Re: Colorado - Banned bike routes requires alternate routes

February 02, 2011
Rep. Andy Kerr Gears Up Cyclists Rights Bill for Second Reading
http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/02/rep-andy-kerr-gears-up-cyclists-rights-bill-for-second-reading.html

Dome (Denver) - State Representative Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood) passed a bill
today out of the House Transportation committee which would allow Colorado
citizens and visitors the ability to travel to jobs, schools, stores and
attractions by bicycle or electric-assist bicycle without being restricted
from using public streets.  House Bill 11-1092 passed the House
Transportation committee with a 7-6 vote.

“This bill will promote healthy, affordable, pollution-free transportation,
and ensure that Coloradans and tourists are able to travel in every corner
of our state,” said Rep. Andy Kerr.

House Bill 11-1092 states that local authorities may prohibit bicycle
travel in limited cases but only if a nearby alternative route is
designated. The local authority will also have to do an impact study before
the prohibition could go into effect.

A Department of Transportation study showed that nearly 700,000 tourists
ride a bike while visiting Colorado each year. Bike bans affect local
businesses that rely on bicycle tourists and customers.


> Bill requires alternate route for bikes banned from streets
> By Lynn Bartels
> The Denver Post
> Posted: 02/03/2011 01:00:00 AM MST
> http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_17276968
>
> Colorado communities that want to ban bicycling on their streets must
> provide a nearby alternate route under a bill that narrowly passed a
> House committee Wednesday.
>
> House Bill 1092 grew out of the furor over Black Hawk's decision last year
> to prohibit bike riding on nearly every street in town.
>
> "I do feel this is truly an issue that's much, much bigger than one town,"
> said Rep. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, adding other entities are looking at
> similar bike bans.
>
> "That's why it's so important that we address this and make sure the law is
> clear on this," he said.
>
> The House Transportation Committee voted 7-6 in favor of the bill, despite
> criticism it thwarted local control and was an unfunded mandate. The bill
> also requires communities to do a study before instituting a ban.
>
> "We did not feel it is an issue the state needs to mandate to cities and
> counties," said Michael Penny, with the Colorado Municipal League.
>
> Black Hawk officials cited safety issues when the prohibition was enacted
> in January 2010. The roads in Black Hawk are narrow and do not have
> shoulders, and often are crammed with tour buses and delivery trucks
> connected to casinos, they said.
>
> Corey Hoffman, city attorney for Black Hawk, told the committee that the
> city strongly opposes the bill.
>
> "What would happen when a large bus swerves to avoid a bicycle and is
> forced into oncoming traffic coming from the opposite direction?" he said.
> "The city of Black Hawk is unwilling to find out."
>
> Dan Grunig, executive director of Bicycle Colorado, supported the bill,
> saying: "It just makes sure we can travel across the state by bicycle."
>
> Because of the Black Hawk ban, cyclists have to walk their bikes through
> the town. Another option is riding over Berthoud Pass, but that excludes
> most of the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway.
>