RSSSun 1 May 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: June 9, 6-7pm, Bicycle Colorado’s office, Room 236 in Union Station
VOLUNTEERS GET FREE FOOD AND DRINKS
All it takes is a mere 3 hours of your time to help with either parking bikes or working at our booth to distribute literature and sign up new members.
This will be our 5th year providing bicycle parking for festivals and events. We’re looking forward to providing better services for both our parking patrons and BikeDenver volunteers. Food & beverages will be provided for our volunteers at all events this year. As always, Taste of Colorado supplies our volunteers with their food/beverage coupons. We plan to finish the season with a fun 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
** Help Correct Substandard Bicycle Parking
** News from the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee
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.
We are following up on two new issues that have recently been brought to our attention. Information has surfaced that some monies originally meant to build pedestrian/bicycle bridges over I-25 in the Colo. Blvd area is being diverted to provide for more parking garage spaces. Also, it has been reported that cyclists who receive traffic related tickets must show up in court while motorists are allowed to mail in fines or fees. If you have any further information about either of these issues, please send your comments to: info@bikedenver.org.
SAFETY EDUCATION
Eleven cyclists, including 2 BikeDenver board members, Robert Clark and Tracy Halasinski, successfully completed the LAB League Cycling Instructor (LCI) training and are now certified League Cycling Instructors. This means that they have the knowledge and skills to teach cycle safety classes, which will be a tremendous asset when the Safe Routes to School program swings into full gear. Special thanks to Bicycle Village for coming to the rescue and hosting the training at the last minute after our previous arrangements fell apart.
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 4-5) 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.
In addition to these festivals, BikeDenver will continue to support Stapleton Under the Stars, Taste of Colorado, and VeloSwap. Watch for specifics in upcoming newsletters. BikeDenver provided parking for the first time at Veloswap last year. We hope to add an indoor holding area at VeloSwap for purchased items this year.
BIKE TO WORK DAY
Bike to Work Day is June 22nd. 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. Call your city council member; urge them to support cycling and then ride with them on Bike to Work Day! Detailed information can be found on the Bike to Work Day web site: www.drcog.org/btwd2005.
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.
GOOD NEWS
The new bridge on the Platte River Trail by Wastewater Mgmt. (midway between Alameda Avenue and 6th Avenue) has been replaced and is now open!
NOT GOOD NEWS
When the League of American Bicyclists announced their selections for the most recent Bicycle Friendly Communities Awards, Denver had dropped a notch from the previous Silver level to the Bronze level. Denver is the first community ever to be downgraded. Apparently, recent changes by the city have resulted in a less bicycle-friendly environment.
BikeDenver is attempting to verify feedback that the above noted diversion of funds from bridges to garages plus the elimination of all police funding for bike education in schools led to this downgrade. We plan to do everything possible to encourage Denver to reverse these actions and move forward by developing complete streets, and improving safety education programs for both bicyclists and motorists. Information is available at www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org
INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE/REPLACE SUBSTANDARD BICYCLE PARKING
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. As cyclists, we have all encountered situations where the bicycle parking is non-existent, inadequate, or not up to City standards and BikeDenver is working to identify those sites.
No doubt each of us can personally identify at least 2 or 3 sites that we encounter on a regular basis. So take your camera along on your next ride and send us digital photos so we can create an inventory of images to present to City officials. Be sure to include the location of each image and send them to: info@BikeDenver.org. Please try to keep your picture file size small so as not to overload the mailbox.
Thank you in advance for your help!
BIKE SAFETY FOR KIDS
A group led by Sue Matzick of the Denver Health & Hospital Authority and District 9 Councilwoman Judy Montero are in the process of drafting a Denver city ordinance that would require all children riding a bicycle to wear helmets. The proposal currently includes an educational component and provision for low cost helmets. The BikeDenver will support such an effort only if there are adequate monies included for the education piece and for ensuring that low-income kids are able to obtain helmets. We do not support a straight punitive helmet law and will continue to monitor this effort.
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.
NEWS FROM THE MAYOR’S BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
I-25 Bike/Ped Bridges
Bridges to the Colorado Center and University RTD Park n Ride are mentioned in the Southeast Corridor EIS Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and RTD previously included these bridges as elements of the FasTracks initiative. Since June of 2004, these bridges have not been defined in RTD documents, however, Southeast Corridor contracts have been amended to include additional parking for cars. The MBAC voted to send a letter to Mayor Hickenlooper defining the committee’s continued interest in these bridges and requesting that the city communicate to RTD that the city still wants the bridges to be provided.
Curtis Park Bike Routes
The neighborhood committee continues to work on bicycle route problems and feasible solutions. They have met with numerous neighborhood groups and representatives and have received strong support for better bicycle facilities and connections. In particular, they want to:
1) Extend the existing bike lane on Lawrence St. from Park Avenue West up to 34th Avenue;
2) Add a bike lane on Larimer Street (to compliment the existing bike lane on Lawrence)
Also, if Stout and Larimer are converted to 2-way operations, a street layout similar to Montview Boulevard – including bike lanes – is desirable. The MBAC moved to recommend that bike lanes be provided immediately on Lawrence and Larimer. The committee will continue to research the issue of a bike lane on Stout street.
12th Avenue Ramp to Cherry Creek Trail
Preliminary plans for the ramp have been drawn up. The Landmark Preservation Commission has reviewed and approved these plans, with some members indicating a personal interest in seeing the ramp provided. No date has been set for implementation.
Potential Realignment of Krameria at Colfax
A developer who owns sites at the NE and SW corners of this intersection is willing to provide the necessary right of way so that the current off-set layout for Krameria could be realigned to cross Colfax on a diagonal. The only city cost might be for upgrading the traffic signals. The proposed layout would provide dedicated left turn lanes and, if the signal is an actuated signal, bicycle detection will be needed as Krameria St. is used by bike route D-17.
Source: April minutes and draft minutes of the May MBAC meetings., James Mackay, Denver Bicycle Program
NEWS FROM BICYCLE COLORADO
Sen. Harkin’s Complete Streets Amendment Comes Up Short
Senator Tom Harkin’s Complete Streets Amendment to the federal transportation bill failed Wednesday, May 11, on a 44 to 53 vote (3 non-voting.) This nationwide grassroots effort produced some strong bipartisan results. For the first time in the three-year debate on this bill, Complete Streets came into the national spotlight and finished only five votes short! This is a tremendous gain for an idea that just started to attract political attention last year.
Colorado’s Senators split in support of the amendment: Senator Wayne Allard- NAY and Senator Ken Salazar- YEA. Please thank both Senator Allard and Senator Salazar for their attention to this issue. Let them know that complete streets are a priority for Colorado and we would like their support for efforts in the future. Please keep communications positive, this issue is not over and we will benefit by keeping our message professional and courteous. Contact info for the Senators and more about complete streets at www.BicycleColorado.org/for/CompleteStreets
U.S. Senate Passes Transportation Bill
The U.S. Senate passed its version of the federal transportation bill on Tuesday, May 17. Earlier in the day, Senator Sessions from Alabama introduced an amendment to cut many programs that fund bicycle and pedestrian projects. It was soundly defeated 16 to 84 with Colorado Senators, Allard and Salazar, voting in support of bikes! The bill next goes to a conference committee to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions. Details of the Senate version are at www.americabikes.org
Source: Bicycle Colorado – www.bicyclecolorado.org
JOB OPENING
Bicycle Colorado is seeking an Office & Volunteer Coordinator. This half-time position is based in our downtown Denver office. Duties include volunteer coordination, membership processing, administrative support, and light bookkeeping. Please forward this posting to any interested individuals. For a complete job description visit www.bicyclecolorado.org/to/jobs.
UPCOMING EVENTS – ADVANCE-PLANNING CALENDER
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 11-12
Rio 24 Hours of Steamboat
www.routtcountyriders.org
Steamboat, 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
Copper Mountain, CO
July 23
Bob Cook Memorial Mount Evans Hill Climb
www.bicyclerace.com
Idaho Springs to Mount Evans, CO
August 12-13
Kent Eriksen Tour de Steamboat
www.routtcountyriders.org
Steamboat, CO
August 20
Moonlight Classic
www.moonlight-classic.com
State Capital, Denver, CO
August 28
Tour of the Valley
www.discoverourtown.com
Grand Junction, CO
August 28
Griffith Centers for Children’s 12th Annual Road Ramble
www.roadramble.com
Larkspur, CO
September 11
2005 Buffalo Bicycle Classic
www.buffalobicycleclassic.com
CU Boulder, 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.