When spring comes, I start temperature watching. You see, I’m a fair-weather cyclist. During the warm months I try to cycle to work as much as I can. It’s good exercise and an invigorating way to start the day. Fresh air, cute dogs, beautiful blooming foliage, varied and attractive architecture. These are all highlights of my commute. (Admittedly, the ride home following a full day’s work is less rejuvenating!)
But I don’t start cycling until overnight temps are above 40ºF, which this year led to a delay.
I have spent many years honing my route and this past week I ran into a frustrating snag: The city, which has used the coronavirus pandemic to refurbish roads, has ripped up a huge chunk of Cheeseman Park. It’s a nightmare for cyclists as bike tires cannot take the same kind of roughness as car tires. What’s worse, the city has ripped up adjacent streets and avenues, so cyclists are forced to come up with new routes, use sidewalks or bike on busy, dangerous arterials.
It’s clear the city didn’t spare a thought for cyclists.
By coincidence, CDOT this week announced its $5.4 billion transportation overhaul. As I read Jon Murray’s excellent coverage in the Denver Post, which included future fees to be imposed, I realized that one type of transport was absent: bicycles. If the Dept. of Transportation doesn’t see bicycles as part of its system, then it’s no surprise that street maintenance is undertaken without consideration of cyclists.
How to change this? One way is through Denver Bike Lobby, which aims to pressure local government to improve conditions for cyclists.
But as I read the breakdown of fees, I wondered: Should cyclists have to pay a fee? Right now, my commute, aside from the maintenance of my bicycle, is completely free. I pay nothing to use public facilities that cost a lot to upkeep. Is that fair? And is it wise? If cyclists had buy-in it might strengthen our lobbying position and also force relevant authorities to take us into consideration. After all, it’s much harder to ignore a fee-payer than a free-loader.
With climate change an ever-growing issue of concern, there’s a greater push for fewer cars and more bikes. Making cyclists a bigger part of transport plans will go a long way to achieving that goal.
Shana Goldberg may be reached at shana@ijn.com
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