Growing Trend of Bicycle Use Warrants New Research into Road Safety & Conduct
As Denver becomes one of the nation's premier cities for cyclists, a plethora of new challenges and questions arise from a decidedly beneficial and healthy new fad.
With several agencies and campaigns targeting a 10% or more mode share of individuals using bikes as their mode of transportation to get to work, the city's infrastructure is undoubtedly lagging behind. Despite a doubling of roads outfitted with bike lines or sharrows, which are roads that are wide enough to accommodate both cyclists and motorists, a stiff increase in cycling has overwhelmed the roads and bike systems.
Funds allocated for improving pedestrian and cyclist causeways was increased dramatically over the past five years. A 2006 estimate had the city spending 2.1 million on projects related cycling and pedestrians. By 2011, that number had risen to 10.5 million.
Yet despite the growing allocation of funds for cycling-friendly roadways and streets in the city, there are still several problem areas. Misleading signage, confusing markings, and cycling heavy roads and streets without proper accommodation for bikes have contributed to the challenges facing Denver's goal to increase bicycle use in the city. Many observers have commented that Denver has put bike lanes in "all the easy places," but has yet to implement them in more constricted, troublesome locales.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock notes that much of the problem is still centered around monetary difficulties. "It is certainly a resource issue," Hancock reflected. "This is all going to take time. It's not going to get done overnight."
One of the primary catalysts advancing the initiative to get Denver's residents out of cars and onto bikes is Emily Snyder. A senior planner for Denver Public Works, Snyder has been endearingly labeled "the bike girl" by many of her friends and co-workers.
Snyder admits that creating a totally bike-friendly city in Denver is difficult due to a variety of obstacles. The constrained format of the city and the lack of new roads being built within city limits constitutes an arduous task for city planners such as Snyder. However, "the bike girl" won't back down.
"[...S]omething that I tell advocates a lot: it will all get done, it's just a matter of how fast."
If you have been involved in a bicycle vs. car accident, or any car accident in the greater Denver Metro Area, please call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger today for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!
Source: As Denver becomes a major bike city, can it put safety first?
Yet despite the growing allocation of funds for cycling-friendly roadways and streets in the city, there are still several problem areas. Misleading signage, confusing markings, and cycling heavy roads and streets without proper accommodation for bikes have contributed to the challenges facing Denver's goal to increase bicycle use in the city. Many observers have commented that Denver has put bike lanes in "all the easy places," but has yet to implement them in more constricted, troublesome locales.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock notes that much of the problem is still centered around monetary difficulties. "It is certainly a resource issue," Hancock reflected. "This is all going to take time. It's not going to get done overnight."
One of the primary catalysts advancing the initiative to get Denver's residents out of cars and onto bikes is Emily Snyder. A senior planner for Denver Public Works, Snyder has been endearingly labeled "the bike girl" by many of her friends and co-workers.
Snyder admits that creating a totally bike-friendly city in Denver is difficult due to a variety of obstacles. The constrained format of the city and the lack of new roads being built within city limits constitutes an arduous task for city planners such as Snyder. However, "the bike girl" won't back down.
"[...S]omething that I tell advocates a lot: it will all get done, it's just a matter of how fast."
If you have been involved in a bicycle vs. car accident, or any car accident in the greater Denver Metro Area, please call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger today for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!
Source: As Denver becomes a major bike city, can it put safety first?
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