RSSFri 1 Jul 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: August 11, 6-7pm, Bicycle Colorado’s office, Room 236 in Union Station
BIKEDENVER NEEDS MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER
BikeDenver currently has no membership dues — providing bicycle parking for festivals and events is our main source of funding. But doing so requires a lot of volunteer help and time from members. All it takes is a mere 3 hours of your time helping with bike parking or working at the BikeDenver booth to distribute literature and sign up new members.
As always, Taste of Colorado supplies our volunteers with their food/beverage coupons. In addition, there is a fun annual volunteer appreciation dinner at HandleBar & Grill.
SO VOLUNTEER NOW BY SENDING YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER TO: bikeparking@bikedenver.org.
ITEMS IN THIS MONTH’S NEWSLETTER:
** BikeDenver Action Plan Update
** Denver’s Drop To Bronze Level
** News from the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee
** Summer Ski Train Special for Members
** VELOSWAP Online Marketplace
BIKEDENVER ACTION PLAN FOR 2005
ADVOCACY
RTD is taking the lead to try to fill a gap with a pedestrian/bicycle bridge at Colorado Blvd and I-25. Bill Elfenbein, RTD Board Chairman, recently informed BikeDenver that RTD will host a meeting of governmental agencies on this topic. The agenda will focus on a discussion of possible strategies and plans that would address access across I-25 in the area between Colorado and Dahlia. However, the status of a pedestrian/bicycle bridge at I-25 and University Blvd remains uncertain.
The likely costs of the bridge structure and needed right of way is being determined by the staff of the Denver Bicycle Program to help define the total scope of the project. They are looking to DRCOG for possible federal transportation enhancement dollars to fund part of the bridge.
More information about both of these bridges can be obtained by going to www.LightRailStations.org. You can also submit comments concerning the bridges on this website.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
We are currently seeking volunteers for bike parking at the Taste of Colorado, the big 4-day event held at Denver’s Civic Center. BikeDenver will again be providing two secure bicycle parking facilities in an effort to encourage more people ride their bikes to the festival. SO VOLUNTEER NOW. Send an email with your name and phone number to: bikeparking@bikedenver.org.
In addition, BikeDenver continues to inventory areas where bicycle parking accommodations are either non-existent, inadequate, or not up to City standards. Send your nominations for worst example of bike parking to info@BikeDenver.org. Pictures are helpful.
DENVER’S DROP TO BRONZE LEVEL
BikeDenver is working to reverse the recent downgrade in Denver’s status in the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) Bicycle Friendly Communities program. Responding to our request, LAB sent a letter detailing actions that need to be taken in order to return to the Silver level. We have sent a copy of that feedback letter to the Mayor, various city agencies, CDOT, RTD, DRCOG and other stakeholders. The participation of many organizations will be required to develop and implement an action plan.
BikeDenver will continue to work closely with the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Denver Bicycle Program, Bicycle Colorado and other advocacy and policy-making groups to ensure that this issue moves forward.
NEWS FROM THE MAYOR’S BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
PUBLIC MEETING CONCERNING PATHWAY ACROSS ST. CHARLES REC CENTER
The Parks Department continues to question the D-9 route as a shared use pathway across the St. Charles Recreation Center grounds. A public meeting to help resolve the issue will be held on August 9th, 5:30-7:30pm at the St. Charles Recreation Center, 3777 Lafayette Street. This facility was called for in the Bicycle Master Plan and substantial improvements have already been made west of the recreation center to connect with the Platte River Trail. Bicycle community participation at this meeting is essential! For more information call: 720-913-0630.
BIKES AND LIGHTRAIL
The peak hour restrictions against bikes on-board RTD light rail trains have been removed for the summer. RTD wants to see if they can improve accessibility without compromising safety, courtesy, and cleanliness. There had been delays on light rail trains resulting from removing bicyclists who had boarded during peak hours - a nearly daily occurrence. There is no formal evaluation program for the pilot program. To date, there has only been one complaint and several compliments.
Source: Draft minutes of the July MBAC meeting, James Mackay, Denver Bicycle Program.
NEWS FROM BICYCLE COLORADO
PROGRESS ON CENTRAL CITY BAN
Bicycle Colorado, Bike Jeffco, and Team Evergreen are working together to lift the ban on bicyclists on the Central City Parkway. Our efforts resulted on getting the bike ban onto the agenda of the last two Central City town council meetings where we presented our case.
We uncovered the city’s true reason for the ban: a steep, narrow, shoulderless section which is currently the only route connecting the Parkway to Central City. The council is now looking into our proposed alternate route connecting bicyclists from the Parkway to Central City via a low-traffic residential road. Some minor construction and signage will be needed to provide bicycle-only access and the initial council response seems positive.
BIKES AND TOLL ROADS
One additional bicycle-related change from the 2005 Colorado legislative session is found in House Bill 1148 (Madden and Mitchell). This bill clarified the state’s toll road rules and in doing so specifically added that bikeways and sidewalks are eligible for funding from collected tolls.
The change is an improvement but is still far from a complete streets policy. Bicycle facilities should be included in every project unless exceptional reasons justify their exclusion. Even with this new change citizens have to work to get bikes included in a project. Bicycle Colorado is leading efforts to get complete streets in Colorado. For general information visit www.CompleteStreets.org.
Source: Bicycle Colorado - www.bicyclecolorado.org
SUMMER SKI TRAIN SPECIAL FOR BIKEDENVER MEMBERS
The Ski Train is offering a special adult coach fare of only $39 for Bike Denver members as well as their friends and family. Children and seniors are just $34. To make your reservations call 303-296-4754 and mention this promotion or book online at www.skitrain.com. Just make sure you put BIKE DENVER in the comments field to receive this great rate! Bike transport on the train is FREE!
2005 RIDE FOR 65 ROSES
The Ride for 65 Roses, a benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, will get underway Saturday, September 17, 2005. Come ride along the beautiful back roads of Boulder County, Louisville, & Niwot. Century riders can even test their abilities in the legendary Left Hand Canyon! Ride begins at Eldorado Artesian Springs Facility, 1783 Dogwood Street, Louisville with 25, 65 and 100 mile rides with and varying start times. Register and get more info at www.ridefor65roses.com.
VELOSWAP ONLINE MARKETPLACE
Veloswap just announced the launch of the veloswap.com website, an online marketplace for bicycle suppliers, retailers, clubs, teams, event directors, and individual cycling enthusiasts. More information about Veloswap is available here: http://www.velonews.com/pr/prn/articles/8269.0.html
BICYCLE FACTS
According to Outdoor Industry Foundation’s most recent study: Outdoor Recreation Participation in the United States, 79 million Americans (age 16 and older) got on a bike in 2004, making it continue to be one of the most popular of the 22 human powered outdoor activities in the United States.
During 2004, paved road bicycling Participants averaged 33 outings — yielding a total of 2.6 billion outings among all Participants. Those who only got on a bike one time represented only 7% of all participants.
Source: Outdoor Industry Foundation, Boulder, CO - www.outdoorindustry.org
UPCOMING EVENTS - ADVANCE-PLANNING CALENDER
August 12-13
Kent Eriksen Tour de Steamboat
www.routtcountyriders.org
Steamboat, CO
August 13
Stonewall Century
www.spcycling.org
LaVeta, CO
August 20
Moonlight Classic
Benefit for Seniors, Inc.
www.moonlight-classic.com
State Capital, Denver, CO
August 28
Tour of the Valley
www.discoverourtown.com
Grand Junction, CO
August 28
12th Annual Road Ramble
Griffith Centers for Children
www.roadramble.com
Larkspur, CO
September 11
2005 Buffalo Bicycle Classic
www.buffalobicycleclassic.com
CU Boulder, CO
September 17
2005 Ride for 65 Roses
www.ridefor65roses.com
Benefit for Cystic Fibrosis
Louisville, CO
October 22
17th Annual Subaru Denver Veloswap and Sports Expo
www.VeloSwap.com
National Western Complex
Denver, Colorado
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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