Bicycle Douglas County
Guest Speaker: Betsy Jacobsen, CDOT’s Bike & Ped Coordinator
Betsy started with CDOT 1 year ago after being the Bike/Ped Planner in Ft Collins. The goal for Betsy is to encourage people to bike & walk for transportation through education & promotion of special events.
Colorado’s “Safe Routes to School” funding will be ~$1-2 million /year when the US Congress and President Bush pass the 6 year Transportation Bill (it has been pending for >1 year). CDOT is currently writing policies how this money can be used and applied for; once it is available. Counties or cites will be able to apply for funding from the “SRTS” funding.
CDOT will be doing a “rumble strip study” about the effects of chip seal on the roadway and rumble strips to learn how to improve safety. This problem was brought to CDOT’s attention by cyclists. Change comes about when CDOT is made aware of problems and there are enough complaints about a problem. The best way to initiate change is to write letters to the 12 CO Transportation Commissioners. Betsy will provide BDC with the link and address of our 12 highway commissioners.
The best way for bicyclists to get change is to be the squeaky wheel with local & state transportation officials by stressing the road or trail problem as it affects your “TRANSPORTATION” not recreation. IE: commuting to work or school, transportation for errands or shopping. The roadways and CDOT is only concerned with transportation issues and not recreation problems.
Betsy answered questions about trail maintenance of the C-470 trail and will send BDC the contact # for our region’s maintenance foreman.
Club Business:
Library Health Fair: March 5th at the Parker Library BDC hosted a booth at “Healthy Family” Fair. ~140 visitors came through the 3-hour health fair. Parker Adventist Hospital with help from a Parker Girl Scout troop gave away 37 children’s bike helmets. Volunteers Judy and Barry Siel at the BDC booth helped get these 37 children’s helmets fitted correctly and showed the “Share the Road” and “Ride Smart” videos. Next month on April 14th BDC will be at the next library health fair “Planet Fitness” at the Lone Tree Library from 6-9 PM.
Volunteers are still needed for Trail Cleaning/Group Rides Coordinator/ Elephant Rock Booth/Distribute Fliers. If you can help please let Judy Siel know ASAP.
Membership Update: 21 ’05 members: 12 paid dues, 9 free memberships from volunteering on projects in ’04, 133 bicyclists on our email list.
Bike to Work Day in June will have a breakfast stop at the new Bicycle Pedal’r at University & C470 parking lot!! Way to go Ed!! More details before BTW day.
Next Meeting: April 11th at 7:00 pm
Guests Speaker: Bryce Matthews & Dennis Trapp
Parker’s Park & Trail Dept.