Advocacy & Safety - Another ban proposed in Colorado

I haven't read the bill

Here's the link(s):
http://www.lcni5.com/cgi-bin/c2.cgi?038+article+News+20090707122114038038002
http://bicyclecolo.org/page.cfm?pageId=1042

From the linked article:

"We want to have people enjoy our mountains and our roads, but we don't want to have someone killed doing this."

What a pile of natural fertilizer. They don't want the locals "inconvenienced" so they use terminology that suggests they give a poop about cyclists. Ha Ha. Nice try.

In my state, at least one parish (county) requires that more than 5 riders in a group must have a parade permit and police detail. That thanks to hordes of city folk invading the beautiful farmland and woods north of New Orleans and participating in your basic club ride. Sometimes there could be 50 to 100 cyclists at these unannounced events. Some of the cyclists do not understand country courtesy riding. I don't blame the locals for being angry and have long since stopped joining in on club rides. Those rides made me hate a certain type of cyclist.

So "safety" is the concern?
Now which can do more damage?
a) A 200 lb rider + bike
b) A 3500 lb car + driver

Sounds like they should be looking at banning cars if "safety" is really what they are worried about.

So... what if you live on this road, and commute by bicycle?
Or even just ride a bicycle?

Does this mean you can't ride door to door?

I seriously doubt it will ever pass.

One of the county roads in question is the deer creek canyon road.

Regarding this road, the Jefferson County sheriff's office had to say:

"There haven't been any accidents involving motorists and cyclists in that canyon that I know of," he said, adding that the sheriff's office wants to keep it that way.

Came from the article: http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_12656816?source=commented-news

I haven't read the bill

Here's the link(s):
http://www.lcni5.com/cgi-bin/c2.cgi?038+article+News+20090707122114038038002
http://bicyclecolo.org/page.cfm?pageId=1042

I emailed them and got a canned response.

http://holierthanyou.blogspot.com/2009/07/jefferson-county-ups-ante-on-san-mateo.html

Summary: we are not proposing to close any roads, but we want to pass a law
that gives us the right to close roads. Even though we (heart) cyclists!

Since many robberies occur in convenience stores, will they outlaw those?

I emailed them and got a canned response.

http://holierthanyou.blogspot.com/2009/07/jefferson-county-ups-ante-on-san-mateo.html

Summary: we are not proposing to close any roads, but we want to pass a law
that gives us the right to close roads. Even though we (heart) cyclists!

I e-mailed them:



Jefferson County Commissioner's Office,

As a resident of Lakewood and an avid bicyclist, I am very much opposed to
any bicycle bans on country roads in Jefferson County. While I understand
the request for authority on the situation, I question your motives.

Others have noted in your responses from questions, you state:

"We are not proposing to close any roads to bicyclists. All roads in
Jefferson County are open to bicyclists." (Source:
http://www.murphstahoe.com/jeffco.pdf)

If you are not proposing any closures, why is there a need for the
authority? Also, by requesting such authority for counties, wouldn't you
be giving other counties authorities to close their roads if necessary?

Please do not push this legislation. I fear that other counties will close
their roads if this legislation were to pass, limiting the freedom I have
on my bicycle.

Sincerely,
Michael Shoup

I live in Jefferson county (even though I am planning to move out into Denver).

more from jeffco - a commissioner speaks

http://jeffcocommish.blogspot.com/2009/07/bicycle-and-motorist-conflicts.html

I think she stated her position very well.

I have no gripe with this particular commissioner, who evidently thinks pretty much the way I do. I have a huge concern with unintended consequences of the proposed statewide legislation, such as another county deciding to ban bicycles from a public road, particularly, but not only, one for which there is no reasonable alternate route.

"Dan pointed out that if a city closes a road to cyclists, there is almost certainly a nearby road that provides an adequate - often better - route."

Colorado cities can close roads to cyclists? I was under the assumption that the only roads that can be closed to cyclists were limited access freeways, and only if there is an alternative route. Maybe that's just a California thing...