legacy that will benefit the residents of Denver for many years to come.”

“This funding ensures a strong start to our citywide bike sharing program, and we are tremendously grateful to the Host Committee for their generosity and their vision,” Hickenlooper said.

The B-Cycle Citywide Bike Sharing Program will focus initially on the downtown Denver business district, University of Denver campus and adjacent neighborhoods. The bike stations will be situated in a 3- to 4-mile radius of downtown Denver and integrated with the existing multi-modal transit system, including the 16th Street Mall, Denver’s Union Station, Market Street Station and FasTracks. The program is expected to double in size to more than 1,000 bikes by Spring 2010.

Also today, Mayor Hickenlooper launched the Denver B-Cycle City Employee Bike Loaner Program, which will serve as a pilot program to the citywide bike sharing system. The employee project allows City employees to check out bicycles at the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Building for business or recreational use. The Denver B-cycle bike loaner pilot program provides an alternative transportation system that enables City employees to lead by example, supporting the goals of Greenprint Denver, the Living Streets Initiative and Denver’s Strategic Transportation Plan. Denver B-Cycle will establish an efficient, diverse and accessible transportation system that reduces traffic congestion, saves energy, improves air quality and encourages healthy routines.

Humana Inc. donated 30 bikes to the City as a legacy from the highly successful 2008 Democratic National Convention bicycle share program, as well as bike stations and wireless access cards. Any City and County of Denver employee can view an online safety training presentation, sign a user agreement, and then check out a bike. Bikes must be returned to the same location by 10 a.m. the following business day.

Bicycle Village will provide bike maintenance services at no charge during the City Employee Bike Loaner Pilot Program. Many City agencies have also provided administrative support, supplies, safety equipment and maintenance to the program, including: Public Works, the Office of Economic Development, General Services’ Facilities Management, Denver Parks and Recreation, Environmental Health, Community Planning & Development, Denver’s Marketing Office, and Greenprint Denver.

Denver continues to make great strides in improving infrastructure for safe cycling. As the City implements the innovative Strategic Transportation Plan it completed last October, bike sharing will be integrated into the larger multi-modal transportation system, including buses and light rail, making Denver one of the most accessible downtown areas of any city in the U.S. Bike Sharing will support the long-term vision of Denver as a bicycle-friendly city and the use of bicycles as a meaningful transportation choice.

As part of the bicycling infrastructure improvements, the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District announced it has approved $50,000 for bicycle parking projects in the downtown area. This will include the installation of 75 to 100 racks, as well as matching funds for property owners that improve the bicycle parking facilities for their respective properties.

“We are excited to see the legacy of the bike sharing program that was so successful during the 2008 Democratic National Convention,” said Tamara Door, president & CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “As part of the 2007 Downtown Area Plan, we are committed to developing and improving downtown bicycle parking. This is an important step toward making Denver one of the top bicycle cities in the country.”

This is a lengthy article; bottom line is make some noise, find someone to talk to, and help get people working to build a better infrastructure for those of us who use two feet.

From Thunderhead Alliance’s President, Jeff Miller:
In January Congress and the President will sign an economic recovery bill that will include hundreds of billions of dollars, many of which will go to build transportation infrastructure. We need to make sure those dollars build a balanced transportation system – including bike lanes, paths and sidewalks.

Congress is currently planning on funding only projects that are on States’ priority lists, very few of which include bicycle and pedestrian projects. It is critical that we ensure that bicycle and pedestrian projects are included on the state lists!

Local governments across the country are creating lists of ready to go projects in anticipation of stimulus funding from the federal government. Congress is suggesting that only projects on these lists should be eligible for funding, so make sure to contact your mayor and governors office.
Tell Them:
· There are over $2 billion worth of “ready-to-go” bicycle and pedestrian projects across the U.S. that can create jobs right now
· Bike and pedestrian projects are quick. Because they are smaller, states and cities can spend the money quickly and IN the local economy.
· Building biking and walking infrastructure creates jobs. Bike and pedestrian infrastructure is more labor intensive and less material intensive than building roads, thus netting more jobs for dollars spent!
· Sidewalks and bike lanes makes streets and downtowns into destinations for shopping and entertainment. Investing in walking and biking facilities helps local business and is an investment in the local economy.
· 24% of all trips in the US are less than a mile, 40% are less than two miles. Walking and biking facilities, including those that connect to transit, give American families economical transportation options and lay the foundation to address some of our nation’s major crises, such as climate, energy, and health.
· A recovery package that includes funding for transportation infrastructure but does not include investments to improve bicycling and walking denies the current trends in transportation and the safety needs of the American public. Bicycling has increased in the US – in some cities its increased more than 35% in the last two years.
· Biking and pedestrian improvements also help wean us for foreign oil and support a healthy and sustainable future for America!

If you can also work with your Department of Transportation directly to include more bike ped projects, we do encourage you to what ever tactics and paths to success you can blaze.

TELL THE MEDIA – WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Newspapers are covering the recovery package every day, but how often do you see them mention funding bicycle and pedestrian projects.

· Letters to the Editor are written as a response to an article, so first find an article about the stimulus package you want to respond to, and respond within a day or two of the article being published.
· Look for instructions on the website of the newspaper or on the editorial page. Most papers will only accept letters that are 200 words or less.
· Focus on one message and stating it clearly, such as “building biking and walking infrastructure helps our economy and our health”.
· Cite relevant facts and statistics where appropriate. This will help bolster your argument and make it more convincing.

Thank you for your help. Getting bicycle and pedestrian projects into city and state lists will not only help fund new projects, but will be key in setting the stage for the transportation bill.

Now go get ‘em!