Posts tagged riding
Boulder OSMP to Open Lower Chapman Drive Trail
Jan 5th
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) will open the new Chapman Drive Trail and Trailhead to the public on Jan. 7, 2013. This trail is an extension of the current Chapman Drive Trail that begins at Realization Point on Flagstaff Drive. Visitors will be able to travel from Boulder Canyon Drive (SH 119) at the Red Lion Inn all the way to Flagstaff Drive.
The new trail was made possible by the recent purchase of the Schnell property. The 2005 Visitor Master Plan proposed the use of Chapman Drive as a multi-use trail and the new section was included in the recent West Trail Study Area Plan. There is a small trailhead with parking at the northern end of the trail along SH 119.
“At this time, we are opening the trail to pedestrians, equestrians, telemark skiers and snow shoers,” said Annie McFarland, OSMP Visitor Access Coordinator. “Bikes will also be allowed, going uphill only. Cyclists not able to complete the 2.5 mile ride uphill, must dismount and walk bicycles downhill if they wish to return to the trailhead at SH 119. Cyclists completing the trail have the option of riding down Flagstaff Drive to Canyon back to the trailhead.”
All users must remain on the trail and no dogs are permitted north of the Tenderfoot Trail intersection.
Throughout January OSMP will meet with key stakeholder groups and interested parties to seek feedback on how best to manage visitor use – in particular bike and dog access on the lower part of Chapman Drive. OSMP will conduct an analysis of each alternative and then develop a matrix of possible management options. The department will host a mid-February open house for public feedback. Individuals may also submit comments regarding visitor use by email. Go to www.osmp.org and click on ‘Contact us’ on the bottom right of the home page. In your email, specify ‘Chapman Drive Trail’.
More information including a map of the area can be found at:
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For additional trail updates on OSMP properties, please call 303-441-3440 or visit www.osmp.org.
Boulder renewed as a Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists
Oct 19th
Across the U.S., bicycling is on the rise – thanks in part to communities like Boulder taking steps to make riding easy, accessible and safe. Today, the League of American Bicyclists (LoAB) announced the latest round of Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) and renewed Boulder’s standing as a Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community. The Platinum award recognizes Boulder’s continued commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investments in education, infrastructure, policies and promotion.
“We are excited that Boulder recognizes that simple steps to make biking safe and comfortable pay huge dividends in civic, community and economic development,” said League President Andy Clarke. “Bicycling is more than a practical, cost-effective solution to many community challenges – it’s a way to make Boulder a place where people don’t just live and work, but thrive.”
The BFC program is revolutionizing the way communities evaluate quality of life, sustainability and transportation networks by allowing them to measure their progress toward improving bicycle-friendliness. The free program provides a roadmap for building a Bicycle Friendly Community and the application process itself has become a rigorous educational tool.
In September, the league announced the “Diamond” level designation to raise the bar for communities like Boulder to move beyond Platinum. The LoAB will visit Boulder in December to conduct an audit and work with the local cycling community on creating clear goals to achieve Diamond status. The primary measure of Diamond designation is the number of people riding and community satisfaction. The five levels of the award – diamond, platinum, gold, silver and bronze – provide a clear incentive for communities to continuously improve.
“Boulder’s Platinum designation renewal recognizes many years of sustained effort by the community, city staff and local policy makers,” said Director of Public Works for Transportation Tracy Winfree. “It is a great accomplishment and celebrates the community’s commitment to bicycle friendliness. Given the City of Boulder’s ethic of ‘continuous improvement,’ we appreciate the league’s challenge for communities like Boulder to reach beyond Platinum to the new Diamond designation.”
Since the BFC program’s inception, more than 500 communities have applied and there are now 242 Bicycle Friendly Communities in 47 states across America. To learn more about the Bicycle Friendly Communities, visit www.bikeleague.org/community.
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Fifth annual Lighten Up Boulder safety campaign offers discounts for bike lights
Sep 28th
As fall sets in and the days get shorter, the City of Boulder, Community Cycles, the University of Colorado (CU) and local businesses are teaming up for the fifth annual Lighten Up Boulder safety campaign to encourage the use of bike lights for nighttime riding. The campaign offers 10 to 20 percent discounts on select bike light accessories at participating Boulder businesses.
Bike light coupons can be printed from the GOBoulder.net website or picked up during business hours at the following locations:
- the GO Boulder office at 1739 Broadway, second floor,
- the Community Cycles shop at 2805 Wilderness Place, Suite 1000; or
- the CU Bike Station on campus at the University Memorial Center (UMC).
The coupons can be redeemed at any of the eight different retailers listed on the coupon and are valid through Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012.
The campaign also reminds cyclists that biking at night without proper lighting is both illegal and unsafe. Without bike lights, cyclists cannot see what’s ahead and drivers cannot see cyclists. The Boulder Revised Code requires all cyclists traveling between sunset and sunrise to equip their bikes with both a mounted white light on the front and a red reflector on the back (B.R.C. 7-5-11: Bicycle Headlight and Reflector Required).
“Riding your bike at night without adequate lighting can result in dangerous situations for you and others, as well as a $50 fine,” said Bicycle/Pedestrian Transportation Planner Marni Ratzel. “We hope that this campaign will encourage more cyclists to mount lights on their bikes, making nighttime travel in Boulder safer for cyclists, drivers and pedestrians.”
For access to bike light coupons, bike maps and safety tips, visit www.goboulder.net.