RSSFri 1 Apr 2005
The mission of Bike Denver is to promote and encourage bicycling as an energy efficient, non-polluting, healthy, and enjoyable transportation alternative within the City and County of Denver.
NEXT MEETING: May 12, 6-7pm, Bicycle Colorado’s office, Room 236 in Union Station
SAFETY REMINDER
As the weather turns nice and more of us are out riding, be especially careful during the sunrise and sunset hours when visibility is crucial. Wear reflective clothing and be sure to have blinking taillights and a headlight that gives you a good view of the upcoming terrain. Always wear a helmet and ride defensively at all times. Be careful, Be safe.
ITEMS IN THIS MONTH’S NEWSLETTER:
** BikeDenver Action Plan Update
** Help Correct Substandard Bicycle Parking
** News from the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee
** Bicycle Retailers Support Non-Profits
BIKEDENVER ACTION PLAN FOR 2005
ADVOCACY
BikeDenver is working with the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee to help enforce Denver’s bike parking ordinance in an effort to correct substandard bicycle parking accommodations. See special appeal for pictures below.
SAFETY EDUCATION
Planning for the LCI Training class is well underway. BikeDenver and Pikes Peak Area Bikeways Coalition are sponsoring this League of American Bicyclists events hosted by Regis University in Denver. For further information, see the news item below.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
As the new season of festivals and events approaches, BikeDenver is once again preparing to provide safe bicycle parking facilities in an effort to encourage more people to choose bikes over cars. We are currently seeking volunteers for bike parking at the Peoples Fair (June 3-5) and for bike parking as well as the informational booth at the Cycle Safety Circus (June 18). So volunteer now (send an email with your name and phone number to bikeparking@bikedenver.org) and always watch for specifics in upcoming newsletters.
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The final steps have been taken toward becoming a 501c3 not for profit organization. This will provide greater credibility for the organization and allow us to tap into various funding mechanisms in order to further our advocacy and educational activities.
LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BYCYCLISTS (LAB) LCI TRAINING
David Rapp is coordinating registration for the LAB League Cycling Instructor (LCI) course on May 13-15. These classes will be held at Regis University and information will be sent out to all accepted applicants. This training certifies you to be a League Cycling Instructor and gives you the ability to teach classes like Road I to others.
INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE/REPLACE SUBSTANDARD BICYCLE PARKING
BikeDenver members, we need your help enforcing Denver’s bicycle parking ordinance! Section 59-582(e) of the Denver Municipal Code states that non-residential establishments with off-street automobile parking requirements of 15 spaces or more must provide an equivalent 5% for non-automotive alternatives. Thus for every required 20 off-street automobile parking spaces the establishment must provide parking for 1 bicycle. In addition, the 1993 Denver Bicycle Master Plan established that the “Inverted U” rack is the required bicycle parking rack for the City of Denver. An example of this rack, as well as the text of the bicycle parking ordinance can be found at: http://www.denvergov.org/Bicycle_Program/template2606.asp.
As cyclists, we have all encountered situations where the bicycle parking is non-existent, inadequate, or not up to City standards. BikeDenver hopes to engage its membership in helping us identify those sites around town that so not meet the standard. No doubt each of us can personally identify at least 2 or 3 sites that we encounter on a regular basis. Send us your digital photos so we can create an inventory of images to present to City officials. Be sure to include the location of the image. Send your images to: info@BikeDenver.org. Please try to keep your picture file size small enough so as not to overload the mailbox.
Part of BikeDenver’s mission is to promote and encourage bicycling as an enjoyable transportation alternative, and having a secure place to park bicycles certainly makes the ride more enjoyable. Thank you in advance for your help!
NEWS FROM THE MAYOR’S BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The MBAC continues to work on problems with the Curtis Park bicycle routes. Route D-4 uses Curtis Street but Curtis is one-way outbound from downtown for a few blocks north of Broadway and this necessitates using Champa for inbound movements. However Champa Street is one-way and has high-speed traffic.
The bike lanes on Lawrence and Arapahoe Streets in downtown do not continue into Curtis Park. The lanes on Lawrence Street end at Park Avenue while those on Arapahoe Street are not accessible from Curtis Park due to the layout and signals at the intersection of Broadway, Park Avenue and Arapahoe. Other problems exist at Downing and 33rd Avenue due to the transition between the regular grid and the rotated grid street layouts.
Another set of issues revolves around access to the Platte River Greenway. While there is an existing ramp at 29th St. adjacent to the Salvation Army, no designated bicycle routes are linked to it from the downtown/Curtis Park area. One solution would include the use of 26th St., Blake Street and the western sidewalk of Broadway leading up to 29th St. It was pointed out that there will be a new access to the Platte River Trail at Denargo east of Park Avenue as part of new development in the area.
Source: Draft March minutes of the MBAC, James Mackay, Denver Bicycle Program
NEWS FROM BICYCLE COLORADO
HB 1218 sent to the Governor!
The legislation, introduced in the House by Rep. Brophy and sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Tupa, permits bicyclists to ride 2 abreast when traffic will not be impeded. It authorizes bicyclists to indicate a right turn by extending the right arm horizontally. Further, it repeals the requirement that a bicyclist riding along a sidewalk dismount before crossing a roadway, so long as the bicyclist crosses in a manner that is safe for pedestrians and to dismount when required by official traffic control devices or local ordinances. Finally, it requires that, if you request it, the law enforcement officer having jurisdiction must complete a report concerning an injury or death, even if the accident did not involve a motor vehicle. Everyone’s support, emails and phone calls helped ensure the passage of this important legislation.
Colorado Bike Month
June is Colorado Bike Month and June 22nd is Bike to Work Day. Many Colorado communities have free breakfasts, contests, prizes, and post-work festivities. Some businesses also donate a portion of the day’s proceeds to bicycle advocacy groups like Bicycle Colorado. Detailed information can be found on the Bicycle Colorado web site including links to area coordinators like DRCOG and the CDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. Check them out for details in you area! Also, Denver has been designated one of 20 Bike Town USAs for 2005! Shimano and Rodale press (Bicycling and Mountain Biking magazines) will be giving away 50 new bikes in Denver to folks wanting to start bicycle commuting. Details should be available soon.
Source: Bicycle Colorado - www.bicyclecolorado.org
JOB OPENING
Bicycle Colorado has an opening for a Membership & Marketing Director. In general, this person will be responsible for increasing Bicycle Colorado’s membership through membership drives, marketing outreach, events, and other means. For more specifics about the position and application procedures visit their Web site at www.bicyclecolo.org.
CYCLE CIRCUS
The Metro Denver Cycle Safety Circus for Kids event will be held Saturday, June 18th from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Pepsi Center parking lot. This event is a program of the Brain Injury Association of Colorado. Helmets will be available for children and parents for a suggested donation of $10. The helmets were supplied using funds from the Ronald McDonald charity and will be personally fitted to children and adults by Denver Health Paramedics. REI staff will conduct bike safety checks and will do bike maintenance. Children are invited to bring along their bikes to have them checked out, and then ride in the Denver Police Department’s Safety Village.
More information. Lynn Chambers, Dir. of Circus Programs, 303-355-9969 ext. 4 or lynnchambe@aol.com
BikeDenver will be providing bike parking at this event and we will have a safety informational booth as well. We need 5 volunteers to help with these activities, sign up to help by sending an email to bikeparking@bikedenver.org.
BICYCLE RETAILERS SUPPORT NON-PROFITS
Of the 635 retail owner/manager respondents to a recent survey by the Bicycle Retailer and Industry News: 47% belonged to the Nat’l Bicycle Dealers Assoc.; 35% to IMBA; 28% to Bikes Belong; and 15% to the League of Amer. Bicyclists.
NEW INTERESTING WEB SITES
A new bike site has just been developed. www.BikesAMillion.com is an auction site devoted to bikes and bike items only. No posting fees, no commission fees and no hidden fees. Check it out.
If you are planning a bike trip in Europe this year check out www.eurovelo.org. EuroVelo, the European cycle route network, is a project of the European Cyclists’ Federation to develop 12 long-distance cycle routes crossing the whole continent of Europe. The EuroVelo routes are made up of existing and planned cycle routes at regional and national level.
UPCOMING EVENTS - ADVANCE-PLANNING CALENDER
April 29 - May 7
Fruita Fat Tire Festival
www.fruitamountainbike.com
Fruita, CO
May 14-15
League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor (LCI) Training
BikeDenver and Pikes Peak Area Bikeways Coalition
www.bikedenver.org
Regis University, Denver
May 15
Community Classic Bike Tour
www.tccbt.com
Loveland, CO
May 15
Santa Fe Century
www.santafecentury.com
Santa Fe, NM
June 5
Elephant Rock Century
www.elephantrockride.com
Castle Rock, CO
June 11
Tour de Cure
www.diabetes.org
Loveland, CO
June 11
Red Canyon Century
www.redcanyoncentury.com
Canyon City, CO
June 18
Cycle Safety Circus for Kids
Brain Injury Association of Colorado
www.cyclesafety.org
Pepsi Center parking lot, Denver, CO
June 18
Greenwood Goose Chase
www.gvchamber.com
Greenwood Village, CO
June 19 - 25
Ride the Rockies
www.ridetherockies.com
The Denver Post
June 22
Bike to Work Day
www.biketowork.com
Various CO cities and towns
June 26 & July 2
Bicycle Tour of Colorado
www.bicycletourcolorado.com
Aspen, CO
July 9
Triple Bypass
www.teamevergreen.com
Bergen Park, CO
July 9 & 10
Great West MS 150 Bike Tour
www.goforthegorge.com
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
July 16 - 18
Courage Classic
www.couragetours.com
Denver, CO
July 23
Bob Cook Memorial Mount Evans Hill Climb
www.bicyclerace.com
Idaho Springs to Mount Evans, CO
August 20
Moonlight Classic
www.moonlight-classic.com
Denver, CO
August 28
Tour of the Valley
www.discoverourtown.com
Grand Junction, CO
August 28
CoBiz Road Ramble
www.roadramble.com
Larkspur, CO
MEMBERSHIP IN BIKEDENVER means:
1. We have your email address. We send you action alerts and a monthly newsletter.
2. You act on BikeDenver action items, as you feel willing and able.
3. You recruit other bicyclists to join BikeDenver. Membership is FREE!!!
To join BikeDenver send an email to info@bikedenver.org and write “subscribe” in the subject.
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