Commuting - Denver commuting questions

So it looks like I will be moving to Denver the beginning of October, and I'm wondering about the accessibility of bicycle commuting and decent neighborhoods in which to live. I'll be working at a hospital just off of LoDo (St Joseph's). I figure a reasonable range for me to commute is no more than 10 miles, but I am very open to mixed modality commuting: ie Light Rail, Bus, etc. I'm not looking for the "upper crust" as far as neighborhoods go, I just want someplace where my wife and 1 1/2 year old daughter will be relatively safe going for runs/rides. Any input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

So it looks like I will be moving to Denver the beginning of October, and I'm wondering about the accessibility of bicycle commuting and decent neighborhoods in which to live. I'll be working at a hospital just off of LoDo (St Joseph's). I figure a reasonable range for me to commute is no more than 10 miles, but I am very open to mixed modality commuting: ie Light Rail, Bus, etc. I'm not looking for the "upper crust" as far as neighborhoods go, I just want someplace where my wife and 1 1/2 year old daughter will be relatively safe going for runs/rides. Any input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Northwest Denver in the Berkeley neighborhood. Highlands is very desirable but pricey. Berkeley is further west - Federal/Irving to Sheridan east to west and 32nd to 52nd south to north. It's a nice neighborhood with much of the flavor of Wash Park and Capitol Hill but without the cost. We also have 2 large regional parks (and one golf course) in the area.

The area east of St. Joe's is a little rough but getting better. Housing cost is pretty low (lots of fixer-uppers) but there aren't a lot of services or entertainment there yet.

Another one to look at that I've been really impressed with but it's pricey is the new Stapleton development. Very well laid out and very interesting buildings. However it lacks some of the charm of the older neighborhoods. It also lacks many of the remodeling costs ;) since all the houses are new. Lots of bikeways and parks out there, too.

Move in by me!!!! I need more cyclist neighbors!

I'm currently commuting 14 miles, LoDo would be about 11 miles from here, I think.
Here's the path I take. (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Zang-St-to-Brighton-St)

There are several parks very close, including Green Mountain, lots of trails and bike paths, and I haven't had any run ins with aggressive motorists since I moved here. (Ok, it's only been about two weeks since I moved, but I used to ride around here before that)

I'm also less than a mile from Cold Springs Park 'n Ride, and there are about 3 routes that run from there to downtown.

Is this the St Joseph on 1835 Franklin?

If you want to stick to well maintained bike paths, anything within a few miles of the Cherry Creek bike path (runs E/W along, you guessed it, Cherry Creek) will put you right downtown. Getting off a little before downtown, you could go up one of the wide one-way streets like Corona/Downing (I think those are both wide, though it could be just part of the way). Alternatively, the Platte River Trail runs N/S and gets you into good neighborhoods as well. As a plus, light rail runs along almost the same route, so you could ride light rail on rain/snow days. However, getting over to St Joseph would require either a long walk or a bus ride.

The 2 trails intersect downtown, so you could use them both as needed.

I lived for several years in Wheat Ridge in Jefferson County just west (6 blocks) of the Denver City limit. I went by St. Joseph's many times winter and summer on the way to DBTC meetings east of City park. The 5 Points area just NE of the downtown area was the only area that was a bit tense but I was never bothered, even late at night. The Denver Bicycle Touring Club has a bike route map for the city and surrounding areas. That would be a start. Go for west and north of Denver gets you closer to the mountains for weekends.

Move in by me!!!! I need more cyclist neighbors!

I'm currently commuting 14 miles, LoDo would be about 11 miles from here, I think.
Here's the path I take. (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Zang-St-to-Brighton-St)

There are several parks very close, including Green Mountain, lots of trails and bike paths, and I haven't had any run ins with aggressive motorists since I moved here. (Ok, it's only been about two weeks since I moved, but I used to ride around here before that)

I'm also less than a mile from Cold Springs Park 'n Ride, and there are about 3 routes that run from there to downtown.

A couple of suggestions about your route. At 10th Ave and Pierce St. (next to the Lakewood Country Club) there is a secret path along the south end of the Country Club. When you come up to the stop sign just keep going straight into the little parking lot. There is a narrow path between the houses and the fence. This will take you through to 10th Ave on the other side. !0th is a better street to ride than 14th because it has less stop signs. Traffic isn't too much of a problem either. Just past Perry St. turn left onto the Lakewood Gulch trail (it's at the bottom of a hill, you'll see it ;) ) and then follow that path through Rudy Park (the comic strip is named for this park) down to the Platte River and then go north.

If you follow this route, you have to deal with less in the way of stops and starts than your current route.

Another one to look at that I've been really impressed with but it's pricey is the new Stapleton development. Very well laid out and very interesting buildings. However it lacks some of the charm of the older neighborhoods. It also lacks many of the remodeling costs ;) since all the houses are new. Lots of bikeways and parks out there, too.

The neighborhood(s) just west of Stapleton is gentrifying rapidly --I'm watching it daily; it's where I chose to buy. Housing prices aren't creeping into stupidity yet (ala Wash Park and Highlands), and the streets are quiet after dark. It's an interesting situation: on the west is Park Hill, a neighborhood with a lot of character and getting expensive (similar architecture and feel to Wash Park), and Stapleton to the east, which has everything from low-income housing to 600k-ish starter mansions.

The interesting difference between this side of town and the NW side of town is the NW side of town is predominantly Hispanic while this side is predominantly Afro-American. If that sort of thing influences you, then there you go.


Here's a little reference I stared at a LOT when I was first learning the area:
http://www.denvergov.org/admin/template3/forms/DENVERNEIGHBORHOODOct03.pdf