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…
