Bicycle Colorado encourages and promotes bicycling, increases safety, improves conditions and provides a voice for people who ride bicycles in Colorado. Here’s a snapshot of our accomplishments in 2012 toward our mission.

Advocacy

• Colorado rose to No. 4 on the League of American Bicyclists Bicycle-Friendly States list, and remained at the top for bike-friendly laws.
• The second Colorado Bicycle Summit sold out in February, bringing 200 people together from across the state to learn how to improve bicycling.
• Closed the “hit-and-run loophole,” which elevated possible penalties for hit-and-run crimes to those for DUI.
• Assisted the effort to overturn Black Hawk’s bicycle ban.

Community Engagement

• Distributed 8,000 Colorado bike maps and 800 information packets about riding in Colorado.
• Responded to more than 6,000 inquiries from the public about bicycling in our state, including offering information about how to make specific changes on local, county and state roadways.
• Organized and participated in almost a dozen community meetings, talking about the economic impacts of bicycling, bringing together directors of Colorado bicycling events, talking with the Colorado National Monument and Pikes Peak officials about opening roads to bicycles and more.
• Recognized by the Colorado State Patrol for outstanding contribution to bicycling & bicycling events.

Safe Routes to School

• Taught 13,906 elementary students at 31 schools about safely biking and walking to school and helped many kids to ride for the first time.

“I have twin sixth-grade boys who know more about everything than do the adults in their lives. When they heard about your program coming to Bradford, the concept was met with sighs and rolling of the eyes. Much to my delight, they came home last week bubbling with enthusiasm and information. This week, they have ridden their bikes to school twice. When the weather is consistent, I’m sure they will ride more. Thanks for winning over two skeptics! I am a big fan.”
~Margaret Ochoa

Share the Road

• Helped produce two videos about bicycle safety and the 3 Feet to Pass law.
• Provided media presence supporting bicyclists in Colorado.
• Taught bicycle skills and safety workshops at Colorado bicycling events.

Complete Streets

• Participated in every step leading to the adoption of the Colorado Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, designed to implement the
  Colorado Department of Transportation’s vision for increasing bicycling.
• Organized a bicycle facility ride for traffic engineers from across the state to show bicycle facilities that promote safety and those that don’t.
• Helped local advocates negotiate continued bicycle access around the Twin Tunnels east of Idaho Springs during road construction.

Mountain Biking

• Connected mountain bicyclists with land management meetings and trail work opportunities across the state.
• Completion of the Sidewinder Trail in Gunnison Gorge National Conservation area.
• Created trail system plan for Dave Woods trails near Montrose.
• Implemented the creation and tracking of statewide mountain bike projects for each Bureau of Land Management field office.