One of the best parts of my job is that I get to say thanks a lot—thanks to people for their energy, input, partnership and leadership. It always feels good to say thanks, but at times it feels especially great. Like right now.

I recently had the chance to team up with seven individuals for two presentations at the American Planning Association Colorado State Conference and LiveWell Colorado’s Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Summit. The seven people I worked with did the heavy lifting in putting together great presentations about bicycling and walking projects that are going on in their communities, while I made sure we were logistically squared away.

The magnificent seven

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Thanks to these “magnificent seven” who stepped up to share their stories:

• Debbie Wilmot (City of Lafayette)
• Pepper Whittlef (City of Pueblo)
• Paul Sizemore (City of Fort Collins)
• Cindy Campbell (LiveWell Huerfano County)
• Wesley Dismore (City of Arvada)
• Rick Muriby (City of Golden)
• Carlos Hernandez (Fox Tuttle Hernandez Transportation Group)

The picture of progress

These individuals are making important strides to make their various communities more walkable and bikeable. In doing so, they are making their communities more livable by providing people with more options for how to get around for fun, for work and for health.

Here are some of the gems that were woven into the stories that presenters shared:

• Arvada recently completed a forward-thinking Comprehensive Plan with policies that support design and construction of complete streets.
• Lafayette is finalizing a low-stress (low-speed/low-traffic), on-street route circling the community. Users will be guided via wayfinding signs, pavement markings and a map.
• Pueblo built a two-way, parking-protected bike lane demonstration project that runs through its downtown core.
• Fort Collins is seeing successes from community-wide bicycle education programs including Learn to Ride clinics and outreach by Bicycle Ambassadors.
• Huerfano County worked to improve communication with CDOT staff to overcome initial challenges, persisting with dialogue to realize improvements on the ground.
• Golden is implementing a city-wide complete streets policy through repaving projects, private developments and larger (state-funded) interchange projects.
• Boulder is learning that robust, inclusive dialogue in advance could make it easier to remain committed to pilot projects, enabling well-informed, community based decisions on the future of their roadways.

Closing thought

Each story was a bit different, but watching these folks tell them revealed a commonality: progress takes determination, creativity, diplomacy, persistence and, yes, gratitude. So a hearty thanks to the seven I mentioned above. I am grateful that I get to collaborate with you![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]