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Denver's bicycle police ride on the sidewalk- because they see the city's roads as being too dangerous for cyclists

Campaigners say pavement cycling isn't a pedestrian vs cyclist issue - it's due to too much space being given to cars...

Bicycle Police in Denver, Colorado are reportedly riding on sidewalks – partly because they feel unsafe cycling with motor traffic on the city’s streets.

According to a report in 5280 magazine – the title is a nod to Denver’s nickname of the Mile High City, expressed in feet – the city’s bike cops are exempt from a local law forbidding people from cycling on the sidewalk.

However, many locals ignore it, and the magazine reports that the law is little enforced by officers – 39 citations through all of 2017 and 13 so far this year – because they are all too aware of what it is that causes people to ride there.

The article’s author, Georgia Perry, asked one bicycle officer she saw riding on a sidewalk why he did it.

The officer, who only gave his name as Tony, told her, “I’m not going to get hit,” and said that besides issues such as narrow streets in parts of the city, there was also the problem that often drivers could not see cyclists..

Jill Locantore from the advocacy group WalkDenver agreed with his assessment, while highlighting that people cycling on pavements is “definitely something pedestrians are experiencing and frustrated with.”

But she insisted the problem would not be solved by pitting people on foot against people on bikes, explaining, “So much of our public rights of way are dedicated to cars that everybody else is pushed to the fringes and we’re fighting for scraps at the edge of the roadway,”

The city has plans to install a network of off-road shared-use paths through its Denver Moves plan, unveiled in 2011 and refreshed in 2016, the latter year coinciding with the introduction of on-site safety audits after each fatal collision in the city, and cycling infrastructure that has been installed includes a protected cycle lane on 14th Street.

But Locantore insists that projects completed so far have been easy wins, and that more needs to be achieved, saying that “The city needs to dramatically pick up the pace for us to see any meaningful change.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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17 comments

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bjbeau | 5 years ago
1 like

Regarding comments about cyclng in the US is dangerous. I can't speak for others but I lived in San Diego for 15 years up to 1997, and was a frequent road cyclist during that time, both in the main city and the beach communities from Pt Loma to Oceanside in the north, and Julian in the east.

I can count on one hand how many times I had altercations or close passes in that time. It simply didn't happen.

Maybe SD is different. The area is known for its appeal to top drawer triathletes who train there year round as well as offering a climate that invites people to get outside to run, bike, swim etc - for 365 days a year. Roads are generally wide, even when you get into the hinterland.  And this was before cycling became as big as it is.

 

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds replied to bjbeau | 5 years ago
2 likes

bjbeau wrote:

Regarding comments about cyclng in the US is dangerous. I can't speak for others but I lived in San Diego for 15 years up to 1997, and was a frequent road cyclist during that time, both in the main city and the beach communities from Pt Loma to Oceanside in the north, and Julian in the east.

I can count on one hand how many times I had altercations or close passes in that time. It simply didn't happen.

Maybe SD is different. The area is known for its appeal to top drawer triathletes who train there year round as well as offering a climate that invites people to get outside to run, bike, swim etc - for 365 days a year. Roads are generally wide, even when you get into the hinterland.  And this was before cycling became as big as it is.

 

I remember when I first started cycling on the roads, circa 1982, I was 13, mid sized Northern (primarily working class) UK city. Even up to 1989 22% of people got to work by bike - three times the national average which was 7% at that time (now 1%) When I started commuting into college the 4 miles to the city centre in 1987/88 through a busy industrialised area along arterial roads I never had any issues. Fewer vehicles and a better attitude and more people on bikes, I suspect that pretty much every town and city 20+ years back would be the same.

Now when I go back to my home city it's hateful cycling through the city though out to the East toward the coast the population is still very sparten so the cyling is pretty good for the mostpart.

 

Avatar
antigee replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
0 likes

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

bjbeau wrote:

Regarding comments about cyclng in the US is dangerous. I can't speak for others but I lived in San Diego for 15 years up to 1997, and was a frequent road cyclist during that time, both in the main city and the beach communities from Pt Loma to Oceanside in the north, and Julian in the east.

I can count on one hand how many times I had altercations or close passes in that time. It simply didn't happen.

Maybe SD is different. The area is known for its appeal to top drawer triathletes who train there year round as well as offering a climate that invites people to get outside to run, bike, swim etc - for 365 days a year. Roads are generally wide, even when you get into the hinterland.  And this was before cycling became as big as it is.

 

I remember when I first started cycling on the roads, circa 1982, I was 13, mid sized Northern (primarily working class) UK city. Even up to 1989 22% of people got to work by bike - three times the national average which was 7% at that time (now 1%) When I started commuting into college the 4 miles to the city centre in 1987/88 through a busy industrialised area along arterial roads I never had any issues. Fewer vehicles and a better attitude and more people on bikes, I suspect that pretty much every town and city 20+ years back would be the same.

Now when I go back to my home city it's hateful cycling through the city though out to the East toward the coast the population is still very sparten so the cyling is pretty good for the mostpart.

 

remember riding on roads like the A40 near Cheltenham where I grew up in the late 70's no problem - wouldn't dream of riding on it now - not just volume of traffic but an expectation of unhindered speed 

rode in California for 8 days at easter - grand total of 2 close passes - majority of vehicles fully crossed centre line to pass - including cars towing recreational boat trailers and agricultutal trucks,if couldn't pass slowed and waited -  even when riding on wide freeway shoulders majority of truckdrivers moved across a lane to pass 

pleasantly surprised 

 

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hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
5 likes

It'd be nice if the cops decided to cycle on the roads anyway and conspicuously take primary position. They could then warn/charge any drivers that got uppity with them.

I know, I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

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emishi55 replied to hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
0 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

It'd be nice if the cops decided to cycle on the roads anyway and conspicuously take primary position. They could then warn/charge any drivers that got uppity with them.

I know, I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

 

They don't appear to have heard of close pass initiatives then

Avatar
brooksby | 5 years ago
2 likes

Quote:

Bicycle Police in Denver, Colorado are reportedly riding on sidewalks – partly because they feel unsafe cycling with motor traffic on the city’s streets.

Seems to me that if the police are riding on pavements because they think the roads are too dangerous, someone in Denver City Hall (is Mork still their mayor?) needs to take notice... 

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SteeveB | 5 years ago
1 like

Cycled in Denver last year. Thought it was great compared to UK cities. Roads are super wide so lots of space. Drivers seemed friendly.

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hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
11 likes

I'm having trouble following the delicate nuances of this thread's arguments.

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John Smith | 5 years ago
1 like

Surely they could do something about it?

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don simon fbpe replied to John Smith | 5 years ago
2 likes

John Smith wrote:

Surely they could do something about it?

And risk getting shot?

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BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
3 likes

I watched yet another video of cycling in NYC Saturday, the whole attitude to cycling in US cities is massively worse than it is here. I wouldn't ride in US cities even if you paid me, maybe Minneapolis but that's an exception to the rule. They make London feel like Utrecht.

Avatar
Beecho replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
2 likes

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

I watched yet another video of cycling in NYC Saturday, the whole attitude to cycling in US cities is massively worse than it is here. I wouldn't ride in US cities even if you paid me, maybe Minneapolis but that's an exception to the rule. They make London feel like Utrecht.

I spent a week in May riding in and around Flagstaff, AZ. It’s a pretty healthy, outdoorsy place, reflected by a shortage of mega fatties and a pretty healthy respect for me on the road. Just the one close pass in 5 days. Roads are wide though.

But the wind. Oh my god, the wind...

Avatar
A440 replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
2 likes

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

I watched yet another video of cycling in NYC Saturday, the whole attitude to cycling in US cities is massively worse than it is here. I wouldn't ride in US cities even if you paid me, maybe Minneapolis but that's an exception to the rule. They make London feel like Utrecht.

And I wouldn't believe anything you write if you paid me.

You have been, are, and will always be an asshole.

Avatar
Eton Rifle replied to A440 | 5 years ago
11 likes

A440 wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

I watched yet another video of cycling in NYC Saturday, the whole attitude to cycling in US cities is massively worse than it is here. I wouldn't ride in US cities even if you paid me, maybe Minneapolis but that's an exception to the rule. They make London feel like Utrecht.

And I wouldn't believe anything you write if you paid me.

You have been, are, and will always be an asshole.

 

Well, THAT escalated quickly... 

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds replied to A440 | 5 years ago
1 like

A440 wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

I watched yet another video of cycling in NYC Saturday, the whole attitude to cycling in US cities is massively worse than it is here. I wouldn't ride in US cities even if you paid me, maybe Minneapolis but that's an exception to the rule. They make London feel like Utrecht.

And I wouldn't believe anything you write if you paid me.

You have been, are, and will always be an asshole.

Hahahaha, did your mum let you go on the internet to write that, you have issues, seek help and quick before you explode!

Avatar
nigerian prince replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
0 likes

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

A440 wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

I watched yet another video of cycling in NYC Saturday, the whole attitude to cycling in US cities is massively worse than it is here. I wouldn't ride in US cities even if you paid me, maybe Minneapolis but that's an exception to the rule. They make London feel like Utrecht.

And I wouldn't believe anything you write if you paid me.

You have been, are, and will always be an asshole.

Hahahaha, did your mum let you go on the internet to write that, you have issues, seek help and quick before you explode!

 

You would do well to listen to A440, they speak the indisputable truth. 

Avatar
cdamian replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
2 likes

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

I watched yet another video of cycling in NYC Saturday, the whole attitude to cycling in US cities is massively worse than it is here. I wouldn't ride in US cities even if you paid me, maybe Minneapolis but that's an exception to the rule. They make London feel like Utrecht.

I'm spoiled by bike lanes and reasonable drivers here in Barcelona.

But I did spent one week cycling in Washington DC recently and it was pretty good. Lots of bike lanes and quiet residential streets. The traffic in the centre is also do slow that you can always keep up with a bicycle. It turns a bit worse in the countryside, where they don't seem to be used to cyclists. They do have a large network of bicycle trails though, which are paved off street bike lanes, often through forests or parks.

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