We are in the home stretch!  Tell the City you want to see the Colorado Blvd. Bike Bridge built! Take Action: Public Comment is being accepted until December 8th on 4 different design recommendations. Get heard here: Public Comment Form.

We are so excited that Denver has designed and is the final planning stages to build the long-awaited access bridge that will get people safely across  I-25 at Colorado Boulevard!  The bridge, which also provides access to the RTD Light Rail Station, is fully funded and in final review. Public comment was invited  at a public meeting on Thursday, November 17th.  If you missed the meeting, you still have an opportunity to provide feedback via the public comment form (see link above).

Why your voice matters: There is some focused local opposition to this project, and we need your help to tell the City that this project is important and should be built as planned to benefit the greater community.  Please take a few minutes to complete the public comment form and e-mail City Council and let them know you want Denver to BUILD THE COLORADO BLVD. BRIDGE!

Your email can be directed to District 6 Councilmember Charlie Brown (the bridge is in his district), City Council Chair Chris Nevitt, At-Large City Councilmembers Robin Kniech and Debbie Ortega, and your councilmember.  Find your councilmember contact information HERE.

Your City Councilmember -Denver City Council Contacts

• The need for a bridge was identified and discussed as far back as 1999 and resulted in the Southeast Corridor EIS Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan recommendation for a separate overpass.

Get ready to welcome the Denver Bicycle Cafe, a full service bike shop serving local craft beer, locally roasted coffee, and a healthy serving of bicycle culture!  With a “soft opening” planned for this Sunday the 22nd (11am-4pm), you can be among the first to check out their cool new renovation in the old Uptown Pasquini’s location at 1308 17th Avenue.

Soft openings  give a new business a chance to test out their systems and train staff before officially opening their doors. The Denver Bicycle Cafe will have a busy week this week, completing their inspections and getting staff and space all spiffed up and ready to go!   BikeDenver is excited to see this cool concept of bikes, beer and coffee get off the ground, and we’re honored to be the soft opening beneficiary – Cafe proceeds on Sunday will be donated to BikeDenver.

Co-owners and managers Jessica Caouette and Peter Roper chose the 17th Avenue location because they noticed a gap in bicycle service in the neighborhood. “Bicyclists need a place close to home, with mechanics they can trust,” Roper says. Added Caouette, “We think we can be that place for the bicyclists in the neighborhood. Plus it’s a great location to start a bar and coffee shop with City Park just down the street and so many active people in the neighborhood.”

The Denver Bicycle Cafe will be open for business during the week of Thanksgiving and will take Thursday off for the holiday. Denver’s bicycle, beer and coffee enthusiasts can keep up with construction progress, opening specials and menus on the Cafe’s website (http://denverbicyclecafe.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/denverbikecafe) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/denverbikecafe).

Related articles:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41953889/ns/travel-active_travel/t/growing-number-bike-cafs-gear-serve-cyclists/#.Trc4QkMUq7s

http://www.ncbr.com/article.asp?id=60716

Photo credits Jake Balvin.

Jeff has worked for the Regional Transportation District, more commonly known as RTD, for 21 years. Having lived in Denver for about 48 years and been a bus driver for 10 of those, this month’s Bike Hero definitely knows his way around these bustling city streets.

Since retiring from bus driving, Jeff has been putting his knowledge and experience to good use by supervising and approving prospective bus drivers for private busing companies. He is also a big advocate for incorporating bicycle awareness into the training. Some of these efforts can be seen in the weekly RTD newsletters handed out to instructors which now include a bicycle information section reminding drivers to be cautious and leave a three-foot space around bikes.

Jeff is also a big fan of biking. He loves his Pinarello bike and often jokes that “most guys have a mid-life crisis by 50 and buy a Corvette and find a pretty 25 year old girl, well my Pinarello is my Corvette but I’m still waiting on the 25 year old.” From riding, he not only gets an overall feeling of well being but also a healthier lifestyle, in fact, he’s lost 40 pounds. But biking isn’t just a solitary activity for Jeff, it’s also a great way to get together with his friends and coworkers. As a part of the RTD bike team called Champions of Transit (seen in the photo to the right), he and his teammates participate in events such as the Tour de Cure and MS 150.

BikeDenver thanks Jeff for striving to make Denver a safer place to ride and for being a true Bike Hero.

[Submitted by Courtney Burkett]

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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.

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 Andy, 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!”

If you love biking the Cherry Creek Trail, heads up! Though the second trail closure started in October 2011, it will continue through January 2012. All pedestrians and cyclists will be detoured off the trail. But don’t worry too much, a new and improved trail will be ready early this spring!

You parked bikes, poured beers, gave directions, launched Denver’s 1st Ciclovia event with us, shepherded Urban Assault riders through ridiculous obstacles… and SOOO much more! We simply couldn’t do it all without you! It’s time to celebrate another great BikeDenver event season, and recognize our very special volunteers – that’s YOU!  If you volunteered with us this year, we invite you attend BikeDenver Volunteer Night on November 15th!  Please RSVP today: Yes, I’m coming to volunteer night!.

Where: Stoney’s Bar & Grill  – stoneysbarandgrill.com

When: Tuesday, November 15th – 5:30pm to 8:00pm

What: Tasty grub and libations, and some succinct speechifying to recognize a few very special people.  But mostly.. a great opportunity to hang out, talk shop, meet bikey people just like you, and be celebrated in a fun and relaxed setting!

RSVP Here (and more information): Oh yeah, we forgot to mention that there will be party favors, beer tickets, and… did we mention the party favors?    Please please please RSVP right now so we can get a handle on attendance and plan a great evening!  Thanks!  RSVP here: Yes, I’m coming to volunteer night!.

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BikeDenver Volunteer Night is made possible by a generous donation from the O’Sullivan Law Firm, specializing in personal injury law in bicycle, motorcycle, scooter and pedestrian crash-related injuries.   Scott O’Sullivan will be on-site to meet you and talk bikes and legal issues.  Thanks, Scott!  O’Sullivan Law Firm