One opinion writer thinks Denver is getting more credit than it deserves as a bike friendly city, but to be fair, a lot of cities have gotten good at overselling their bike friendliness.
Thierry Backes writes an opinion piece for The Denver Post that pokes holes in the city of Denver's reputation as a bike friendly city.
After noting that several national rankings put Denver near the top of bike-friendly rankings, and the city of Denver's website praises the city as a paradise for bikers, Backes announces the following: "I think it is not. After one month of commuting, I think that Denver is at the very best an OK city to bike in. Biking here feels uncomfortable, annoying even. It can be slow and sometimes downright unsafe."
After listing some of the vital statistics of the Denver bike infrastructure network, Backes also reports that the city has a new Mobility Action Plan that will invest $2 billion over 12 years with the following major goals: "reduce single-occupant vehicle commuters from 73 percent to 50 percent by 2030; increase the percentage of transit commuters to 15 percent; and raise the bike or pedestrian commuters to 15 percent as well." A $937 million general obligation bond, expected to be before voters in November, will include $30 million for bicycle infrastructure.
Still, Backes is skeptical that initiative will be enough to convince motorists that more lane space and signal priorities should be given to bikers, the opinion piece includes plenty of anecdotes to build that case.
FULL STORY: Denver is inconvenient, annoying, slow and unsafe for cyclists
Denver Could Add Bike Lanes to Major Streets
City planners say limiting protected bike infrastructure to smaller streets isn’t enough to create a safe, connected bikeway network that reaches all parts of the city.
Less Paint, More Barriers, Make for Better Urban Cycling
New research from the University of Colorado Denver and the University of New Mexico sheds light on how to make cities safer for cyclists and other road users and refutes some assumptions about bike safety, such as "safety-in-numbers."
NACTO to Help Five Cities Design and Build Low-Carbon Transportation Infrastructure
Five cities will help the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) prove that urban streets can provide the location for a drastic shift in the carbon emissions status quo.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk
High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.
Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap
The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.
Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan
Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont