Re: Colorado - Banned bike routes requires alternate routes

i can't resist pointing out again that the government of Black Hawk 
seemed to think that the very same things that were cited as a threat to 
bicyclists in order to justify their ban somehow were non-issues for 
locals; last time i read the actual ordinances passed there, there was a 
specific exclusion raised almost immediately after the initial ban that 
allowed for the use of bicycles by "bicycling with a local origin". i've 
heard no word yet on whether that's supposed to include bicyclists that 
might have chosen to stay in one of the several overnight facilities in 
town (not to mention visiting any of the 16! casinos listed on the city 
web page),...

the concept of the justifications for this ban still seem so transparent 
to me as to make me wonder how even the mayor in bluejeans and cowboy 
boots could present them with a straight face. bicycles interfering with 
parking downtown? puh-leeze,... obstructing the normal flow of traffic? 
looking at the maps, it would appear that most of the roads that were 
closed off were low speed limits anyway, so how much of an impediment 
could cyclists have really been to anyone reasonable?

</rant>

cheers!
e


On 05/Feb/11 03:38, Dan Lynch wrote:
> That makes me want to cross Black Hawk off my list of places to visit/tour.
> But we must fight against this type of rulings because if it catches on we
> be pushing our bikes instead of riding them all over the country.
> Tell the bus drivers to slow down till it is save to pass.  After all isn't
> that what we do when we drive our cars?  Or should be doing.  I sometimes
> witness some really bad driving out there.
>
> Dan
>
> On Sat, Feb 5, 2011 at 2:58 AM, MH<hoagy-OlwQ/[email protected]>  wrote:
>
>> 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.
>>>
>>>
>>
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>
>