RSSFri 17 Jul 2009
Advocacy Alert: Jefferson County Commissioners may propose 2010 state legislation to allow bike-bans on county roads
Posted by Piep under News(Courtesy Bicycle Colorado) County commissioners in Jefferson County announced that they are asking for statewide legislation that would let counties ban bicyclists from county roads of their choice, according to an article in the July 7 Columbine Courier. To view the article, click here.
If such legislation were to pass, county roads anywhere in the state could be closed to bicyclists, including critical cycling routes like Deer Creek Canyon in Jefferson County, Swan Mountain Road in Summit County, Horsetooth Reservoir in Larimer County, and many, many more. More key roads that could be closed:
Aspen
Castle Creek
Maroon Creek
Boulder
Left Hand Canyon
St. Vrain Canyon
Carter Lake
Carbondale
Cattle Creek Road
Missouri Heights
Crystal River Road
Dry Park Road
Colorado Springs
Rampart Range Road
Old Stage Road
Gold Camp Road
Rollercoaster Road
Black Forest Road & Mark Sheffel Road
Denver
Deer Creek Canyon
Lookout Mountain
Durango
County Road 250/County Road 203 Loop
Elmore Store Loop
Texas Creek
Fort Collins
Horsetooth Reservoir
Glenwood Springs
Peach Valley Road
Grass Valley Road
Grand Junction
Fruit Loop/East Orchard Mesa
Summit County
Swan Mountain Road
Winter Park
County roads to access Fraser and Winter Park mountain bike trails
July 17th, 2009 at 11:40 am
While we are at it, let’s outlaw walking too. Or at least let’s make petestrians pay a toll for crossing a street. Also, Children should not be allowed to play outside without a permit and must be leashed at all times.
July 17th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Wow, this is insanity. I think some of our elected officials, both local and at the federal level, are certainly on a power trip.
July 17th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I see that some classic rides with bike lanes (eg. left hand canyon, boulder) are included as possible closures. Why can’t we just ticket cyclists and drivers that break the law? Closing access on public roads is ridiculous. That’s like closing a road to cars because people tend to speed on the road.
July 18th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
I look forward to seeing how Bicycle Colorado handles this, and will support their efforts to head off a bike ban in any way I can, whether it be by voting-in bicycle-friendly county commissioners to replace those who would deny anyone their right to use public roads, contributing to a letter-writing campaign, or other creative solution.
Denver Cruisers had a great cure for the pending “police crackdown” by developing an easy warn-and-educate “spoke card” program that the DPD embraced. Maybe a similar approach is in order for the contrary folks, along with enforcement officials, in these other CO counties.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Is there really as much frequency of conflict as the commissioners think? How would they know? Are they out there every week on bikes like we are? I’ve been riding the canyons for several years and have never had a conflict. Who are these people that think there is a war going on out there? Colorado is consistently rated as one of the top cycling states. Passing this legislation would kill that. Anyone who is not willing to work out a reasonable compromise is just plain lazy. I have a better idea. Why don’t we close the roads to cars instead of bicycles?? Aren’t the commissioners supposed to represent the entirety of the population. Aren’t cyclists part of that population? The only people who want these roads closed to cyclists are a very small minority of the people who live on these roads. Surely on an open vote, those people would get overruled. I don’t think the commissioners or the legislators understand that the majority of the population want these roads open for multi-use.