By Esteban L. Hernandez, Axios Denver
Advocates are calling out the city’s plan to build its bike infrastructure, hoping Denver invests in more protected lanes for people to ride safely.
Why it matters: Protected lanes make cyclists feel more comfortable, give riders another way to get around, and help replace emissions-emitting cars.
By the numbers: Of the 107 miles of bikeways built and upgraded since 2018, 31 miles are protected, according to Denver’s transportation and infrastructure department. This means lanes with a vertical element or physical separation.
- Yes, but: Just 5 miles will be protected of the 44 miles of new bikeways and upgrades planned over the next year.
The big picture: Jill Locantore, executive director at Denver Streets Partnership, said cyclists generally want to see protected lanes that include some physical barrier between them and a car lane.
- This includes lanes with plastic bollards or other barriers, like concrete.
- Such design is often more expensive, Locantore said, and can prompt public outcry if installation means removing a car or parking lane.
What they’re saying: “That’s not great,” Rob Toftness, co-founder of the Denver Bicycle Lobby, told Axios Denver when he learned the total number of protected lanes in the city. The lobby is a grassroots group advocating for bike infrastructure and safety.
Read the full story at Axios Denver