Clif Bar and BikeDenver are pleased to announce their selection of MIGHTYkarma as July’s Bicycle Friendly Business of the Month.  Principle Jeff Martin says: “At MIGHTYkarma, our job is to create powerful advertising and design for clients. Our bigger mission is to inspire our clients to develop a “giving back” mentality within their business model. Commuting to work is part of our “good deeds through great work” philosophy. And we encourage employees to find alternate means of transportation with $200 towards that goal when they start.”

You’ll find a menagerie of bikes at MIGHTYkarma (some might even be available for use by clients!), and at least one former employee commuted most days by bike with an 80-lb canine friend hitching a ride in a bike trailer.  You may see Martin on any number of bikes around town or out on the trails, and you can catch his cyclecross debut this coming fall… (Pictured Right: Martin at the Finish Line of The Denver Century Ride)

At BikeDenver, we’re big fans of MIGHTYkarma.  We’ve been their pro-bono client since mid-2009, and since then, they’ve helped us refresh our logo and other materials, design collateral to support our “Ride On” campaign, and launch our first radio PSAs.  Hear them here.

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.

MIGHTYkarma is a mindful group of talented people devoted to defining how communication can empower both brands and humanity. Motivated by what we love, and how we live, we are driven to do more than create ads.  Through our shared success with clients, we give 10% of our profits to charity each year.  www.mightykarma.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

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

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, Little Man Ice Cream, Denver Water, Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), and Sweet Action 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:

June 2010 – Sweet Action Ice Cream

May 2010 – Denver Regional Council of Governments

April 2010 – Denver Water

March 2010 – Little Man Ice Cream

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

(Text reprinted from Bicycle Colorado enewsletter) Bicyclists have long been required to ride along the shoulder for portions of Interstate 70 through the mountains due to a lack of parallel routes. Two bike path projects underway look to change that, providing safer and more scenic routes for bicyclists.

Bakerville-Loveland Trail Nearing Completion

Currently under construction, the Bakerville-Loveland Trail will complete a missing link for one of Colorado’s major cross-state bicycling routes.

Efforts led by Team Evergreen and Bike Jeffco brought together Clear Creek County officials, CDOT and the US Forest Service. Bicycle Colorado supported these project participants with recommendations on trail specifications and signage. Trail construction is expected to be complete by late summer/fall 2010.

Genesee-El Rancho Trail Planning Begins

Plans and funding for the Bakerville-Loveland Trail triggered new discussions about similar bike route needs from Genesee to El Rancho and Evergreen Parkway, another location where bicyclists have no option but the I-70 shoulder.

Funding is expected to come from the 2009 Colorado FASTER bill. Formal planning discussions have begun with Team Evergreen, CDOT, Jefferson County, and Bicycle Colorado.

Grab your friends and say “Wheel Eat Out!” on Thursday, July 29th. Jonesy’s Eat Bar at 400 E. 20th Ave. (Logan and 20th) is hosting BikeDenver’s first ever “Wheel Eat Out!” fundraiser.  

Bring your friends and family and join your fellow cyclists for great food and drinks at Denver’s original Gastro Pub.  Jonesy’s is generously donating 10% of their receipts to Bike Denver, so the more you eat and drink, the more money they will donate to BikeDenver.  Their chef is creating a special bike-themed dish and their bartenders will be serving a special bike-themed cocktail.
Bike parking will be provided by yours truly.  Stay tuned for more details! Learn about Jonesy’s: Our_Story.html

Meet the organizers of the Highlands 4th of July Kids Bike Parade, our July Bike Heroes of the Month!  Parade History: The parade began in 2008 with 650 participants, and continued last year with over 1,000. Yael, Paul, Mary and Erin got it started because they wanted to create a parade for their kids on their decorated bikes. This year’s parade started at 32nd Ave and Zuni, and traveled down to Hirshorn Park where everyone enjoyed a free BBQ, live music, a pie baking contest and a 60 ft ice cream sundae. See the CBS4 video here: Pint Sized Parade.

BikeDenver’s Bike Hero of the Month Awards highlight different people each month, and help encourage other people to bike by telling the Hero’s personal story. The goal of the Bike Hero Awards Program is to showcase the diversity of citizen-cyclists and the people who support them in Denver. (Pictured below from left to right: Yael Nyholm, Paul Tamburello, Mary Groner (seated) and Erin Weber).

Their Stories:

Erin says: “The parade is an amazing event for bike riders.  I love the event because the children of Highland look forward to it every year.  It is their chance to decorate their bikes and shine as the parade leaders and for the whole community to gather and have a great time.”

Paul says: “The impetus for me to help get the parade started was my experience as a child and having a 4th of July parade in my neighborhood.  In many ways it is also what created a great desire for me to cycle.  As a child I couldn’t wait to be like the big kids in the parade with their bike all decorated up! I remember kids would keep their decorations on as long as they could after the parade. I will never forget the first time I rode in the parade it was like I landed on the moon and jammed the flag in the ground to claim it as my own!”

Yael says: “My whole family has always been passionate about bicycling (after college my husband bicycled from his home in Indiana on his way to Portland, and stopped in Boulder to visit some friends and never left).  Similar to Paul I have great memories of decorating my bike and riding around the neighborhood.  When my  daughter was 4 and doing really well on her bike, I went looking for a parade for her to participate in, and I couldn’t find one. So I did the next logical thing, I made one for her. My husband showed up with my son in the Charriot and my daughter behind them on the tag along-it was awesome! The community  embraced the event and now it has become an integral part of the NW Denver Summer events.  My son rode his own  bike last year in the parade for the first time (he was 3), it was one of his main motivations and he was so proud of himself for making it. The parade  celebrates the wonderful things about summer in Denver, bikes, food and  community!”

(Yael’s husband Jim Bothwell with kids Abigail, age 5, and Ian, age 3)

See more photos of the parade: 2009 Parade Photos Check out the event Facebook page: here. Check out the North Denver Tribune article: here.

BikeDenver’s Executive Director Piep van Heuven says: “We introduced the Bike Hero awards because we want to encourage a friendly environment for and public image of bicyclists in Denver. One of the ways we can do this is to showcase the different faces of and great stories about people in our community, like Yael, Paul, Mary and Erin, who ride bikes or help others get out there and ride. Through the Bike Hero awards, BikeDenver honors bicyclists of all ages and walks of life, from the first time bicyclist to the rain or shine bicyclist!  We all know people (our neighbors, co-workers, family members or community leaders) who inspire us to reach for the handlebars instead of the car keys. Take a moment to look around you and help BikeDenver recognize the people in our community who are making a difference for Denver, one ride at a time!”

Public Meeting

Colorado Center Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge – Notice of Public Meeting

The public is invited to join the City and County of Denver for a project overview regarding the Colorado Center Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge on July 28, 2010 at 5:30pm at Dave & Buster’s Banquet Hall (2000 S. Colorado Blvd.).

The goal of this project is to design and build a “signature bridge” which will serve as a major missing link in the bicycle system.  The new structure will provide much needed pedestrian and bicycle connectivity across I-25 and be located between Colorado Blvd and Evans Ave. 

For information contact Ed Romero (303)-803-2941

SIGN UP TO BE A BIKEDENVER VOLUNTEER at Urban Assault

CHECK IT OUT: YouTube Video of New Belgium’s Urban Assault

DENVER CO – Sunday, July 25th Benefiting: Bike Denver

UAR in the Mile High City – the 2nd biggest UAR in the country! Last year’s race featured a roller coaster obstacle, a sweet new venue, and tons of prizes. UAR is planning to ramp it up again in 2010. Sign up before this one sells out, registration will be capped this year!

Start: Sunday 7/25 9am

Location: Skyline Park 16th and Arapahoe

Learn more about Urban Assault and register for the race: here.  To volunteer, click the link at the top of the page.

BikeDenver will provide bike parking for the 4th Annual Summer Brew Fest! Ride to Mile High Station on July 23rd and sample beers from over 35 breweries. The beneficiary is Swallow Hill Music Association who will be providing music by Chadzilla and the Asteroids. Sample a wide variety of craft brews in your souvenir glass. Space is limited to 2,000 people and this event does sell out. Get your tickets now!

A special VIP session will start at 6pm which includes a special beer and cheese pairing from Haystack Mountain Goat Cheese. This session is limited capacity and includes general admission sampling as well from 7-10pm.

WHAT: Beer tasting with over 70 samples from 35+ breweries
Tickets – $30 advance, $35 door www.denverbrewfest.com
VIP Tickets – $40 advance, $45 door
WHERE: Mile High Station www.milehighstation.com
WHEN: 6-10pm VIP, 7-10pm GA on Friday, July 23rd, 2010
WHO: This is a RightOn Productions event benefiting Swallow Hill Music Association www.swallowhill.org.