Please check the May 1 Volunteer Day Schedule! Here it is: May 1 Volunteer and Ambassador Schedule (updated 11am April 30)

Are you confirmed for your volunteer assignment? If your name appears in green you have confirmed your availability! If your name is highlighted in yellow we’d like to hear from you to confirm that you plan to volunteer! Please email piep(at)bikedenver.org to do so.

We need a few more volunteers! Some kiosks are not yet fully staffed – the empty (white) spaces on the schedule indicate what has not yet been assigned. If you can adopt any of these assignments please email piep(at)bikedenver.org to indicate which ones you’re able to help with!

NOTE Change in shift times!: We are staffing 24 kiosks on May 1. Shifts times have been adjusted to: 9am-11am, 11am-2pm, and 2pm-4pm.

Volunteer materials: Please bring these with you Saturday. If you’re out, your volunteer ambassador will be by with extra materials. If you have left over materials, please return them to the Denver Bike Sharing offices.

What about weather?: We’re hoping for a good-weather May Day! That said, we’re going forward rain or shine! Please check www.bikedenver.org in case of inclement weather, we’ll post any updates here.

A message for YOU from Denver Bike Sharing:

“Bike Denver Volunteers Rock!  You showed up for us in the rain and ignited enthusiasm.   What we did not anticipate is the invaluable role you would play in trouble-shooting this first ever system.    Thanks for being our eyes and ears, our ambassadors, our partners.  The system is getting better every day and nearly optimized.  Denver Bike Sharing is definitely a community enterprise – your community enterprise!

By the way – now you can help us market!  We know you have your own beloved bikes, but  if you have a membership, ride these red ones.  Show everyone else how it’s done and how much fun it is.  If the public sees you cool people riding, they’ll want to do it too.  That’s how the tipping point happens. ”

- Parry W. Burnap, Executive Director, Denver Bike Sharing

BikeDenver is pleased to introduce you to Peter Thulson, our April choice for Bike Hero of the Month!  Our Bike Hero awards help showcase the diversity of citizen-cyclists and the people who support them in Denver.  BikeDenver’s Bike Hero of the Month Program highlights one person each month, and helps encourage people to bike by telling their personal story.

Meet Peter Thulson: Peter has been commuting by bike for twenty years – obsessively for the last five years. He lives in the Alamo Placita neighborhood, at 5th and Ogden, and rides to Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning at 1700 S. Holly, where he teaches first grade.  Peter has two bikes and loves his ten mile roundtrip commute, which he rides year round regardless of the weather.

To nominate a Bike Hero, please send a photo and a brief description of why you think they should be recognized (100 words or less) to info(at)bikedenver.org.

We started naming Bike Heroes in January, meet them here!:

March Bike Hero – Broox Pulford!

February Bike Hero – Rocio Rowland!

January Bike Hero – Chad McKeehan!

Our Bike Heroes get a nifty certificate, the public notoriety of being named a Bike Hero, and a $50 gift card from supporter Bicycle Village!

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

Bicycle Village has been a Colorado owned and operated business for more than 30 years. From modest beginnings in an 1800 square ft. building in West Denver, Bicycle Village has grown into the largest bicycle retailer in the Rockies. www.bicyclevillage.com

Fun Stuff:

See BikeDenver’s PSA’s and learn about the great reasons to ride in Denver: “Priceless” “Why I Ride”

You can help make Denver’s streets safer for people like Peter by becoming a BikeDenver member: Join BikeDenver!

(Courtesy Bicycle Colorado) House Bill 1147, the Safer Streets for Children Bill, took a big step toward becoming law last week when the Colorado State Senate approved the bill with a 28-6 vote.

This bill puts the state bike and pedestrian policy into law and makes a Safe Routes to School curriculum available to schools. The bill is moving ahead following the Senate’s removal of the section devoted to helmet use by children.

The bill now returns to the House for a final vote to accept amendments made in the Senate.

More background on the bill:

House Bill 1147:

This bill adds the existing state bicycle and pedestrian policy into law and makes a children’s road safety curriculum available for school district use.

Representative Kefalas drafted this bill after listening to his constituents concerned about road safety for children. He asked Bicycle Colorado to endorse the bill and share it with our members. We think this bill includes a strong mix of education and road design focused on improving safety.

Including Bicycle and Pedestrian Policy into Law:

The Department of Transportation’s existing internal policy of “accommodating bicycle and pedestrian use of the highways in a safe and reliable manner for all highway users” will be bolstered by adding it into statute. This recently adopted policy is valuable but subject to removal by future administrators. This statute will help keep Colorado’s roadways safe for all road users.

Benefits to Children and Colorado:

The goal of the bill is to reduce injuries to children and reduce costs to families, the state, and our health care system. Through road safety training in schools and adding the state’s bicycle and pedestrian policy into statue, the state will also benefit by increasing physical activity which reduces obesity related diseases.

Good for the Economy, Environment, and Family Budgets:

Road congestion costs Colorado more than one billion dollars a year. One visit to a school with cars lined up around the block shows how driving kids to school is adding to congestion on our road system. Creating safe ways for youth to walk, bike, or skate reduces congestion so roads keep moving to get freight and workers on their way.

In Colorado, 23% of green house gas emissions are from transportation pollution. Safe ways for youth to walk, skateboard, bicycle or skate to school, to a friend’s house, and to sport practices reduces pollution and results in cleaner air for Colorado.

In today’s economic climate, more Colorado adults and their children are turning to walking and bicycling as low-cost, healthy ways to get around. Households spend 25% of their budget on transportation.3 Creating safer environments on the road help family budgets by spending less to get around.

Read Bicycle Colorado’s full story here.

Clif Bar and BikeDenver are pleased to announce Denver Water as the April Bicycle Friendly Business of the Month.  When Denver Water’s summer water use rules begin May 1, the utility will begin using bicycling monitors to reinforce good watering habits.

BikeDenver’s 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, recognizes businesses, organizations and workplaces that are leading the way to make bicycling an easy and accepted form of transportation in Denver. Nominate a workplace as a Bicycle Friendly Business here.

“Half of a household’s water use goes to outside watering,” said  Melissa Essex Elliott, Denver Water’s manager of water conservation. “Most lawns don’t need as much water as you might think. Watering your lawn two days a week should be sufficient during May and into June.”

The utility will continue to enforce its rules with a roving team of Water Savers. This year, four of the 11 Water Savers will be on bikes. The bicycle monitors went through a customized 9-hour safety training class, taught by BikeDenver.

“Our Use Only What You Need campaign is all about being efficient,” said Elliott. “We decided to have some of our monitors on bikes to save gas and to be more approachable. They will be talking with our customers one-on-one about wise water use.”

Denver Water’s watering rules, in effect until Oct. 1, are:

·         No lawn watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

·         Do not water more than three days per week (there are no assigned days for watering).

·         Do not waste water by allowing it to pool in gutters, streets and alleys.

·         Do not waste water by letting it spray on concrete and asphalt.

·         Repair leaking sprinkler systems within 10 days.

·         Do not use spray irrigation while it is raining or during high winds.

If you see water waste in one of Denver’s parks, call 3-1-1. To report waste elsewhere, call Denver Water at 303-628-6343.

Water conservation is part of Denver Water’s long-term plan to secure water for the future. Efficient water use helps the utility postpone or avoid spending more money on other supply options and supports the preservation of Colorado’s natural environment. Denver Water’s goal is to make changes in water use habits a permanent way of life.

Senior City Planner for bicycle and pedestrian issues Emily Kreisa said: “It’s great to see workplaces like Denver Water integrate bicycles into their transportation fleet; and, that they are committed to educating their employees on safety and vehicular cycling skills”.

Denver Water proudly serves high-quality water and promotes its efficient use to 1.3 million people in the city of Denver and many surrounding suburbs. Established in 1918, the utility is a public agency funded by water rates and new tap fees, not taxes. It is Colorado’s oldest and largest water utility. www.denverwater.org

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 nutrition 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

Bicycle Friendly Business of the Month Awards: 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, Human Powered Transit Authority, Denver Pavilions, the Alliance for a Sustainable Colorado, Salvagetti Bicycle Workshop and Little Man Ice Cream.

More about BikeDenver:

See BikeDenver’s PSA’s and learn about the great reasons to ride in Denver: “Priceless” “Why I Ride”

You can help make a better place to ride a bike by becoming a BikeDenver member: Join BikeDenver!

Want to hear our zippy new radio PSAs? Click here!

Read about previous Bicycle Friendly Business of the Month honorees:

March 2010 – Little Man Ice Scream

February 2010 – Salvagetti Bicycle Workshop

January 2010 – The Alliance for a Sustainable Colorado

December 2009 – Denver Pavilions

November 2009 – Human Powered Transit Authority

October 2009 – Jones Lang LaSalle

September 2009 – Downtown Denver Partnership & BID

August 2009 – Historic Denver’s Story Trek

July 2009 (Inaugural) – Watercourse Restaurant

For Immediate Release April 29, 2010

Position:  Office Administrator

Organization: Bikes Belong Coalition

Classification:  Full-time salaried position

Location:  Boulder, Colorado

Applications:  Applications should be sent to erik(at)bikesbelong.org by May 17, 2010 (see details below)

The Bikes Belong Coalition, located in Boulder, Colorado, seeks a dynamic and motivated full-time Office Administrator to oversee daily operations for office management while assisting with marketing and membership support.

For the full position announcement click here: bikes-belong-position-announcement

Way to go, Denver B-cycle volunteers!!!!  We had a GREAT launch day yesterday and an excellent turnout this morning, despite precipitating factors

We are going to keep Rockin’ and Rollin’ today with the 11am-1pm shift because YOUR visibility and enthusiasm is making a huge splash (!) for the bike sharing program!!

We are cancelling today’s 4-6pm shift, however, because it looks like the weather will deteriorate further by 4pm.

We are postponing the Saturday volunteer shifts and asking volunteers scheduled Saturday to re-commit for next Saturday, May 1 - when we’ll get a good chance at a B-eautiful Day!  Please send us your confirmation by Monday, April 26, 5pm.  We’ve reduced the number of kiosks we’ll staff on the 1st.  Check the May 1 Rescheduled shifts for your name, you may have been moved to another kiosk in the same area.  Your shift times should be the same. 

Check the Saturday May 1 Schedule here: saturday-may-1-schedule

A message for you from Denver Bike Sharing:

The dedication our volunteers have shown has been remarkable and due to that, the Denver B-cycle program has been represented as a huge success. You have had an essential role with helping us get to this point.

As Denverites, we are spoiled with 300 days of sunshine per year (perfect bike-riding weather). Rain or shine, all of you have had the perfect attitude. However, today’s afternoon forecast shows that the weather will be very unpleasant.  Due to the weather, we will be cancelling the 4-6pm shifts, to keep our volunteers healthy and dry.

Questions?  Email piep(at)bikedenver.org

What a great launch day yesterday!  THANKS to all of you who assisted at the launch event and kiosks!

Today, we’re going to experience a little rain!

This is a rain or shine project.  That said, your safety and comfort are #1.  Please use your best judgment regarding your well-being as you evaluate weather conditions during your volunteer assignment.

That may mean arriving late, leaving early, taking frequent breaks, stationing yourself under cover in a area where you can engage with the public (but possibly not right at the B-cycle kiosk).  We’re counting on you to make the right call for you given what’s going on in the sky and at your kiosk.

Remember to dress appropriately for the weather.  Don’t worry… “B” Happy!!

THANKS for volunteering!

DENVER – THURSDAY, April 22, 2010 – (Courtesy Denver Bike Sharing) Denver B-cycle launched today as the nation’s first large-scale citywide bicycle sharing program. Designed to help Denver residents and visitors increase their daily activity, save money and reduce carbon emissions, Denver B-cycle offers the first U.S. public bike sharing system as an alternative to using cars for short commutes and errands.

Popularized in Europe and Asia where there are more than 50 cities with a public bike sharing system, Denver follows on the heels of two other cities in North America that have launched successful bike sharing systems in the past year – Montreal in the summer of 2009 and Mexico City in the spring of 2010.

“Coloradans embrace healthy and sustainable living, so it’s natural that the

MileHighCity is now home to the first large-scale bike sharing system in the U.S.,” said Mayor John Hickenlooper. “Bike sharing is a viable transportation option to help improve the overall health of Americans and reduce our carbon footprint. Let’s start a two-wheel revolution. Let’s make every day Bike-to-Somewhere Day.”

The launch event kicked off this morning with Mayor Hickenlooper, special guest Jonny 5 of the Flobots and live music from DJ Cavem and the Serafin Sanchez Brass Quintet. B-cycles flooded CivicCenterPark and the City and CountyBuilding’s front steps along with hundreds of bicycle supporters. Afterward, Mayor Hickenlooper led hundreds of bicycle supporters, some on them on red B-cycle bikes and others on their own bikes, on a kick-off bicycle parade around CivicCenterPark. Denver B-cycle went live and fully operational at noon, launching with approximately 400 red Trek B-cycles at 40 B-stations throughout the City.

Bicycle advocacy group BikeDenver will have B-cycle “ambassadors” staffing each of the B-stations during peak hours today (4/22) through Saturday (4/24) to help first-time users get familiar with the automated system, promote B-cycle to passersby and answer questions anyone may have.

Kaiser Permanente stepped-up to serve as the Founding Funder of Denver B-cycle, and the organization’s three-year $450,000 community benefit sponsorship is a visible display of confidence in the long-term promise of the system. In addition, Kaiser Permanente, the state’s largest nonprofit health plan, will provide in-kind support, expertise and resources for research and evaluation, community and worksite outreach, and volunteer support for special projects.

“We’re excited that so many community partners, foundations and organizations have stepped up to help create Denver B-cycle,” said Parry Burnap, executive director of Denver Bike Sharing, the non-profit that owns and operates the Denver B-cycle system. “From the idea to the ride, Denver B-cycle has and will continue to be a community-driven effort. These partnerships are absolutely essential to the success of bike sharing in Denver.”

Denver B-cycle members can pick up a B-cycle from any of the conveniently located B-stations and drop it off at any other B-station. B-stations are currently located throughout downtown Denver, Capitol Hill, Cherry Creek and University of Denver, among other areas. By the end of the June, Denver will have approximately 500 B-cycles at 45-50 B-stations.

Users can sign up for 7-day ($20), 30-day ($30) or annual memberships ($65) online. Users can also purchase a $5 24-hour membership at the B-cycle station with his/her credit card. Discounts are available for students and seniors. Once registered in the system as a member, there is no charge for the first 30 minutes every time the member checks out a B-cycle from a station. After 30 minutes additional usage fee apply that escalate every half hour thereafter. The fee caps at $65/day.

Denver Bike Sharing receives its funds through grants, sponsorships, memberships and transaction fees.

“Kaiser Permanente supports Denver B-cycle as it promotes a healthy and active mode of transportation for Denver’s residents and guests, “ said Eric France, MD, MSPH, Chief, Prevention Services, Kaiser Permanente Colorado. “Denver B-cycle supports our non-profit mission to build healthier communities. Denver is setting an example for all U.S. cities by laying the foundation for Americans to move more and we’re proud to be part of this effort that makes the healthy choice, the easy choice.”

Along with Kaiser Permanente’s presenting sponsorship, the contributions from key community partners – Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee, the Walton Family Foundation, the Anschutz Foundation, Gates Family Foundation, the University of Colorado Housing Authority, and the Gary Williams Company – helped lay a foundation for success of bike sharing in Denver. In addition to private foundation and corporate support, Denver Bike Sharing was awarded $210,000 in 2009 from the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. No city tax dollars are going to Denver Bike Sharing.

“B-cycle is proud to be involved in the first bike-sharing system in the US and it was a natural fit to launch with the city of Denver , “said Bob Burns, president of B-cycle and general counsel for Trek Bicycle Corporation. “Denver B-cycle will give residents and guests a healthy, sustainable and fun alternative to traveling by car.”

B-cycle was formed by a partnership between Humana, Trek Bicycle and Crispin Porter + Bogusky based on a shared belief that bicycles should be a vehicle for positive health and environmental change as well as an important part of a community’s transportation ecosystem.

Starting in June, the B-cycle bikes will be equipped with RFID chips and computers to track mileage, calories burned and carbon offsets. Riders can monitor their personal fitness, see their contributions to the City’s green efforts and connect with others online at http://denver.bcycle.com.

Denver B-cycle offers residents and visitors an alternative form of public transportation, which supports the City’s Greenprint Climate Action Plan, the Strategic Transportation Plan and the Living Streets Initiative. It is integrated into the larger multi-modal transportation system, including buses and the light rail. This multi-modal approach, along with over 358 miles of bike routes/trails and 300 days of sunshine, makes Denver the perfect City to launch a bike sharing system.

For more information, visit http://denver.bcycle.com.