You’ve heard BikeDenver’s mission statement before, but it bears repeating! As a 501(c)3 non-profit and YOUR Denver bicycle advocacy organization, we work to promote and encourage bicycling as an energy efficient, non-polluting, healthy and enjoyable transportation alternative.

The time couldn’t be more right to help us achieve our goals to increase bicycling in Denver.  On the federal, state and local level there are many efforts in play to improve policy and infrastructure that will help more people choose handlebars instead of car keys.  And in Denver, Mayor Hickenlooper is on record calling on Denver’s bicyclists to increase their bike commuting to 10% of all trips by 2018.

With your help, we’re gaining significant momentum right now that will help make 2010 a big year for bicycling.  You probably already know that we rely on membership and other contributions to make our advocacy effective. Our growing list of supporters and members give us funding and political clout, shape the bicycling community, and help fund campaigns to increase bicycling. 

We invite you to join us today in our important work to make Denver a more bicycle friendly City!  You can help by making a donation or becoming a member online today.  Just link to our membership page here:  http://www.bikedenver.org/join-bikedenver/

Thanks for your support!  And now, take a look back at some of the giant leaps we’ve taken this year to grow the organization and the voice of Denver cyclists.

In 2009, with your help, we:

Led the effort to work with City Council and revise city bike ordinances to include 3-Feet to Pass language, making Denver a safer place to ride a bike.

Partnered with Bicycle Colorado to revise the bicycling section of the State Driver’s Manual to educate our newest motorists on safe and legal driving practices.

Represented the bicycle community as active participants in Denver Living Streets Initiative (a precursor to Complete Streets) and Denver Bike Initiative efforts (to prepare the city for a permanent bike sharing system planned for launch in April, 2010).

Provided 4 League of American Bicyclists education classes to teach aspiring bike commuters, train new instructors, and train City employees who conduct their work via bicycle.

Increased the visibility of businesses friendly to bicyclists in Denver by doubling the number of recognized Bicycle Friendly Businesses (to 100!) and introducing Bicycle Friendly Business of the Month Awards.

Encouraged thousands of festival-goers to travel by bike by training volunteers and offering bike parking corrals at large-scale events like A Taste of Colorado, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, and City Park’s Jazz Festival series.

Organized 6 community rides for riders of all levels, including a 95-person Summer Solstice Ride from City Park to Washington Park that went through the Denver Botanic Gardens!

Hosted an Alliance for Biking and Walking Campaigns Training to bring grassroots advocates from Denver and surrounding regions together to plan campaigns to increase bicycling.

Hired a first full-time Executive Director to lead the organization, and increase fundraising and advocacy efforts. 

Secured our first foundation grants from the REI Bicycle Friendly Communities program and the Anschutz Foundation.

Notched our first print and electronic media mentions in 5280 Magazine, Westword, The Denver Post, and on Channel 7 and KOA.

Increased our social media presence by producing two PSA’s for social networking and launching Twitter and Facebook pages (450 fans!).

Solidified key organizational relationships with Denver Bike Sharing, Greenprint Denver, the Downtown Denver Partnership, Public Works, and the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee.

 We are grateful for the support of our volunteers, members, and partners, who made these accomplishments possible! 

 

Now, take a look at what we’ve got planned in 2010:

Advocacy to establish a permanent bike parking facility with secure parking and showers as part of the Denver Union Station Redevelopment Project.

Advocacy that results in the adoption of a Complete Streets Policy in Denver. 

Advocacy to ensure your rights as bicyclists in Denver and the adoption of bike-friendly policy in the Washington Park Master Plan, the Zoning Code, and the Multimodal Access and Connectivity Plan.

An expansion of our Bicycle Friendly Business and Smart Cycling programs to encourage more businesses to become bike-friendly and teach more people how to ride safely.

A new monthly bike commuter awards program to highlight community leaders and individuals who use a bike for transportation.

Support for the April launch of Denver’s historic new bike sharing system.

“Energizer Stations” to motivate bike commuters and increase the visibility of bicyclists in Downtown Denver.

A membership campaign to increase our ranks of committed supporters and contributors.

The production and launch of our first radio and television PSAs to reinforce key messages about sharing the road.

A relaunch of our website to increase our ability to communicate news and educational information tailored to different audiences.

The establishment of permanent office space for the organization.

 

Clif Bar and BikeDenver are pleased to announce their December Bicycle Friendly Business of the Month selection: The Denver Pavilions. 

Our Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) of the Month Awards help highlight organizations that are making standout contributions and offering great success stories from among BikeDenver’s Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) Program members.  The BFB program, with 100 honorees to-date (Denver Pavilions was recently recognized as our 100th BFB), 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, Jones Lang LaSalle, and the Human Powered Transit Authority.

BikeDenver Executive Director Piep van Heuven said:  ”We’re really pleased to welcome The Denver Pavilions as BikeDenver’s historic 100th Bicycle Friendly Business, and it was a natural fit to honor the Pavilions as December’s Bicycle Friendly Business of the Month!  The 64 new U-racks the Pavilions prominently installed on Tremont, Glenarm and Welton streets clearly indicate that Gart Properties, owners of the Pavilions, want bicyclists to feel very welcome at the center”.

Gart Properties Matt Trasen said:  “From day one of acquisition [the ownership group and design team] knew the importance of bringing the bicycle racks to the surface of the property.” (Bicycle parking was previously provided in the parking garage).

In addition to installing new U-racks, Denver Pavilions plans to support the launch of Denver Bike Sharing in Denver by hosting a Bcycle rack on Glenam Place (for more information on bike sharing in Denver visit www.DenverBikeSharing.com ) 

The Denver Pavilions, a  one-of-a-kind retail/entertainment center, opened November 5, 1998, in the heart of downtown Denver on the 16th Street Mall, providing a “critical mass” of 40 retail tenants, restaurants and entertainment venues.  Conveniently located within walking distance for the downtown area’s 110,000 office workers and close to all major hotels, the convention center, the 16th Street Mall shuttle, RTD buses and light rail service, the Pavilions have become a magnet for the metro region due to “marquee” tenants such as Hard Rock Café, Maggiano’s, a 15-screen United Artist Theatre, Barnes & Noble, Lucky Strike Lanes, and NikeTown.  www.DenverPavilions.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

See the Denver Living Streets Video here: Denver Living Streets Video

What are Living Streets? The Denver Living Streets Initiative (LSI) describes living streets as vibrant places where people feel safe and comfortable using any mode of travel (walking, biking, transit, or private auto).  Living Streets are designed to maximize the efficiency of a corridor’s person-trip capacity (compared to solely auto-trip capacity), and are also intended to integrate with the use and form of adjacent development to achieve great destinations for people—not just the movement of people.

What’s going in in Denver? Denver LSI is a citywide initiative that brings 8 city agencies and departments together to redevelop its enhanced transportation corridors in support of the Strategic Transportation Plan’s approach to moving people and not just vehicles, Blueprint Denver’s vision of directing growth to places with supportive transportation infrastructure, and the sustainability goals of Greenprint Denver’s Climate Action Plan.

What will Living Streets bring to Denver? The Denver LSI website puts it this way: “By integrating the street with the adjacent built environment, Living Streets add value to communities. By encouraging the creation of great places with transportation options that work for everyone, Living Streets can simultaneously promote healthier living, economic development, and increased mobility instead of enhancing one of these goals at the expense of the others”.

BikeDenver thanks the Denver LSI team for all their efforts in 2009, with special thanks to Gideon Berger, AICP, Denver Senior City Planner (pictured right), for putting together this list of recent important news related to the themes of Living Streets  – placemaking, transportation, environmental sustainability, public health and economic development — from around the nation.

Want to learn more? For more on Denver’s Living Streets Initiative, check out http://www.denverlivingstreets.org/ or read this great snapshot: http://icma.org/upload/library/2009-03/%7B074EEE57-6475-4FD1-9250-C7E49A5ABE7B%7D.pdf

KEEP READING FOR RELATED NEWS FROM AROUND THE NATION >>>

HEALTH

Medical journal evaluates Sacramento complete streets program - In one of the first studies published in a peer-reviewed journal that analyzes a complete streets program, the 5-year, $12 million Partnership for Active Communities was found to have increased public and agency awareness of pedestrian and bicycle safety issues and influenced considerable changes to policies and the physical environment in the Sacramento area.

Source: American Journal of Preventive Medicine; 12/09

http://www.ajpm-online.net/article/S0749-3797(09)00569-8/abstract (A PDF of the study will be posted on www.denverlivingstreets.org next week)

NY study links high-traffic neighborhoods to illnesses

The NYC Health Department found that people in areas with higher traffic are subjected to higher levels of particulates (27 percent greater), elemental carbon (45 percent greater), and nitrogen dioxide (37 percent greater) than those in areas with less traffic. In addition to triggering allergies and other illnesses that lead to more hospitalizations and work absences, exposure to these toxins has been linked to heart diseases, lung diseases, and cancer. Ground-level samples were collected at 150 sites for a community air-quality study conducted last winter for five pollutants emitted by vehicles and buildings.

Source: New York Streetsblog, 12/16/09

http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/12/16/nyc-health-department-traffic-is-poisoning-our-air/

NY Study finds strong correlation between active transportation and better health

The NYC Health Department found that people who incorporate walking and biking into their daily routine are significantly more likely to report good physical and mental health than those who don’t. The citywide survey of 10,000 NYers found the correlation between better health and frequent walking and biking is significant, regardless of income level.

Source: New York Streetsblog, 12/7/09

http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/12/03/confirmed-new-yorkers-reap-health-benefits-from-walking-and-biking/

Utah Cities don’t use development regs to promote health — study

A University of Utah professor evaluated 81 Utah cities’ plans, codes and ordinances to see whether they promote healthy behaviors such as walking, biking and eating nutritious food. The Centers for Disease Control says such features have been shown to increase physical activity by making it easy to incorporate walking and biking into daily life.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune, 12/7/09

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13940503

ECONOMY

Free holiday parking hurting merchants

Instead of encouraging shopping, as the Providence officials had hoped, free downtown parking has been occupied by downtown workers.

Source: NBC10-TV Providence, RI; 12/22/09

http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/news/local/article/citys_free_holiday_parking_hurting_some_merchants/28702/

Economic growth associated with less VMT, more transit ridership

A new study by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute in Canada finds that GDP tends to increase with transit ridership and density, and decline with vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and roadway supply. This essentially validates general analysis on the economic benefits of agglomeration (the value of locating economic activities close together, which is why cities exist) and of a more diverse and efficient transport system (indicated by higher transit ridership).

Source: Victoria Transport Institute; 12/09

http://www.vtpi.org/econ_dev.pdf

Downtowns turning streets two-way again

A growing number of cities, including big ones such as Minneapolis, Louisville and Oklahoma City, have converted the traffic flow of major streets to two-way or laid out plans to do so. There has been virtually no movement in the other direction. Governing magazine editor Alan Ehrenhalt looks at the economic benefits of Vancouver, WA’s recent conversion.

Source: Governing Magazine, 12/09

http://www.governing.com/column/return-two-way-street

TOD, workforce and student housing poised for echo-boomer market

Three unconventional sectors—student housing, transit oriented development (TOD), and workforce housing—are poised to become viable alternatives to standard market-rate developments. Demographic trends suggest that all three will play an increasingly larger role in the industry over the next decade.

Source: Apartment Finance Today, 11-12/09

http://www.housingfinance.com/aft/articles/2009/november-december/1109-feature-Coming-Attractions.htm

Study finds suburban TODs increase adjacent SF home values

The Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University has released a report that explores the impact of four San Francisco Bay Area suburban transit-oriented developments on single-family home sale prices. The study finds that the case study suburban TODs either had no impact or had a positive impact on the surrounding single-family home sale prices.

Source: San Jose State University, 6/09

http://www.transweb.sjsu.edu/MTIportal/research/publications/documents/Effects%20of%20Sub-Urban%20Transit%20(with%20Cover).pdf

Economy Keeping TOD from new Minneapolis commuter line

Minnesota’s first commuter rail line has been up and running for a month, but it has yet to spur any development along the route of the train. Planners and community developers in the cities along the Northstar corridor are hopeful that will change, although that’s not likely for at least another year.

Source: Minnesota Public Radio, 12/7/09

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/12/07/northstar-development/

ENVIRONMENT

Walkable cities key to fighting climate change – NRDC

NRDC Smart Growth Director Kaid Benfield urged the negotiators in Copenhagen to look at their host city and Portland, OR as examples of how walkability can lead to growth that actually lowers aggregate carbon emissions. He notes Mayor Hickenlooper’s participation in a panel discussion on this topic.

Source: NRDC Switchboard Blog, 12/14/09

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/hello_copenhagen_climate_prote.html

Scientists urge planners to take bigger role in climate change

At the 2009 World Town Planning Day Online Conference, a panel of scientists urged urban planners take over from scientists in advocating climate change policies.

Source: Next American City Magazine Daily Report Blog, 12/3/09

http://americancity.org/daily/entry/1919/

TRANSPORTATION

President acknowledges problems with “shovel-ready” stimulus

Obama: “The tension we’ve been seeing is that what’s good in the long term may not necessarily work as an immediate, short-term stimulus. We’re still getting smacked around from the Recovery Act on this … infrastructure generally has a longer tail. The term “shovel-ready,” let’s be honest here, doesn’t always live up to its billing. There is also a tension embodied in infrastructure … between immediate maintenance [such as] repaving a highway, which is generally more shovel-ready but may imply duplicating the needs of the past as opposed to projects that are visionary and will deliver real bang for the buck in the long term but may require extensive planning.”

Source: Capitol Hill Streetsblog, 12/3/09

http://dc.streetsblog.org/2009/12/03/obamas-frank-talk-about-the-tension-of-the-shovel-ready-concept/

House bill would lower cost-effectiveness rating for federal rail funding

The legislation, introduced by Reps. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Pete DeFazio (D-OR), would effectively revoke a 2005 FTA rule that withheld New Starts money from any transit project that failed to earn a “medium” or higher cost-effectiveness rating. The program’s highly bureaucratic hurdles has been the target of House Transportation Committee Chair Jim Oberstar (D-MN), who joked it should be renamed “small starts, low starts, and no starts.”

Source: Los Angeles Streetsblog, 12/18/09

http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/12/18/two-dems-propose-to-end-bush-era-rule-on-transit-%E2%80%98cost-effectiveness%E2%80%99/

Disabled win CA transit access suit

In a landmark proposed court settlement, Caltrans agreed to spend $1.1 billion over the next 30 years to repair and improve state-controlled sidewalks, crosswalks and park-and-ride facilities so they are accessible for people with disabilities. Advocates said they hoped that the agreement would become a national model for resolving disputes between the disabled and other state and local governments.

Source: Los Angeles Times, 12/23/09

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-caltrans23-2009dec23,0,5587783.story

Bay Area MPO allocates $80M for projects to reduce auto use

The nine-county Bay Area regional transportation planning and funding body, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), established a pot of $80 million to be used over the next 3 years for innovative transportation projects from Safe Routes to School programs and bicycle educational campaigns to parking policies and demand management strategies meant to reduce the over-reliance on automobiles.

Source: San Francisco Streetsblog, 12/21/09

http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/12/21/bay-area-transportation-commission-starts-climate-sustainability-fund/

Updated MUTCD has complete streets focus

A new version of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices was just released, and it includes new requirements for pedestrian countdown timers at intersections, improved bicycle lane markings, and “changing the formula used to calculate crosswalk times to give walkers more time.”  The DOT press release specifically mentions these as complete streets concepts.

Source: FHWA: 12/19/06

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2009/fhwa3709.htm

Colorado Springs undertakes streetcar feasibility study downtown

A group of streetcar advocates that includes Colorado College, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, the Downtown Development Authority, and Bircham’s Office Products pooled $58,000 in donations to snag $330,000 in grants for the study.

Source: Colorado Springs Gazette, 12/3/09

http://www.gazette.com/news/bus-90206-springs-streetcars.html

Salt Lake City rolls out plan for downtown streetcars

Mayor Ralph Becker imagines a 21st-century version of the city’s old streetcars snaking through the capital’s urban catacomb. Salt Lake City’s Washington lobbyist says the climate in Congress under the Obama administration seems advantageous for the city to snag some streetcar funding.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune, 12/5/09

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13930360

Three times as many men bike as women — study

As many as three times more bike trips are made by men than women in the U.S., according to research by John Pucher, a professor of urban planning at Rutgers. One theory as to why: Women don’t ride bikes because biking is still perceived to be dangerous.

Source: The Infrastructurist Blog, 12/2/03

http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/12/02/why-more-women-dont-ride-bikes-and-what-we-can-do-about-it/

PLACEMAKING

Toronto requires TOD developers to provide transit passes

Developers building condos on Toronto transit lines will now have to buy every unit transit pass for a year in order to obtain condominium approval from the city. City council voted in favor of the policy, which adds a cost of about C$1,400 per unit.

Source: (Canada) National Post, 12/5/09)

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/toronto/story.html?id=2305628

Mayors should focus on unique local environment for urban solutions

Cities have a natural advantage over suburbs, writes Aaron Renn in Forbes Magazine, since they are home to most of the nation’s supply of traditional urban style development. “Trying to out-suburb the suburbs with auto-oriented living is a loser’s game (as in implementing strip malls and large private parking lots). If people prefer a suburban lifestyle, they can get a better version of it for cheaper just by moving there. .. The lesson of Portland is that it found a strategy that worked for it based on embracing traditional urbanism, public transit and bicycle transportation. That doesn’t mean every city should copy it; others found different paths.”

Source: Forbes Magazine, 12 3/09

http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/03/mayor-leadership-branding-opinions-contributors-smart-cities-09-aaron-m-renn.html

Citizen participation prevents smart growth — Duany

New urbanism founder Andres Duany says, “If you ask people what they want, they don’t want density. They don’t want mixed use. They don’t want transit. They don’t even want a bike path in their back yard. They don’t want a grid that connects. … They can’t see the long term benefits of walkable neighborhoods with a greater diversity of housing types.”

Source: Builder Magazine; 12/17/09

http://www.builderonline.com/land-planning/andres-duany-on-smart-growth.aspx?rssLink=Interview:%20Andres%20Duany%20on%20Smart%20

Portland streetcar district to get first school

Portland Public Schools will lease ground-floor space in the Pearl Family Housing development, scheduled to open in spring 2011, for an elementary school. The unique arrangement could serve as a model for future development, school district officials say. Developers are realizing that families with children want to live in the Pearl, McNamara said. They’re not moving out as their families grow.

Source: Oregon Journal of Commerce, 12/1/09

http://djcoregon.com/news/2009/12/01/school-district-tests-a-creative-strategy/

Exhibit chronicles history of parking, impacts

There are 735 million cars in the world. As a new exhibit at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., reminds us, those vehicles spend most of their time at rest. “House of Cars” traces the unexpectedly fascinating history of parking garages. It’s the untold chapter of the story of America’s love affair with its cars. And it’s a study in the sorry sacrifices cities have made to adapt themselves to the auto age.

Source: Governing Magazine, 12/09

http://www.governing.com/column/fascinating-history-parking

Over 45 riders turned out in temperate weather (mid-30’s) for the BikeDenver Winter Solstice Ride, an annual benefit ride for the Colorado Coalition of the Homeless. The ride took Denver cyclists on a tour of Denver neighborhoods known for their festive holiday lighting from City Park and Park Hill to Washington Park en route to a social at the Handlebar & Grill.

Cyclists festooned themselves in holiday lighting and attire and enjoyed a leisurely one-hour ride before refueling. Joining the ride were Bicycle Colorado’s Outreach Director Scott Christopher, Park Hill Bike Depot’s Executive Director Christopher Dunn and Manager Tom Birks, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless’s Meg Costello, Salvagetti Bicycles Owner Scott Taylor, and Transportation Solution’s Ben Turner.

See below for ride photos! Next community ride is the Vernal Equinox Ride March 20, 2010.

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

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has been helping the homeless for nearly 25 years. The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for homeless and at-risk families, children, and individuals throughout Colorado. For more information or to make a donation, please visit www.ColoradoCoalition.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  (Contact: Jenny Foust (303) 433-7020)

 New Belgium’s Tour de Fat Raised More than a Quarter-Million for Non-Profit Friends in 2009

 More than 55,000 People Attended Tour de Fat to Help Celebrate the Bike

 Ft. Collins, CO, December 3, 2009 – Tour de Fat, New Belgium Brewing’s traveling celebration of all things bicycle, raised more than $276,000 for bike advocacy groups during the 2009 season.  Tour de Fat is a free event, but the money raised from the sale of New Belgium beers and merchandise helps local organizations continue their good work of bicycle advocacy and environmental stewardship.  Last year Tour de Fat broke the $1 million mark, and with this year’s donations, the grand total now stands at more than $1.25 million.   

The 2009 Tour de Fat season rolled into 11 communities, including two new cities - San Diego and Minneapolis.  Tour de Fat celebrates mankind’s greatest invention – the bike – with costumed parades, entertainment and the annual car-for-bike swapper program.  To see videos from some of the 2009 tour stops visit http://www.tour-de-fat.com.

“Tour de Fat is all about highlighting our good friend, the bike,” said Bryan Simpson, New Belgium Spokesperson.  “But with the celebration of the bicycle we are also able to explore the benefits of living sustainably, giving to others and enjoying a whimsical afternoon on two wheels.”

Tour de Fat brought out more than 55,000 attendees, many decked out in costume, and about half of the crowd brought their bike along for the parade.  In addition to the parade, people took part in various contests of bicycle skill and rode one-of-a-kind art bikes. 

 For the third year in a row, Tour de Fat hosted the car-for-bike swapper program where someone in each city traded in their vehicle for a hand-built commuter bike and committed to living car-free for the next year.  By pledging to bike instead of drive, the car-for-bike swappers agree to go to work, out to dinner and even shopping all on a bike.  To see some of the car-for-bike trade ceremonies, check out the videos at http://www.tour-de-fat.com. 

 “The car-for-bike swap is always a highlight because New Belgium is passionate about biking as an alternative to driving,” continued Simpson.  “These volunteers are sharing our message in their communities and inspiring others to bike more, as well.”

To encourage cycling, even if it’s just one day a week, Tour de Fat’s Team Wonderlounge offered people a place to sign up for Team Wonderbike (www.teamwonderbike.com), New Belgium’s bicycling commuter advocacy program.  Team Wonderbikers pledge to commute by bike as often as possible. More than 5,000 cyclists joined Team Wonderbike during the 2009 season bringing total enrollment to over 20,000.

 In addition to giving back to local communities, Tour de Fat tries to give back to the environment by composting and recycling waste.  The waste diversion rate for this year was 94%.  Other Tour de Fat sustainable initiatives include traveling with a solar-powered stage, using biofuel sourced from recycled waste oils for trucks and transport, and having all vendors operate off the grid.

 “As another Tour de Fat season comes to a close we encourage everyone to pedal on until we meet again,” encouraged Simpson. 

 For more information on Tour de Fat visit http://www.tour-de-fat.com and for more details on New Belgium Brewing go to http://www.newbelgium.com/.

 Tour de Fat Breakdown City-by-City

 Grand Totals

$276,876 - Total Funds Raised

55,800 Attended

July 11, 2009 – Chicago, IL

$20,900 - Total Funds Raised

4,300 Attended

 

July 18, 2009 – Minneapolis, MN

$8,341 - Total Funds Raised

1,800 Attended

 

August 8, 2009 – Seattle, WA

$8,231 - Total Funds Raised

2,100 Attended

 

August 15, 2009 – Portland, OR

$5,895 - Total Funds Raised

2,600 Attended

 

August 22, 2009 – Boise, ID

$42,501 - Total Funds Raised

6,500 Attended

 

September 5, 2009 – Ft. Collins, CO

$65,000 - Total Funds Raised

16,000 Attended

 

September 12, 2009 – Denver, CO

$27,460 - Total Funds Raised

4,700 Attended

 

September 26, 2009 – San Francisco, CA

$13,692 - Total Funds Raised

3,600 Attended

 

October 3, 2009 – San Diego, CA

$19,262 - Total Funds Raised

2,200 Attended

 

October 10, 2009 – Tempe, AZ

$58,337 - Total Funds Raised

10,000 Attended

 

October 17, 2009 – Austin, TX

$7,257 - Total Funds Raised

2,000 Attended

 

About New Belgium Brewing Company

New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces seven year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship.  For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

Ride from City Park to the Handlebar and Grill to benefit the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.

It’s time to celebrate the season at the BikeDenver Winter Solstice Ride! The ride is a casual, safe benefit bike ride for Denver cyclists to celebrate the season and enjoy Denver’s holiday lights – on our homes… and our bikes! We will ride through Colfax, Congress Park, Capital Hill and Washington Park neighborhoods known for their festive holiday lighting and then enjoy a social to celebrate the season. Ride release waiver,
helmets and lights are required.


When & Where: Sunday, December 20th, 6:00 to 6:45pm bike ride followed by a social at the Handlebar & Grill (305 South Downing St.). Meet at City Park’s Thatcher Fountain before 6pm (enough time to sign your waiver form!).

How: On your bike, with all the lights and bells you own on you and your bike! For more information please email info@bikedenver.org.

What to Bring: Participants are asked to bring an unwrapped holiday gift for a child or adult, a cash donation, or winter clothing items in good reusable condition to donate to Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Holiday Programs.

 

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

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has been helping the homeless for nearly 25 years. The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for homeless and at-risk families, children, and individuals throughout Colorado. For more information or to make a donation, please visit www.ColoradoCoalition.org.

(Courtesy Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee) Application Deadline January 7th, 2009

Denver has always been a great city for bicycling, and converging local and global trends have renewed the enthusiasm and commitment to a cycling culture. Choosing to ride a bike is environmentally-friendly, healthy and a sound economic decision. Plus, it puts us back in touch with our neighbors and is fun! The 2008 American Community Survey ranked Denver 11th in the country for bicycle commuting, with 1.6 percent of residents using their bicycle to travel to work. While this is figure is double the national average, Denver is reaching further with a goal of 10 percent bicycle commuting by 2018. The Mayor, along with other community and agency leaders, is committed to making bicycle riding a very prominent part of the physical and social landscape of Denver.

As advisor to the Mayor and City agencies, and conduit to our community, the MBAC is playing a leading role in making Denver a more bicycle friendly city. The Mayor and the MBAC are looking for committed individuals who will represent our diverse City and bicycle community. When applying, please address the following in your letter of interest.

-How often do you ride a bike (daily, weekly, monthly) and for what purpose (recreation, transportation, etc)?
-Are you a member of any bicycle organizations? Which ones?
-What bicycle-related activities do you /have you participated in?
-Do you use public transportation? Combine it with bike riding?
-Are you familiar with the Bicycle Friendly Communities program?
-Will you be able to make the time commitment to attend the monthly MBAC meeting and at least one sub-committee meeting per month?
-What do you hope to accomplish as a member of the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee?

Please reply with your letter of interest, application, and resume to Suzan Moore at suzan.moore@denvergov.org

National Association of Transportation Officials Press Release, December 8, 2009, Washington, D.C.
Big Cities Urge Bike Friendly Streets: Nationwide bike boom needs Federal support

Congressman Earl Blumenauer; New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik- Khan; and artist/musician David Byrne joined city officials from Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. to launch Cities for Cycling, a new effort by city governments to promote best practices in urban cycling and to increase the use of bicycles to improve urban mobility, livability and public health while reducing traffic congestion and CO2 emissions.

Cycling is booming in cities across the nation. Based on the American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. census bureau, cycling as a share of transportation is up in major cities by as much as 72% from 2007-2008, with an average growth rate of over 30%. Still much work remains to make cycling a more mainstream mobility option. Providing safe, comfortable, convenient bicycling facilities has allowed cities like Portland, New York and others to vastly increase commuter cycling and drive down injuries and fatalities to cyclists. From protected cycle-tracks to bike boxes and special traffic signals for bikes; Cities for Cycling seeks to share these best practices among leading cities and encourage State and Federal governments to adopt the new design treatments emerging from cities as standard practices, opening up funding and technical support opportunities and cutting red tape.

“Cities have been going it alone with their bike networks,” said Commissioner Sadik-Khan, who is President of the National Association of City Transportation Officials. “Cities for Cyclists will create a forum to discuss and develop best practices and speed the adoption of innovative design guidelines at the federal and local levels.”

Cities for Cycling will feature an online warehouse of bike-friendly street best practice factsheets as well as a compendium of links to cities’ technical design guidelines for innovative bicycle facilities. The project will convene leading bicycle experts from cities around the United States and abroad to share information and stimulate the development of a new generation of better bicycle facilities.

Cities for Cycling is a project of the National Association of City Transportation Officials and is supported by Bikes Belong and the SRAM Cycling Fund. More information is available at www.citiesforcycling.org

Contact: Robin Lester-Kenton, New York City Department of Transportation, (212) 839-6470

National Association of City Transportation Officials: NACTO is comprised of transportation officials from Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC. Formed in 1996, the group fosters information exchange between cities and articulates common interests at the national level. More information is

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NACTO

National Association of City Transportation Officials 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Immediate Release December 8, 2009 Washington, D.C.

 

Big Cities Urge Bike Friendly Streets

Nationwide bike boom needs Federal support

Congressman Earl Blumenauer; New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan; and artist/musician David Byrne joined city officials from Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. to launch Cities for Cycling, a new effort by city governments to promote best practices in urban cycling and to increase the use of bicycles to improve urban mobility, livability and public health while reducing traffic congestion and CO2 emissions.

Cycling is booming in cities across the nation. Based on the American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. census bureau, cycling as a share of transportation is up in major cities by as much as 72% from 2007-2008, with an average growth rate of over 30%. Still much work remains to make cycling a more mainstream mobility option. Providing safe, comfortable, convenient bicycling facilities has allowed cities like Portland, New York and others to vastly increase commuter cycling and drive down injuries and fatalities to cyclists. From protected cycle-tracks to bike boxes and special traffic signals for bikes; Cities for Cycling seeks to share these best practices among leading cities and encourage State and Federal governments to adopt the new design treatments emerging from cities as standard practices, opening up funding and technical support opportunities and cutting red tape. “Cities have been going it alone with their bike networks,” said Commissioner Sadik-Khan, who is President of the National Association of City Transportation Officials. “Cities for Cyclists will create a forum to discuss and develop best practices and speed the adoption of innovative design guidelines at the federal and local levels.”

Cities for Cycling will feature an online warehouse of bike-friendly street best practice factsheets as well as a compendium of links to cities’ technical design guidelines for innovative bicycle facilities. The project will convene leading bicycle experts from cities around the United States and abroad to share information and stimulate the development of a new generation of better bicycle facilities.

Cities for Cycling is a project of the National Association of City Transportation Officials and is supported by Bikes Belong and the SRAM Cycling Fund. More information is available at

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.nacto.org/citiesforcycling or www.citiesforcycling.org

Contact: Robin Lester-Kenton, New York City Department of Transportation, (212) 839-6470

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NACTO

NACTO is comprised of transportation officials from Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC. Formed in 1996, the group fosters information exchange between cities and articulates common interests at the national level. More information is available at

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.nacto.org

Bike Mode Share Increase in Selected NACTO Cities

City 2007 2008 Percent Increase

Minneapolis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.5 4.3 72.00%

Portland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.2 6 42.86%

New York (self reporting)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35.00%

Philadelphia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.2 1.6 33.33%

Boston

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.2 1.6 33.33%

Seattle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.3 2.9 26.09%

San Francisco

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.3 2.7 17.39%

Washington

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 2.3 15.00%

Chicago

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.9 1 11.11%

Source: American Community Survey unless otherwise noted

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