DENVER – The state will pump $100 million over the next four years into bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in an effort to make Colorado the best state to ride a bike.
“Our goal is to make Colorado the best state for biking in the country,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper, who made the announcement in Las Vegas at the Interbike Conference, the largest bicycle trade event in North America. “These investments will help fuel our economic growth and tourism industry, move us toward a cleaner environment and advance our goal of being the healthiest state in the nation.”
In addition to adding infrastructure, the budget calls for marketing the cycling industry and creating campaigns around safety.
It’s appropriate that the effort comes from Colorado, a state that consistently ranks as one of the fittest states in the nation. But officials point out that Colorado still suffers from obesity, with a rate of more than 21 percent, up from 16 percent in 2004. Biking is one of the ways Colorado is aiming at changing the statistics.
“We want to encourage riders of all shapes, sizes and abilities and make biking as safe and accessible as possible statewide,” said Ken Gart, a Denver businessman, who has earned the title of Colorado’s bike czar and will head the Colorado Pedals Project.
“With more than 5,000 miles of biking trails throughout the state, and events like Pedal The Plains and the USA Pro Challenge, Colorado is poised to take this lead.” Gart said.
The project comes with assistance from Bicycle Colorado, Great Outdoors Colorado, the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Office of Economic Development and the Colorado Tourism Office.
CDOT alone has committed to spend at least 2.5 percent of its construction budget on bike and pedestrian programs, including infrastructure.
“At CDOT ,we believe that including cycling plans into road planning and construction will help us reduce congestion and contribute to solving the transportation challenges facing Colorado,” said Shailen Bhatt, executive director of CDOT.
