November 2009
Monthly Archive
Fri 27 Nov 2009
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BikeDenver is pleased to report that Denver’s City Council approved a bill to amend many sections of the Revised Municipal Code related to bicycling at their November 23 meeting.
The new ordinances take effect on Friday, November 27th. Councilwoman Carla Madison (pictured right) championed the effort to amend City traffic laws related to bicycles to partially conform with new state law, allow speed-restricted riding on sidewalks for the limited purpose of parking, and eliminate obsolete language associated with licensing. Madison says: “It’s good policy to have state and city law aligned, and it’ll be nice to see people be able to legally ride to park their bike.” Madison also proposed an amendment approved by the City Council on November 16th that provides a legal way for bicyclists to cross at Cleveland Triangle at the East end of the 16th Street Mall. The amendment states that: “bicycles may be operated on designated routes at any time on that portion of the 16th Street pedestrian and transit mall between the north-west curb line of Cleveland Place and Broadway.”
Councilman Chris Nevitt chaired the City Council Greenprint Committee that worked on the bill. Nevitt was pleased with the outcome, saying: “This is step one of what I hope will be many more steps that we can take to make Denver a more bike-friendly city.” BikeDenver Executive Director Piep van Heuven added: “It’s very important that Denver’s laws mirror those recently adopted on the State level that ensure key protections for bicyclists like 3-Feet to Pass. Synchronizing City code with Colorado’s Bicycle Safety Law will make riding a bike in Denver and operating motor vehicles around bikes in Denver safer for all of us. We’re also pleased to see City Council so actively involved in the effort to make Denver a safe, convenient and fun place to ride a bike.”
BikeDenver worked for months with stakeholders and councilmembers including Madison and members of the City Council Greenprint Committee to suggest ordinance revisions that would bring Denver in line with State and National standards. BikeDenver’s van Heuven said: “It was great to see so many interested parties at the table and on the same page.” Groups and offices involved in the effort included representatives from the Downtown Denver Partnership, the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee, Denver City Attorney’s Office, Denver Bike Sharing, Greenprint Denver, Denver Police Department, and the Department of Public Works.
Key Changes to Denver’s Bike Ordinances:
Three Feet to Pass: Language was included to mirror State law requiring that drivers of vehicles provide at least a three-foot separation between the right side of the driver’s vehicle, including all mirrors and projections, and the left side of the bicycle at all times.
Right to Ride on Roadways: Language requiring bicyclists to ride on adjacent pathways if available was eliminated from the City code. This makes it legal to ride a bike on any Denver roadway, including Speer Boulevard.
Riding to the Right & Bicyclist’s Judgment: Language was amended to allow bicyclists to use their best judgment on how near to the right side of the roadway they should ride. This will encourage bicyclists with differing levels of ability in variable road conditions to ride their bike in the manner that is most safe for the bicyclist.
Riding on Sidewalks for the Purpose of Parking: Denver law will now allow bicyclists to ride on the sidewalk not in excess of 6 miles per hour if they are within one block of the location where they plan to park their bike.
Lamps & Reflectors: Front and rear light requirements were amended to match state requirements. Front (white) lights must be visible to 500 feet. Rear (red) reflectors must be visible for 600 feet when illuminated by motor vehicle head lamps.
Next Steps:
Some of the new State laws haven’t been included in Denver’s City Code yet. BikeDenver anticipates that these items, still under review, will be brought forward in the near future. Two of the key items are the provision for motorists that allows them to cross the center line when safe to provide the required three-foot passing distance and language specific to bicyclists riding in the left lane on a multi-lane one-way street.
Mon 23 Nov 2009
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(Photo and Tips Courtesy League of American Bicyclists - December Cue Sheet)
Tips on Winter Riding:
- Carry water bottles upside down. Water freezes from the top, so this keeps the nozzle clear.
- Anticipate the changes in temperature between morning and night commutes - bring extra clothing and plan ahead!!
- Fenders are your friend. With winter comes cold, snow and ice.
- Small bike tools may not work in cold hands. After a ride home in the cold, test to make sure you can do the basics, like change an inner tube.
- Wear wool or synthetic clothing, not cotton or plastic-based clothing to wick sweat away.
BikeDenver wants to know: What are YOUR favorite winter riding tips?
Mon 23 Nov 2009
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(Courtesy Transportation Solutions) Share A Cycle is an annual collection drive for used kids’ bikes during the winter holidays. All donated bikes will be refurbished by local mechanics and then distributed to youth served by Denver Kids, Inc and the Denver Department of Human Services.
Bikes can be dropped off daily through November 30 at two locations: The Cherry Creek Bike Rack, 171 Detroit Street in Cherry Creek North and its companion shop, Campus Cycles, 2102 S. Washington Street. All donations are tax deductible.
“All of our expert mechanics enjoy making the used bikes donated through Share a Cycle as clean, safe and fun to ride as new ones,” said Tracy Fifer, Manager of The Cherry Creek Bike Rack. “Everyone tells us how much they appreciate the opportunity to put their outgrown kids’ bikes to good use.” The program puts a valued item into reuse, provides a valuable means of transportation to kids with less resources, and helps build the healthy habit of riding bikes for transportation into the future—besides being a fun activity for kids of all ages!
Partners Announced for 2009
This year Transportation Solutions will once again partner with Denver Kids, Inc for the Share a Cycle program, and they are expanding to include foster children served by the Denver Department of Human Services.
Denver Kids, Inc. helps students, grades K-12, who face the personal challenges of higher risk environments, successfully complete high school, explore post-secondary options and become productive members of the community.
The Denver Department of Human Services is a city agency working to protect abused and neglected children and adults by making sure they live in safe environments and help both individuals and families in crisis. In addition, the agency helps connect people to vital community services.
Want to help but don’t have a bike to donate?
Transportation Soluntions also accepts cash donations to help provide helmets and locks for children who receive bikes. Donations are accepted at The Cherry Creek Bike Rack, 171 Detroit Street, as well as at the Transportation Solutions office. For more information about donating or for other questions, please call 303.377.7086.
Sun 22 Nov 2009
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Clif Bar and BikeDenver are pleased to announce their November Bicycle Friendly Business of the Month: Human Powered Transit Authority. This monthly award highlights great success stories from among BikeDenver’s Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) Program members. The BFB program, with over 100 honorees to-date, recognizes businesses, organizations and workplaces that are leading the way to make bicycling an easy and accepted form of transportation in Denver. Since partnering in July of 2009 to launch the monthly awards program, Clif Bar and BikeDenver have recognized Watercourse Restaurant, Historic Denver’s Story Trek, Downtown Denver Business Improvement District, and Jones Lang LaSalle.
November honoree Human Powered Transit Authority (HPTA) is the brainchild of Denver’s Brad K. Evans. The company is an umbrella organization for two unique entities that are having a significant impact encouraging bicycling not just in Denver, but nationwide. HPTA is the event planning and marketing arm of the Denver Cruiser Ride, a social bike ride that brings thousands of cruiser afficianados out to ride bikes every Wednesday from May to September in downtown Denver. HPTA also launched Kickstand Magazine this past summer to much fanfare. Kickstand is a publication highlighting cruiser bike lifestyle that chronicles fun as the main component of cycling.
BikeDenver Executive Director Piep van Heuven says: HPTA’s Denver Cruiser Ride and Kickstand Magazine have helped catapault Denver to the national stage by highlighting the universal sense of FUN of riding a bike. Thanks to HPTA, the cruiser culture is not just alive and well in Denver, it’s at the forefront of a movement that’s getting more people out on bikes, encouraging them to enjoy their neighborhoods and time with their friends, plus it’s a great way to get people re-acquainted with the many benefits of getting around on two wheels.”
HPTA’s Brad Evans says: “The Denver Cruiser ride started five years ago with a mere 13 riders. In 2009, we hosted 22 weekly rides over the summer, and by the end-of-season, the ride had more than 1,350! It’s exciting to play a part in increasing ridership in Denver, and we’re really pleased to be posting these kind of numbers that have made the Denver Cruiser Ride one of the largest weekly rides in the country. The City of Denver has really embraced the ride and that, in turn, has increased the number of people who ride for fun and enjoyment. Launching Kickstand also seemed like a no-brainer - there wasn’t another lesiure publication highlighing the fun that goes along with riding a bike. My favorite thing about the Kickstand Magazine launch was that most people don’t equate Denver with being the obvious launching pad for a worldwide cruiser bike magazine, yet Denver has proven to be a perfect place to do just that.”
Human Powered Transit Authority is a publishing, consulting, and planning group designed to help re-think how to move people in the 21st century. Visit their websites: kickstandmag.com , www.denvercruisers.com
Clif Bar & Company started on a bike ride. Founder Gary took a bite of another energy bar and thought he could make a better bar. Today, Clif Bar is a leading maker of all-natural and organic energy and nutrician foods and drinks. www.clifbar.com
BikeDenver is Denver’s bicycle advocacy organization. BikeDenver promotes and encourages bicycling in Denver and works to make Denver a better place to ride your bike. Why? Because it’s healthy for you, and healthy for Denver. www.bikedenver.org
Brad Evans models his cruiser at BikeDenver’s Fashion Show…
Tue 17 Nov 2009
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(Courtesy Welcome to the Fast Lane, Official Blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, November 17, 2009)
Last week, our friends at Transportation For America and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership released a valuable report called Dangerous By Design. Yesterday I met with James Corless of t4America and a few of his colleagues from other interest groups about this report and its conclusions.
Now, “Dangerous By Design” has turned a lot of heads and for good reason. It shows that 11.8% of all traffic fatalities in America are pedestrians.
Look, no amount of engineering to make the insides of our vehicles safer for occupants is going to protect pedestrians and bicyclists. We need safer roadways. We need roadways designed to account for the needs of everyone who uses them, whether driving, walking, or riding in a wheelchair or on a bicycle.
The great thing about this Complete Streets approach to road planning is that it’s actually cheaper to plan for multiple road uses ahead of time than to retrofit roadways after they are built and someone gets injured or killed.
The problem with this approach is that it does cost a little extra up front. And states and communities facing budget shortfalls may be tempted to let road safety features–wide sidewalks, safe crosswalks–get cut along the way.
That’s why the groups I met with yesterday are asking for federal leadership. And that’s where this DOT comes in. It turns out that a complete streets approach offers the perfect intersection of my twin guideposts: safety and livable communities.
But, as much leadership as DOT can offer, only Congress can authorize federal funding for such programs. And, as the petition urging my leadership on safer roadway planning reminds us:
“The Transportation Bill comes around just once every six years, and we can’t afford another six-year delay on building the 21st Century transportation system our country craves.”
That’s why, when we hold our upcoming open meetings on new transportation legislation, I urge all of you who care about this important issue–from experts to everyday pedestrians–to come forward and tell us how strongly you feel about this. Then, we can let Congress know how much momentum is truly behind safer road planning.
So please stay tuned as we announce the dates and locations of these meetings and please visit the websites of the organizations who visited me yesterday (I’ve listed them below) to see what you can do to raise your voice on this important issue.
AARP
America Bikes
American Public Health Association
National Complete Streets Coalition
Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Smart Growth America
Surface Transportation Policy Partnership
Transportation For America
Sat 14 Nov 2009
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(Courtesy League of American Bicyclists) November 13, Washington D.C. - 
The Federal Transit Administration has published a federal registry notice describing the eligibility of pedestrian and bicycle improvements for FTA funding and proposes a formal policy on the catchment area for pedestrians and bicyclists in relationship to public transportation stops and stations.
The proposed policy would expand FTA funding eligibility for bicycle and pedestrian improvements beyond the current threshold distances of one-half mile for pedestrian projects and within three miles for bicycle improvements.
Read the notice here and find out how to provide comments.
Read the story on the League of American Bicyclists blog here.
Mon 9 Nov 2009
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(Courtesy Alliance for Biking and Walking) - October 30, 2009
After more than two years of meetings and drafting language, Bicycle Colorado announced that the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Transportation Commission has adopted a groundbreaking statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Policy.
According to Bicycle Colorado, “The new policy directs that, ‘…the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians shall be included in the planning, design, and operation of transportation facilities, as a matter of routine…’
Division of Transportation Development Director Jennifer Finch stated, ‘This is a change in philosophy for the Department [of Transportation].’
The policy was moved by Commissioner George Krawzoff and seconded by Commissioner Steve Parker, leading to unanimous votes of support from all 11 commissioners.
Praise for CDOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Betsy Jacobson’s diligent work on the policy was heard from Bicycle Colorado, Ms. Finch, and the Commissioners. Bicycle Colorado’s Executive Director Dan Grunig said, ‘We have passed positive bicycle legislation and overturned bike bans, but passing this policy may be the biggest step we’ve taken towards bicyclists being treated as legitimate road users.’
TWO YEAR PROCESS
Bicycle Colorado worked with CDOT for a number of years encouraging a formal bicycle and pedestrian policy. The Commission instructed CDOT staff in 2007 to begin evaluating its bicycle and pedestrian policies and practices. They convened a series of stakeholder meetings to determine areas to be addressed in policy and procedures. The resulting policy is a product of the input of all the stakeholders representing other state departments, local governments, and user groups. CDOT staff did a thorough job, gathering input from all their internal departments and divisions throughout the process.
NEXT STEPS
Adoption of this policy is a big step but there is still work to do. Implementation is the key to the policy’s success. Executive Director Russ George and the Executive Management Team will issue a Procedural Directive in the next couple of months detailing implementation plans.
The Directive will guide CDOT departments on how to incorporate bicyclist and pedestrian needs into road design, maintenance, transportation planning, education, etc. It will also detail the circumstances when projects may opt out of the policy and how that decision will be made available to the public. Bicycle Colorado will continue to participate in the process to ensure positive results for bicyclists.
Read the story on the Alliance for Biking and Walking website here.
Read the policy here
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BikeDenver is pleased to report that Denver’s City Council approved a bill to amend many sections of the Revised Municipal Code related to bicycling at their November 23 meeting.
